ISSN: 2226-6348
Open access
Since music and language are deeply related where musical training is able to stimulate the same part of the brain that is also associated with understanding language, using Jazz Chants in English language learning possess a remarkable potential at maximizing language learning, especially at creating fun and significant lessons. Nonetheless, its potential remains under-researched, especially on the implementation of Jazz Chants in Malaysian language classrooms towards creating a safe learning climate. Until language learning are given more alternatives, English language classrooms are viewed as flat, thus situating the purpose of this paper. Therefore, this research explored the possibility of using Jazz Chants to investigate teachers’ perceptions on employing Jazz Chants in Malaysian English learning classrooms. To do so, five experienced teachers from Sarawak were selected for a semi-structured interview. The interview questions were validated by experts before the interviews were carried out. A thematic analysis was employed to analyse the interview data in three predetermined themes which are ‘benefits’, ‘challenges’ and ‘suggestions’. In creating fun and meaningful learning that may harness towards (re)creating a positive school climate, as aspired by the MoE, this research provides a narrative on teachers’ perspectives within the three discussed themes.
Bahri, N. F., & Yunus, F. (2018). Aplikasi Kaedah Nyanyian Dalam Pembelajaran Pra Literasi Bahasa Inggeris Untuk Kanak-Kanak Pra Sekolah. International Conference on Global Education VI 1: 126-133.
Baird, R. (2018). Pupils 'Remember Risk-Taking Teachers'. Retrieved from: https://www.tes.com/news/pupils-remember-risk-taking-teachers.
Bokiev, D., Bokiev, U., Aralas, D., Ismail, L., & Othman, M. (2018). Utilizing Music and Songs to Promote Student Engagement in ESL Classrooms. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 8(12): 314–332. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v8-i12/5015
Boss, S., & Larmer, J. (2018). How to Create Rigorous and Engaging Learning Experiences. Virginia: ASCD.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77-101.
Buyong, N., & Othman, N. (2018). Pelaksanaan Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran dalam Program Sekolah dalam Hospital. Jurnal Pendidikan Malaysia. 43, 11-16. https://doi.org/10.17576/JPEN-2018-43.01-02
Creswell, J. W. (2015). Qualitative inquiry and Research Design. (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.
Fan, W., & Williams, C. (2018). The Mediating Role of Student Motivation in the Linking of Perceived School Climate and Achievement in Reading and Mathematics. Frontiers in Education, 3, https://10.3389/feduc.2018.00050
Fatt, C. W. (2007). The Effects of Time Constraints and Proficiency on ESL Essay Writing Performance. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation. Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Fisher, R. (2001). Philosophy in Primary Schools: Fostering Thinking Skills and Literacy. London: Brunel University.
George, E. M., & Coch, D. (2011). Music Training and Working Memory: An ERP Study. Neuropsychologia, 49(5), 1083-1094.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.02.001
Graham, C. (2006). Creating chants and songs. Oxford: OUP.
Harun, H., & Kabilan, M. K. (2020). Errors in Writing Made by Malaysian Rural Primary School Pupils. Studies in English Language and Education, 7(2), 438-456. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v7i2.17009
Insulander, E., Brehmer, D., & Ryve, A. (2019). Teacher Agency in Professional Development Programmes – A Case Study of Professional Development Material and Collegial Discussion. Learning, Culture and Social Interaction, 23, page range. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lcsi.2019.100330
Jafre, M., Pour-Mohammadi, M., Singh, K., Azman, R., & Souriyavongsa, T. (2011). The Effectiveness of Using Songs in YouTube to Improve Vocabulary Competence among Upper Secondary School Studies. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 1 (11), 1488-1496. https://doi:10.4304/tpls.1.11.1488-1496.
Jones, J. D. (2018). Scaffolding the Dalcroze Approach. General Music Today, 32, 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/1048371318770821
Köksal, O., Yagisan, N., & Cekic, A. (2013). The Effects of Music on Achievement, Attitude and Retention in Primary School English Lessons. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 93, 1897 – 1900.
Koth, C. W., Bradshaw, C. P., & Leaf, P. J. (2008). A multilevel study of predictors of student perceptions of school climate: The effect of classroom-level factors. Journal of Educational Psychology, 100(1), 96-104. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.100.196
Kung, F. W. (2013). Rhythm and pronunciation of American English: Jazzing up EFL teaching through Jazz Chants. The Asian EFL Journal, 70, 1-27.
LaSalle, T. (2013). Cultural and Ecological Considerations within the context of School Climate. PhD Dissertation, Georgia State University.
Louis, M. M., & Melor, M. Y. (2016). Issues Contributing to Low Performance of English in a National School in Song Sarawak. In Proceedings of International Seminar on Generating Knowledge through Research. Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Lumintu, M. J. (2015). The Use of Jazz Chants to Improve Young Learners’ Mastery of Body Parts Vocabulary an Action Research at 5th Graders of SDN Sekaran 02, Gunungpati- Semarang in the Academic Year of 2014/2015. Undergraduate Thesis, English Department of Languages and Arts, Semarang State University.
Martinez, M. A. G. M., Vargas, L. D., & Paula, P. A. (2017). Jazz Chants as A Didactic Strategy for Learning Vocabulary in Kindergarteners. International Journal of Current Research, 9(11), 60872-60876.
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation. Psychological Review 50(4): 370-396.
Ministry of Education. (2013). Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025. Putrajaya: Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia.
Ministry of Education. (2015). English Language Education Reform in Malaysia: The Roadmap 2015-2025. Putrajaya: Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia.
Ministry of Education. 2017. (2017). Annual Report. Retrieved from: https://www.moe.gov.my/menumedia/media-cetak/penerbitan/pppm-2013-2025-pendidikan-prasekolah-hingga-lepas-menengah/laporan-tahunan-2017/1623-ar2017-kad-laporan-eng/file.
Nevra, K. M. (2015). Social Emotional Learning and Music Education. Sanat ve Dil Ara?t?rmalar? Enstitusu, 3(1), 75-88.
Reynolds, B. L., & ? Teng, M. F. (2021). Innovative Approaches in Teaching English Writing to Chinese Speakers. Boston/Berlin: Walter de Gruyter Inc.
Roman?uk, S. (2019). Learning English Through Songs as One of Innovative Methods of Education. Innovation in Upbringing, 9, 225-229. https://doi.org/10.35619/iiu.v0i9.12
Sarawak Government. (2010). Sarawak population. Retrieved from https://sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/240/175/
Sawyer, K. (2019). The Creative Classroom: Innovative Teaching for 21st-Century Learners. New York: Teacher College Press.
Scherer, R., & Nilsen, T. (2016). The relations among school climate, instructional quality, and achievement motivation in mathematics. in Teacher Quality, Instructional Quality and Student Outcomes, T. Nilsen and J. E. Gustafsson (Eds.) Cham: Springer, pp.51–80.
Singh, P. K. P., & Hashim, H. (2020). Using Jazz Chants to Increase Vocabulary Power among ESL Young Learners. Creative Education, 11, 262-274. https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2020.113020
Spencer, J. (2019). Five Ways Teachers Can Limit the Fear of Creative Failure. Retrieved from: https://spencerauthor.com/five-ways-teachers-can-limit-fear-of/. [27th October 2022].
Stronge, J. H. (2017). Qualities of Effective Teachers. Virginia: ASCD.
Tai, M. K., Khalips, M., & Omar, A. K. (2022). Measuring Teacher Competency for the Era of Education 4.0 in Malaysian Secondary Schools. Asian Journal of University Education (AJUE), 18(4), 966-980.
Tan, K. E. (2006). Writing English Essays Within Dominant Discourses in Malaysian Schools. Jurnal Pendidik dan Pendidikan, 21, 23-45.
Tee, M. Y., Samuel, M., Nor, N. B. M., Sathasivam, R. V., & Hutkemri. (2018). Classroom Practice and the Quality of Teaching: Where a Nation Is Going? Journal of International and Comparative Education, 7(1), 17-33.
Thang, S. M., Ting, S. L., & Jaafar, N. M. (2011). Attitudes and Motivation of Malaysian Secondary Students Towards Learning English as A Second Language: A Case Study. Journal of Language, Linguistics and Literature, 17(1), 40-54.
Kumar, U. S., & Sandaran, S. C. (2018). Use of Action Songs and Total Physical Response to Promote the Development of Listening Skills among Year 4, Low Enrolment-Tamil Vernacular Primary School Students in Malaysia. LSP International Journal, 5(2), 77–90. https://doi.org/10.11113/lspi.v5n2.81
Terada, Y. (2017). The Research is in Why Students Forget—And What You Can Do About It. Retrieved from: https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-students-forget-and-what-you-can-do-about-it. [20th October 2021].
Yuliati, L., Fauziah, R., & Hidayat, A. (2018). Student’s Critical Thinking Skills in Authentic Problem Based Learning. Journal of Physics Conference Series, 1013 (1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1013/1/012025.
Zulkefly, F., & Razali, A. B. (2019). Malaysian Rural Secondary School Students’ Attitudes towards Learning English as a Second Language. International Journal of Instruction, 12(1), 1141-1156. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2019.12173a.
In-Text Citation: (Rakey & Ismail, 2023)
To Cite this Article: Rakey, S. A. A., & Ismail, H. H. (2023). Jazz Chants to Motivate Language Learning among Sarawakian Primary Pupils Towards Positive School Climate: An Inquiry on Teachers’ Perspectives. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 12(2), 1192–1209.
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode