Music as a resource to develop the listening skills of efl elementary school students

This research explores the potential of incorporating music as an instructional tool in the EFL classroom. It aims to analyze the effects of using music to develop listening skills with a group of 21 young A1 level learners in a public elementary school in Cuenca- Ecuador using the mixed-method approach with a pre-posttest design. In addition, it examines students’ perceptions about using music to develop their listening skills. In the quantitative stage a pre-test and post-test were applied considering three listening strategies according to the curriculum established by the Ministry of Education: listening to predict, listening for details, and listening for comprehension. In the qualitative stage, students were asked to answer a questionnaire composed of five open-ended questions. The results of this project showed that music is a useful resource for developing listening in EFL students. It enriches the learning experience, triggering positive students' perceptions to continue practicing listening skills according to their proficiency levels.