Usage of interactive forms and methods in foreign language education is not a new topic to discuss. This issue was considered by T.V.Aslamova, S.Avagyan, A.C.Ben-Barka, M.S.Berns, M.Canale, S.A.Chirvonaya, I.N.Chmelnitskaya, B.K.Das, Ann Galloway, G.Gerngross, E.N.Ivanova, S.S.Kashlev, T.G.Kelman, D.Larsen-Freeman, W.T.Littlewood, Yu.V.Lomanova, L.M.Lyachovskaya, L.M.Lynch, I.K.Malyavskaya, V.A.Maslova, E.V.Musykantova, I.A.Nezhivleva, P.Pattison, E.Yu.Petrashunas, H.Puchta, P.Riley, E.V.Roginko, S.J.Savignon, A.N.Schukin, J.Sheils, M.Swain, E.Yu.Tereschenko, L.O.Tselikova, D.A.Wilkins, G.Willems, K.O.Zakharchuk etc.
Most of the works by the mentioned authors underline the following targets of interactive methods of education:
- Creation of atmosphere of comfort and freedom;
- Motivation to use foreign languages and develop communicative, cognitive and creative skills;
- Consideration of a student’s personality as a whole, including his/her feelings and emotions in the educational process;
- Student-centred activities, when the teacher is an observer rather than a central figure;
- Combination of different forms of work (individual, group and collective forms);
- Implementation of mutual control, consultation and teaching weaker students by sources of the stronger ones; more profound understanding of the material by advanced students through teaching their group mates;
- Development of such skills as critical thinking, interaction, problem solution, summarizing;
- Decreasing number and level of stressful situations.
The author of this article is looking for creative types of tasks. So several steps were done in this direction. Such contest as «The club of light-headed and quick-witted» was held four times a year as a seasonal game covering university curriculum in English. The results (which are described in the article «КВН на английском языке как альтернатива контрольным мероприятиям на пройденную тему» by O.V.Averkova) proved effectiveness of creative and communicative tasks in practice. Nevertheless, the year after that this idea was not supported by students any longer. So this fact made the author think of something suitable for the new-coming students, who turned out to be quite different in comparison with those who are just one year older.
Let’s consider the experience of working out an idea of a music contest. 47 students were asked which event they would like to take part in. 34% chose music contest, 29.8% — conference, 23.4% — club of light-headed and quick-witted, 10.6% didn’t want to take part in any activities and 2.1% suggested their own variants.
The results of the next survey showed students’ interest to guessing a song through music (40%), composing and singing songs alive (23,3%), shooting a clip (20%), musicals (10%), musical questions and answers/ quotations from songs (3.3%), 3.3% suggested their variant.
Thus, the first three became the parts of the contest. All in all, there were 3 weeks to get ready. The task for the first week was to find 20 songs in English, the lyrics in which are connected with the following topics: science, technology, experiments, ecology, professions, faculties. A week later 60 songs were found. While learning lyrics, students practiced listening, reading and translating skills. 14 out of 60 songs («Pollution», «That’s mathematics», «Lobachevski», «Elements», «Earth song», «Industry of war», «She blinded me with science», «Danger!High voltage!», «Analyze», «The scientist», «TNT», «Wheels», «Blinded by science», «The final countdown») were secretly chosen for the contest. It was also agreed to announce hints concerning the essence of the song before listening. Sometimes only be means of song’s verbal descriptions students were able to name the song. This activity developed skills to elicit information from audible sources and to get acquainted with cultures of English-speaking countries through songs.
The task for the second week was to create lyrics in English within the topic «Specialty» and to shoot a clip. The requirement stated: «Usage of existing music is allowed, but the lyrics should be unique. Participation of all members is obligatory. The number of singers is not limited.» Nobody expected this part of the contest to be so popular among online spectators. 915 people voted for the best clip within 9 days. Thus, the aim to attract people’s attention to foreign language studies was achieved. Clips were also evaluated by linguists according to language competence, correspondence with the topic and creativity. The results are kept on sites mentioned in bibliography. The article itself may reflect only comparison of lyrics by students with the lyrics in the original song (borrowing lyrics from the original were marked in bold):
I am an engineer (students’ version) | Get lucky (original) |
You know I am an engineer. I’m very busy day by day. I am not queer, just I am mere, Time is so fast, so day is short. We, we love maths, We love science. Look at us! So we’re engineers, Our life’s hard. Look at us! We’reup all night doing studies (4x), We’reup all night to get marks, We’reup all night to get fun, We’reup all night to get answers, We’reup all night to do science. | Like the legend of the phoenix All ends with beginnings What keeps the planet spinning The force of the beginning We’ve come too far To give up Who we are So let’s raise the bar And our cups To the stars We’re up all night ‘til the sun We’re up all night to get some We’re up all night for good fun We’re up all night to get lucky We’re up all night to get lucky |
Scientist (students’ version) | Radioactive (original) |
I am delve in science to read and know I learn my task and get info I’m breathing in the chemicals I’m breaking in and shaping up Then checking out on the brand new lab This is it, the working I’m waking up I feel it in my bones Enough to make me active wo-o Meet me in a new stage In a new stage Meet me in a new stage In a new stage I’m hyperactive Hyperactive I’m hyperactive Hyperactive I raise my glass and learn what’s up It’s an evolution I suppose We’re painted red to fit right in I’m breaking in and shaping up Then checking out on the brand new lab This is the working | I am waking up to ash and dust I wipe my brow and sweat my rust I’m breathing in the chemicals I’m breaking in and shaping up Then checking out on the prison bus This is it the apocalypse I’m waking up I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems grow Welcome to the new age To the new age Welcome to the new age To the new age I’m radioactive Radioactive I’m radioactive Radioactive I raise my flag and don my clothes It’s a revolution I suppose We’re painted red to fit right in I’m breaking in and shaping up Then checking out on the prison bus This is it, the apocalypse |
The last part was aimed at translation of any English or Russian song and performing the result alive. The results were as follows:
Original | Translation |
Mister Sandman, bring me a dream Make him the cutest that I’ve ever seen Give him two lips like roses and clover Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over Sandman, I’m so alone Don’t have nobody to call my own Please turn on your magic beam Mister Sandman, bring me a dream Mister Sandman, bring me a dream Make him the cutest that I’ve ever seen Give him the word that I’m not a rover Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over Sandman, I’m so alone Don’t have nobody to call my own Please turn on your magic beam Mister Sandman, bring me a dream Mister Sandman, bring us a dream Give him a pair of eyes with a come hither gleam Give him a lonely heart like Pagliacci And lots of wavy hair like Liberace Mister Sandman, someone to hold Would be so peachy before we’re too old So please turn on your magic beam Mister Sandman, bring us Mister Sandman, bring us a dream | Мистер Сэндмен, дай мне мечту Сделай милой ее красоту Дай губы ей, как бархат и розы Затем скажи ей — ночью буду рядом Сэндмен, я так одинок Нет той, которой я дал бы цветок Ты волшебник — я прошу Мистер Сэндмен, исполни мечту Мистер Сэндмен, дай мне мечту Сделай милой ее красоту Пообещаю верным я быть Скажи, что одинокой ей не слыть Сэндмен, я так одинок Нет той, которой я дал бы цветок Ты волшебник — я прошу Мистер Сэндмен, исполни мечту Мистер Сэндмен, дай нам мечту Дай ей глаза, в которых я утону Пусть сердцем, как Кармен, она одинока И, как Ассоль, кудрявый носит локон Мистер Сэндмен, кто б удержал Сладкий момент, не дав состариться нам Итак, включи надежды луч Мистер Сэндмен, дай мне, я прошу, Мистер Сэндмен, дай мне мечту. |
Original | Translation |
Антошка! Антошка! Пойдем копать картошку! (2 р.) Тили-тили Трали-вали Это мы не проходили Это нам не задавали Парам-пам-пам Парам-пам-пам Антошка! Антошка! Сыграй нам на гармошке! (2 р.) Тили-тили Трали-вали Это мы не проходили Это нам не задавали Парам-пам-пам Парам-пам-пам Антошка! Антошка! Готовь к обеду ложку! (2 р.) Тили-тили Трали-вали Это, братцы, мне по силе Откажусь теперь едва ли Парам-пам-пам Парам-пам-пам | Antonio! Antonetto! Let’s go and dig potato! (2x) Deely-deely Traly-Valy This we hadn’t learnt at school And it isn’t our rule Param-pam-pam Param-pam-pam Anton! Anton! Play the accordion! (2x) Deely-deely Traly-Valy This we hadn’t learnt at school And it isn’t our rule Param-pam-pam Param-pam-pam Anton! Anton! Prepare spoon for luncheon! (2x) Deely-deely Traly-Valy I can handle! Don’t confuse! I won’t certainly refuse! Param-pam-pam Param-pam-pam |
Original | Translation |
Мир полон удивительных вещей, И жизнь намного интересней, чем ты думаешь. Я в этом убеждаюсь с каждым днем сильней, И зря ты мне не веришь и совсем не слушаешь. Похоже, все вокруг уже сошли с ума, И мы с тобой сойдем — нужна минута времени. Твои глаза так нежно смотрят на меня, Поспорить тяжело… Мы с тобой вместе! Значит, есть Веский повод думать, что счастье рядом И любовь! А что еще с тобою нам надо? И любовь! Нам больше ничего и не надо! И любовь! Ты вечно говоришь, что «все не просто, нет», Зачем об этом думать? Это же сведет с ума! Как льется через занавеси лунный свет, Так льется и любовь, и я, и ты, иль вся Земля. Не думай, что все может вдруг пойти не так, Коснись моей руки и погружайся в волшебство! Закрой глаза и просто сделай первый шаг… Вот видишь, как легко?! Мы с тобой вместе! Значит, есть Веский повод думать, что счастье рядом И любовь! А что еще с тобою нам надо? И любовь! Нам больше ничего и не надо! И любовь! | You know the world is full of amazing things The life is much better than you used to think before And every day my creed is stronger than it was But you don’t care and don’t believe me anymore It seems to me the world has just become so mad And we can be the same, we need one minute, so wait Your eyes so sweetly look at me It’s hard to bet with you… You and me together! Doesn’t it mean That happiness is among us, And the love! What else do we need to ask for? And the love, We don’t need anything more, And the love. You always tell me that it’s so hard, oh, yeah Why do you even think, it’s maddening you See how moonlight is pouring into the room, That’s how love and me, and you and the whole universe, Don’t think how everything can go so wrong, Just touch my hand and stay with me in my magic world, You close your eyes and make this first step, You see, it’s so easy. You and me together! Doesn’t it mean That happiness is among us, And the love! What else do we need to ask for? And the love, We don’t need anything more, And the love. |
Summarizing everything written above we may say that music contest proved to be effective, bright, informative and creative, as it was worked out according to students’ wishes and support and within the frames of university curriculum.