The Effect of Music on Communication Ability: A Case of Vocabularies

Abstract

Vocabulary growth predicts communication ability and communication without vocabulary is impossible. The study was done among 50 EFL learners to examine the effect of music-based instruction on their vocabulary retention and attitudes. They were divided into experimental and control groups. First, a pre-test was conducted to fulfill the homogeneity assumption. Then, the photo dictionary part of the “English for Schools Prospect 1” book was set to music and the experimental group underwent music-based practices. While the control group received audio-visual instruction. Immediately after the instructions, a 20-item test was given to the groups. Subsequently, a 9-item attitude scale was distributed among the teacher, observer, and groups. After two weeks, a long-term memory test was conducted between the two groups. Results presented that the experimental group significantly outscored in the short- and long-term memory tests compared with the control group. Moreover, results from the attitude scale indicated that they welcomed music-based instruction allowing more profound vocabulary learning and communication ability than the audio-visual practices.

Communication Apprehension, Privacy Preferences and L2 Willingness to Communicate: Can They Predict Communication Ability?

“…This study is also in line with several studies which confirm the negative correlation between language CA and succeeding in learning a foreign language (e.g., Horwitz, 2010;Trang et al, 2012). Moreover, Boustani and Al Abdwani (2023) demonstrated the effect of positive feelings on learning and communication through the use of music in the classroom.…”

“…Acquiring the ability to communicate effectively is essential for L2 learners as, through this ability, they can exchange their thoughts and emotions (Boudreau et al, 2018); moreover, Cheng and Xu (2022) state the importance of effective communication in affecting the audience to achieve one's desired goal or to succeed. Studies have shown that many factors can affect communication, e.g., learners' vocabulary knowledge (Boustani & Al Abdwani, 2023) or EFL teaching materials (Harsono, 2015).…”

“…Many researchers have already studied communication in L2 and the factors that affect it (e.g., Abdolmanafi-Rokni & Ataee, 2014;Bahrami et al, 2019;Boustani & Al Abdwani, 2023;Cheng & Xu, 2022;Khan et al, 2018;Xie & Derakhshan, 2021). Other studies have been conducted on the relationship between CA and WTC (e.g., Burroughs et al, 2003;MacIntyre, 1994).…”