International Council for Education, Research and Training

Songs And Music As Tools For Effective Teaching And Learning Of French As Foreign Language In Nigeria

Balogun, Thomas Akanbi

Department of European Languages Education, Faculty of Arts, Emmanuel Alyande University of Education, OYO, OYO State, Nigeria

Abstract

The world of our time is going music wise. Most of the people in the world nowadays are adherents of music. It is no doubt that youths today can be qualified as being considerable addicted to music as they can barely do nothing without it. Many young ones and even some adults inclusive are inclined to listening to music than for them to read novels or books. Their areas of interest on daily life’s activities could be much more concentrated on recreations and music. Some are addicted to music to the extent that they could hardly perform any task a day without music. In view of this, in order to attract or support learners’ learning sensation, songs and music can be effective and beneficial tools to teach French language to our students with great pleasure. Considering the advantages of these tools will help in looking into how the learners could be motivated by them to develop some skills in foreign (French) language’s linguistic structures through melodious songs. In this paper, we have anticipated to delve into how the use of songs and music can help learners improve in developing the four linguistic skills (oral and written expressions as well as oral and written comprehension), reflect culture and increase their feeling of pleasure in learning French language.   

Key words: songs and music, tools, linguistic competence

Impact Statement

This study investigates the pedagogical effectiveness of integrating songs and music into the teaching and learning of French as a foreign language in Nigeria. It underscores how musical elements can enhance language acquisition, improve pronunciation, boost vocabulary retention, and increase learner motivation in a multicultural and multilingual context.

The impact of this research is significant in the field of language education, especially within the Nigerian educational system, where French is a key foreign language. By demonstrating how music serves as a powerful cognitive and emotional tool, the study offers practical insights for curriculum developers, language instructors, and educational policymakers. It encourages the adoption of creative, learner-centered approaches that not only make language learning more enjoyable but also more effective, especially for young and beginner-level learners.

 

Furthermore, the findings contribute to the growing body of research advocating for the integration of arts in education, reinforcing the role of culturally responsive teaching strategies in achieving linguistic competence and fostering intercultural understanding.

About The Author

Thomas Akanbi BALOGUN is currently a Senior Lecturer in the department of European Languages Education, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education Oyo, Oyo State Nigeria. His areas of interest include Phonetic and Phonology, Applied linguistics and pedagogy.

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