Using Songs to complement a Theme in Your Language Learning Classroom

Many of you know Miss Queen as an expert English language teacher who is very passionate about teaching. But do you know that she is not just an English teacher? Do you know her other passions?

Let me ask you a question, please think carefully before answering:

What do you think I would probably be doing for a living if I wasn't a teacher?

a.) I  would be a dancer

b.) I would be a ghostwriter 

c.) I would be a rapper-songwriter

Well, the truth is whichever option you choose, there's a high chance you would be correct! If I wasn't a teacher, I would probably pursue a career in the entertainment world. Some of you know that I love dancing, writing songs, and making music...especially rap music!

Teaching, however, has opened the door for me to still express the artistic side of me, by implementing my creativity in my lessons.

How can language teachers use songs and lyrics to complement a topic in the classroom?

Popular tracks can be utilized to target specific linguistic structures and themes in the classroom. Using songs is, indeed, an effective and interesting way to teach.

These are some tips that can help a language teacher:

• become more familiar with how to prepare a listening lesson starting with a lead in and warm up activities.

• gain essential knowledge about engaging language learners, elicitation techniques, and incorporating interesting and authentic materials in the English language classroom.

• acquire new methods for the teaching of vocabulary and creating listening, reading, writing, and speaking activities using real world texts.

• if you are a songwriter, write simple songs using the vocabulary and grammar you are going to teach, and help your students to learn the lyrics.

• get familiar with songs that contain the vocabulary or grammatical tenses you want to teach, and use them.

Using songs and lyrics in the English language classroom is a proven method for boosting motivation, improving pronunciation, and making grammar and vocabulary memorable.

_Queen Omorogbe