I
f it’s true that listening skills are
the most important outcomes of
early language teaching (Demirel
2004), that explains the constant
demand for methods that successfully
improve listening skills of learners.
Songs can be one of the most enjoyable
ways to practice and develop listening
skills. Any syllabus designed for
teaching English as a Second/Foreign
Language (ESL/EFL) to young learners
(YLs) typically contains songs,
chants, and rhymes (Bourke 2006).
Musical expression is an essential part
of the human experience, and children
respond enthusiastically to songs
and welcome them.
Klein (2005) argues that teaching
YLs is different from teaching
adults. YLs tend to change their mood
every other minute, and they find it
extremely difficult to sit still. On the
other hand, children show greater
motivation than adults to do things
that appeal to them. It therefore helps
if the teacher is inventive and selects
a wide variety of interesting activities,
especially with songs.