Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Omkara]

Hey y'all,

I like to use my acoustic guitar to teach english in the classroom. I'm looking for some good song ideas. Most of the songs I know are too complex for the kids, or uninteresting to them. I'm looking for some upbeat songs that have good melodies. You know, the "You Are My Sunshine" variety.

I've used songs such as "Cotton Fields," "Wayfarin' Stranger," "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," "Pay Me My Money Down," etc. These have all worked well.

[Bibbitybop]

"Rape me" by Nirvana is a pretty simple one.

[ron_j]

I'm a believer- monkees

Build me up buttercup- fountains

I got a feeling- beetles

breakfast at tiffany's- i forgot

stand by me- forgot

burning love- elvis

[julian_w]

I've just started teaching a daily university student conversation class.
I've introducted a new action song a week so far.

Hound Dog - Elvis worked really well. You can make up the actions yourself pretty easily. (But you're braver than me if you do the hip-shake thing - I kept to the wobbly knee moves...)

The Hokey Pokey

Zoom Around the Room; and Father Abraham (a couple of simple ones from youth group days)

If You're Happy and You Know It

I started on singalong songs this week, on a theme of summer (... but found that first class in the morning's too early for singing Under the Boardwalk. It's too high for my .5 of an octave range.)
Most of those other songs we've sung in E, and have been fine.
(If anyone can suggest a good key for Under the Boardwalk, it'd be really helpful. ... John C. Mellencamp's supposed to have done a good version. Haven't found it online yet...)

Song Sung Blue - Neil Diamond is a great singalong one. Good simple lyrics, cheezy-pleasy guitar riff, everyone's happy.

Little Help from My Friends - Beatles

Stand By Me - ... tho it may be a bit high, too...

[Jizzo T. Clown]

[albazalba]

I once taught my class "this land is your land" by John Denver on my guitar. I changed the lyrics to have to do with korean geography ...."from seorak mountain, to jeju island" etc... the kids loved it.

[happeningthang]

Beatles

I've used:

I Say Hello
Yellow Submarine
Obla Di
Twist and Shout

The kids seem to be more enthusiastic when it requires a rousing, full voiced chorus. Gives them a chance to be acceptably boisterous.

A friend used to use:

I can tell that we're going to be friends - WhiteStripes

But he's GOOD on the guitar, and it was a high level class.

[Omkara]

Thanks, all. These are all helpful.

Do you have particular methods for teaching a song which are helpful.

Today I've been teaching "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." I wrote the lyrics, less a few words, on the board, had the students write out the song. They listened to me me sing it, and filled in the blanks. Then, I had them tell me what the missing words were. I then worked on meaning and pronunciation, after which I had them speak the words through with me. then, we sang it through two times. Class was over about the second time through.

I'm having them keep the songs so I can use them as a warm up before most classes.

[Ced]

Puff the Magic Dragon
Toot toot chuga chuga big red car (the wiggles)
It's not easy being green.
Alphabet song
I can sing a rainbow

These are all songs that I play. What age group? I was too lazy to read your post.

[Omkara]

[Are they the lemmings]

Pretty much anything by Simon & Garfunkel.

[julian_w]

Used a capo today with Song Sung Blue.

All classes responded well to the song, but the third really took off with it, and were humming it again half an hour later on the way out of class.

First class I tried it two frets up. It was okay, but found I was reaching a bit. Tho it may have just been the early time of day...

Second class without a capo, in standard C. It was great for me, but seemed too low in the low parts for the girls (young women/ 'varsity students).

Third class, after lunch, it seemed best, perhaps because everyone's vocal cords were warmed up by then, or perhaps it was because of the capo, even though only one fret up... so to a C#.

It seemed to make a good difference. I don't quite know enough about singing, pitch and vocals though. Can anyone else out there comment? Vocalists, singers or just experienced musos?

[Ekuboko]

"Smelly cat"

[ajuma]

Maybe you can find something here?

http://www.musicalenglishlessons.org/music-index.htm

[some waygug-in]

Here's a site with a lot of chords and lyrics for a lot of pop songs old and new.

http://www.iol.ie/~murphypj/

I've used it on occasion, but the songs I most wanted to use are not there, so I just google-searched

"rock lobster chords and lyrics" (or whatever song you are looking for) and I can usually find something useful.

Hope this helps.

happy strummin'