Improving Students' Listening Skills by Using Song

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of using English songs to improve the listening comprehension skills of Grade VIII-B students at SMP Nasrani 5 Medan. Listening is a fundamental skill in language learning, yet many students face difficulties due to fast native speaker speech, unfamiliar accents, idiomatic expressions, and limited exposure to English outside the classroom. These challenges are often intensified by traditional, teacher-centered approaches that fail to engage students actively. To address this issue, the researchers explored the integration of English songs into listening activities as a more engaging and student-centered teaching method. The study employed a mixed-method approach through Classroom Action Research (CAR), conducted in two cycles with 27 students as participants. Quantitative data were gathered through listening tests and analyzed descriptively to observe changes in student performance. Qualitative data from classroom observations and student interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis to gain insights into students’ engagement, motivation, and perceptions. The findings revealed a notable improvement in students’ listening skills. The average score increased from 50 in the first cycle to 67 in the second cycle, indicating that the incorporation of English songs positively influenced students’ performance. Although not all students met the school’s passing score of 70, their increased motivation, focus, and enthusiasm for learning were evident during classroom observations and interviews. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that using English songs in listening lessons can be an effective strategy to enhance comprehension and foster a more enjoyable learning environment. Songs provide authentic input, repetitive exposure, and emotional engagement, which help learners absorb the language more naturally. Therefore, educators are encouraged to integrate music into English instruction to support students' listening development and overall language proficiency.