EFL STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE IN THE USE OF ENGLISH SONG TO

IMPROVE PRONUNCIATION ABILITY

Delvi Nia Rizki Aryana

170388203046
English Education Department
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji

Email: delvirizki07@gmail.com

Abstract
This research is aimed to know the EFL students’ perspective in the use of English
song to improve pronunciation ability. The researcher used quantitative method and more
specifically is used a questionnaire to know the students’ perception. The population of this
research consists of 20 EFL students. The result of this study showed that most EFL students
agree through English song can help them to upgrade their pronunciation ability. The
researcher concluded that English song makes a positive effect on pronunciation ability.
Keywords: improve, pronunciation ability, English song.

INTRODUCTION
Dikdaya (2016) speculates that in order to increase students’ ability to use English
correctly, university’s students especially students from English Education Program need to
learn four main skills in the English language. They are reading, writing, listening, and
speaking. Aside from that, they also need to know and try to master the sub-skills such as
pronunciation.
Pronunciation is the way how we producing sounds to communicate. It includes
attention to the actual sounds of a language, aspects of speech beyond of the level of the
individual sound, like timing, intonation, stress, attention to gestures and expressions related
to the way we speak a language. According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s English
Dictionary, pronunciation is a way in which a particular language or word or sound is spoken.
For Indonesian students to pronounce the English word correctly is difficult. It is
because English and their mother tongue are different. Pronunciation is closely connected to
ears and listening is a vital part of developing this area. Listening to a model on radio, tape,
CD, video, or using students’ own voice as a model will be the most effective way of doing
this.
Learning English pronunciation through songs can be very enjoyed. It may be simple
to see the benefit or value of good pronunciation instruction to increase intelligibility and
increase listening comprehension. Most English learners who are suffering from inadequate
training in listening comprehension complain that “native speakers speak too fast”.
Ratnasari (2007) speculates that song is a kind of poet sung with musical
accompaniment. Most of people love songs. In a recent study (Harmer, 2003), music is a
powerful stimulus for students’ involvement precisely because it speaks directly to our
emotions while still allowing us to use our brains to analyze it and its effects if we will. By
listening to songs, they can learn a lot of things such as new words, grammar, and
pronunciation. They also can train themselves for listening comprehension. When they are
listening, they will not notice that they are improving their accomplishment of the language.
While being attentive to the songs, the scholars might follow to sing the songs.

METHOD

The research was conducted on the 20 EFL (within the range age 18-21). The data are
collected by using a questionnaire. The questionnaire is used to collect the data of improving
pronunciation ability by listening to English songs. The questionnaire consists of three
questions that cover the purpose of the study. The data collection procedures of this study
were as follows: Creating the questionnaire questions and giving it to the respondents, asking
the respondents to fill in the questionnaire and compiling the questionnaire that had been
answered. After the data collection procedures had been completed, the data were analyzed in
order to answer the research question.

RESULT
There are 3 questions that the researcher gave to the respondents. The type of
questions is multiple choice because it can be graded objectively without rater bias. The
answers to the questionnaire included the following:
1. Do you enjoy listening to an English song?
The options for this question are:
a) Agree
 b) Neutral
c) Disagree
From 20 respondents, most of them, at least 85% chose “agree” as enjoy listening to
an English song and 15% of respondents chose “neutral”.
2. Listening to English song helped you to learn the pronunciation?
The options for this question are:
a) Agree
b) Neutral
c) Disagree
From 20 respondents, 85% chose “agree” that English song helped them to learn
pronunciation. 10% of respondents chose “neutral” and 5% of respondents chose
“disagree”.
3. Learning pronunciation through English songs can help me to upgrade my
pronunciation ability?
The options for this question are:
a) Agree
b) Neutral
c) Disagree
Depending on the recorded the answer to this question. 95% of the respondents agree
that learning pronunciation through English songs can help them to upgrade their
pronunciation ability.

DISCUSSION
Based on the questionnaire, it is found that English songs can make an effect on
pronunciation ability. (Rengifo, 2009) The teaching/learning process can become a very
enriching experience because music can provide an appropriate atmosphere for both the
teacher and the students. Music can be very helpful as comprehensible input for EFL students
because it enables them to understand the language better and acquire new rules, as well as
motivating the students and making them feel more enjoyed. It is proven by the answers
students choose in the questionnaire, and the results of the questionnaire show that the song is
great media for improving pronunciation ability. According to Batista in (Study & Carlsson,
2015) mentions the importance of using songs the students would actually listen to in order to
make teaching and the classroom environment as authentic as possible.
CONCLUSION
After conducting the study, the researcher found that more than half of the EFL
students agreed that English songs can improve their pronunciation ability. The use of
English songs in learning English can make the students more interesting and enjoyed. The
result of the study shows that songs have a lot of impact on students and the learning process.
songs can make the learning atmosphere fun, it is interesting enough to build their motivation
and attract their attention or interest in it.

REFERENCES
Dikdaya, J. I. (2016). Improving Students ’ Pronunciation By Using English Songs for Fourth
Semester Students of Academic Year 2015 / 2016, 34–42.
Harmer, J. (2003). The Practice of English Language Teaching. ELT Journal.
https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/57.4.401
Ratnasari, H. (2007). "SONGS TO IMPROVE THE STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN
PRONOUNCING ENGLISH WORDS\n(An Action Research of the Year Seventh
Students of MTs ANNUR Jepara in the Academic Year 2006 / 2007)", 78. Retrieved
from http://lib.unnes.ac.id/1064/1/1980.pdf
Rengifo, R. (2009). Improving Pronunciation through the Use of Karaoke in an Adult Class,
91–105.
Study, A. E., & Carlsson, L. (2015). Singing as a Tool for English Pronunciation
Improvement.