Lyrics Training

How can we use lyrics.com to improve reading comprehension and critical thinking?

Lyrics Training

Lyrics Training is a platform that offers a fun and easy way to improve your foreign language skills through music videos and lyrics from your favourite songs. It also features a karaoke mode, allowing you to sing and enjoy the full lyrics. Lyrics Training helps you learn new vocabulary, expressions, and grammar concepts through continuous exercise. It also trains your ear to recognize foreign language sounds and words quickly, training your brain almost unconsciously. Recent studies have shown that exposure to the sounds of another language sets up the necessary structures and connections for learning it. Music is also a fun way to learn, as it allows you to test your ability to recognize different sound patterns, unlike typical language class exercises where pronunciation is too perfect. lyrics Training is also a fun way to learn the lyrics of your favourite songs.

 

How it works

Play a song and test your listening comprehension by filling in lyrics gaps quickly, allowing your brain to handle the rest.

 

Enhance your listening

Training your brain to recognize foreign language words and sounds through listening to different accents and pronunciations enhances flexibility.

 

Expand your vocabulary

Learning new words and expressions in the context of song lyrics can be more effective than memorizing endless lists of isolated words or phrases.

 

Boost your grammar

Experts suggest that true language acquisition doesn't necessitate conscious use of grammatical rules; it can be gradually absorbed through daily practice.

 

Music and learning

Multiple studies have shown that music stimulates learning and promotes memorization in a natural way, just like when we were kids. Music has the power to shape your brain to make learning other languages easier and smoother.

 

Song Lyrics

Song lyrics are a valuable tool for developing broad comprehension skills in language classrooms. They can be used for comprehension exercises like 'gap-fills', re-ordering words, or matching related words. These exercises require students to listen for words or phrases connected to a specific grammatical focus or semantic field. However, song lyrics can also be used to develop broader comprehension and critical thinking skills.

 

Students can make predictions about meaning and confirm or reject these predictions as they read or listen to the lyrics. This approach emphasizes the students' interaction with the text and their contribution to the reading or listening process.

 

There are four reasons why song lyrics are useful for improving higher-order comprehension and critical thinking skills:

 

1. Lyrics are short, yet they can express a lot. This makes them ideal for intensive learning or zooming in on a particular learning approach.

 

2. Songs usually follow a similar structure, especially pop songs, which allow students to concentrate on meaning and overall comprehension.

 

3. Lyrics may express emotion, encouraging meaningful discussion in class.

 

4. The language in song lyrics is often vague, making the content personal and engaging.

 

Practicing     

To use song lyrics in class, teachers should encourage students to analyse the meaning of the song lyrics, compare the lyrics with other similar texts, or make personal connections. Creative possibilities are endless.

 

For example, using the 1995 song Lemon Tree by Fool's Garden, students can develop their reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills by analysing the lyrics, comparing them with similar texts, and making personal connections. By doing so, students can enhance their understanding and engagement with the text.

Students can enhance their productive skills by writing a story based on the lyrics of a song, such as "Lemon Tree." They can connect the song to their own experiences and make connections between the song and their own feelings. This can lead to meaningful classroom debates and creative writing. Students can write letters to the narrator, offer advice, continue the story, or write from the perspective of a friend. Engaging students in critical thinking skills helps them understand texts better and improves language learning by making them their own. Songs are an excellent way to teach these skills, making them an effective tool for teaching these skills.

 

Ways to use song lyrics to improve comprehension | British Council

 

 

Incorporating Critical Literacy Strategies Through the Use of Music/Song Lyrics to Enhance Social Studies Instruction

According with the research investigation made by Connor J. Julien (2006) critical literacy practices should be implemented in all classrooms, as they introduce students to cultural ideals and norms. Music and song lyrics can be used to incorporate these strategies, allowing students to think outside the box and engage with unfamiliar texts. Critical literacy techniques involve disrupting the commonplace, interrogating multiple viewpoints, focusing on sociopolitical issues, and acting and promoting social justice. Teachers should consider students' interests and preferences when incorporating critical literacy practices into instruction.

Incorporating critical literacy strategies through music/lyric analysis can enhance instruction in social studies content. Teachers should spend time selecting relevant music and lyrics, as many songs have explicit messages and ideas in the time period they were written. This action research project aimed to investigate the effectiveness of pairing critical literacy strategies with music/lyric analysis in the classroom. The results showed that incorporating critical literacy strategies through music/lyric analysis positively affected instruction in social studies content.

This action research study focuses on the effectiveness of incorporating critical literacy strategies through music/lyric analysis in social studies classrooms. It emphasizes the importance of carefully selecting music, researching background information, and creating meaningful activities that engage students from a critical perspective. The study also highlights the need for teachers to serve as facilitators of discussions, allowing the conversation to follow its own path.

For full effectiveness, teachers should incorporate written reflections throughout the lesson to measure if critical literacy practices are being implemented by students. Sluys (2006) project, which began under the guiding theoretical framework of Lewison, Flint, and Van Sluys (2006), involved three lessons incorporating critical literacy with song lyrics. Data was collected through active observation, teacher/student participant interviews, and questionnaires. The study demonstrates that pairing critical literacy strategies with music/lyric analysis is an effective method for social studies teachers to implement in the classroom.

 

References

Julien, C. J. (2006). Incorporating Critical Literacy Strategies Through the Use of Music/Song Lyrics to Enhance Social Studies Instruction. St. John Fisher University.