JoLIE 6/2013
TEACHING GRAMMAR THROUGH MUSIC
Camelia Alinte
Primary and Lower Secondary School, Daia Română, Romania
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to investigate the practical ways in which English grammar can be taught to lower secondary students. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of using songs in teaching grammar to second language students. It also sought to explore the effects of song-based grammar instruction on both students’ motivation and classroom atmosphere, as well as to assess teachers’ perception regarding the use of songs in teaching grammar. In order to achieve this purpose, an experiment was carried out over one school semester. The 34 students in the seventh grade were assigned as a control group and an experimental group based on the results in the pre-test. Both groups were taught by the same teacher and using the same teaching programme with one difference: the control group performed a traditional grammar-based exercise programme, while for the experimental group a song-based practice was used. To collect data tests, questionnaires and field notes were used. All data was discussed in relation to the research questions and hypothesis. The experimental group students reported that songs helped them learn more and also increased their level of motivation. The songs had a positive effect on the classroom atmosphere. The students also believe that songs as a teaching method are fun and create a learning environment that encourages interaction between students and teachers, encourages active participation and enables students to demonstrate and apply previously or newly acquired language knowledge. It is also to be noted that the results on the level of grammatical knowledge in the grammar post-tests show that there is no significant difference between the two groups of students. However, the main finding does not support the common perception regarding the validity of songs as a recommended learning and teaching strategy that emerged from most of the literature review presented in Chapter 2.
Keywords: English grammar; Teaching through songs; Lower secondary school students.
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How to cite this article: Alinte, C. (2013). Teaching Grammar through Music. Journal of Linguistic and Intercultural Education – JoLIE, 6, 7–28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29302/jolie.2013.6.1
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