Using music in second-language teaching

Research has shown that the benefits of using music in language classes are numerous; there is better vocabulary retention, improved pronunciation, and better grasp on the grammar, in addition to being authentic and motivating. Nevertheless, many teachers only use music as breaks from the more traditional study methods, instead of seeing it as a useful way to reach the goals.
Moreover, when they do include music as a part of the curriculum, they often stick to simple translations or gap-fill exercises. This paper introduces six different language lessons where music plays the key role. These methods can be implemented in different ways for different levels but the goal is always to improve the students’ language abilities. By including some or all of these lessons in their curriculum, teachers can add to the variety of their language class at the same time as they make the classes fun, authentic and beneficial for the students.