Concert of Learning: Short-Term Vocal Training with Selected Pop Songs for Multi-Word Unit Learning in Early English as a Foreign Language Context

Can singing pop songs help secondary school learners acquire multi-word units more effectively? This book answers that question through a rigorously designed quasi-experimental study involving approximately 250 students across four schools in North Rhine-Westphalia. Combining vocal training with authentic English pop songs, the intervention targets curriculum-aligned multi-word units while exploring learner well-being and involuntary musical imagery (INMI) as cognitive mechanisms supporting retention. The study yields a validated 56-song corpus, a multidimensional assessment instrument, a five-phase lesson plan, and a comprehensive pedagogical toolkit ready for classroom use. Findings reveal moderate-to-large within-group learning gains and significantly enhanced well-being during instruction. Situated at the intersection of music cognition, applied linguistics, and EFL pedagogy, Concert of Learning offers researchers, teachers, and curriculum designers an evidence-based framework for integrating music into language education.