Music is a very powerful learning tool - many of the rhymes and songs learned in childhood often stay with us for the rest of our lives. Children enjoy the rhythms, patterns of songs and rhymes and often hum the tunes and sing the words in their heads, providing frequent opportunities for them to practise the new language.

Songs and rhymes allow children to access large chunks of more complex language in context. They offer the teacher a basis from which discrete language points can be developed and to which teachers can refer when revising those points in new contexts. Learning songs and rhymes helps to develop children’s working memory which is another essential tool in language learning.

Questions

- Which songs or rhymes do you remember from your own childhood? Why do you think you still remember them now?

- At what stage would you introduce children to the written form of a song or rhyme? Why?

Activity

Search the internet for authentic songs on websites such as www.mamalisa.com/world  

Consider the appropriateness of the subject and language. What prior knowledge will the children need and what knowledge will they gain? Consider how you can best present the song, using authentic pictures and text. 

Publications

CILT Young Pathfinder 6 Let’s join in! Rhymes, poems and songs.

CILT resource file 6 Rhythm and rhyme