PPLI Spotlight on Schools Using Music and Rhythm in the MFL Classroom - Flipbook - Page 2
Using Music and Rhythm in the MFL Classroom
Spotlight
on Schools
Spotlight on Schools is an initiative that seeks to
showcase the great work of MFL Departments
and teachers from across Ireland. These resources
are created by teachers for teachers, to share
good practice among the MFL
teaching community.
Title of project / activity:
Using Music and Rhythm in the MFL Classroom
Name of school:
Dungarvan CBS, Co. Waterford
Languages taught in the school:
French, German & Chinese
Prepared by:
Ricky Roche, language teacher
Description of the activities
This project demonstrates how music and rhythm can transform grammar learning in the Modern Foreign
Languages (MFL) classroom. Students often ond verb endings, agreements, and other grammar structures abstract
and diocult to retain. By integrating rhythm, melody, and song, these concepts are embedded in memory through
musical patterns, making learning active, enjoyable, and long-lasting.
For example, in the French classroom Old MacDonald Had a Farm was adapted into a verb song to highlight -ER, -IR,
and -RE verb endings. Students immediately recognised the melody and could focus on the patterns of conjugation
without the extra burden of learning a new tune. Nursery rhymes and rhythmic chants were also used to reinforce
verb paradigms, gender rules, and key phrases.
The project also harnesses the musical talents of students themselves. Many learners play an instrument or sing
outside of school, and they were invited to compose their own short songs or raps to capture grammar rules. This
peer-led creativity not only increased engagement but also gave students ownership of their learning. As the
Hannah Montana example 8The Bone Song9 shows, turning any topic into a song can be transformative.
What are the aims of the activities?
● To make grammar instruction memorable, engaging, and student-centred.
● To use music as a mnemonic device, drawing on research in language acquisition and cognitive psychology.
● To foster student creativity by encouraging learners to design their own musical grammar aids.
● To build conodence in speaking and pronunciation through rhythm and repetition.
● To showcase a replicable approach that other teachers can adapt to diferent languages and contexts.
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