An Investigation On The Effectiveness Of English Songs Towards Teaching English Language To Primary School Pupils In Tanzania: A Case Of Nachingwea District

ABSTRACT

This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of English songs towards English language teaching to primary school pupils in Tanzania and in Nachingwea District in particular. Specifically the study aimed at examining factors that may bring about effective use of English songs to teach the English language in primary schools. It also assessed the conformity of strategies for using English songs employed by English language teachers to the principles of teaching and learning English as a second language in primary schools. Likewise, it examined the opinions of the English language teachers, English language learners and other education stakeholders that can improve the use of English songs and make them an effective technique of teaching the English language in Tanzanian primary schools. The sample size of this study was one hundred and fifty one (151) respondents obtained through both deliberate and random sampling. The instruments for data collection were questionnaires, interviews and observation. The study was guided by comprehensible input and the affective filter hypotheses developed by Stephen Krashen under the theory of second language acquisition. The study reveals that books which contain English songs to be used should be available. Likewise, audio and audiovisual teaching/learning materials should be availed. Again, frequent workshops and seminars pertaining to English song usage should be conducted alongside motivating teachers who compose and use English songs. The content to be learned should be presented in songs. There should be reasonable number of learners in the language class. Teachers‟ level of education and reasonable English language teachers‟ workload should also be taken into consideration. These were cited to be the most important factors that may bring about vi effective use of English songs during teaching the English language. The study reveals that way English language teachers use English songs does not conform to the principles of teaching English as a second language. On top of that, the study exhibits various ways for improving the use of English songs and making them an effective technique of English language teaching and learning in Tanzanian primary schools. The study recommends that the government and all education stakeholders must pay attention and spare no efforts to ensure the use of English songs and other English language teaching and learning techniques are effective.