Teaching Grammar by Using Songs in EFL Context

Mehdi Shahvali, Iran

Mehdi Shahvali is a teacher in Iran. He has 12 years experience in teaching English in Izeh high schools and also teaches “Advance writing” and “Academic Writing” in Payam Noor University of Baghmalek . He is interested in teaching grammar, writing and teaching speaking through tasks. He has written a thesis working on the effects of tasks based teaching on speaking proficiency. His current interests are using visual aids in teaching and writing. E-mail: Shahvalikm@gmail.com

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Introduction
Guidelines
The Practical Example

Introduction

By using songs and lyrics we can teach different grammatical points. Songs can make teaching grammar appealing to the learners and provide an implicit rule learning situation. They pave the way for acquiring the parameters without any explicit explanation in a more relaxed and effective way.” How to teach through songs?” is an important question for every novice teacher. The presenter, here, provides a technique of applying songs in English classes which has shown to be very effective. There are some points that we should notice before, while, and after using songs for teaching grammar. After presenting of the guidelines a practical instance will be introduced that creates a framework for better understandings.

Guidelines

The guidelines presented as follow:

1. selecting the grammatical points and songs: the songs should be appropriate and fit the item we are going to teach 2. Introduction exercise: in this stage the related grammar exercises presented to the learners to make them sensitive to the grammatical point (e.g. fill in the blanks/ choose the correct forms, etc). 3. Pre-teach the new words: before presenting the song the learners should work on new words and phrases because a song full of new words may trouble them. 4. Listening for fun : for the first time the song must be run without interruption in order to reduce the stress and to motivate the learners.( this can be repeated twice) 5. Doing the exercises while listening 6. Listening for fun: the learners listen and maybe repeat some of the words or phrases which they remember. 7. Compare the answers with the printed lyrics prepared by the teacher. 8. Follow up activities: Check the answers of the introduction exercise with a partner or in group, produce a sentence, etc.

The Practical Example

In this example the presenter aims to teach Type II conditional sentences (if+ simple past + would + verb) through a song (If You Were A Sailboat by Katie Melua).

In class steps:

Step 1: fill in the blanks with the correct forms.

1. If I found her address, I ………… her an invitation card.(to send)
2. If I ….. you, I would not do this.(be)
3. If he …….. a lot of money , he would not stay here.(to have)
4. If john had the money, he ……….. the Ferrari (to buy)
5. If we lived in Rome, Tom ….. us. ( to visit)
6. She would take an umbrella with her if it …… (to rain)
7. You wouldn’t be so tired if you ……… to bed so earlier.(to go)

Step 2: listen to the song (twice)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=x25F3-sR2Yo

If You Were A Sailboat by Katie Melua
…., If you were a cowboy I would trail you,
if you were a piece of wood I'd nail you to the floor,
if you were a sailboat I would sail you to the shore,
if you were a river I would swim you,
if you were a house I would live in you all my days,
if you were a preacher I'd begin to change my ways,

sometimes I believe in fate
but the chances we create,
always seem to ring more true,
you took a chance on loving me,
I took a chance on loving you

if I was in jail I know you'd spring me,
if I were a telephone you'd ring me all day long,
if I was in pain I know you'd sing me soothing songs, ……

Step 3: listen to the song and choose the correct forms

If you were a cowboy I (would trail/ trail /will trail) you,
if you (were/ are/ be) a piece of wood I'd nail you to the floor,
if you were a sailboat I (will sail/sail/ would sail) you to the shore,
if you were a river I (swim/swam/ would swim) you

Step 4: listen to the song and correct the mistakes

If you were a cowboy I trail you,
If you area piece of wood I'd nail you to the floor,
If you were a sailboat I will sail you to the shore,
If you were a river I swimyou,

Step 5: listen and relax
Step 6: check the answers of the (step 1) exercise and compare with a partner Follow up (e.g. everyone says his/ her sentence using conditional type II )

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