Lecture The use of songs in teaching vocabulary Plan: Reasons for using songs Three rationales towards the use of song

Lecture 7. The use of songs in teaching vocabulary
Plan:
1. Reasons for using songs
2. Three rationales towards the use of song
3. The use of song as technique
4. Activities in teaching vocabulary through songs.

There are many pedagogically sound reasons for using songs in the language classroom:

• to provide authentic listening comprehension practice
• to cultivate interest in listening activities
• to create intrinsic motivation for listening
• to introduce different intonation and stress patterns
• to develop sound and word discrimination skills
• to present opportunities to develop listening comprehension skills, including listening for specific details
• to increase active participation in listening activities Using songs in class can help students:
• learn and practice good prediction strategies
• encounter vocabulary and language forms in an authentic context
• practice speaking, reading, and writing skills in integrated ways
Before we can speak English, we must learn vocabulary, because if we are lack of vocabulary we don’t be able to speak English, because vocabulary is very important in learning English. This idea is supported by Hatch and Brown (1995:1), they say that "vocabulary is the basic or important part of building a language, plays a very basic role in terms of communication". It means that, the more vocabulary we have the easier to speak English.
In learning English vocabulary, there are many media can help the teacher in teaching vocabulary for students and can develop students’ vocabulary, such as puppets, cartoon films, tape recorder, color passing, songs, games, and etc.
Teaching English vocabulary to young learners sometimes is more challenging than older learners. One of the most reasons is because of young learners’
characteristics. Young learners tend to have limited attention span. Moreover, they cannot learn better, unless the learning is interesting, meaningful and fun for them (Pinter, 2006). Therefore, teacher needs to apply teaching strategies and
techniques that can accommodate young learners’ characteristics. One of the teaching techniques that can be used to teach English vocabulary to young
learners is song.