Purposes of using songs and poetry in the Malaysian primary school

Prepared by: Lian Li Fang

Chua Swee WoonAnis Amalina

Aims and objectives of using songs and poetry in the Malaysian primary school

• Helps children improve their listening and sound discrimination skills

• Will aid not only in learning to read but also becoming better students and better people in the future.

• As an activity to enrich your students’ English vocabulary, to improve their grammar and accents.

Source from: Curriculum Standard

• Enhance their vocabulary by learning new words in a fun way.

• They also learn how to pronounce words with the appropriate stress and intonation.

• As a classroom activity use for learning structures.

• Promote listening and speaking exercises practices through different task.

Intrapersonal Intelligence

• taking place or existing within the mind.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/intrapersonal

• Intrapersonal skills initiate an appropriate reaction and attitude because of positive internal dialogue, occurring within the mind.

• Is the growth within yourself that is having an understanding of yourself, of knowing who you are and what you can do.

• Students’ intrapersonal development can be enhanced by using songs and poetry that would inspire the students to develop and believe in their abilities.

A good intrapersonal child:

• sets goals and develops/uses strategic plans;• is highly self-motivated and proactive;• positive decision making;• monitors strategies, performance, and

cognition; and• frequently participates in self-reflection and

analysis.

It Couldn’t Be DoneBY EDGAR ALBERT GUEST

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done But he with a chuckle repliedThat “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried he hid it.He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that; At least no one ever has done it;”But he took off his coat and he took off his hat And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, Without any doubting or quiddit,He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure,There are thousands to point out to you one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you.But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it;Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

The climbI can almost see itThat dream I am dreamingBut there's a voice inside my head sayingYou'll never reach it

Every step I'm takingEvery move I make feelsLost with no directionMy faith is shaking

But I gotta keep tryingGotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountainI'm always gonna wanna make it moveAlways gonna be an uphill battleSometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get thereAin't about what's waiting on the other sideIt's the climb

The struggles I'm facingThe chances I'm takingSometimes might knock me downBut no, I'm not breaking

I may not know itBut these are the moments thatI'm gonna remember most, yeahJust gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strongJust keep pushing on

"Don't Worry, Be Happy"Here's a little song I wroteYou might want to sing it note for noteDon't worry be happyIn every life we have some troubleWhen you worry you make it doubleDon't worry, be happy

**Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh(Don't worry)Ooh oo-ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh(Be happy)Ooh oo-ooh oo-oohOoh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh(Don't worry)Ooh oo-ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh(Be happy)Ooh oo-ooh oo-ooh(Don't worry, be happy)*

Ain't got no place to lay your headSomebody came and took your bedDon't worry, be happyThe land lord say your rent is lateHe may have to litigateDon't worry, be happy(Look at me I am happy)**Ain't got no cash, ain't got no styleAin't got no girl to make you smileBut don't worry be happy'Cause when you worryYour face will frownAnd that will bring everybody downSo don't worry, be happyDon't worry, be happy now

Here the teacher can organize a few activities in order to inspire the student’s abilities:

≥ Identify the moral values in the poem and song. Students asked to write down what values that the poem and song has inspired them.

≥ Make a small lovely card and write what is their feeling towards their loved one.

≥ For students in higher standard, teacher can ask them to write a letter for themselves so to be motivate in future.

≥Teacher can suggest the students to write their diary everyday in a small cute booklet in order to monitor their everyday performance.

≥ Students might present their feedback or share their experiences towards the poem and song’s content. Teacher may comment to their presentation and add in some values to enhance their intrapersonal development

≥The teacher offers a choice of projects, such as retelling their feelings once they have read a poem or lyrics so to increase their confidence in speaking.

Good leadership skills

Good communication skills

Able to understand other’s feelings

Motivated to identify and pursue goal

Good citizens

Good friends

Good leaders

Good daughters and sons

Developing my talent in Interpersonal Intelligence

I like group work

I can respond appropriately to others’ emotions

I am the leader of the class

I can skillfully persuade my friends to study together

Do I have high Interpersonal Intelligence?

Interpersonal skills is concerned with social intelligence in terms of the interaction of multiple individuals and the effects of communication on accomplishing objectives and building relationships within groups and organizations.

-Interpersonal development is whereby students must learn to work with others by building a positive social relationship and learning how to work as a team.-They have the ability to understand others people.

Interpersonal development can be inculcate in the students with the use of songs and

poetry. Example of song: “The Family Song”

Example of song: “The Friendship Song”

I want to be the smileI want to see the changeI want to be your friend from the startAnd once it starts, it never endsI want to be your pal, I want to be aroundI want to be your friend when you are downI want to be the sunshineOn your smiling face

I want to be the moonNo, I want to be oceanWhere all we do is float under the sunOn the rolling seaOh, I want to be the sunshineNo, I want to be the moonshineI want to be the night time lullabyWhen you're so afraid

And I think I found a wayTo put a smile on your lonely faceI think I found a wayA way to break down all the wallsI think I found a way to sayI think I found a way to say helloI think I found a wayWithout saying anything at all

And I think I found a wayTo put a smile on your lonely faceI think I found a wayA way to break down all the wallsI think I found a way to sayI think I found a way to say helloI think I found a wayWithout saying anything at all

The Friendship Songs

The Family Song

I’ve got a mother a fatherA sister and a brotherGrandma and grandpaAnd we all love each otherThis is my, this is my, this is my family.I’ve got an uncle named Jimmyand an aunt named JaneAnd a cousin named JennyWho flies a plane.

Here the teacher can get the students to act out or role play as they sing the song.

When the students are working in a group, they learn how to communicate, respect as well as to help each other.

They also learn how to socialize and negotiate with their friends.