The importance of using Songs, Rhymes and Chants in teaching English to young learners.

The main aim of learning a foreign language is to acquire a communicative competence and this communicative competence involves not only the different language components, that is to say, vocabulary, structures, phonetic, etc, but also the development of the four communicative skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

In order to achieve communicative competence, songs are an indispensable element in the English class. Besides, socio-cultural competence is part of this C.C. We must enable our students to discover details of the English speaking countries: life-style, eating habits, pastimes, sports, festivals. Many songs, whether traditional or specially written material for young language learners, stand as a fundamental resource in the English classes. We should also consider Chants. A chant is like a song without music, or a poem with a very marked rhythm.

One of the great advantages of songs is the possibility of “being remembered”, since they stick in our minds. They work on both, short and long term memory.

Some other advantages are the following ones:

1. Hidden practice of specific language patterns, vocabulary and pronunciation can be provided. They are therefore effective for practising, consolidating and reinforcing language structures and lexis.
2. Listening skills, attention span and concentration are improved.
3. Allow students to learn in a very fun atmosphere.
4. Allow a high participation by the part of the pupils.

Some songs are good for singing, other for doing actions, and the best ones are good for both. We can use songs and chants to teach children the sounds and rhythm of English, to reinforce or introduce structures and vocabulary, or as TPR activities, but above all to have fun.