Poetry and Song Lyrics Can Be Useful in Learning Progress

 

English is one of the languages use internationally. Most people in this world use it as their daily language. In Indonesia’s society itself, it is often used as a language of interlude. I know english since i was in kindergarten. At first, i hate english because the language is hard to understand. Then, my parents put me in english course when i was in elementary school because my parents want me to know english better than them. Since then, i slowly know english and i love it. After this course thing, i learn english from many sources. I could learn english through poetry and song because poetry and song are forms of something that i know are beautiful. They contain aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language. What i got from poetry is words with many and deep meaning while i got feeling from songs. That’s the reason i want to know english better. From that, poetry and song can be used in classroom to introduce beautiful words. Utami (2018) stated that poems will motivate the students to improve their English, especially through its varied structure of its form, vocabulary, pronunciation, contextual meaning and grammar. Moreover, because of its rhythm and word choice, poetry is a good authentic material for teaching some productive skill such as communicative speaking activities, pronunciation, and writing activities. Also, the varied structure of its form makes poems appropriate tools for teaching basic concepts of grammar. Then, According to Hsu, et al. (2013) among these aspects, listening is an important capability of social interactions, and it has been found that people receive new messages more efficiently via listening than reading. The vital role of listening in communication begins with the recognition that listening is the first language skill to be acquired (Wolvin, 2009). In his study, he found that people listen for as much as 55% of their day.

First, a poem can spark off some wonderful creative writing. In the classroom the teacher can ask students to make poem. It stimulates students to use their creative writing skills. It can also ask them to make summaries of famous poems so that they are not only read it, but write down their opinions is also included in learning. So, it can be started from the title and ask the student what it means. Then, ask the student what kind of important decision in their life. After that, ask them to read the poem in front of the class. Second, the teacher can involve students in interactive and rewarding grammar drill by designing pattern poems which focus on a particular aspect of grammar and syntax so that the students get new words and meaning everyday. Finch (2003) stated that a familiar item of vocabulary can be used as an acronym, in order to promote a number of teaching aims (spelling, vocabulary, dictionary usage). To do that skills, students have to find their own poems. After that, they have to identify the words and the meaning of it. Third, poetry can improve communicative speaking activities and pronounciations skill. You can use poetry as a communication with others. Besides that, the teacher can also ask students to read poetry in class so that they learn how to pronounce and also practice intonation and word fragments in English. There are many other things that we can learn from a poem. Therefore, it is appropriate to use poetry as a learning medium in the classroom. Besides you can get useful knowledge, students can also find learning media that they like, so that the knowledge will be more quickly captured and studied by students.

         There are several reasons that a song might help learners. Learners like music activities. It helps them to relax and beneficial in learning second language. Brand & Li (2009) advocated that using song lyrics in helping to create a natural speaking environment that more closely to the intercultural communication skills is necessary for students to understand English and to be understood by others. However, songs can present a problem, particularly with teenage students; because it is often difficult to know exactly which songs the students like at any particular time, and which songs, very popular last week have suddenly gone (Harmer, 2007, p.320). To teach the students, teacher needs to play a song twice so the students can listen to the song clearly. After that, teachers need to explain form and features tenses that used in the song and ask the students to find the tenses in that song.

In conclusion, poetry and song lyrics can be used as material for learning in the classroom. There are many benefits that we can take from poetry and song lyrics, such as increasing knowledge about vocabulary and grammar, listening, writing, speaking, and reading. However, it should be noted that not all methods can be effective in the classroom because there are some students who may not be interested in the learning method.

 

References:

Harmer, J. (2007). The practice of English language teaching. Fourth Edition. United Kingdom: Pearson Education Ltd.

Hsu, C. et al. (2013). Effects of video caption modes on English listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition using handheld devices. Educational Technology & Society, 16 (1), pp. 403-414.

Brand, M. & Li, X. (2009). Effectiveness of music on vocabulary acquisition, language usage, and meaning for mainland Chinese ESL learners. Contributions to Music Education Vol.36, No. 1, pp. 73-84.

Wolvin, A. D. (2009). Listening, Understanding, and Misunderstanding. 21st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook. SAGE Reference Online, pp.137-47.

Liva, C., & Bunau, E. (2015). IMPROVING THE STUDENTS’ SPEAKING ABILITY THROUGH ENGLISH SONG. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran Khatulistiwa, 4(2)

Utami, I. (2021). LEARNING ENGLISH THROUGH POETRY FOR EFL STUDENTS. Retrieved 9 April 2021, from http://journal2.um.ac.id/index.php/jbs/article/view/123