Comparing the Usefulness of Two Singing Modes to Support Chinese Learning: Karaoke and Dikir Barat in Mandarin

Abstract

This paper aims to shed some light on the use of two singing modes namely Chinese karaoke and Dikir Barat Mandarin to support Mandarin learning among the non-native Chinese learners. The song can be a very useful tool to enhance learning Mandarin motivation among learners. This study was carried out during a Chinese karaoke competition and Dikir Barat in Mandarin competition which both held at Univerisiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Kedah, Malaysia. A self-developed questionnaire was distributed during the two events to gain understanding on the view of the participants on the usefulness in using the two singing modes to support Chinese learning among these non-native Chinese learners. Descriptive and inferential statistics as well as meta-analysis were used to analyze the gathered data. It was found that students agreed that both singing modes are useful to enhance their learning motivation. Thus, singing activities such as Chinese karaoke and Dikir Barat in Mandarin can be used as creative practices in teaching Mandarin as a foreign language in specific and also for other foreign languages.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s2p684