Page 9 - ELG2408 August Issue 491

NEWS
om the same song book
Singing fr
Singing from the same song book

Technology can enhance the use of music in language learning.

ombining the use of in this area. All participants At the beginning and end of the
music and technology were assessed to be at a similar 10-week study period, a set of three
during English language elementary level using the Oxford questionnaires were administered
Clearning improves students’ Quick Placement TEST at the (in Persian) to assess students’
academic achievement, creative start of the study. academic achievement, self-esteem
thinking and self-esteem, as The TELLTM intervention and creative thinking. Analyses of
found in a study by Meng Chen, comprised one 60-minute session these scores showed that the music
Mohammad Mohammadi and per week over 10 weeks. In sessions significantly increased all
Siros Izadpanah at Harbin Normal these sessions the class would three attributes.
University, China and Islamic typically watch a song on the The effect on academic
Asad University, Iran. class projector before learning and achievement is likely to occur via In this study, the teachers did
Both music and technology singing the song accompanied by several routes. The use of songs receive some initial training, but
are frequently used in the EFL movements, games and playing improves vocabulary, pronunciation, neither the music nor the technology
classroom and this particular musical instruments. timing, fluency and intonation. This was particularly challenging in these
study sought to assess their use in Well-known songs typical of learning process is also active, rather sessions, suggesting that major
combination, a technique called English nursery and primary than passive, improving motivation benefits are easily within reach of
technology-enhanced language schools were used, such as ‘Wheels and engagement. any phone-owning EFL teacher,
learning through music (TELLTM). on the bus’, ‘Wind the bobbin up’ Shared music is known to whether they consider themselves
In Zanjan, Iran, 360 elementary- and ‘Head, shoulders, knees and promote self-esteem and the musically talented or not.
level male learners were recruited toes’. These songs have strong, shared video performances and
from eight language learning simple rhythms and associated feedback may amplify this effect. REFERENCE
institutions and divided into movements. Adjusting for differences in n Chen, M., Mohammadi, M. and
an experimental group that Having obtained the initial scores, TELLTM sessions Izadpanah, S. (2024) Language
would experience the TELLTM appropriate consent, short videos accounted for 12% of the variation learning through music on the academic
intervention, and a control group. of the students’ performances in creative thinking scores in the achievement, creative thinking, and
The age range of learners was were shared with school managers, experimental groug; a strong effect self-esteem of the English as a foreign
broad, from seven to 27 years, as well as the students themselves for such a simple intervention of language (EFL) learners, Acta
which is typical of language schools and their families. just 10 weekly sessions. Psychologica 247: 104318
N
G
E
G
S
H
L
I
N
E
L
HELBLING ENGLISH
H
I
L
B
Herbert Puchta
and Gavin Biggs
with Anna Osborn

The brand-new six-level course for young learners.

helbling.com/english

editorial@elgazette.com 9