Using Songs in the Classroom By PCV Emily Aiken

Session Objectives Why use songs? When to use songs? How to use songs? What are good songs? Lesson Planning Other resources

Why use songs? Students LOVE them! They can be used in different LEARNING LEVELS The can be used to practice ALL 4 SKILLS FUN!

Brainstorm When should a song be used for a lesson? How can it be used effectively? Do you have a purpose for using the song? What is the purpose?

Suggestions for Song Use The song should: The material should: practice specific skills REVIEW a learned material be an exciting way to practice LEARNED material level appropriate be taught prior to using the song be a concept easily connected to the chosen song be the focus of the activity Level appropriate – Speed of the song, vocabulary that is not too difficult (or with a lot of slang), clarity of the song

REMEMBER! Have a purpose or objective for the song What skill is practiced through the song activities? Maximize the use of the material you develop Have multiple activities for one song Include pre-listening and post-listening activities Adapt the level of material for your students Is the song easy to understand? Are the activities too easy? Too difficult? Technology and songs are not always appropriate

Activity Stages for Songs Pre-Listening Listening Post-Listening Activate background knowledge Analyze the song title Pre-teach new vocabulary Review grammar structure Listen to the song Practice listening for specific information Listen for intonation and pronunciation Check for understanding Comprehension of the song Expansion activities Discuss the topic of the song

Pre-Listening Example Objective: Present Continuous Review Book 2 – Unit 4 (pg. 36) Book 3 – Unit 5 (pg. 44)

Pre-Listening Example Review structure of present continuous tense Pre-Listening Example Review structure of present continuous tense. Tell students they will be listening for the tense as they listen to the lyrics. Lemon Tree Fool’s Garden I'm (1) ______ (sit) here in the boring room It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon I'm (2) _______ (waste) my time I got nothing to do I'm hanging around I’m (3) _______ (wait) for you But nothing ever happens and I wonder I'm driving around in my car I'm (4) _______ (drive) too fast I'm driving too far I'd like to change my point of view I feel so lonely I’m (5) _______ (wait) for you But nothing ever happens and I wonder I wonder how I wonder why Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon-tree I'm (6) _______ (turn) my head up and down I’m turning turning turning turning turning around And all that I can see is just another lemon-tree I'm (7) _______ (sit) here I miss the power I'd like to go out (8) ______ (take) a shower But there's a heavy cloud inside my head I feel so tired Put myself into bed While nothing ever happens and I wonder Isolation is not good for me Isolation I don't want to sit on the lemon-tree I’m (9) _______ (step) around the desert of joy Baby anyhow I'll get another toy

Listening Activities Fill in the blanks (cloze) Put lyrics in order Have students listen and fill in the blanks. Have choices or word bank if necessary Put lyrics in order By line By paragraph Circle the grammar point (could be used in pre-listening) Review a grammar structure by circling the grammar points while listening to the song

Listening Example This becomes a listening activity when the students fill in the blanks with the present continuous form as they listen to the song again. Lemon Tree Fool’s Garden I'm (1) ______ (sit) here in the boring room It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon I'm (2) _______ (waste) my time I got nothing to do I'm hanging around I’m (3) _______ (wait) for you But nothing ever happens and I wonder I'm driving around in my car I'm (4) _______ (drive) too fast I'm driving too far I'd like to change my point of view I feel so lonely I’m (5) _______ (wait) for you But nothing ever happens and I wonder I wonder how I wonder why Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon-tree I'm (6) _______ (turn) my head up and down I’m turning turning turning turning turning around And all that I can see is just another lemon-tree I'm (7) _______ (sit) here I miss the power I'd like to go out (8) ______ (take) a shower But there's a heavy cloud inside my head I feel so tired Put myself into bed While nothing ever happens and I wonder Isolation is not good for me Isolation I don't want to sit on the lemon-tree I’m (9) _______ (step) around the desert of joy Baby anyhow I'll get another toy

Post Listening Examples Answer comprehension questions Discuss the song What was the song about What was singer’s mood Creative writing task Write another verse to the song Using the song write a story

Using Songs in the Classroom The best songs are… Short with lots of repetition Are sung clearly Don’t have a lot of slang or difficult vocabulary Don’t have long instrumental pauses

Read the lyrics and prepare the song before class! REMEMBER! Read the lyrics and prepare the song before class!

REMEMBER! Have a goal or objective for using the song! What skill are you practicing?

REMEMBER! Begin with pre-listening activities to activate previous knowledge and give new information necessary for the song!

Resources Available

Changing YouTube video to Mp3 File Go to: youtube.com Search by song title and/or artist Copy web address

Changing YouTube video to Mp3 File Go to: www.youtube-mp3.org/ Paste web address Click “Convert Video”

Changing YouTube video to Mp3 File Click “Download.” Save to a folder or to a flash drive.

Websites for Using Songs musicalenglishlessons.com/index-ex.htm Songs listed by grammar point tefltunes.com/grammarsongs.aspx tefltunes.com/themesongs.aspx Songs based on topic