Using Songs in the Classroom By PCV Emily Aiken

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

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 ExampleReview 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 roomIt's just another rainy Sunday afternoonI'm (2) _______ (waste) my timeI got nothing to doI'm hanging aroundI’m (3) _______ (wait) for youBut nothing ever happens and I wonderI'm driving around in my carI'm (4) _______ (drive) too fastI'm driving too farI'd like to change my point of viewI feel so lonelyI’m (5) _______ (wait) for youBut nothing ever happens and I wonder I wonder howI wonder whyYesterday 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 downI’m turning turningturning turning turning aroundAnd all that I can see is just another lemon-tree I'm (7) _______ (sit) hereI miss the power I'd like to go out (8) ______ (take) a shower But there's a heavy cloud inside my headI feel so tiredPut myself into bedWhile nothing ever happens and I wonderIsolation is not good for meIsolation 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) • 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 ExampleThis 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 roomIt's just another rainy Sunday afternoonI'm (2) _______ (waste) my timeI got nothing to doI'm hanging aroundI’m (3) _______ (wait) for youBut nothing ever happens and I wonderI'm driving around in my carI'm (4) _______ (drive) too fastI'm driving too farI'd like to change my point of viewI feel so lonelyI’m (5) _______ (wait) for youBut nothing ever happens and I wonder I wonder howI wonder whyYesterday 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 downI’m turning turningturning turning turning aroundAnd all that I can see is just another lemon-tree I'm (7) _______ (sit) hereI miss the power I'd like to go out (8) ______ (take) a shower But there's a heavy cloud inside my headI feel so tiredPut myself into bedWhile nothing ever happens and I wonderIsolation is not good for meIsolation 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 difficultvocabulary • Don’t have long instrumentalpauses

14. 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-listeningactivities 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: www.youtube-mp3.org/ 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 • Songs listed by grammar point • tefltunes.com/themesongs.aspx • Songs based on topic