How music facilitates second language (L2) learning: a systematic review from 2002 to 2022

ABSTRACT

Background:

Applying music to learners’ language learning/acquisition has a long research history. However, given that second language (L2) learning/acquisition is a complex process, the studies regarding applying music to L2 learning/acquisition are comparatively fragmented.

Objectives:

This review work analysed 87 articles that applied music to L2 learning/acquisition, or studied the relationships between music and L2 learning/acquisition. The focus of the research was to determine the correlation between music and L2 learning/acquisition and explore effective ways of applying music to facilitating the process of L2 learning/acquisition.

Methods:

Literature review.

Results and conclusion:

For RQ1, most of the studies reported that music is positively correlated with learners’ L2 learning/acquisition/development/gains although some of them delivered the conclusion without solid statistical evidence. For RQ2, it can be concluded that the use of music in L2 learning yields benefits in at least 6 facets: (1) Promoting L2 learning via providing extra cognitive value; (2) Enhancing learners’ L2 knowledge; (3) Improving learners’ language skills; (4) Delivering and strengthening L2 culture; (5) Facilitating L2 teaching via using music as a component of a compound L2 pedagogical method; (6) Altering the plasticity of brain functions and networks responsible for L2 processing. Finally, controversies and implications were also discussed to provide guidance for the effective application of music in L2 learning.

KEYWORDS:

• Musical aptitude
• musical experience
• second language (L2) learning
• correlation between music and L2
• cross disciplines

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was Supported by Social Science Fundation of Sichuan Normal University [grant number:22XW097]; Humanities and Social Science Fundation of Ministry of Education of China [grant number: 23YJC880062]; and Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province [grant numbers: 2022NSFSC0570].

Notes on contributors

Bo Sun

Bo Sun is a lecturer at the College of foreign languages, Sichuan Normal University, China. He received master degree in English Education from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. His research interest is applying cross-disciplinary methods in EFL (English as second language) education.

Juan Yang

Juan Yang is a Professor at the Department of Educational Technology, Sichuan Normal University, China. She is the Director of the Department of Educational Technology. She used to be an honourable researcher of Developmental Neurocognition Lab, Birkbeck, University of London. Her current research interests include computational modelling in second language learning and cross-disciplinary learning.

Zhijie Liang

Zhijie Liang is a lecturer at the Department of Educational Technology, Sichuan Normal University, China. His research interests include applying deep learning frameworks to model learners' behaviours.