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A Different Use for French Songs in the Classroom
Author(s) -
Melpignano Richard J.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
foreign language annals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1944-9720
pISSN - 0015-718X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1944-9720.1980.tb01379.x
Subject(s) - lyrics , transcription (linguistics) , comprehension , grammar , linguistics , psychology , spoken language , singing , computer science , literature , art , philosophy , management , economics
A pedagogical resource that has not been investigated in depth but which has great potential for helping to develop students' aural comprehension of French is the transcription of song lyrics. Through a rigorously controlled process, the instructor, by using songs, can help to minimize the obstacles encountered by students trying to understand rapid spoken French. The method is simple and adaptable to third and fourth level students who have already attained a certain level of mastery of French grammar but whose aural comprehension is limited to taped exercises and to the instructor's slow, deliberate speech. The transcription of song lyrics is admittedly a challenging exercise, but it is one which provides the needed practice for comprehending spoken conversational French .