Naslov
Importance of rhythm and movement in early language learning

Autori
Dobrić, Arnalda

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
In the beginning was the word … and then … technology - Third ASSE International Conference On British and American Studies

Mjesto i datum
Tirana, Albanija, 26.11.2015. - 28.11.2015

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
early language learning; rhythm; movement; nursery rhymes

Sažetak
Rhythm and movement are some of the basic elements of speech and somehow their importance is very often neglected in many approaches to early foreign language learning. Rhythm can be observed twofolds: 1/ as the basic pattern of normal articulation movements and b/ in terms of a sentence rhythm. Movement can be considered as an articulatory movement (micromovement) but also corporal movement (macromovement) related to the articulatory movement. Both elements tend to have strong influence on good pronunciation which is one of the most important aims of early language learning. This paper focuses on two topics: 1/ the importance of rhythm and movement in learning language in general and 2/ rarely used possibilities of integration rhythm and movement through songs and nursery rhymes in English classes during two initial years of elementary education. Recordings of one of the used books in a part of Croatian elementary schools are analyzed and discussed in the light of different modern teaching approaches in early foreign language learning as well as in verbotonal method. The analysis shows that: a/ the songs and nursery rhymes are few and not intended for singing or being accompanied with any sort of movement (such as i.e. clapping hands), b/ new vocabulary should be more easily acquired while integrated in music material but the vocabulary used in the songs is not always consistent with pupils’ knowledge. Therefore it might be concluded that music material does not fulfil its teaching purpose and rhythm and movement are not adequately integrated in process of early language learning in the first two years of English classes in Croatian elementary schools.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filologija

POVEZANOST RADA