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This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned:
Song in the ClassroomThe teachers of Hachigata elementary school recently spent an entire year studying the best ways to teach english to their students. Posters of english adorn all of the hallways, relaying the information concluded from the studies. As the students walk the halls they are constantly exposed to bilingual signs and posters.
This elementary school is in a small town in Japan. The current education system in Japan does not yet include real standards in regards to how much english elementary students should know by the time they move on to junior high school. Hachigata was the first elementary school in the area to push for better and more effective ways of teaching english.
During Hachigata’s year of research, the teachers learned many things. One discovery was the effectiveness of using music in the classroom while teaching english. For me-a musician-this is a no-brainer. The positive effects of studying and learning through the device of music have been proven time and time again.
The teachers at Hachigata paid close attention to how their students responded to all of the different activities used to teach english-english songs was consistently one of the most effective and popular among the students. There are several reasons why this is the case.
Firstly, the elementary students are like sponges-they soak up information extremely quickly. Putting vocabulary words or target sentences into songs for the children to learn makes them stick much more quickly. It’s the same concept as an annoying song getting ‘stuck in your head.’ The brain is naturally able to recall words set to tunes and rhythm more easily than words by themselves.
Secondly, songs-particularly those with corresponding actions-are extremely engaging. Most students enjoy singing and moving. Elementary students have a lot of energy and teaching songs with lots of motions is a fantastic way to channel some of that energy into a positive learning experience.
Thirdly, teaching new songs or having students request their favorite songs as a warm up in the beginning of class is a fantastic way to get the students engaged in learning english. They students get up, perform the actions, and sing the english words. It sets a good atmosphere for the rest of the class.
Teaching new songs is a really fun way to get a lesson started. Choosing songs that have many actions, interactivity, and –if possible-relevant to materials in the study phase is a great way to teach something in a fun way to students.
As the students grow up and reach the age when they aren’t so charmed or excited by simple english songs, introducing authentic english resources into the classroom can be a good idea. When students reach junior high and high school ages, encouraging them to listen to popular songs sung in english is not only a good way to study english but also increases global and cultural awareness. Keeping in mind that the english language is real and all over the world can be motivating for some students-particularly those interested in travel.
Whether easy greeting songs or Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, songs are a sure way to gain and maintain students attention in the classroom. The melodies-and hopefully the words-sink in and provide the students with an extremely useful memory device. Songs are fun and if used properly, can make english class the students favorite class of the day.
