scholarly journals LEARNING VOCABULARY THROUGH SONGS: A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF MUSIC IN TEACHING VERBS

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 550-557
Author(s):  
Ainul Azmin Md Zamin ◽  
Nor Azrul Hardi Adzmi ◽  
Maslawati Mohamad

Purpose of the study: This study aims to investigate how the use of songs in English language classrooms could aid tertiary students to increase their verb vocabulary repertoire. Methodology: This quantitative study was carried out among diploma students from a local university in Malaysia. The students were exposed to various English songs during their English lessons. Pre-test and post-test were conducted in this study. Main Findings: The use of songs can increase vocabulary acquisition among English language learners at tertiary level. The use of songs is able to provide a fun way of picking up new words. Applications of this study: The findings of this research indicate that English language teachers of tertiary students should use English songs as classroom activities to facilitate their students’ language learning and motivate them in acquiring new English vocabulary. The findings of this research are useful for university policymakers, teachers, and students. Novelty/Originality of this study: In this research, the use of English songs from contemporary genres, such as Western or Islamic songs can be an effective way to promote language learning.

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Seyyed Hatam Tamimi Sa’d ◽  
Fereshte Rajabi

Vocabulary constitutes an essential part of every language-learning endeavour and deserves scholarly attention. The objective of the present study was three-fold: 1) exploring Iranian English language learners’Vocabulary Learning Strategies (VLSs), 2) examining language learners’ perceptions of vocabulary learning, and 3) exploring Iranian English language teachers’ Vocabulary Teaching Strategies (VTSs). In total, 145  intermediate learners of English as a foreign language, consisting of 114 males and 31 females aged 15 to 27, participated in the study. The triangulated data were collected using three tools: questionnaires, interviews, and class observations. Sixty-seven learners (31 females and 36 males) filled out a 56-statement questionnaire, adopted and adapted from Takač (2008) and translated into Persian. The questionnaire comprised two parts, enquiring as to the learners’ VLSs and the teachers’ VTSs. The findings indicated that females and males differed significantly in their reported VLSs and their teachers’ use of various VTSs. Additionally, 78 learners were interviewed as to their perceptions of effective and ineffective VLSs as well as VTSs. The findings revealed that the most effective VLSs were reported to be: a) reciting, repeating and listening to words, b) using words, and c) memorising words while the most effective VTSs revolved around: a) explanation, b) repetition, and c) dictation. The observations also confirmed the findings obtained via the questionnaire and interviews. In general, the findings are indicative of the limited repertoire of vocabulary acquisition techniques employed by Iranian EFL learners, hence the need for strategy training in how to acquire vocabulary. 


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-55
Author(s):  
M. John Britto

Counselling plays a significant role in bringing out a remarkable change in an individual’s personal and professional life. It has entered a number of domains including education. As human problems are mushrooming day by day in this hi-tech world, there is a dire need for finding solutions to those problems. It is counselling that comes to one’s aid to solve one’s problems that are psychological and personal. In English language teaching and learning too, there are multiple problems encountered by teachers and students as well. This paper discusses how counselling is indispensable to English Language Teaching (ELT) for finding solutions to problems faced by English language learners. Exploring the relevance of counselling to ELT, it also seeks to highlight the benefits of integrating it with ELT. It brings out the need for introspection of English language teachers to provide counselling to students. It enumerates various counselling skills, and presents an account of problem-solving method in ELT and eight approaches to counselling.


Author(s):  
Saleh Al-Busaidi ◽  
Victoria Tuzlukova

This study explored how English language teachers at Sultan Qaboos University’s Center for Preparatory Studies in Oman perceive practices and challenges related to inclusive education and innovating in teaching English to visually impaired students. The study was carried out taking descriptive qualitative approach. Interviews with seven English language teachers were used to collect data. We asked them about both successful and challenging aspects of creating an inclusive language learning environment and using assistive technologies. We found that assistive technology is crucial to language learning of special needs students. The identified challenges include insufficient teachers’ knowledge and expertise in inclusive education, lack of institutional focus of attention on systematic planning and material design for inclusion, novelty of the concepts of inclusive education and assistive technology among others. The results of the study indicate the need for targeted teacher training and professional development, and suggest that innovations in education and technology can be effectively used to shift practices and perspectives of English language teaching in the context of Oman to being universally accessible, equally usable, more inclusive and tailored to students’ individual needs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
U Thulasivanthana

Most English language learners in SVIAS consider learning English as a complex, tiresome, and uninteresting endeavor. They face unprecedented trials and tribulations in learning English as an additional language. Therefore, finding ways to stimulate learner involvement and motivation has become important for English language teachers. Current teaching methods, materials, and resources seem inadequate to fulfill the students’ attitudes, skills, interests, and needs. This experimental study examines whether integrating visual arts activities contributes to positive results for the students who would like to improve their English language skills. In addition to the experimental study, classroom observations were conducted. Arts can make learning exciting,unforgettable, and interesting. The advantages of incorporating arts in education have been extensively delineated in recent studies. Using arts in English language teaching helps to make learning exciting and unforgettable, decrease language learning anxiety, improve classroom atmosphere, increase memory and motivation, and build rapport with learners. This study aims to show the impacts of using contents visual arts in the English language classroom. The findings can assist English language teachers in promoting the use of contents related to visual arts in English class to cater to a range of preferences, strengths, and learning styles.


Author(s):  
Rebin A. Azeez ◽  
Paiman Z. Azeez

In this query-based study, body language as an important non-verbal communicative technique in teaching English as a foreign language is inquired. In literature, little attention has been given to practical teaching approaches and techniques that will help English language teachers incorporate this essential element into their classrooms. This research aims at investigating the needful role of body language in the overall teaching and learning process. It considers the interplay of body language, particularly gestures, facial expressions and eye-contact behavior, between teachers and students and gives special consideration to the second language learner preferences in decoding and encoding bodily language behaviors. Likewise, specific questionnaires are used to collect data about teachers' and students’ opinions and experiences in their teaching and mannerism along with observing teachers and interviewing them. The results will help stimulating teachers' innovativeness in producing their own classroom activities and movements while teaching and better non-verbally communicate with their students in class in one hand. On the other, it facilitates students learning. It is recommended that the use and integration of body language should not be ignored by instructors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 41-61
Author(s):  
Sisay Ayalew Tsegaw

The aim of this study was to describe the interaction of teachers and students at primary school levels in speaking class of English foreign classroom. It also aimed at describing how the participants experienced interaction and its level of interactional activities and influences. To carry out the real classroom interaction analysis in speaking class using FIACS technique, qualitative research / qualitative descriptive research was employed for this study, which is qualitative. The results were analyzed using qualitative/Latent content analysis mainly. The targeted schools selected using convenience-sampling technique, but English Language teachers were selected using purposive sampling. Qualitative methods of data collection, such as interviewing, observation, and document analysis were also developed and employed as major tools. The result from these instruments showed that the interaction was still dominated by the teachers as shown from the observation and recording, and the speaking skills input and process haven’t been found to have a positive change on their students speaking performance or improvement. Thus, all findings revealed that the teachers were not able to use the appropriate type of classroom language and provide formative feedback that really help in improvement of student’s language learning.


2020 ◽  
Vol V (II) ◽  
pp. 194-205
Author(s):  
Fareeha Javed ◽  
Saher Tariq ◽  
Sana Baig

The arrival of technology has opened doors to different opportunities. A number of institutions have integrated technology effectively in their learning environments to improve teamwork as well as to reform education as a whole. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of EyeRIS to improve English Communication skills at the Primary School level at one of the elite private schools in Lahore, Pakistan. The study employed a qualitative structured interview for data collection. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample. The sample comprised five primary English language teachers. The findings of the study revealed that EyeRIS has a significant impact on improving the Communicative Skills of primary students. It helps to improve the receptive as well as productive skills of the primary level English language learners. Moreover, it is a powerful engagement and motivational tool in educational institutions. Overall, EyeRIS holds the potential for improving students' English language learning, academic performance as well as classroom behaviour.


Author(s):  
Bonny Norton

AbstractThis article has been developed from a keynote address given at the June 2015 Faces of English conference held at the University of Hong Kong. The article examines the trajectory of Bonny Norton’s research on identity and language learning, highlighting her construct of investment, developed as a sociological complement to the psychological construct of motivation (Norton, 2013). An important focus of the paper is the expanded 2015 model of investment (Darvin & Norton, 2015), which responds to the changing communicative landscape of an increasingly digital world, and locates investment at the intersection of identity, capital, and ideology. Norton exemplifies her theories with data drawn from her collaborative research on English language learning in Canada, Pakistan, Uganda, and Iran. With reference to digital storytelling as a promising classroom practice, she argues that the challenge for English language teachers internationally is to promote learner investment in the language and literacy practices of classrooms by increasing the range of identities available to English language learners.


Author(s):  
Kumar M Agarwal ◽  
L Novickis

This article explores teachers’ and students’ benefits of using Internet-based Language Learning(IBLL) which includes teaching the English Language. This paper reports on the advantages and disadvantages of using internet resources and computers to learn and teach the English language. Until quite recently, Internet-based Language Learning (IBLL) was a topic of relevance mostly to those with a special interest in that area. Recently, though, the internet has become so widespread in educational institutions and homes and its uses have expanded so dramatically that the majority of the English language teachers have started the implications of the Internet for language learning. This article provides brief overview of how internet resources can be used for language teaching. It focuses not on a technical description of software, but rather on the pedagogical questions that teachers should consider in using internet resources.


Author(s):  
Nasser Alasmari ◽  
Amal Alshae’el

English is now the most frequently used language worldwide. In academia, English has become “a hyper central language” millions of students are learning for various reasons. As such, pedagogists, academicians, and language teachers seek new tools and teaching methods to help English language learners reach high proficiency levels. The use of drama as a teaching/learning tool in English language classrooms is one proposed method, justifying this study to investigate the effects of teaching English language through drama, thus deciphering the advantages of this experience and possible challenges it may pose. Data was gathered via an English language test and classroom observations. Results showed that the use of drama develops participants’ language skills, especially the communicative ones such as interactions and conversations, and yields higher proficiency levels as it motivates them to become more engaged in the learning process. These participants also displayed more responsibility and self-reliance; thus, much learning took place. These results confirmed the general claim that introducing drama activities in language classrooms positively supports language acquisition. However, introduction of such a tool presented a few challenges as well, such as the learners’ problems of L1 interference, embarrassment, and inhibition, as well as issues related to the unpredictable and open-ended nature of drama. This paper presents more implications of the findings that necessitate further research to gain a more comprehensive account of drama use in language classrooms and thus overcome the challenges presented.


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