The role of traditional folk songs and dances in the development of intercultural communication among elementary school children (El papel de las canciones y danzas folcloricas tradicionales en el desarrollo de la comunicacion intercultural entre los alumnos de la educacion primaria)

This paper discusses the role of traditional folk songs and dances in the development of intercultural communication among elementary school children. Since we live in a multicultural society, it is necessary to develop the awareness of young people regarding the need to nurture harmonious relations among nations. The paper outlines the results of the empirical research aimed at determining whether the eighth-grade students from Central Serbia and Kosovo and Metohija know which nations live in their region and what their traditional songs and dances are. The results of the survey show that most students know the nations living in their vicinity but do not know their traditional songs and dances. This indicates that this kind of information and teaching content were not recognized and used as a means of interethnic connection, getting familiar with and understanding other nations. Traditional songs and dances can be a significant factor of successful intercultural communication in elementary schools if teachers recognize and use their potential. Descriptive method as well as the analysis and synthesis were used in this paper.