Pedagogical factors in the use of music in foreign language instruction: The didactic note in the Portuguese subjunctive.

摘要

This study explores theoretical ideas relating to the practical aspects of using music in the foreign language classroom and attempts to isolate and qualify those factors specifically affecting the teaching of the subjunctive mood in Portuguese---an element that commonly presents special difficulties for English-speaking students. Using comparative data gathered from more than one hundred students in six classes, three of which utilized a traditional, non-musical approach and an equal number of classes which utilized a song-based method, this paper analyzes the numerical results as determined by tests administered before and after the classes to determine to what extent, if any, a music-based method is an effective means to teach the Portuguese subjunctive mood. Given the common arguments that the subjunctive mood is either unused or obsolete, this paper also looks at the literature on the subject as well as conducts an intense inquiry into the current usage and importance of this mood in popular culture through a review of texts taken from television, song, and the Internet.