STUDYING THE ADVANTAGES OF MUSIC IN ENGLISH IN THE PROCESS OF ENGLISH LEARNING ON 9th GRADERS AT LICEO ROBERTO BRENES MESÉN

UNIVERSIDAD MAGISTER

Ramón León CastilloEsteban Solano Picado

Enero,2016

To analyze the way that the general English performance is triggered by the usage of music on 9th graders at Liceo Roberto Brenes Mesén during the period 2015 in order to improve their knowledge

PROBLEM STATEMENT

How the general English performance triggered by the used of music in the learning process at Liceo Roberto Brenes Mesén ?

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

1. To recognize the styles of learning of 9th graders

students. 2. To identify some skills within the 9th graders

students. 3. To determinate the approaches teachers have

been applying with 9th graders students 4. To propose a set of techniques to improve

English competences by using music

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

VARIABLES

1. English language

2. General characteristic of 9th graders.

3. Methods of English teaching.

4. Music as a triggering mechanism in the English

learning process

Today the English language occupies very important place in the lives of Costa Ricans and, at the beginning of the seventies that language took more strength and became a necessity, so the Ministry of Education increased its efforts to reinforce learning of young people in public institutions

JUSTIFICATION

LICEO ROBERTO BRENES MESEN

Location: SanJosé, Hatillo Dos, next to INA.

The mission focuses on the integral formation of young people who are able to meet the economic and social demands and conflict resolution through dialogue, taking into account the requirements of technological advances, through a process that combines national education policies and rescuing the values that characterize a Costa Rican.

VISION

Promote integrated individuals, able to face the problems of modern society, based on ethical principles and moral values. It intends to cooperate with the other institutions of the circuit, so all together will develop a quality education.

MISSION 

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

In order to understand this research clearer this chapter it will be found all the concepts, studies, theories and different information. It might be needed to read or review these terms, theories, researches and concepts before.

DEFINITION OF EDUCATION

Education can be given of many definitions however there is one well asserted in which education is defined as “an act or process”. In other worlds, it is the result produced by instruction, training, or study

English is conceived of as a linguistic and cultural tool for communication, which allows the learner to complete his/her whole education.

It also allows the learner to apply techniques to understand and produce appropriate oral and written messages.

THE PURPOSE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING IN THE COSTA RICAN SYSTEM

The importance of using songs in the English classroom and how it can be implement to teach pronunciation is analyzed here. Students of all ages have a strong interest in music.

To understand and improve the production of sounds, English as a foreign Language teachers are given these ideas to analyze songs by using grammar, pronunciation and culture.

PRONUNCIATION, GRAMMAR, AND CULTURE

The use of music in the classroom provides many different advantages like:

Establishing a positive learning state. Energizing learning activities. Increasing attention. Improving memory. Imagination. Developing inspiration and motivation, and adding an

element of fun.

MUSIC AS A TOOL

Songs can simplify the familiar language, use natural rhythm, stress, intonation contractions, slangs, expressions and authentic material and communicative repetition, all of which help to create vocabulary and it helps to create other language structures.

MUSIC AS A WAY OF COMUNICATION

  Depending on the rhythm and the lyrics of a song a

person can feel different emotions.

A song produces effects on the brain and thinking “Research has shown that during a study that music can change brain waves and make the brain more receptive to learn.

MUSIC EFFECTS ON LEARNING PROCESS

Songs can help to promote a relaxing, stress-free atmosphere in the classroom.

Songs can stimulate strong feelings that can be motivated.

Songs can be used to build listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills; to increase vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation; and to expand cultural knowledge.

REASONS FOR USING SONGS IN THE ENGLISH CLASSROOM

Songs often include a lot of repetition that helps to make language easier to learn.

Songs may integrate students with different intelligences and learning styles.

Songs contain chunks of language that people in general can remember and use.

REASONS FOR USING SONGS IN THE ENGLISH CLASSROOM

INTERPRETATIONS OF THE RESULTS

LEARNING STRATEGIES APPLIED BY THE TEACHER

38%

54%

8%

Individual work Pairs work Group work

According with the Graph number N°1, the 54% of the students think that teachers are applying strategies to get easier the English learning process, the 8% of the population think that teachers do not use a lot strategies.

Source: Chart Nº 1

AMOUNT OF HOURS THAT STUDENTS LISTEN TO MUSIC IN ENGLISH

31%

61%

2%

A lot Little Nothing

According to the Graph N° 4, the students answered that 61% of them have a little participation in class, while the 31% of them have a lot participation when the teacher is giving the topics.

Source: Chart Nº 3

OPINION 0F THE STUDENTS ABOUT ENGLISH CLASSES

46%

42%

12%

Dynamic Monotonous Boring

Source: Chart Nº 4

In this Graph N° 5 we can appreciate that the 46% of the population interview answered that usually English classes are very dynamic, the 12% of the students think that English classes are boring.

IMPORTANCE GIVEN TO ENGLISH NOWADAYS

31%

58%

4%7%

Indespensable Very important Less important Nothin import

In this Graph N° 6, the 58% of the students from Liceo Roberto Brenes Mesén think English is very important nowadays, while the 4% of them think English is less important.

Source: Chart Nº 5

When using a song, teachers may think that they will be wasting time out of the lesson; however, a song may be more powerful and useful than a professor’s speech, lecture or explanation if professors know how to handle it.

CONCLUSIONS

1- ENGLISH LANGUAGE

The lack of technology in English area affects students and English teachers.

The environment is not appropriate for a successful learning process, for the proximity of the freeway to the institution.

CONCLUSIONS ACCORDING EACH VARIABLE

2-GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC OF 9TH GRADERS.

There are lots of things a teacher can take advantage of in a short piece of lyrics, first thing a teacher must think about how students are in this case, students of 9th grade can be very different from students from seventh grade, their background, their needs, interests and also how they are living in their homes, the quantity of students in a class complicates the development of the class and the improvement process, warm up activities will help students to be motivated and see from a different perspective the acquisition of this foreign language.

CONCLUSIONS ACCORDING EACH VARIABLE

3-METHODS OF THE ENGLISH LEARNING 

A teacher cannot start a class without thinking that every student is different and learn in a different way, probably in a classroom a teacher can have more than one student with a different learning style, so it is very important before starting a lesson take in to account every kind of students we will have in a classroom.

CONCLUSIONS ACCORDING EACH VARIABLE

4-MUSIC AS A TRIGGERING MECHANISM IN THE ENGLISH LEARNING PROCESS

The music join the process of teaching with the process of learning, but motivation is a must, without motivation they cannot be joined, also teachers should know to operate different technological devices in a correct way. To give an example, a regular tape in a cassette player can be much more effective than a laptop computer with a karaoke program as long as the operation or control of the machine is acceptable.

CONCLUSIONS ACCORDING EACH VARIABLE

1-ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Liceo Roberto Brenes Mesén does not count with a lot of technology, the English department sadly just has one laboratory and it is for technologies, it is not available to teach Academic English.

RECOMMENDATIONS

If the institution tries to reinforce English in this aspect, students will finish high school with a highest English level because listen to a teacher every day is not enough, they need to listen to different accents pronunciations and expressions, and one way to fulfill this necessity can be by using music, but most of the time teachers doesn’t have equipment or devices for it

1-ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING PROCESS

Students need to be in silence and behave correctly while the English teacher is developing the class.

3-METHODS OF THE ENGLISH LEARNING

Teachers should update themselves about technology and use of new types of devices or equipment in order to use them in class with students.

2-GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC OF 9TH GRADERS.

Teachers should take time to look for songs they can use with their students in class, and analyze their learning style and type of intelligence, to look for the best way to teach them, and also to know how to use music to teach them.

4-MUSIC AS A TRIGGERING MECHANISM IN THE LEARNING PROCESS.

PROPOSAL OF A SET OF TEACHING STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

BY USING MUSIC WITH 9TH GRADERS AT LICEO ROBERTO BRENES MESÉN.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To implement strategies for starting of teaching English by using music at Liceo Roberto Brenes Mesén 

PROPOSAL OF A SET OF TEAHING STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY USING MUSIC TO 9TH GRADERS.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

To create a lesson plan where listening English music will be fundamental to students improve their English knowledge.

To motivate students to get interested in the English classes prepared by the teacher using music.

To introduce material for the development of the English classes at Liceo Roberto Brenes Mesén.

PROPOSAL OF A SET OF TEAHING STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY USING MUSIC TO 9TH GRADERS.

SCOPE

The present project is focused on including English music to apply the listening skill in the regular English class, permitting to the students improve their knowledge performance and to understand better about English pronunciation when they hear something. 

The use of different resources such as technological and authentic materials will catch the students attention given them the opportunity to learn in different ways doing the process more interesting and divert.

PROPOSAL OF A SET OF TEAHING STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY USING MUSIC TO 9TH GRADERS.

DEVELOPING OF THE PROPOSAL

 

EXPRESSIONS 1. Which word in the song means UNDERSTAND?

___________________________ 2. Which word in the song means NEVER END?

______________________________ 3. Which word means TOO MANY PEOPLE IN ONE

PLACE? _________________ 4. Which expression means HAVE NO IDEA?

_______________________

IDEAS FOR PRACTICING ABJECTIVES BY USING A SONG.

Teachers in classrooms can use computers to enhance listening skills and verbal interaction, and to support a variety of language functions.

TO INTRODUCE A NEW AND TECHNOLOGICAL MATERIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENGLISH CLASSES AT LICEO ROBERTO BRENES

MESÉN

 Computers have become a great resource for the learning processes of the English language, its use motivation as a fundamental tool.

The recorders are another great item to all the teachers can use for teaching listening in the classroom.

Projector are a great resource, with the use of speakers can be projected and explain the music in English in a very clear way for 9th graders at Liceo Roberto Brenes Mesén.

TECHNOLOGICAL MATERIALS

ACADEMIC IMPACT

With the applying of this proposal, the students at Liceo Roberto Brenes Mesén High School will improve their listening skills, taking the opportunity to the students get a better English level for some better jobs possibilities.

IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL

Materials cost (colons) cost (dollars)Photocopies 25,000 45,95

Video beam 400,000 735,294

Computer 250,000 459,558

Records 170,000 312,5

Paper 100,000 183,825

Total 945,000 1737,127

COST OF THE PROPOSAL

Source: León, Ramón, Solano, Esteban (2015)Note: According the exchange from BNCR at December 2015 at ¢544.

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