Application Of Popular English Songs In Language Classroom

Young educators in China begin to recognize the important role popular culture plays in students' life and study nowadays. There are researches abroad that show the significant correlation between musical abilities and reading achievement. Inspired by related theory and research from foreign countries, they try to explore how to combine pop culture with education in formal classroom. However, there are few theses in this field in China. Therefore, this study was undertaken to find out the relationship between popular English songs and language teaching and learning in formal classroom. Four data collection instruments were used in the study: a Self-structured Questionnaire, Student Interviews, Classroom Observation, and an Experiment. Descriptive research is mainly applied in the qualitative analysis while SPSS is used in the quantitative part. In accordance with the theories about motivation and learning, the data analyses are able to answer that more time and attention to pop music in an English curriculum would increase students' motivation; that learning through songs is more effective than memorization in isolation; and that song lyrics contain rich linguistic and cultural knowledge. To sum up, on basis of both the theoretical and experimental support, implications are made and some teaching techniques about applying English songs are also put forward. This paper ends with recommendations for further research.