WHEN MUSIC MEETS LEARNING: HOW 7TH GRADERS IMPROVED THEIR ENGLISH SKILLS THROUGH SONGS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30587/inatesol.v2i1.9813Keywords:
English songs, listening comprehension, vocabulary recognition, classroom action research, language learningAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of English songs in improving listening comprehension and motivation among 7th-grade EFL students. Using a two-cycle classroom action research design, the study involved 30 participants who engaged with carefully selected English songs. Data were collected through pre- and post-tests, observations, and student questionnaires, then analyzed using mixed methods. Results showed a significant improvement in listening skills, with average test scores increasing from 65 to 82, alongside enhanced vocabulary recognition and comprehension. Qualitatively, 88% of students reported higher motivation and enjoyment, citing reduced anxiety and greater confidence during listening tasks. The findings demonstrate that songs, particularly when adjusted for tempo and lexical difficulty, serve as a powerful tool for fostering both cognitive and affective gains in language learning. Teachers are encouraged to integrate music into lessons to create a dynamic and low-pressure learning environment. Future research should explore the long-term effects of song-based interventions and the impact of different music genres on language acquisition.
References
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Bakoko, R., & Pratiwi, D. I. (2021). The application of cooperative principle in learning spoken English. International Journal of Education and Language, 1(1).
du Vivier, M. (1994). Using Music and Songs. ELT Journal, 48.
Engh, D. (2013). Why use music in English language learning? a survey of the literature. English Language Teaching, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v6n2p113
Fitria, T. N. (2021). Investigating the Emergence of Digital Platforms for Listening Learning Proficiency. Al-Lisan, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.30603/al.v7i2.2217
Gonulal, T. (2022). Improving Listening Skills with Extensive Listening Using Podcasts and Vodcasts. International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.33200/ijcer.685196
Iskandar, I., Sumarni, S., Dewanti, R., & Asnur, M. N. A. (2022). Infusing Digital Literacy in Authentic Academic Digital Practices of English Language Teaching at Universities. International Journal of Language Education, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v6i1.31574
Isnaini, S., & Aminatun, D. (2021). Do You Like Listening To Music?: Students’ Thought On Their Vocabulary Mastery Using English Songs. Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.33365/jeltl.v2i2.901
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Lucas, C. M. P. C. (2022). Teaching English to Young Learners: Second Language Acquisition or Foreign Language Learning? - A Case Study. World Journal of English Language, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.5430/WJEL.V12N1P50
Maruf, N. (2023). The Interplay Of Teachers’ Beliefs, Attitudes, And The Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In Indonesian Efl Contexts. English Review: Journal of English Education, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v11i2.7251
Maruf, N., & Anjely, A. M. R. (2020). Utilizing Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) with mobile Learning to Enhance Students’ Reading Comprehension. British (Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra Inggris), 9(2), 10–19.
Maruf, N., & Helingo, A. (2022). Assessment Strategy to Rectify EFL Students’ Performance: A Need Analysis. JET ADI BUANA, 7(02). https://doi.org/10.36456/jet.v7.n02.2022.6191
Millington, N. T. (2011). Using Songs Effectively to Teach English to Young Learners. Language Education in Asia, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.5746/leia/11/v2/i1/a11/millington
Nadiyya, R., & Suryadi, S. (2024). The Power of English Music to Improve Students’ Listening Skills. Ideguru: Jurnal Karya Ilmiah Guru, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.51169/ideguru.v9i2.772
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Saarikallio, S. H., Randall, W. M., & Baltazar, M. (2020). Music Listening for Supporting Adolescents’ Sense of Agency in Daily Life. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02911
Salcedo, C. S. (2010). The Effects Of Songs In The Foreign Language Classroom On Text Recall, Delayed Text Recall And Involuntary Mental Rehearsal. Journal of College Teaching & Learning (TLC), 7(6). https://doi.org/10.19030/tlc.v7i6.126
Tavadze, L., Diasamidze, I., & Katamadze, N. (2021). Using Songs to Motivate Students. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences, 20. https://doi.org/10.55549/epess.1038714
Uchihara, T., & Clenton, J. (2023). The role of spoken vocabulary knowledge in second language speaking proficiency. Language Learning Journal, 51(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2022.2080856
Ulyah, F., Anwar, K., & Maruf, N. (2021). The Application of English Songs in Teaching Conditional Sentences through Google Classroom. Budapest International Research and …, August.
Vandergrift, L. (2007). Recent developments in second and foreign language listening comprehension research. Language Teaching, 40(3). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444807004338
Wahyudin, A. Y., & Wahyuni, A. (2022). Exploring Students’ Learning Style and Proficiency at a University in Indonesia: A Quantitative Classroom Research. TEKNOSASTIK, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.33365/ts.v20i2.2150
Wardiman, M., Aminah, A., & Dewi, A. (2022). The Use Of English Songs To Improve Students’ Vocabulary Mastery. E-Journal of ELTS (English Language Teaching Society), 10(1). https://doi.org/10.22487/elts.v10i1.2224
Yelnim, Y., & Kartawijaya, S. (2021). Improving Student’s Listening Skill by Using Song at Second Semester of STIE-SAK Academic Year 2021/2022. JURNAL SYNTAX IMPERATIF : Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Pendidikan, 2(5). https://doi.org/10.36418/syntax-imperatif.v2i5.109
Yuyun, I., & Simamora, F. Y. (2021). Use Of Youtube To Support Efl Students’ Listening Skills. ELLTER Journal, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.22236/ellter.v2i2.7512
Alzamil, J. (2021). Listening Skills: Important but Difficult to Learn. Arab World English Journal, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no3.25
Apriyanti, D. (2022). The Comparison Between Joox and Spotify in Improving Student’s Listening Skills. Jurnal Pustaka Ilmu, 2(2).
Bakoko, R., & Pratiwi, D. I. (2021). The application of cooperative principle in learning spoken English. International Journal of Education and Language, 1(1).
du Vivier, M. (1994). Using Music and Songs. ELT Journal, 48.
Engh, D. (2013). Why use music in English language learning? a survey of the literature. English Language Teaching, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v6n2p113
Fitria, T. N. (2021). Investigating the Emergence of Digital Platforms for Listening Learning Proficiency. Al-Lisan, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.30603/al.v7i2.2217
Gonulal, T. (2022). Improving Listening Skills with Extensive Listening Using Podcasts and Vodcasts. International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.33200/ijcer.685196
Iskandar, I., Sumarni, S., Dewanti, R., & Asnur, M. N. A. (2022). Infusing Digital Literacy in Authentic Academic Digital Practices of English Language Teaching at Universities. International Journal of Language Education, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v6i1.31574
Isnaini, S., & Aminatun, D. (2021). Do You Like Listening To Music?: Students’ Thought On Their Vocabulary Mastery Using English Songs. Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.33365/jeltl.v2i2.901
Kamil, A. T. (2024). Exploring the Relationship Between Students ’ Listening to English Pop Songs and Vocabulary Mastery. 1(1), 39–53.
Lems, K. (2001). Using Music in the Adult ESL Classroom. ERIC Digest, 3(December).
Lucas, C. M. P. C. (2022). Teaching English to Young Learners: Second Language Acquisition or Foreign Language Learning? - A Case Study. World Journal of English Language, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.5430/WJEL.V12N1P50
Maruf, N. (2023). The Interplay Of Teachers’ Beliefs, Attitudes, And The Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In Indonesian Efl Contexts. English Review: Journal of English Education, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v11i2.7251
Maruf, N., & Anjely, A. M. R. (2020). Utilizing Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) with mobile Learning to Enhance Students’ Reading Comprehension. British (Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra Inggris), 9(2), 10–19.
Maruf, N., & Helingo, A. (2022). Assessment Strategy to Rectify EFL Students’ Performance: A Need Analysis. JET ADI BUANA, 7(02). https://doi.org/10.36456/jet.v7.n02.2022.6191
Millington, N. T. (2011). Using Songs Effectively to Teach English to Young Learners. Language Education in Asia, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.5746/leia/11/v2/i1/a11/millington
Nadiyya, R., & Suryadi, S. (2024). The Power of English Music to Improve Students’ Listening Skills. Ideguru: Jurnal Karya Ilmiah Guru, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.51169/ideguru.v9i2.772
Newton, J. M., & Nation, I. S. P. (2020). Teaching ESL/EFL listening and speaking. In Teaching ESL/EFL Listening and Speaking. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429203114
Rahman, J. S., Gedeon, T., Caldwell, S., Jones, R., & Jin, Z. (2021). Towards Effective Music Therapy for Mental Health Care Using Machine Learning Tools: Human Affective Reasoning and Music Genres. Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Soft Computing Research, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.2478/jaiscr-2021-0001
Saarikallio, S. H., Randall, W. M., & Baltazar, M. (2020). Music Listening for Supporting Adolescents’ Sense of Agency in Daily Life. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02911
Salcedo, C. S. (2010). The Effects Of Songs In The Foreign Language Classroom On Text Recall, Delayed Text Recall And Involuntary Mental Rehearsal. Journal of College Teaching & Learning (TLC), 7(6). https://doi.org/10.19030/tlc.v7i6.126
Tavadze, L., Diasamidze, I., & Katamadze, N. (2021). Using Songs to Motivate Students. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences, 20. https://doi.org/10.55549/epess.1038714
Uchihara, T., & Clenton, J. (2023). The role of spoken vocabulary knowledge in second language speaking proficiency. Language Learning Journal, 51(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2022.2080856
Ulyah, F., Anwar, K., & Maruf, N. (2021). The Application of English Songs in Teaching Conditional Sentences through Google Classroom. Budapest International Research and …, August.
Vandergrift, L. (2007). Recent developments in second and foreign language listening comprehension research. Language Teaching, 40(3). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444807004338
Wahyudin, A. Y., & Wahyuni, A. (2022). Exploring Students’ Learning Style and Proficiency at a University in Indonesia: A Quantitative Classroom Research. TEKNOSASTIK, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.33365/ts.v20i2.2150
Wardiman, M., Aminah, A., & Dewi, A. (2022). The Use Of English Songs To Improve Students’ Vocabulary Mastery. E-Journal of ELTS (English Language Teaching Society), 10(1). https://doi.org/10.22487/elts.v10i1.2224
Yelnim, Y., & Kartawijaya, S. (2021). Improving Student’s Listening Skill by Using Song at Second Semester of STIE-SAK Academic Year 2021/2022. JURNAL SYNTAX IMPERATIF : Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Pendidikan, 2(5). https://doi.org/10.36418/syntax-imperatif.v2i5.109
Yuyun, I., & Simamora, F. Y. (2021). Use Of Youtube To Support Efl Students’ Listening Skills. ELLTER Journal, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.22236/ellter.v2i2.7512
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Published
2025-05-16
How to Cite
Pratiwi, Y. H. I., & Yaw-kan, J. P. (2025). WHEN MUSIC MEETS LEARNING: HOW 7TH GRADERS IMPROVED THEIR ENGLISH SKILLS THROUGH SONGS. Indonesian Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Journal, 2(1), 184–193. https://doi.org/10.30587/inatesol.v2i1.9813
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