This week's newest viral trend was found in an unlikely place--the Alphabet Song. Making the rounds was a video that takes the beloved children's song and puts a bit of a twist on one part. Take a listen:
Critics have come out from everywhere saying that this version is dreadful, even "life ruining" as Twitter user @NoahGarfinkel put it. And sure, it does make a significant change to the song we have all been singing since we were little kids, but is that such a bad thing? After all, the LMNOP business right there really can be confusing to people whose first language is not English.
In the midst of the hubbub, The New York Times reached out to the creator of the video for more information about the inspiration behind the video. Matt, the creator of the channel "Dream English Kids" made the video almost 9 years ago now after finding the idea in a book with how to teach English to children.
“The book said that if you can find an ABC song with a slow L-M-N-O-P, it is very helpful for young learners to recognize each letter,” he said. “I am not trying to change or make the new ABC song, I simply made another version that I hope is helpful for children to learn the letters, and be able to pronounce them well. This is particularly helpful for students in countries where the English alphabet is not regularly used.”
Dr. Catherine McBride who is a developmental psychologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong suggests that, by spreading out the "LMNOP" part, the new version is removing the "e" rhyme at the end of each line (no more "P" at the end of the line in the new version) and that rhyming is a very beneficial way for young children to learn. “It is true that some children memorize L-M-N-O-P as one lump,” Dr. McBride added. “But I don’t think this is a problem. It is a good way for them to pronounce a lot of information (letters) quickly.”
So, is all the uproar really an issue? For some students, especially English Language Learners, the quick spurt of LMNOP can lead to confusion, so maybe it isn't such an issue after all. I mean, if it is something that can help someone out, is it worth the outrage? Not at all--at least nobody is recommending changing over to the "Decabet" like Dan Aykroyd suggested on Saturday Night Live in 1976...that would deserve some uproar:
Fortin, J. (2019, October 30). How do we sing our ABCs? L-M-N-O-Please not like that. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/30/us/new-alphabet-abc-song.html
While the song does change the rhyming pattern, I think it is more beneficial for EL students to know the letters of the alphabet. With most things, once one become familiar with the letters; the English learner can say it faster even including the rhyming original pattern. I think that this change is worth it for the success of the English learner.
ReplyDeletePutting anything to music helps children to learn. My nephew only learned how to spell his name once it was put to a musical tune. I agree that changing the rhythm for the letter L-M-N-O-P changes rhyming, but how many young children with English as their first language do not know what letters come between L and P. I think the change is refreshing and will benefit many L1 and especially L2 students.
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