Using Music in The TEFL Classroom

Think back to your earliest memories of learning a language—chances are, a song is in there somewhere. Whether it was a silly classroom chant, a nursery rhyme, or a pop track on repeat, music sticks. There’s a reason for that.

Music taps into the emotional parts of our brain, strengthening memory through rhythm and melody. It sneaks vocabulary into our minds without the grind of memorization. Even students who struggle with speaking or grammar can suddenly recall whole phrases from a song.

Beyond that, music is a universal cultural connector. It creates atmosphere, softens classroom nerves, and helps students feel like they’re part of something bigger than grammar drills. It’s not just a “fun extra”—it can be a core teaching tool, if you know how to use it.

The Science Behind It: How Music Aids Language Learning

Music doesn’t just make things more fun—it rewires how we absorb language. Research in neurolinguistics shows that melody can help anchor new words and patterns more deeply than rote memorization alone. Why? Because music activates multiple parts of the brain at once: the auditory cortex, motor centers, and memory systems.

Here’s what that means in the classroom:

• Boosts recall: Songs act as built-in mnemonic devices. Students are far more likely to remember a phrase like “I’m walking on sunshine” than a random vocabulary list.
• Improves listening skills: Music trains the ear to pick up on stress patterns, intonation, and pronunciation in real-world speech.
• Natural rhythm and flow: Sentence stress, weak forms, contractions, and connected speech all become easier to grasp when embedded in a beat.
• Engages multiple learning styles: Kinesthetic learners can clap or move, visual learners can follow lyrics, and auditory learners absorb through repetition.

Even better? Music lowers the affective filter—basically, it helps learners relax, take risks, and stay engaged.

Nursery Rhymes and Children’s Songs: More Than Just Cute

Nursery rhymes aren’t just adorable—they’re pedagogical gold, especially for young learners. Their simple vocabulary, catchy melodies, and repetitive structures make them perfect for beginners. But don’t write them off for older learners either. Used creatively, they can build foundational fluency for anyone starting from zero.

Why they work:

• Rhymes and rhythm reinforce word boundaries and syllables
• Repetition cements basic grammar structures
• Melody aids in pronunciation and stress patterns

Popular examples:

• “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” for body parts and TPR
• “The Wheels on the Bus” for verbs, sequencing, and routine
• “Old MacDonald” for animal vocab and sentence construction

Classroom activities:

• TPR games: Match gestures to the lyrics
• Gap fill: Remove keywords and have students listen and complete
• Sing and draw: Have students illustrate the song
• Sound awareness: Highlight rhyming pairs and syllable stress

You can also swap in local cultural songs with English lyrics to keep things fresh and cross-cultural. For students just beginning their English journey, singing their way in can make all the difference.

Pop Songs and Teen/Adult Learners: From Lyrics to Learning

Once your students outgrow nursery rhymes, don’t ditch music—just level it up. Pop songs offer a goldmine for teaching teens and adults because they connect emotionally, culturally, and linguistically. They’re packed with the kinds of expressions learners actually want to use.

Why it works:

• Cultural relevance: Students often already know (and love) the songs. That familiarity builds instant buy-in.
• Authentic language: Real-world grammar, slang, idioms, and contractions that textbooks skip.
• Emotional engagement: Songs about love, struggle, or freedom stick in memory far longer than textbook dialogues.

How to teach with lyrics:

• Highlight key phrases and idioms (“I’ve got your back,” “let her go,” “on cloud nine”)
• Explore grammar in context (e.g., modals: should have known, could’ve been)
• Practice listening for gist vs. detail
• Spark discussion: “What does this song mean to you?”

Tips for choosing the right song:

• Avoid lyrics that are too fast, slurred, or inappropriate
• Prioritize clear vocals, moderate tempo, and rich yet level-appropriate language
• Always read the lyrics beforehand to check for age or cultural sensitivity

Sample artists by level:

• Beginner: The Beatles, Jason Mraz, Bob Marley
• Intermediate: Adele, Coldplay, Sam Smith
• Advanced: Ed Sheeran, Hozier, Taylor Swift (great for metaphors and storylines)

Student-Created Songs and Lyrics: Writing as a Language Tool

Flip the script—let your students be the songwriters. Having learners create their own lyrics is a fun, memorable way to internalize vocabulary and sentence structure without the pressure of a test. Plus, it activates their creativity and gives them ownership of the language.

Why it’s powerful:

• Encourages spontaneous language production
• Reinforces grammar through real use
• Boosts confidence—especially in shy or quiet learners

How to structure it:

1. Pick a melody – Use a well-known tune like “Happy Birthday” or a slowed-down pop instrumental
2. Brainstorm vocabulary – Choose a theme: food, weather, emotions, holidays, etc.
3. Group writing – Assign small teams to write verses or build a chorus together
4. Optional performance – Singing is great, but reciting or recording is fine too

Modifications for level:

• Beginners: replace words in existing lyrics (“I like pizza” instead of “I like to move it”)
• Intermediates: complete lyric lines with rhyming phrases
• Advanced: create original verses and record with basic audio tools

Even if your students don’t perform, the act of creating language with rhythm helps internalize word order, pronunciation, and flow.

Use Your Own Musical Skills (Even If You’re Not a Musician)

You don’t need to be the next Ed Sheeran to bring a little musical magic to the classroom. Even a few silly chants or rhythm-based grammar songs can go a long way in helping students retain tricky concepts.

Simple ideas that work:

• Grammar chants – e.g., “I go, you go, he goes, she goes…” (with claps or drum beats)
• Pronunciation drills – turn minimal pairs into call-and-response (ship/sheep, bit/beat)
• Irregular verb songs – “go, went, gone” to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle” or your own

Tools for non-musicians:

• GarageBand (iOS/macOS): layer loops and record your voice
• Chrome Music Lab: browser-based beat makers, great for rhythm practice
• Free karaoke tracks on YouTube or backing track libraries
• Voice memos: record a simple rhythm or chant on your phone for repeat use

Even the simplest musical touch—like clapping in rhythm during drills—can elevate the mood and reinforce language patterns in a fresh, memorable way.

Passive Listening: Using Background Music to Build Exposure

Music doesn’t always need to be front and center to be effective. Playing English-language songs in the background during classwork, writing tasks, or transitions can help create a more immersive environment. Even if students aren’t actively analyzing lyrics, their brains are still picking up rhythm, pronunciation, and vocabulary—without the pressure of “study.”

Why it works:

• Subconscious exposure to rhythm, stress, and pronunciation
• Helps create a relaxed, welcoming classroom atmosphere
• Reinforces vocabulary and expressions through repetition over time

When to use it:

• During writing tasks, art projects, or free reading time
• As students enter the room (warm-up), transition between activities, or wrap up
• During individual or pair work to maintain focus and minimize distraction

What to play:

• Instrumental versions of English-language songs students may recognize
• Lo-fi tracks with occasional spoken phrases or minimal lyrics
• Acoustic pop or soft vocal music with clear pronunciation

A few cautions:

• Don’t play music too loud—it should support focus, not compete with it
• Some learners may be noise-sensitive; offer silent alternatives when needed
• Stick with slower tempos or softer genres to avoid overstimulation

Music-Based ESL Activities (With or Without Lyrics)

Music isn’t just an ambient tool—it’s a versatile, interactive teaching resource. With a little creativity, you can turn any song into an engaging language activity that gets students thinking, speaking, and laughing together.

Interactive activities that work:

• Gap-fill exercises:

  • Provide lyrics with missing words for students to listen and complete
  • Focus on vocabulary (verbs, nouns), grammar (prepositions, tenses), or rhyming patterns

• Lyric scrambles:

  • Cut up lines from the chorus and have students rearrange in order
  • Great for listening comprehension and sequencing skills

• Sing-and-say drills:

  • Pick short, repeatable phrases from songs and have students chant them with correct intonation
  • Excellent for practicing sentence stress, contractions (“gonna,” “wanna”), or tricky pronunciation

• Song-based discussions:

  • Ask open-ended questions like: “What is this song about?”, “How does it make you feel?”, or “Do you agree with the message?”
  • Useful for higher-level learners to build conversation fluency and critical thinking

These activities can be adapted for any level, age group, or classroom setting. Even online, they work well with shared screens or breakout groups.

Pitfalls to Avoid When Using Music in Class

Music is a fantastic tool—but like any teaching technique, it works best when used intentionally. Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your musical activities hit the right notes.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them:

• Lack of a learning objective

  • Don’t just play music to fill time. Ask: “What language point am I reinforcing with this song?”

• Wrong song choice

  • Avoid tracks that are too fast, heavily idiomatic, or full of slang—unless that’s your teaching goal
  • Always preview lyrics for explicit content, mature themes, or cultural insensitivity

• Ignoring copyright or licensing

  • If you’re sharing full songs, especially online, make sure you’re using legally approved sources or educational platforms

• Overuse

  • Music is engaging—but not all the time. Over-reliance can lose impact and exhaust students
  • Mix musical activities with roleplays, games, reading, and other TEFL methods for a well-rounded approach

Used wisely, music can supercharge your TEFL lessons. But like all good things, it’s most powerful when it supports a clear goal and fits your learners’ needs.

Where to Find Songs and Resources for TEFL

You don’t need to be a professional musician—or spend hours hunting for songs—to use music in your classroom. There’s a growing library of free (and fun) ESL music resources just waiting for you online.

Top websites for TEFL-friendly songs:

• LyricsTraining
  Interactive listening platform where students complete lyrics as the music plays—great for vocab and listening skills.

• ISLCollective
  A treasure trove of free ESL worksheets, many based on popular songs. Filter by age group or grammar focus.

• Songs for Teaching
  Offers educational songs on grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary—especially helpful for younger learners.

• BBC Learning English
  While not music-heavy, their short listening activities sometimes include jingles or song-like content.

YouTube channels worth subscribing to:

• The Singing Walrus (Young learners)
  Catchy, animation-backed songs that cover days of the week, numbers, weather, and more.

• Fluency MC (Teens and young adults)
  ESL rap and rhythm-based teaching videos that cover tricky grammar points and irregular verbs.

• EnglishClass101 (Adults)
  Occasional music-themed lessons that integrate listening, subtitles, and comprehension checks.

Pro tip for streaming:
Use karaoke versions or lyric videos with subtitles to keep students focused on the language. You can find thousands of these on YouTube or Spotify—just search for "[song title] + lyrics" or "karaoke."

Make a classroom playlist by theme or language point:

• Grammar: “If I Were a Boy” (conditionals), “Let It Go” (imperatives)
• Holidays: Christmas carols, Halloween songs
• Emotions: “Happy,” “Let Her Go,” “Someone Like You”
• Travel/Places: “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “New York, New York”

The more organized your music bank is, the easier it’ll be to grab the perfect track at the perfect moment.

Conclusion: A Classroom That Sounds Better (and Teaches Better)

Music isn't just background noise—it’s one of the most powerful, low-prep tools you can bring into your TEFL classroom. It triggers memory, boosts motivation, and connects learners with the real rhythm of English.

Whether you’re playing a nursery rhyme, breaking down a pop chorus, or getting brave with a self-made chant, the goal is the same: make English more memorable, more human, and more fun.

So crank up the volume—carefully—and experiment. Your students might not remember every grammar point, but they’ll remember the songs, and the feeling they had learning them.