| Using Music in English or Foreign Language Learning | | | | in the EFL Classroom".o Improves Creativity |
| How can you effectively use music in your English or | | | | In previous article posts we discussed the effect of |
| foreign language learning class room? Why, we can | | | | music on altering the brain-wave state of the brain. |
| hardly count the ways. Listening to certain types of | | | | This has a direct impact on creativity and imagination. |
| music has quite a number of additional benefits which | | | | Try this: Close your eyes while listening to a piece of |
| go far beyond teaching and learning. The impact of | | | | Mozart, Chopin or Beethoven. Notice how images |
| music and songs in ELT is, in fact, profound. But let's | | | | immediately start to flow through your mind. Input a |
| have a brief overview of some other of listening to | | | | problem or specific theme and your right, left and |
| music's many benefits. | | | | subconscious will all work together to give you not one, |
| Benefits of Listening to Music:o Learning Time is | | | | but several solutions to a problem or scenario.o Injuries |
| Reduced | | | | Heal More Quickly |
| By lowering the "barriers" or Affective Filter to learning, | | | | Is music used in hospitals in your area? In many health |
| students of all types can acquire information and skills | | | | centers, clinics and hospital wards, including maternity |
| in a much shorter period of time. By having a more | | | | wards, delivery rooms and intensive-care units, music is |
| relaxed, attentive and receptive state, most students | | | | used to aid in controlling and maintaining a relaxed, |
| can learn more in a shorter period of time. This can be | | | | positive state of mentality among patients. The medical |
| equally true for English and foreign language teachers | | | | staff benefits from the music too.o Integrates the Right |
| as well as the learners.o Learner Test Scores Improve | | | | and Left Brain Hemispheres |
| Test-taking anxiety is one of the major causes of | | | | The "The Theory of Dual Psychology" states that the |
| poor exam results among many different types of | | | | brain uses each of its two hemispheres for different |
| foreign language and other learners. Several different | | | | types of functions. Located in the right brain |
| types of music are proven to be effective in reducing | | | | hemisphere are creativity, imagination, color, music and |
| varieties of stress and test-taking anxiety, therefore | | | | intuition. While located in the left brain hemisphere are |
| resulting in improved test scores. More relaxed, | | | | spoken and written language, logical thinking and |
| stress-reduced learners (and teachers too) typically | | | | reasoning, numbers and some physical skills. The two |
| perform better.o Has a Calming Effect on | | | | brain hemispheres are connected by a structure called |
| Hyperactivity | | | | the Corpus Callosum. Music has the effect of helping |
| Not only is music an emotional-state modifier, it aids in | | | | to integrate the two brain hemispheres for improved |
| calming hyper-activity in both children and adults. | | | | thinking and learning ability. |
| Classical, Baroque period and easy-listening music are | | | | In the upcoming companion article post entitled, "How |
| a frequently-used tool in centers for hyper-active, | | | | Listening to Music Influences English Language |
| learning-disabled and autistic children worldwide. | | | | Teaching Learning and Everyday Life" we'll continue to |
| Suggestions of musical works to try out were offered | | | | overview benefits of listening to music for teaching, |
| in a previous article post entitled, "Using Classical Music | | | | learning and in our everyday life. See you again then. |