SING & LEARN @ LYRICS TRAINING

Lyrics Training is a web application which one can read and listen to lyrics from music videos. It can be selected from a range of languages such as English, French, Dutch, Spanish, et cetera. Furthermore, one can select the game mode and starts to play the game. For the beginner and intermediate stage, the game requires learners to fill in the missing words from the lyrics, whereas for the expert level, one needs to type out the complete lyrics of a song. There is a timer at the bottom of the video for students to monitor their progress in the game. The music can also be replayed if students need to hear it for once again.  

INTEGRATION OF LYRICS TRAINING IN AN ESL CLASSROOM 

Example 1 (Listening Activity):

1. Firstly, teacher could play a song, which has been chosen from the lyrics training website, to the class. At this stage, only the song will be played, not the video.
2. Students will have to listen carefully and understand the lyrics of the song. The song will be played for a second time. 
3. Then, students will be divided into groups of three to complete a task. They will have to fill in the missing words of the song lyrics which could be extracted from the beginner level game in the lyrics training website or which has been prepared by the teacher. 
4. The teacher could replay the song if the students are having difficulty to complete it. After that, the teacher could show the music video to the students for them to check their answers. From here, the grammar and vocabulary that have been tested could be re-emphasized. 
5. Lastly, teacher could move on to the intermediate level or the expert level of the game. This could be carried out as a whole class activity.  

Example 2 (Self-Learning Activity):

1. Teacher could introduce this tool for students to learn and build up their language at home. 
2. The students should first be encouraged to create an account in the Lyrics Training website so that they could keep a record on the scores gotten from the activities. 
3. From here, students could improve their pronunciation and spelling of English language or any other languages. Students could also refer to the dictionary if they found any new vocabulary from the song lyrics.

Advantages:

• It is an interesting and engaging way of acquiring  a language as the students could choose their favourite song to play with it.
• It is a FREE tool.
• Students are exposed to the authentic use of a language.
• It creates a fun and relaxing atmosphere in learning a language and thus lower the students' affective filter.  
• This tool could cater to students who acquire a knowledge better through music (musical intelligence).  

Limitations:

• Teacher cannot copy the lyrics easily to be used in class. Instead, teacher could refer to it and type in out.
• There is no referencing for the vocabulary or story line of the songs. Students need to search it themselves.
• It demands for internet connection, thus is a downside for people who do not have internet access. 
• Some of the music videos which taken from Youtube might disappear if the video has been removed from Youtube. 
• The selection of songs are quite limited.

Let's give it a go!!!

http://www.lyricstraining.com/play/17538/merry_christmas_darling/carpenters