Abstract:

Songs as authentic resource can be used to inspire, motivate and improve student language skills in any chosen language. Songs are meaningful, authentic, easily available and suitable for different levels of language learners. They generate interest and students learn best when they are exposed to real-life contexts. The paper describes a second step of the project of international collaboration conducted at the University of West Bohemia in the Czech Republic and at the University of Calabria in Italy, based on the use of songs in different language classes. Following previous surveys carried out among students and the first step of the project, fully conducted virtually, the paper shows how several aspects of a language can be addressed, comparing the use of songs in remote and face-to-face classes. Examples of practical activities implemented in classes of different degree courses and levels are given to show how the use of music and lyrics contribute to the development of a wide scale of language competences such as listening skills, pronunciation, accent, spelling, vocabulary, metaphors, sayings and cultural knowledge. The activities are categorized in relation to their applicability in virtual or traditional school environment. In the context of international collaboration, this project represents a contribution to more complex research based on the elementary idea of music as universal language.

Keywords:

International collaboration, language classes, language skills, songs, lyrics.