Chage & Aska are one of the first Japanese singers who made me interested in learning Japanese. Back in the 1980s the duo were one of the more popular Japanese groups. Their songs could be heard on the radio and I used to listen to them when I was in secondary school. Since then I have moved on and listen to a variety of Japanese singers and am currently more into Korean pop songs.
Next term we will be touching on the theme Japan for one of our English units. I feel that it would be appropriate to give the students an introduction to the country through getting them to list to Japanese music. I could also use the same material which I prepare for the English class for my 8 music classes and it will lessen the time needed to do lesson planning.
Nowadays students are more into listening to pop and rock music then ancient classical music. To be able to capture their attention and interest lessons have to be packaged into byte size packages which have “Ommph”.
Music transcends through language and time barriers. A catchy tune or a melodious instrument stirs more interest then just passively looking at pretty pictures of the various places of interest in Japan.
I have picked out a few different Japanese Artiste to highlight to the students.
Ayumi Hamasaki is one of the leading ladies in J-Pop. I’m sure her pretty face and catchy music will certainly appeal to the older kids in my music class.
SMAP is one of the boy bands which I also loved listening to. Their song ” Lion Heart” is my all time favourite.
Through the introduction of these Japanese Singers to the class I am hoping it will help to stir their interest in Japanese Culture and the learning of Japanese as a foreign language.
If the students are interested we may even dabble into the learning of basic Japanese during the English/music lesson. It sure beats having to get the students attentively listen to Bach or Beethoven when I know that the majority are not inclined to classical music.
How are English/Music lessons conducted in your school?
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=fe10db8e-2bac-4924-a79a-41ad06951bf1)
More From Dominique Goh
- What to Expect on the first day of P1 | From Dominique's Desk
- Introducing Photography to Kids
- All about Rain – Monday’s Music
Dominique Goh Recommends
- Eight recycling ideas you’ll probably never use. You’re welcome. (MommyPerks)
- How to Lower Your Grocery Budget (gourmetfrugality)
It makes a lot of sense that music would be a great tool in learning a foreign language.
.-= vered | blogger for hire´s last blog ..Sex And The City: I Hate It Too =-.
I think the style must be an acquired taste. I would probably prefer something much more traditional and ancient. Even in English I have difficulty distinguishing words when sung. Probably not the best medium for learning for me personally. It does seem studies indicate many children learn more effectively with music. I’ve begun wondering whether I have an impairment lately that I never recognized for what it is and is perhaps becoming more pronounced with age.
@Sukhmandir,
Most kids that I teach do respond well to music which are age appropriate to the group. Even with my toddlers I feel that they learn much faster and more interested in languages when they are first introduced to songs/poetry in that language. At present my 3yr old loves rattling off the Chinese songs which he has just learned these few months.
Japan is actually filled with interesting people and culture. I really want to have the chance to go there someday.
Here’s my WW entry for this week.
Happy WW!
.-= Mommie On Top´s last blog ..WW004 – Sun, Sea, and Sky =-.