Impact of English Songs in a Student’s life

Submitted by: GAYATHRE JOTHI KUMAR? ?

ABSTRACT:

?Music has the power to connect and influence people in a way that feels fundamentally different from other forms of communication.??

?Many resort to music to express themselves or find a sense of understanding among others.??Melodies have the power to inspire people, guide their actions, and aid in the formation of identities.??

?Quantitative and qualitative methods were used as part of the research. Music brings people together and boosts creativity. They are among the masses trying to find their role in society and form connections with others.??The main objective of this study was to provide a platform to students to express their opinion on the topic of “How music impacted their day to day life”.?

?The need for this study was to bring an understanding on how music plays an important yet not so vital role in a student’s life.?

?The study focuses on engineering students in Tamil Nadu studying in VIT where the first language is one native to their place and English being second preference.??

The study shows that age group of 18-20 are more or less inclined to listening to music at least an average of 2-3 hours a day, yet suggest that music does not help their vocabulary, listening, writing or speaking skills or should not be incorporated in classrooms as part of academics. Although a few responses do suggest that music classes be part of academics.??Lastly listening to English songs would bring you right collocation.??

KEYWORDS:??

Music, Impact, Vocabulary, Listening, English.??

INTRODUCTION:?

Recently, more learners tend to listen to English songs as a means to improve their language.?

They consider learning English in this manner is more easy and relaxing. A few can learn English happily with the background music whereas it’s just purely entertainment purposes for some. In addition, songs expose students to a wide vocabulary related to a particular theme. Yet, sometimes songs may or may not give you perfect pronunciation models. As you learn to sing them, you are practicing your pronunciation, you learn from native speakers, and you are learning how to speak better. The rhythm naturally leads to better pronunciation, better intonation, and more fluency.??

?In fact, listening to English songs is a useful and interesting way to learn English. It might be one of the best ways to retain or remember vocabulary and grammar that you hear in the lyrics. Also, your pronunciation on a few words may get better. In the past, students learned English mainly from textbooks often this was a boring experience that needed patience, motivation to make sure language learning continued. The variety of accents by the various singers also means that you improve your listening skills when you start paying attention to the lyrics.??

?Once you learn a few songs, you’ll start gathering an immense repertoire of songs and vocab. Just the fact that you start caring about the lyrics will activate your listening skills and listening to music in English will become an enjoyable learning exercise.??

Even listening to music while doing something else can help a little for things like getting used to the natural rhythm and tone of English speech, although the more time and attention you give to a song the more you will learn from listening to it again in the future.??

Music plays a very important or vital role in human life as explained by?THE TIMES INDIA. It also has major effects on a person’s health and brain growth. It increases memory, attention and physical co-ordination and development of mental health. Studies prove that listening to classical music helps in the regeneration of brain cells??as listening to music facilitates the regeneration and repair of cerebral nerves.?

?OBJECTIVE:?

?Impact of English songs on listening skills:

?The variety of accents by the various singers also means that you improve your listening skills when you start paying attention to the lyrics. Once you learn a few songs, you’ll start gathering an immense repertoire of songs and vocabulary. Just the fact that you start caring about the lyrics will activate your listening skills and listening to music in English will become an enjoyable learning exercise.?

Impact of English songs on speaking skills:

Yet, songs give you perfect pronunciation models. As you learn to sing them, you are practicing your pronunciation, you are imitating native speakers, and you are learning how to speak better. The rhythm naturally leads to better pronunciation, better intonation, and more fluency. Listening to English songs would surely bring you a correct collocation.??

It is quite natural that the learners of English as a second or foreign language encounter?problems in their pronunciation.?Songs give you perfect pronunciation models. As we?listen to the pronunciation, we tend to understand the words and how they are spelt and learn accordingly.?

Impact of English songs on vocabulary:

?Learning vocabulary is the important aspect for the students when they are studying English. The students need to make them enjoy in learning process. The teacher should be able to deliver the material well. Using media appropriately is also needed. Listening to songs provides a free platform to enhance our vocab. As you listen to the lyrics of a song you are exposed to new words which you tend to learn.?

Impact of English songs in daily life:

Music externs a powerful influence on people. It can boost memory, lighten your mood, reduce anxiety and stress and helps you work out more effectively,?

1-Impact of English songs on listening skills?

2-??Impact of English songs on speaking skills?

3-??Impact of English songs on vocabulary?

4-??Impact of English songs in daily life?

METHODOLOGY:?

Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used as part of the research. For this study, various types of questions were asked to the students. They are replied by students in Vellore Institute of Technology??studying currently in the first and second year. These questions were conveyed to students with the help of Google Forms.??

The pattern of questionnaire was MCQ type. Each question was provided with 3 to 4 options out of which they have to choose one. All the responses from 60 students were analysed in detail with the help of statistical graphs and referring other similar research papers. The survey contains questions which were asked to students to take their opinion on Songs in English literature. The questions in the survey have no wrong or right answer.??

All of the questions and its answers completely depending on the student’s wish.??

Statistical tools used:??

-Pie Charts?

-Bar graphs?

DISCUSSION:?

A total of 21 questions which comprised of 14 multiple choice questions 7 were fill in the given blank type of questions were asked, where students were asked in to fill in details such as Name, Hometown, Age group, Mother tongue etc.??

They were then asked a few questions regarding their opinion on whether or not songs must be incorporated in classrooms and to why they thought it would be a good idea or not likewise. Students were asked a few specific questions on their proffered type of music or to which theme they liked better out of the given options.??

The target audience in which the form was circulated to, mostly comprised of the age group between 19-20 yrs old.??

Followed by the persons hometown and mother tongue for vague details on whether or not they have a background where English is considered as their first language.??

?As mentioned in this pie chart most target audience listen to English songs on a regular basis, which might be mostly during their free time, while studying, while playing sports or while sleeping to relax themselves.?

Music also makes our bodies move. Research on the effects of music during exercise has been done for hundreds of years. In 1911, an American researcher, found that people pedal faster while listening to music than they did in silence. This happens because listening to music can drown out our brain’s cries of fatigue.??

Majority of the students (64.5%) vote that listening to music does help improve their English skills in multiple ways. Whereas 24.2% students are unsure if listening to music is the best way to increase their English skills. And 9.7%??vote the option “NO”.?

As per this report, students were asked on how many hours they spent listening to music and according to the pie chart 46.8% people spend a good one hour on listening to music on a daily basis. And 30.6% listen to music for two hours per day. More hours are spent according to the activity, such as studying for example, if it takes 2 hrs time, music is played for better focusing and concentration.??

In the given question students were asked if they listen to music on the intend of improving their English speaking skills and majority voted for the option “NO” as modern day popular songs comprise of basic vocabulary which students at a higher education level already have good knowledge on.??

?Singing songs out loud can improve your pronunciation and grammar. By repeating the words from the song the student will retain vocabularies easily. Listening to music in English will enhance language comprehension.??

?Music psychology in education can help in improving the student’s concentration as well as overcoming loneliness. Secondary school students, being teenagers, music has power to help them overcome conflicts. Music helps the students in improving their vocal skills as well as motivating them and enabling them moody throughout their learning.??

It exists in an extraordinarily wide array of genres and styles like vocal music (song, choral music, and opera), solo instrumental, chamber, orchestral, band and etc. We will listen to the music we love countless times over the course of our lives. We can multitask while listening to music. We can listen to music while running or washing clothes.??

Students were then asked on how they access music or which platform they prefer using to listen to songs and most preferred online platforms such as spotify and gaana etc. on the second highest is You Tube with 14.5% and then the radio on 11.3%. People generally prefer platforms such as spotify and gaana as they provide lyrics and easy download for continuous streaming.??

According to this graph, it shows a clear indication that students listen to music to improve concentration and to boost motivation which often happens while doing activities such as studying or playing a particular sport. Music helps bridge the gap between the auditory and motor nerves. This helps not just mentally but physically also. Hence “music makes you float”.???

According to the article, “ Is Music a Good Tool for Health “, by Elizabeth Scott, hospitals are using music as therapy to treat different illness, such as depression, pain, movement, and even cancer. First, the author states that research shows faster beats helps with concentration and focus, while slower music calms the mind. However, music has a lasting effect on an individual that is positive.??

Music during World War 2 was made to help get people through depression and motivate the men and women fighting in Europe and Asia. Everyone was into patriotism at this time including the music they listened to. At this time music has expanded its demographic to younger audiences, before it popular music was mainly appealing for adults.?

We all come to enjoy the music our parents played in our early life but as we grow up we add our own genre of music. The genre of music you choose mostly places you in a similar group of friends. For example someone who listens to mostly all country probably won’t fit in as well with the kids who listen to metal. Since everyone is like this, we have separated literature, music, art and so on into genres. With all the music, books, art, movies and more in the world, it would be very difficult to choose what to experience without genres, as you can tell a lot about a work by knowing its genre.??

?Certain features are expected for works of a specific genre. Everyone’s choice of music is greatly affected by influences. The genre we get into is all caused for the same reasons; family, friends, or social environments. A child who has grown up in the country might be exposed to mostly country music, while a child in the city might be used to rock or new pop music on the radio.??

FINDINGS:??

?1-?According to the solutions received, majority of people listen to English songs on a regular basis.?

2-?On an average students listen to music for about 1-2 hours while performing some activity.?

3-?According to the report many people don’t listen to music on the intend of increasing their vocabulary.?

4-?Native singers are preferred in majority among the target audience.?

5-?Many students listen to music on the idea of increasing concentration and boosting motivation.?

6-?Pop and Hip Hop are most preferred genres of music in the present generation.?

7-?English has improved pronunciations of many.?

8- Although pronunciation has been improved, people still don’t rely on music as a source to practice vocabulary on.?

9- Music also does not play a major role in improving or creating an impact on writing skills.?

10-?According to the report listening skill is the easiest for many students.?

11-?Overall opinion on whether music must be incorporated in classrooms, majority mentioned that they don’t think incorporating music in classrooms is a good idea.?

12-?On an overall sum-up music plays a vital role in people’s life ranging from keeping emotions at stable state to jamming on a Friday night, music brings life to everyone.?

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY:??

1-Study was conducted in a specific small region which would omit plenty of varied answers.?

2-Age limit of 20+ should be added as to get an opinion from older people as well.?

3-Research was restricted to one single university.?

4-More specific areas of interest can be asked to explain.?

5-Ask more suggestions on how audience think it would be a good idea to incorporate music in classrooms.?

SUGGESTIONS AND CONCLUSION:??

?Music??changes as our lifestyle and environment changes, music was simple and very plain in the past but society could not live without it, the music was plain because their life was plain. As music developed, music started to split into different forms, now called genres.????????????People created?different genres to match their needs?and feelings.????????????????

The need for this study was to bring an understanding on how music plays an important yet not so vital role in a student’s life.?

Lastly listening to English songs would bring you right collocation.??

REFERENCES:??

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Padam, Anita. (2017). "Effect of listening to Vedic chants and Indian classical instrumental music on patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: A randomized control trial."?Indian J Psychiatry, Apr-Jun; 59(2): 214–218. doi:?

10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_314_16.?

Quon, Robert J., et al. (2021). "Musical components important for the Mozart K448 effect in epilepsy."?Sci Rep, 11, 16490. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95922-7.?

Singh, T.C.N., & Gnanam A. (1965). "Studies on the effect of sound waves of Nadeshwaram [a traditional Gandharva Veda wind instrument] the growth and yield of paddy."?Annamalai University, 1965; 16:78–99.?