Music at the English lessons

By Victoria Fedchuk,a teacher of Uzhhorod school №2

Importance of Music in Learning English

• "If you have never tried using music in these ways.... please do!" -- Chris Brewer [1]

• Using music in any class can help to create a more positive learning environment . English class is a time in the school day where students are exploring different forms of literature and media which allows the teacher an opportunity to play non-distracting music for the class. Simply listening to music while doing activities and independent study can help students to focus and raise energy levels. Listening to music can also help students get inspired about the study of English and make connections between the two arts.

• A very effective way of using music in the English classroom is through direct music activities. Using music in assignments and activities help students understand important concepts, use their imagination, and improve their creative abilities[2] . Everybody has their own personal experience to different kinds of music and English teachers can use these experiences to help students engage with the lessons found in English class.

"Listening" to Music in the English Classroom

• Studies have shown that listening to music can temporarily increase right brain activity in students. Music is used frequently by many people to relax . Listening to certain types of music such as classical or smooth jazz may have positive effects on an English class. Certain types of songs can have different positive effects on students. The English teacher must pick the music based upon the desired effect.

Music can be chosen because

• - the class is not functioning to the best of its ability,• - the focus level in the class is down, • - the teacher wants to use music to help associate memories.•  • Some music can inspire students to get involved in class as "music has

the ability to produce greater student motivation. Songs and rhythmic chants invite the students to become active in the learning practice." [3]

Culture• Music can be used to help teach students about the cultures that

are related to what they are learning in English. Some lessons require literature from different parts of the world that may have a culture that is not familiar to that of many of the students in the class. A good strategy to introduce foreign cultures is to play music from that culture to get students engaged and interested in learning. Playing music could help catch the attention of some students and make others want to get a greater understanding of that culture.

Mozart Effect

• The Mozart Effect is a study on the effects that music has on the human mind. "In 1993 Rauscher et al. made the surprising claim that, after listening to Mozart's sonata for two pianos for 10 minutes, normal subjects showed significantly better spatial reasoning skills than after periods of listening to relaxation instructions designed to lower blood pressure or silence".[4]

• The Mozart Effect is one example of how music can positively affect the brain to help engage neural connections. This study focuses on spatial understanding which can help people understand shapes and their surroundings. This research found that listening to classical music written by Mozart increased scores on standardized tests.

Project : Metaphor Identification and Interpretation

• Using examples of songs can help students to understand concepts in English that may be difficult to express. Metaphors are one example of a lesson taught in English that can use music to help explain its use. It is important to first make sure that students understand the basic definition of a metaphor.

What is Metaphor?• "A figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to

something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity."[5] Once students have heard the definition of what a metaphor is, the English teacher can begin working with music to further their understanding and to associate songs with identifying metaphors. From learning to identify metaphors in something that is familiar to students, such as songs, students will be better equipped to identify metaphors in other aspects of English literature.

I am a Rock• …In a deep and dark December;

I am alone, Gazing from my window to the streets below On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow. I am a rock, I am an island. I've built walls, A fortress deep and mighty, That none may penetrate. I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain. It's laughter and it's loving I disdain. ………….I am a rock, I am an island. And a rock feels no pain; And an island never cries. [6]

References:

• ^ • http://www.songsforteaching.com/teachingtips/classroomoutcomesofusing

music.htm• ^

http://www.tesol-ua.org/tesol-essentials/teaching-methods/music-english-classes.htm

• ^http://www.ehow.com/list_6312308_effects-songs-teaching-english-classes.html#ixzz11y9G84bo

• ^ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1281386/• ^ www.wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn• ^ http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/simon+and+garfunkel/#share