Joash Gambarage will present a research seminar (abstract below). The event will be held via Zoom: https://ubc.zoom.us/j/64763345823?pwd=WDNNOXJYN3dOcUhjeTRiZ2VqaU9PUT09. The passcode is 635410. (The meeting ID is 647 6334 5823.).
Using “Grammar Songs” as an Innovative Way of Teaching Swahili to L2 learners
Ludke (2009) shares research findings from psychology and neuroscience regarding the potential use of music and songs to support foreign language learning in modern language teaching. She illustrates that grammar songs can help L2 learners to master a range of linguistic skills in the target language. Songs that teach particular aspects of grammar have been reported to provide positive motivation and learning enhancements for students at different ages and stages of learning (Spicher & Sweeney, 2007; Rees, 1977). While grammar songs have been useful pedagogical tools for modern language teaching, this method has not been developed for non-classical languages like Swahili–a language spoken in East and Central Africa (now an official lingua franca of Africa).
In this talk I illustrate that teaching an agglutinative language like Swahili using grammar songs makes it easier for the Swahili L2 learners to learn agreement phenomena involving pronouns, noun classes as well as tense and aspects in this language. I present 3 grammar songs that I composed and recorded (video, audio, and karaoke style): the tenses song, the pronouns song, and the noun classes song coupled with my students’ reaction about how the songs reinforced their learning of Swahili as beginner students. This talk illustrates (i) the criteria used for composing such songs (ii) how the grammar songs are employed as an effective pedagogical material for teaching complex aspects of the Swahili language.
