The Relationship Between Musical Intelligence And Foreign Language Learning: The Case of Iranian Learners of English

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between musical intelligence and foreign language learning. First, it will focus on the relationship between music and language and potential advantages of inclusion of music in teaching and learning a foreign language. Second, it will present the result of the study of Persian learners of English by the age of 15 to 18. The result of study suggests that musical intelligence significantly correlates with learning foreign language and it may facilitate learning of foreign languages.

Potential Inclusion of Multiple Intelligences in Jordanian EFL Textbooks: A Content Analysis

“…Along the same lines, Shabani and Torkeh (2014) suggest not only a relationship between musical intelligence and language learning but also a facilitative effect for musical intelligence on foreign language learning. More generally, a growing body of research (for example, Anvari, Trainor, Woodside & Levy, 2002;Hurwitz, Wolff, Bortnick & Kokas, 1975;Lyons, 2008;Patel, 2008Patel, & 2012Patel & Iversen, 2007) suggests a facilitative effect for music on language learning.…”

“…Musical intelligence has been linked to literacy and linguistic skills, social skills, and selfexpression (Fonseca-Mora, Toscano-Fuentes & Wermke, 2011;Schellenberg, 2005;Sleve & Miyake, 2006). Along the same lines, Shabani and Torkeh (2014) suggest not only a relationship between musical intelligence and language learning but also a facilitative effect for musical intelligence on foreign language learning.…”

Playing Musical Instruments during Elementary School Age and Selection of Secondary School and Profession / Sviranje glazbenih instrumenata u osnovnoškolskoj dobi i odabirsrednje škole tezanimanja

“…Since the basic elements of music (melody, rhythm) are closely connected with hearing, speaking, and thereby learning foreign languages (Shabani & Torkeh, 2014), it is not surprising that the respondents who did not play any melodic instrument in elementary school have lower auditory perception on the aforementioned elements of music. Table 3 shows the first group of 8 questions related to the knowledge of foreign languages.…”

“…Accordingly, the respondents who learned to play a musical instrument in a course or in private lessons over the years, and in that way developed hearing sensibility to a melody and rhythm, sense of hearing and speaking (phonologic awareness), sensibility in the expression and persistence in training and repetition of the patterns (Shabani & Torkeh, 2014) gained the predispositions for successful mastering of foreign languages.…”

“…Moritz et al (2012) proved the relation between early rhythmic skills, music lessons and phonological awareness among preschool children (5-6 years old). Music activity helps in the process of learning foreign languages (Shabani & Torkeh, 2014). The connection of mathematics and music is contained in the elements of spatial intelligence, which is particularly developed during the activity of playing a musical instrument (Gardiner, 2000;Hetland, 2000;Rauscher et al, 1997).…”