Using Act ion Songs t o Promot e Fun
English Learning at Element ary
School
A
ction songs
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are songs w it h movement s for miming and role-playing t he w ords and t he languageSimilar Feat ures of Song and Language
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First “ physically, bot h of t hem made up ofsound w aves w hich our ears capt ure and our brains process int o a meaningful, recognizable code.”
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Second, bot h of t hem “ communicat e emot ions and meanings.”.•
Third, t hey bot h have an “ int rinsic phonology namely rhyt hm and accent uat ion, key andBenefit s of using act ion songs
• “ allow for self expression, encouraging a child's ow n response in his or her use of body and speech.”
• “ encourage st udent s t o part icipat e verbally.”
• “ provide relaxat ion (a legit imat e opport unit y t o w iggle and move around).”
• “ assist t he child in learning t o follow direct ions.”
• “ increase att ent ion span.”
• “ develop list ening skills.”
• “ t each order and sequence.”
• “ help t each number concept s.”
Fun at m osphere
Bringing songs t o t he classroom:
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allow learner t o enjoystress-free
learning situation
w hich furt hermoreUsing songs
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Preparing and Selecting SongsPreparing and Select ing
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familiarize yourself w it h t he aims and t heministry documents t hat provide guidelines.
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Decide t he t eaching and learning objectives (in line w it h t he overall aims of t he t eaching program)Analyzing Songs
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check w het her t he songs provide sufficient and good language model for t he st udent s•
Invest igat e w hat kind of language focus it provides, t he pronunciat ion and grammar used in t he songs, and also t he t une of t he songExam ples of t he act ion songs
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Pinocchio•
3 bears songs•
Do lit t le mot ion 1 2 3•
Follow M e•
Hockey Pockey•
Teddy BearsTeaching t he act ion song
• letter a large sign or use pocket chart to serve as a teleprompter. • be ent husiast ic, use t hose songs t hat you enjoy.
• demonst rate appropriate act ions as you say or sing t he w ords to t he group.
• replay t he act ion encouraging t he children to imitate only t he act ion.
• do t he act ions again allow ing t hose w ho w ish to part icipate w it h bot h act ion and w ords.
• keep act ions and w ords slow enough so t hat children do not have t rouble keeping up.
• repeat often enough for children to become familiar w it h t hem.
Learning Act ivit ies
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The preparat ion act ivit ies should help t oprepare t he st udent s t o accomplish t he core act ivit y.
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Pre-t eaching of language it ems or act ivat ing t opic vocabulary is one form of preparat ion act ivit y w hich is done prior t o t he coreact ivit y.
Act ion Songs as follow up act ivit ies
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Act ion songs can be used in t he classroom as t he complement or follow -up act ivit ies forpossible act ivit ies associat ed w it h
act ion songs
• Guessing
• Arranging words int o sent ences
• List en and Tick
• Saying True or False
• Arranging sent ences based on songs
• Complet ing t he song
• Act ing out t he song
• M iming and guessing
• Performing t he songs
References
• Brewster, J., Ellis, G & Girard, D, (2002). Primary English Teacher ’s Guide, England: Pearson Educat ion Lim ited.
• Cam eron, L. (2001). Teaching languages t o young learners. Cam bridge, England: CUP.
• Cord Foundat ion.(n.d.). Using Rhym es, Finger Plays, and Act ion Songs. Ret rieved
from htt p:/ / w w w.unr.edu/ cll/ reading-buddies/ act ivit ies/ rhym es on 15 June 2012.
• Schoepp, K., (2001). Reasons for Using Songs in The ES/ EFL Classroom . The
Int ernet TESL Journal, Vol. VII, No. 2, February 2001, ret rieved from
htt p:/ / iteslj.org/ Art icles/ Schoepp-Songs.ht m l htt p:/ / iteslj.org/ on 18 June 2012.
• M illlington, N,T. (2011). Using Songs Effect ively to Teach English to Young Learners1 Language Educat ion in Asia, 2011, 2(1), 134-141, ret rieved from
htt p:/ / dx.doi.org/ 10.5746/ LEiA/ 11/ V2/ I1/ A11/ M illington on 18 June 2012.
• Goodger, C (n.d. ) M usic and M im e, Rhyt m and Rhym e. The Funsongs Approach to Language Learning. Ret rieved in htt p:/ / w w w.funsongs.co.uk/
