Job Discussion Forums

[coffeedrinker]

I like using songs in class and have found most people, even more serious adults, love the two teams in lines-grab the word from the board activity. Even slow songs can be challenging and fun.

Can you list specific songs you've used in class that went over well? I'm looking for songs that are not too fast or hard to understand (obviously), and have a variety of vocabulary, so while, yes, you can use almost any song in class, I'm looking for specific examples.

I've used:
If I Had a Million Dollars (Bare Naked Ladies - also great for second conditional)
Imagine
Fever
Friends theme song (this appears in Headway, which actually has a number of good songs for lower levels....leaving on a jet plane, etc.)
My Girl

Not so great were I Will Survive (way too fast for a higher intermediate group even), Tears of a Clown (in Cutting Edge Advanced, also very fast), and Something Beautiful (Robbie Williams - not that bad but not much range of vocabulary)

??
Thanks.

[denise]

I taught the highest level at my uni, so I was not as concerned about picking out "easy" songs or songs with certain grammatical structures as I would have been with lower levels. I wanted to challenge them, especially given that most of what they hear on the radio isn't going to be EFL-classroom-friendly to begin with.

So rather than focusing on grammar or vocabulary, I tried to choose songs that were in some way connected to either topics we were discussing or current events in the world. During a unit in our textbook on communication, I brought in Enigma's "Silence must be heard." For Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, I brought in U2's "Pride." And I let the students bring in their own music.

d

[anospi]

I've had success with "Fast Car" by Tracey Chapman. This is in Headway but I created my own exercises. Also did a hip hop listening with "Locked Up" by Akon.

Khmer students had a lot of problems with listening comprehension, so I turned both these listenings into full 90 minute lessons. Didn't focus on grammar or vocab.

[ntropy]

Good Mother--Jann Arden
Not One of Us--Peter Gabriel

Both have content almost everyone can relate to. Generate good discussions after the listening exercises.

[jillford64]

coffeedrinker --

Would you provide a little more detailed description of your "two teams in line-grab the word from the board" activity? I'd like to know exactly how to use it in my classes. Thanks.

Jill

[coffeedrinker]

The song activity goes like this:

I choose 10-15 words from a song and write them on big strips of paper, say, 6 per A4 sheet. I elicit them and when the students say the correct word I stick it up on the whiteboard with blu tac.

The students stand up and form two lines/teams facing the board. Their task is to listen for those words and grab them off the board when they hear them. BUT, only the first person in each line can grab�the team can help by calling out the word if they hear it, but only the first two �competitors� can grab the word.

So, the song starts, the student from team A grabs the word. BOTH that person and his/her �opponent� go to the ends of their respective lines and the next two people step up.

It is fun for everyone, including me, and it really motivates people to listen. You can adapt it to vocabulary revision as well (I have cards with words, I read out definitions, the first student to say the word gets the card, etc.).

Thanks for the song suggestions!

[dajiang]

- Lemon Tree (present continuous)
- Wonderful world (louis armstrong, beautiful song but he's got a very unclear voice)

as for lyrics and discussion: U2's 'One' is great.

I usually use gapfill exercises with songs, but word prompt exercises are good too. There should be room for follow-up though.

[dmb]

I mis-read the title of this thread.
I thought it was snogs you have used in class
could be interesting.

[CMB]

I always use Tom's Diner (that Suzanne Vega song that goes da-da-da-da..I am sitting at the counter at the diner on the corner...) It's great for present continuous, although it sticks in your head forever which is great for the students, but kind of annoying for the teacher.
Also use Hello Goodbye by the Beatles for kids and make them act out the actions.
U2 - I still haven't found what I'm looking for- very good for present perfect but a little hard to understand.

[svenhassel]

it's important to choose lyrics which are clear (for intermediate level grammar at least) so this in mind bands like the beatles and madonna are high on the list,
in my experience "if i needed someone" by the beatles is a great choice for second conditional;
"think for yourself" beatles again is good for revision as it uses all the main tenses.

plus teacher gets ten street cred points for playing maybe? unknown beatle tunes

i have a vague memory of madonna's "papa don't preach" or whatever it's called being used as an example on my celta course, i'm not familiar with the song so i can't tell you why, but it's sure to be a hit with the ladies in class.

one has things to be getting on with

[blondie10]

For high beginners and intermediate:

Yesterday Once More - Carpenters
Bye, Bye, Bye - NSYNC (good one to act out)
I Want it That Way - Backstreet Boys

[durks]

I have been wondering what kind of songs I could use in the classroom also!

A conversation with my two lovely niece's aged 10 and 8 suggested I use "I wish I was a punk rocker" I thought this could actually work quite well and be used as part of a "I wish I was" lesson/presentation.

My niece's certainly seemed to enjoy it and were singing it to me as much as possible!

Which was nice..................






For the first couple of hours!

[kaw]

I've used loads of different songs with different ages and levels. Here goes:
The Logical Song
This used to be my playground
American Pie
Perfect Day
No More I love yous
Every breath you take
In the ghetto
Bohemain Rhapsody
It's my life

There have been loads of other ones but just can't remember which ones.

[Freddie Miles]

[Freddie Miles]

Here are some more songs that you might consider using:
1. "Is that all there is?" Peggy Lee
Very campy but the the spoken parts are very clear. You might have to explain the phrase- "let's break out the booze and have a ball." Better yet, demonstrate!

2. "Someday Soon" by Judy Collins
The girls in the class of a certain age like this. In love with the wild boy that the pappy disapproves of.

3. "Home Again" by Carol King
If you are feeling homesick, dont even try this. Breaking down in sobs before your students isn't pretty.