Enhancing Students’ Listening Ability Through English Songs in EFL Learning: A Literature Review

Abstract

Listening is a fundamental skill in learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and serves as the foundation for other language skills such as speaking, reading, and writing. However, listening is often perceived as one of the most challenging skills for EFL learners due to limited exposure to authentic input, unfamiliar pronunciation, fast speech, and low motivation. In response to these challenges, numerous studies have explored the use of English songs as an instructional medium to enhance students’ listening ability. This article aims to provide a comprehensive literature review by synthesizing findings from previous empirical studies on the use of songs in listening instruction. This study employs a literature review method by analyzing journal articles related to songs and listening skills in EFL contexts. The findings reveal that songs significantly improve listening comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, pronunciation awareness, learner motivation, and engagement. Moreover, songs create a positive and low-anxiety learning environment that supports meaningful language learning. Therefore, integrating songs into listening instruction is strongly recommended for English teachers, particularly in EFL classrooms.