1. Using Songs in the Classroom
By PCV Emily Aiken

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

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

4. 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?

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

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

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

17. Resources Available

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

19. Changing YouTube video to Mp3 File
Go to:
Paste web address
Click “Convert Video”

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

21. 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