Are you using music as a learning format now? How? What would you like to explore here?
Reply by clairmtaylor Sep. 28, 2007 Hi.
I use music in all my EFL classes as an anchor to get students into a
learning state at the start of class and play it again at the end so
that they leave in a positive state. I also use BGM during some
activities to raise the energy level. I always give the students a
choice - music or quiet - I think the more choices we can give learners
in classrooms the better.

I also teach a class called English through Music where we look at lyrics of pop/rock songs. I'm still developing that course.
I don't know a lot about music at all, but someone just posted this
really interesting article from the Science Daily to another list, so I
thought I'd share. It basically says that music and language are
processed in the same places in the brain- one place for memory and
another place for syntax/rules. http://tinyurl.com/329ekh
If any of you stumble on that kind of research I'd be really
interested. I'm curious as to why I have taught some students who are
great at music (level 7 or 8 piano) but still beginner level at English
after 6-7 years of instruction. How can this be if they are using the
same parts of the brain?

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Reply by elderbob Brannan Sep. 28, 2007

Clair,
I enjoyed the article and have set up a box for Music Articles and
Links on the right. Hope you don't mind but I went ahead and added the
link to the article you suggested. Thanks again.
I like the idea of the "English through Music" class, and I wonder if
that is something we could explore for the big EVOnline presentation in
January and February....we might use it as an introduction to some
collaborative brain-storming.
elderbob

Permalink Reply by Dara 15 hours ago
Hi
there! I´m trying to follow this course the best I can... let´s start
here commenting on the uses I make of music in my lessons. So far,
since I´m a teacher of English, I´ve included music to promote and
encourage "free writing" which I think is a very interesting activity
´cause they can let their imagination flows according to the music and
don´t worry about good grammar, just writing.
Other uses I make for the language classroom is working with lyrics to
practice grammar points, vocabulary or intonation. Students love
learning songs of their favourite bands and singers..
I´d love to increase this poor list of uses,... so I´m looking forward to read everyone´s ideas!
Cheers!
Dara