Songs and Chants

In the last few years, songs and chants have been used in English teaching, specially teaching children (young learners) because of many benefits that songs and chants bring in the language teaching field.

Definitions:

• Chant: is simple vocabulary spoken over a background of music or rhythm. Chants are based on model of repetition and learned response.
• Song: a short metrical composition intended or adapted for singing

It is important to mention that we teachers can add gestures to the songs or chants, like facial expressions, hand and body actions and movements. These actions help children to encounter meaning and vocabulary. Besides, clapping, dancing and playing, stimulate children to remember easier the meaning of the words.

 

 

Example of song (Children 6-9 years)

Example of chant (Children 6-9 years )

 

 

Moreover, songs and chants can be adapted depending on the topic we are teaching. I also consider a catchy rhythm of songs is very important for the reason that children feel motivate and interested on learning. In addition, teachers can integrate songs or chants in the lesson at different stages from the framework. For example, if we have already taught a topic (vocabulary), then we can look for a songs to use it as a warm up in the lesson in order to review what we studied in previous classes. On the other hand, songs and chants can be included in the during stage, if we are teaching a specific topic and we want our students get familiar with the topic and vocabulary.

Even though songs and chants are useful in English teaching practice for children, there are some negative aspects teachers have to take into account in order to avoid inconvenient when
choosing songs for young learners.




Benefits

• To develop listening and speaking skills. Songs and chants help learners become familiar with words stress, intonation and pronunciation.

• To stimulate children’s interest in the target language.

• To provide a relaxed classroom atmosphere, helping teachers get closer to their students.

• To motivate to learn and to be active.

Negative aspects

• Song or chant should contain limited vocabulary and topics should be within the experiences of children.

• The songs should present a limited musical challenge.

• Audios or songs can lack of quality.

• Songs or chants might not be according to the children’s age or level.

To summarize, teaching English through songs is useful not only to motivate children, but to help them feel part of a class. As well, to encourage them to get familiar with the target language, and expose them to the real pronunciation of words, and acquiring new vocabulary.  One important detail is that we teachers are able to adapt songs or chants according what we have to teach.