Think and Dream in English: Songs

Showing posts with label Songs. Show all posts

"Practicing listening skills in class can be a real drag to a student, marking the correct answer in their workbook, while listening to repetitive dialogues voiced by the same people, over and over again. This is where the student’s mind begins to shut down and take a five-minute breather, and whatever happening outside captures their wandering attention.

Listening involves a great deal of concentration, and so when the brain has switched off and gone for lunch, the listening skills follow suit.

How can teachers avoid this from happening, you ask?

Well, the answer is simple. Why not try something a little different. Think outside of the box and provide the students with something that you may not have tried before.

Songs provide a great alternative to listening tasks, as they are effectively the same dull listening exercises, but dressed in disguise as something that’s entertaining and fun.

Another reason why songs are great in the classroom is that they can be used as part of an entertaining and amusing, yet thoroughly educational warmer that will set right tone for the remainder of the lesson.

You don’t have to do a song and dance about it? Just a song on its own would be fine, thank you.

Adding the occasional song along with an accompanied activity to your class every once in a while, you’re giving the students more variety in the class. This keeps their attention towards you, their brain’s switched on and a stronger ability to listen for detail in the long run.

Here’s some creative activities that are aimed to not only entertain students, but to inspire and educate as well."

Barbie: The Young Girl’s Ultimate Role Model?

Barbie: The Young Girl’s Ultimate Role Model? | About-Face:

"Especially in this day and age, every young girl should have a role model. They need someone to look up to — someone who will validate their dreams, inspire their hearts, and represent all the positive, healthy ideals life has to offer. My mother is my role model, and so when I saw this commercial the other day, I assumed it was a shout-out to all the hardworking mothers setting their daughters on the right track. After all, at such a young age, who can inspire young girls to “go to the moon”, “dance”, and “teach the next generation”?"

ISTE Music Video: Say Hey (I Love School)

Eric Whitacre: A virtual choir 2,000 voices strong

Material Girl by Madonna

Watch Madonna's video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0FXPqYpt0g

Do the exercises:
http://www.english4all.pro.br/Materialgirl.htm

Some boys kiss me, some boys hug me
I think they're O.K.
If they don't give me proper credit
I just walk away

They can beg and they can plead
But they can't see the light, that's right
'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash
Is always Mister Right, 'cause we are

Chorus:

Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl

Some boys romance, some boys slow dance
That's all right with me
If they can't raise my interest then I
Have to let them be

Some boys try and some boys lie but
I don't let them play
Only boys who save their pennies
Make my rainy day, 'cause they are

(chorus)

Living in a material world [material]
Living in a material world
(repeat)

Boys may come and boys may go
And that's all right you see
Experience has made me rich
And now they're after me, 'cause everybody's

(chorus)

A material, a material, a material, a material world

Living in a material world [material]
Living in a material world
(repeat and fade)

Now watch Marilyn's video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDyqJDJKtFc

and Kylie's version:

Madonna's Website:
http://www.madonna.com/
Material Collection:
http://materialgirlcollection.com/holiday_2010/
Material Girl Blog:
http://blog.materialgirlcollection.com/

"It's the holiday season and that means it's time to sing Christmas Carols (songs)! The links below lead to some of the most popular Christmas Carols in English. Each carol has the first verse and the difficult words defined at the end of the song so that you or your classes can understand each song. There is also a link at the end of each page to a printable sheet so that you can print the Carol out for use at home and in class."

Jingle Bells
Silent Night
Joy to the World
The First Noel
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Oh, Come All Ye Faithful
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
What Child is This?
We Three Kings
Auld Lang Syne
Away in a Manger
Deck The Hall
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
O Christmas Tree
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Lullay Thou Little Tiny Child

Another Christmas tradition is the reading of by Clement C. Moore. Follow the links below to followed by a reading comprehension based on this Christmas classic.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
Reading Comprehension based on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Teaching with songs

Teaching with songs:

"Here it is a list of songs with related activities to practise vocabulary, grammar, sounds, etc. Most of them are 'popular' among our Spanish students and some others are old songs, but nice and useful."