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Songs in the classroomThere are several ways to enhance language acquisition. One way is incorporating music into the learning experience. Music in the classroom, when In combination with reading, writing, and oral practice is a superior teaching aid in the language classroom when compared with only reading, writing and oral practice. Playing and learning music in a classroom will enhance learning. Music has the ability to stimulate a mood or emotion. This is one simple way that music can enhance a language class. Sometimes students can feel anxious or nervous about learning a new language and especially about using that new language in front of a room of people. Music can often alleviate this problem. When a proper song is chosen, music can allow students to feel relaxed. Reduced anxiety in the English classroom will naturally allow students to participate more. Additionally, when students are listening to songs that put them in a happy or positive mood, they may be more motivated to learn. When using music in the classroom, it is important to choose music that will in fact enhance rather than distract. Music that is loud, dissonant or suggestive will not improve the classroom atmosphere. This can be tricky depending on what music a particular culture finds soothing or pleasing. Music may also be used as a tool for teaching. Research suggests that the presence of song in the classroom will strongly enhance a student's ability to recall vocabulary. Research also suggests that when vocabulary is learned through a song it is stored as one unit so if a student is able to recall a melody it will trigger the memory for the vocabulary as well. Because songs are so much easier to remember than words alone, songs are a great medium for teaching vocabulary. If a teacher can present a song that uses relevant vocabulary, the students will be much more likely to remember that vocabulary than if the student studied the vocabulary using only repetition, written or oral. This is ideal for moving this vocabulary to the student's long term memory. After a song is learned, it is more simple for our brains to refer back to a song to remember vocabulary rather than one word alone. Instructors can play songs for the class that give examples of various tenses. This can be particularly useful when students are learning the more challenging tenses. Songs often use these tenses in a way that is easy to remember so reinforcing the tense becomes simple. Also, students can use the song as a way to remember the structure of a particular tense. Music uses a different side of the brain than reading and writing. We use the left side of our brain to complete tasks like reading and writing but we use the right side of our brain to sing and listen to music. Using music in the classroom allows students to use both sides of the brain to learn language. This will create stronger neural connections resulting in superior language memory. Learning through a combination of right and left brain is ideal for acquiring language. There are several ways to incorporate music into the classroom setting. It is evident that doing so can be very useful in language acquisition. When teachers combine music with more traditional teaching styles the students will have more opportunity to create strong memories using both sides of the brain and learn in a fun peaceful atmosphere.