Pre-Service Teachers’ Perception about Using Songs in Teaching English to Young Learners

Abstract

Songs are believed as one of effective tools in teaching young learner especially primary students. The primary aim of this study is to explore ELEP (English Language Education Program) pre-service teachers’ perception toward the use of songs in teaching young learners. English pre-service teachers’ perceptions were collected through close-ended questionnaire and the result demonstrated that ELEP pre-service teachers have strong belief about the pedagogical value of songs in teaching young learners. The ELEP pre-service teachers believe that songs are essential and it is important to be inserted in young learner’s curriculum. ELEP pre-service have no doubt about the effectiveness of songs in teaching young learners. The findings also showed that ELEP pre-service teachers have positive attitude toward the use of songs and they use songs as much as they can. Related to the ideal frequency about the use of songs done by the pre-service teachers, it showed that most of teachers used one song in every two weeks during their teaching practicum because they cannot find it well. However, the findings also show that pre-service English teacher have difficulty in choosing appropriate songs in every topic of each curriculum. It is suggested that pre-service teachers should be given a list of useful websites to choose songs in teaching young learner. In conclusion, it is possible to argue that this study strengthens the previous study done by the earlier researchers toward the use of songs in teaching young learner, especially a research conducted in Indonesia.