TEFL Villard Minnesota

Since the earliest childhood we enjoy songs. First mum sings to us, then we study singing in the kindergarten, later at school. We always listen to our favorite music and it makes us to feel happy. The same happens in the classroom. I would like to share my own experience using music and songs while working with students of different ages. Students of 3-4 years old like dancing and moving. They like using their gestures, express emotions. And surely, they repeat everything after their teacher. If the teacher touches his mouth and sings about it – the small students copy it. If the teacher run, walk, hop according to the music, sings, children try to do the same. So I think this method can be successfully used in the classroom in order to avoid agonizing and numerous repetitions. Song is the way to repeat and learn, but in a very fun and interesting way. Here I will give some reasons, why teachers should use songs in the classroom: - Song is an excellent way for teaching new vocabulary. While touching their own parts of bodies, showing ‘big' or ‘small' with the help of movements – students remember new words very quickly, because they are based on their own experience. - It`s fun. Activities during lessons with small children should be changed every 5 minutes. If not – kids will be bored very quickly and their attention will be lost irreversibly. A song – is a wonderful activity when students can make some short physical exercises, have a rest, but at the same time make a revision, unwittingly for themselves! - Songs contain repetitions. Instead of letting children to repeat a new word again and again, it`s better to turn on the music and move, dance! Some children cannot reproduce the words of the songs correctly. They sing what they hear, or what they have invented. In my opinion it`s not a big problem. The main – is that children take part in a process; others will be picked up in a surprising way! First song can be introduced without music. children can listen to the teacher`s voice. It`s a good idea, because teacher can sing more clearly and more slowly. It`s very important for the primary understanding. When I was just beginning to teach – I worried about my voice. It`s not very good, but now I know that it`s doesn`t matter for the students. The main – is that teacher is sincere and does everything with his students! Surely, not only small children, not only preschoolers can have fun while singing on their english lessons. Students who study at schools, who are already adults can and should sing too! Songs will help up in grammar introduction, listening, in attention development! For example we can play a game. Give every student a word, and when he or she hears it in the song, he should stand up. Also a teacher can prepare an activity, where students have to put the words of the song in the right order. This kind of activities develops attention. Songs can be used for gaps filling while working with course books or work sheets. The big advantage of the song – is that we can repeat it again and again, and after several times of listening, song words are printed on our minds! A good method for learning the language is listening to your favorite english songs. If students don`t know some words from it – they can check them in a vocabulary. After that, I think, that word will not be forgotten! Young or adult, I am sure, all the students like songs!