Listening Ability Thrughenglish Songs: A Case Study Of Ten Grade Students In High School Indonesian Foundation Building (Yapim) Brand Taruna

Introduction

The ability to listen is a crucial aspect of language learning, particularly for students who are learning English as a foreign language. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using English songs as a tool to improve listening skills among language learners. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of using English songs to enhance the listening ability of tenth-grade students in Indonesian high schools. Specifically, this study seeks to determine the extent to which students can understand the use of verbs, auxiliary verbs, and "to be" through songs in English.

Background of the Study

The use of English songs as a learning tool has gained popularity in recent years due to its potential to engage students and make language learning more enjoyable. English songs offer a fun and interactive way to practice and improve listening skills, as they often feature catchy melodies and easy-to-remember lyrics. However, despite the potential benefits of using English songs, there is a need to investigate the effectiveness of this approach in improving listening skills among language learners.

Methodology

This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The sample consisted of 21 tenth-grade students from Indonesian high schools who were selected purposively. The data collection methods used in this study included a test involving the screening of several English songs, where students were asked to fill in the empty sections of the song lyrics. Additionally, pre-test and post-test were administered to measure the increase in students' listening skills.

Results

The pre-test results indicated that the average student grade was 45, which falls into the sufficient predicate category. However, only 4 students (19%) achieved good grades, while 17 students (81%) received poor grades. In contrast, the post-test results showed that the average class value increased to 68, which falls into the good predicate category. Furthermore, 15 students (71.43%) achieved good grades, while 6 students (28.57%) still received unfavorable scores.

Discussion

The results of this study suggest that students still face difficulties in understanding various forms of verbs, including present forms, past forms, and other forms such as verb + ing, verb + s, as well as the use of auxiliary verbs and "to be" in the present and past forms. Despite the significant increase in listening ability from pre-test to post-test, there are still challenges that need to be overcome. The difficulties faced by students in understanding the forms of verbs highlight the need to strengthen their understanding of the basics of English grammar.

Conclusion

The use of English songs as a learning tool can be an effective way to improve listening skills among language learners. However, the results of this study indicate that there are still challenges that need to be overcome. To address these challenges, educators can design more effective learning strategies that combine the use of context, such as songs, with more conventional grammar learning. Additionally, the use of songs as a learning method can also increase student motivation, as enjoying the music they like while learning language can create positive learning experiences.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

• Educators can design more effective learning strategies that combine the use of context, such as songs, with more conventional grammar learning.
• The use of songs as a learning method can be optimized to increase student motivation and engagement.
• Educators should understand the needs of students in developing their listening skills and provide targeted support to address any difficulties they may face.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. Firstly, the sample size was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Secondly, the study only focused on the use of English songs as a learning tool, and did not explore other potential factors that may influence listening skills.

Future Research Directions

Future research can build on the findings of this study by exploring other potential factors that may influence listening skills, such as the use of technology or the role of teacher support. Additionally, researchers can investigate the effectiveness of using English songs in different contexts, such as in language learning classrooms or in online language learning platforms.

Keywords

• Listening ability
• Pre-test
• Post-test
• Verb
• Auxiliary verbs
• To be
  

Q: What is the purpose of this study?

A: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of using English songs to enhance the listening ability of tenth-grade students in Indonesian high schools. Specifically, this study seeks to determine the extent to which students can understand the use of verbs, auxiliary verbs, and "to be" through songs in English.

Q: What methods were used in this study?

A: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The sample consisted of 21 tenth-grade students from Indonesian high schools who were selected purposively. The data collection methods used in this study included a test involving the screening of several English songs, where students were asked to fill in the empty sections of the song lyrics. Additionally, pre-test and post-test were administered to measure the increase in students' listening skills.

Q: What were the results of the pre-test and post-test?

A: The pre-test results indicated that the average student grade was 45, which falls into the sufficient predicate category. However, only 4 students (19%) achieved good grades, while 17 students (81%) received poor grades. In contrast, the post-test results showed that the average class value increased to 68, which falls into the good predicate category. Furthermore, 15 students (71.43%) achieved good grades, while 6 students (28.57%) still received unfavorable scores.

Q: What are the implications of the study's findings?

A: The results of this study suggest that students still face difficulties in understanding various forms of verbs, including present forms, past forms, and other forms such as verb + ing, verb + s, as well as the use of auxiliary verbs and "to be" in the present and past forms. Despite the significant increase in listening ability from pre-test to post-test, there are still challenges that need to be overcome. The difficulties faced by students in understanding the forms of verbs highlight the need to strengthen their understanding of the basics of English grammar.

Q: What are the recommendations for educators based on the study's findings?

A: Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

• Educators can design more effective learning strategies that combine the use of context, such as songs, with more conventional grammar learning.
• The use of songs as a learning method can be optimized to increase student motivation and engagement.
• Educators should understand the needs of students in developing their listening skills and provide targeted support to address any difficulties they may face.

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: This study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. Firstly, the sample size was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Secondly, the study only focused on the use of English songs as a learning tool, and did not explore other potential factors that may influence listening skills.

Q: What are the future research directions based on the study's findings?

A: Future research can build on the findings of this study by exploring other potential factors that may influence listening skills, such as the use of technology or the role of teacher support. Additionally, researchers can investigate the effectiveness of using English songs in different contexts, such as in language learning classrooms or in online language learning platforms.

Q: What are the keywords related to this study?

A: The keywords related to this study are:

• Listening ability
• Pre-test
• Post-test
• Verb
• Auxiliary verbs
• To be