How to Use Chinese Songs in the Classroom

Music is a bridge of communication, a harbor for habitation, a bond of souls, a carrier of dreams, and a scroll of sounds. Through music, people can exchange ideas and express emotions, which is the magic of music.

In the international Chinese language teaching, many Chinese language teachers will teach students to sing Chinese songs. This method can not only increase the interest and application of Chinese language learning, but also help students to digest, absorb and apply to the knowledge they have learned. Using Chinese songs well in teaching may have unexpected effects.

Through teaching practice, I found that teaching Chinese songs can not only improve students' interest in learning and activate the classroom atmosphere, but also expand their vocabulary and cultivate their sense of language. In addition to learning, students can also understand the cultural information contained in the lyrics and improve their ability to recognize, read and memorize Chinese characters. However, due to the particularity of the genre of Chinese lyrics, most lyrics are not suitable for teaching Chinese grammar. It is difficult for students to learn vocabulary knowledge from songs without careful selection. Therefore, the key point of using Chinese songs in teaching is how to select songs and how to organically combine Chinese songs with international Chinese language teaching.

When teaching The Beginning of the Road to Success (2), Lesson 22 I'm 25 years old mentioned the zodiac, so I sought the Chinese songs that corresponded to the zodiac. For example, "little mouse, climb up the lampstand, steal oil to eat, can't get down", "two tigers, two tigers, run fast", etc., to help students memorize the zodiac and enhance the fun of learning the Chinese language.

When teaching Lesson 27 Shanghai is Different from Beijing, the students said they liked the song We are Different and wanted to learn how to sing. This song is full of emotions, simple lyrics, and positive energy, which helped students consolidate the usage of "different" in grammar.

On the eve of the Spring Festival, the students learned to sing the Chinese song Happy New Year, which is suitable for beginners. Learning this song not only helped them master the Chinese language, but also deepened their understanding of Chinese culture.

Of course, teaching Chinese songs also needs methods. For example, for the song Friends, firstly, I invited students to write the lyrics on the whiteboard and corrected their wrong stroke order. Then, I used English to explain the meaning of these words, sentence grammar, etc. focusing on pitch, melody and rhythm issues. If possible, the teacher should teach songs while beating time to the music. Usually, I would use audio or video for help. After appreciating these songs, students would have the foundation. I let students listen to them again, sing in unison, and take turns.

If students have learned hypothetical sentences and verb reduplication, they can learn to sing If You're Happy and Clap Your Hands; if they have learned "比（bǐ）", they can learn to sing Ever Year is Better; if they have learned "把（bǎ）", they can learn to sing "Leave Love Away"... We can select Chinese songs according to the students' preferences.

Teaching should not use rigid methods. Learning Chinese songs can help students learn knowledge in a relaxed and happy atmosphere. For students who have some basic Chinese language knowledge, learning to sing Chinese songs can not only quickly learn Chinese, but also better understand Chinese culture and customs.

About the author: Deng Bing, an international Chinese language teacher in Cambodia.