Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The use of Music and Cartoons

Rana Berfin Abay; Safiye Çiftlikli Hapcı

Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The use of Music and Cartoons

Abstract

Learning a foreign language (FL) has become crucial for modernity and existence in a world that is continuously evolving and developing. In the present era, the significance given to multilingualism has increased, leading to the teaching of foreign languages in early childhood. For this reason, various methods and materials have begun to be used to support second language acquisition (SLA) in early childhood education. This article presents a descriptive study that investigates how media, particularly music and cartoons, support SLA among preschool children. It examines the benefits of early L2 learning and the cognitive advantages of acquiring a second language at a young age. Cartoons provide an engaging, context-rich environment that helps children improve vocabulary, comprehension, and social interaction skills. Music, with its rhythmic and melodic qualities, plays a significant role in enhancing pronunciation and understanding language structures. The article also integrates SLA theories with media usage, highlighting how media can be effectively used to accelerate language learning in young children. Finally, it investigates the challenges and considerations of media-based language education, emphasizing the importance of content appropriateness and guided media usage. As a result of this study: Media, especially music and cartoons, develop children's language comprehension skills by providing visual and contextual cues, reinforcing language patterns and supporting cognitive development. Additionally, this research shows that young individuals have the capacity to learn a new language more quickly and fluently, which reveals that this period is an ideal time for second language acquisition.

Keywords

Thanks

I am deeply grateful to my advisor, Dr. Safiye Çiftlikli Hapçı, for her invaluable guidance and feedback throughout the development of this article.

References

Abuzahra, N., Farrah, M.A. & Zalloum, S. (2016). Using cartoon in language classroom from a constructivist point of view. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ), 3, 229-245.
Akdoğan, F. (2004). Yeni projeler ışığında erken yaşta yabancı dil öğretimi. Hasan Ali Yücel Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, (2), 97–109.
Altmışdört, G. (2013). Dil edinimi ve dil öğrenimi olgusuna beyin ve dil gelişimi açısından bir bakış. Ege Eğitim Dergisi, 14(2), 41-62.
Anşin, S. (2006). Çocuklarda yabanci dil öğretimi. Dicle Üniversitesi Ziya Gökalp Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, (6), 9-20.
Aslan, Y. (2016). Comparison of Primary School Foreign Language Curricula of Turkey, Germany and the Netherlands. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 4(8), 34-43.
Ayotte, S. B. M. (2004). The acquisition of verb forms through song. Michigan State University.
Babaç, E. E., & Yıldız, G. (2018). Dil gelişiminde müziğin yeri. Fine arts, 13(3), 10-22.
BATDI, V., & SEMERCİ, Ç. (2018). İngilizce Öğretiminde Şarkıların Etkililiği 1. In 1st International Conference on Language, Education and Culture (ICLEC) (p. 88).

Berk, R. A. (2008). Use of technology and music to improve learning [Unpublished manuscript].
Bikçentayev, V. R. (2004). Çok erken yaşlarda çocuklara yabancı dil eğitimi. Uluslararası Eğitim. Yurtdışı Eğitim Portalı. http://www.dilokulu.com .
Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching languages to young learners. Cambridge University Press.
Ceyhan, E. (2007). Yabancı dil öğretimi teknolojisi. İstanbul: Morpa Kültür Yayınları.
Coyle, Y., & Gómez Gracia, R. (2014). Using songs to enhance L2 vocabulary acquisition in preschool children. Elt Journal, 68(3), 276-285.
Darmawan, I. M., Palenkahu, N., & Rorimpandey, R. (2022). Increasing the Students’ Vocabulary Mastery Through Songs a Study Conducted at the “Etty” Tondano Orphanage. JoTELL: Journal of Teaching English, Linguistics, and Literature, 1(5), 625-638.
de Leeuw, J., Andrews, J., Altman, Z., Andrews, R., Appleby, R., Bonanno, J., ... & Shriver, A. (2018). Similar event-related potentials to structural violations in music and language: A replication of Patel, Gibson, Ratner, Besson, & Holcomb (1998). PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/EPD42
Degrave, P. (2019). Music in the foreign language classroom: How and why. Journal of language teaching and research, 10(3), 412-420.
Drakoulaki, K. (2022, Ekim 28). Similarities and differences in language and music: Using Marr’s 3 levels of analysis. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/pur2g
Engh, D. (2013). Why use music in English language learning? A survey of the literature. English language teaching, 6(2), 113-127.
Good, A. J., Russo, F. A., & Sullivan, J. (2015). The efficacy of singing in foreign-language learning. Psychology of Music, 43(5), 627-640.
Gökçearslan, A. (2010). Batı Kökenli Çizgi Filmlerde Irkçı, Kapitalist ve Ayrımcı İdeolojik SÖYLEM. Fine Arts, 5(4), 365-373.
Gökşenli, E. Y. (2011). Yabancı dil olarak İspanyolca öğretiminde müziğin öğretim aracı olarak kullanımı. Mediterráneo/Mediterraneo, (6). Retrieved from: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/10609
Habib, K., & Soliman, T. (2015). Cartoons’ effect in changing children mental response and behavior. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 3(09), 248. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2015.39033
Isnaini, S., & Aminatun, D. (2021). Do you like listening to music?: Students’ thought on their vocabulary mastery using English songs. Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning (JELTL), 2(2), 62–67. http://jim.teknokrat.ac.id/index.php/english-language-teaching/index
İlter, B. G., & Er, S. (2007). Erken Yaşta Yabancı Dil Öğretimi Üzerine Veli ve Öğretmen Görüşler. Kastamonu Education Journal, 15(1), 21-30.
Jadhav, L. (2015). Teaching grammar through songs. Asian Quarterly: an International Journal of Contemporary Issues, 12(2), 76-82.
Kara, Ş. (2004). Ana dil edinimi ve erken yaşta yabancı dil öğretimi. Uludağ Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 17(2), 295-314.
Karaelma, B., & Demirel, S. (2021). Çocuklarda müziksel işitme algısı için ölçek geliştirme. Journal of World of Turks/Zeitschrift für die Welt der Türken, 13(1), 293. https://doi.org/10.46291/ZfWT/130115
Karakuş, H. (2016). Okul öncesi dönemde yabancı dil eğitimi verilmesine ilişkin anne-baba ve öğretmen görüşlerinin incelenmesi. Uluslararası Erken Çocukluk Eğitimi Çalışmaları Dergisi, 1(2), 7-19.
Kovács, Ágnes Melinda, and Jacques Mehler. "Cognitive gains in 7-month-old bilingual infants." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106.16 (2009): 6556-6560.
Kömür, Ş., Saraç, G., & Şeker, H. (2011). Teaching English through songs (Practice in Muğla/Turkey). Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Araştirmalari Dergisi, 1(15).
Köprülü, S. G. (2016). Erken yaşta yabancı dil öğreniminde çizgi filmlerin yeri. Diyalog Interkulturelle Zeitschrift Für Germanistik, 4(1), 88-98.
Krashen, S. D. (1981). Second language acquisition and second language learning. Pergamon Press.
Kuru Atadere, Y. (2012). Türkiyede erken yaşta yabancı dil eğitimi: Veli ve öğretmenlerin erken yaşta yabancı dile yönelik algı ve tutumları (Master's thesis, Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü).
Li, X., & Brand, M. (2009). Effectiveness of music on vocabulary acquisition, language usage, and meaning for mainland Chinese ESL learners. Contributions to music education, 73-84.
Meizaliana, M. (2009). Teaching Structure through Games to the Students of Madrasyah Aliyah Negeri 1 Kepahiang, Bengkulu (Doctoral dissertation, program Pascasarjana Universitas Diponegoro).
Meyssonnier, S. (2005). Pourquoi et comment exploiter le support vidéo authentique en classe de langue étrangère. Bourgogne, Université de Bourgogne France.
Nasab, M., & Motlagh, S. (2009). Vocabulary learning promotion through english subtitled cartoons. Communication and Linguistics Studies, 3, 1-7.
Ögeyik, M. C. (2009). Language learning strategies - An evaluation of compensatory strategies. Language in India, 9(1), 1.
Paoletti, G., Varanini, M., Balocchi, R., Morizzo, C., Palombo, C., & Santarcangelo, E. L. (2010). Cardiovascular and respiratory correlates of deep nociceptive stimulation, suggestions for analgesia, pain imagery and cognitive load as a function of hypnotizability. Brain Research Bulletin, 82(1-2), 65-73.
Patel, A. D. (2010). Music, language, and the brain. Oxford University Press.
Peçenek, D. (1997). İletişimci yaklaşımda öğretim teknikleri (Master's thesis, Ankara Universitesi (Turkey).
Postic, S. (2015). Influence of cartoon network on the acquisition of American English during childhood. Verbum., 6, 188-195.
Puchta, H., Gerngross, G., Holzmann, C., & Devitt, M. (2012). Grammar, songs and raps [Unpublished manuscript]. Retrieved January 15, 2012, from http://www.herbertpuchta.com/wpcontent/files_mf/1335259201grammarsongsraps.pdf
Sajana, C. (2018). Cartoons in language teaching and learning. International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics, 119(12), 2435-2450.
Schön, D., Magne, C., & Besson, M. (2004). The music of speech: Music training facilitates pitch processing in both music and language. Psychophysiology, 41(3), 341-349.
Scott, W. & Ytreberg, L. (1990). Teaching English to children. Longman.
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of business research, 104, 333-339.
Sonmez, V. (2008). Öğretim ilke ve yöntemleri [Instructional principles and methods](2. Baskı). Ankara: Anı Yayıncılık.
Sulaymonova, D. H. (2019). Using music and song in teaching foreign languages. International Scientific Review, (LXIV), 72–74.
Thorne, S. L., & Lantolf, J. P. (2006). A linguistics of communicative activity. Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 62, 170.
Topaloğlu, Y. (2012). Erken yaşta yabancı dil öğretiminde yöntem ve tekniklerin kullanım sorunsalı (Master's thesis, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü).
Tunçel, H., & Aytan, N. (2015). Yabancılara Türkçe Öğretiminde Çizgi Film Kullanımı. International Journal of Languages' Education and Teaching, 3(2), 235-246.
Üstün, H. (2023). Yabancı öğrencilere Türkçe öğretiminde çocuk şarkılarının etkisi. RumeliDE Dil ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi, (32), 1-14.
Walton, P. D., Canaday, M., & Dixon, A. (2010). Using songs and movement to teach reading to Aboriginal children. Canadian Council on Learning.
Wan, C. Y., Demaine, K., Zipse, L., Norton, A., & Schlaug, G. (2010). From music making to speaking: Engaging the mirror neuron system in autism. Brain research bulletin, 82(3-4), 161-168.
YAĞLI, A. (2024). Çizgi filmlerin yabancı dil öğretiminde kullanılması Martine (Ayşegül) örneği. Social Mentality and Researcher Thinkers Journal (SMART JOURNAL), 4(12), 702-709.
Yuliana, Y. (2003). Teaching English to young learners through songs. K@ ta: a Biannual Publication on the Study of Language and Literature, 5(1), 84-90.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

English As A Second Language

Journal Section

Review Article

Authors

Rana Berfin Abay ^*
0009-0000-6110-6069
Türkiye

Safiye Çiftlikli Hapcı
0009-0000-4104-7479
Türkiye

Publication Date

January 28, 2026

Submission Date

August 4, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 14, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 2 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA68XH65UB

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Abay, R. B., & Çiftlikli Hapcı, S. (2026). Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The use of Music and Cartoons. Contemporary English Language Studies, 2(1), 21-32. https://izlik.org/JA68XH65UB

AMA

1.Abay RB, Çiftlikli Hapcı S. Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The use of Music and Cartoons. CELS. 2026;2(1):21-32. https://izlik.org/JA68XH65UB

Chicago

Abay, Rana Berfin, and Safiye Çiftlikli Hapcı. 2026. “Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The Use of Music and Cartoons”. Contemporary English Language Studies 2 (1): 21-32. https://izlik.org/JA68XH65UB.

EndNote

Abay RB, Çiftlikli Hapcı S (January 1, 2026) Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The use of Music and Cartoons. Contemporary English Language Studies 2 1 21–32.

IEEE

[1]R. B. Abay and S. Çiftlikli Hapcı, “Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The use of Music and Cartoons”, CELS, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 21–32, Jan. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA68XH65UB

ISNAD

Abay, Rana Berfin - Çiftlikli Hapcı, Safiye. “Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The Use of Music and Cartoons”. Contemporary English Language Studies 2/1 (January 1, 2026): 21-32. https://izlik.org/JA68XH65UB.

JAMA

1.Abay RB, Çiftlikli Hapcı S. Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The use of Music and Cartoons. CELS. 2026;2:21–32.

MLA

Abay, Rana Berfin, and Safiye Çiftlikli Hapcı. “Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The Use of Music and Cartoons”. Contemporary English Language Studies, vol. 2, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 21-32, https://izlik.org/JA68XH65UB.

Vancouver

1.Rana Berfin Abay, Safiye Çiftlikli Hapcı. Second Language Acquisition Through Media in Preschool: The use of Music and Cartoons. CELS [Internet]. 2026 Jan. 1;2(1):21-32. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA68XH65UB