Teach English in JiAngchi Zhen - Chongqing

Songs in the classroom Songs in the classroom sound like music in my ears. Although teaching is known to be a serious occupation, we all know that it is even so important to have fun in your everyday work environment. In many work environments it is not always possible to have a moment to enjoy and relax. Telephones are ringing, your boss, supervisor or colleges controlling and watching your every move. Sometime it is all too much and you need a break. Well if you are a teacher and are even so lucky to teach children you can create your own breaks and enjoy the sounds of songs made by children. You and the children are having fun while at the same moment creating a bound with each others in this moment of expression. For some children it is not that easy to talk in a group environment so by singing songs in the classroom they don?t feel that shy as they would have if been while being in the centre of the group. They now have the change to also come forward and let of some steam. It also can help them to gradually become less shy and interact more with the group and hopefully in time thus children are able to take the centre of a group environment or even take a leadership role on there part. Songs in the classroom also help students of a foreign language memorize vocabulary and phrases more easily than they could by reading. Some children may not dancing, reading, or movies, but almost everyone likes one kind of music or another. Most children like many different kinds of music or songs. Studies have shown that music... improves concentration, improves memory, it brings a sense of community to a group, it motivates learning, it relaxes people who are overwhelmed or stressed, it makes learning fun, it helps people to absorb material. What is more, songs offer a window on the culture of the people who speak the language. Using music with ESL kids has all of the same benefits mentioned above and more. Children are natural music lovers. You don't have to convince them that it will help them learn. If you feel uncomfortable singing in front of the class to teach a song, use a tape or CD player. (Don't expect your students to sing if you don't. Remember, that they don't care about the quality of your singing voice, just like you don't care about theirs.) ?Musical nourishment which is rich in vitamins is essential for children." Zolton Kodaly When teaching students a song, it is a good idea to introduce an instrumental version first (If an instrumental version is not available, play the song softly in the background while they are working on something or hum the melody before introducing the lyrics). If students become familiar with the sound of the music first, they will be more likely to understand the words. Make a vocabulary list ahead of time. Go over the words once before you introduce the song. Expose students to a certain song many days in a row. Within a few days, students will not be able to get the song out of their head! choose interactive songs whenever possible. Adding actions enhances language acquisition and memory. Have soft or upbeat music playing before class to encourage a positive atmosphere. Turning the music off is a great way to signal to a large class that it is time to begin. Music stabilizes mental, physical and emotional rhythms to attain a state of deep concentration and focus in which large amounts of content information can be processed and learned." Chris Brewer, Music and Learning