Resource centre - Ideas and techniques - Pop songs
Songs have long been a favourite resource among EFL teachers. In this article, Larry Lynch shares his ideas for getting the most out of music in the classroom.
Are your students sometimes bored in spite of your best efforts? Are you looking
for some new and different techniques? Could you use a learning activity that
would really wake them up? Would you like to get and keep the students’
interest? Even have them helping you? Then try this classroom-tested technique
by using student-selected songs to teach listening comprehension.
Almost everyone loves music. It is a part of our language and life from before
birth onwards. As babies, we hear lullabies. As young children we play, sing and
dance to a myriad of nursery rhymes. As adolescents, we are consumed by the beat
of popular music artists worldwide. As adults, every form of advertising we
hear, every special event we experience, is in part, music.
Music pervades television, movies, theater, and even the nightly news. When we
exercise, when we work, when we play, when we worship and even when we die,
music is there to reinforce or alter every mood and emotion. A catchy tune is
played, hummed or sung, at times in our head, as we go about our everyday lives.
So, why not include music and songs in language learning as well?
Factors Contributing to Listening Comprehension of Songs
Use of new vocabulary, idioms and expressions - You'll need to address the new
material offered in each song. This includes grammar, vocabulary and usage.
Pronunciation and accent of the singer - Every native speaker doesn't pronounce
or sing with the same accent. Students may be exposed to an accent which is
outside the realm of what they might normally hear in context.
Use of new grammar and structure - Song writers and singers are notoriously
"loose" when it comes to use of grammar, structure, pronunciation, stress and
other language factors applied to songs. The teacher must prepare for this.
Three Principal Song Selection Criteria
1. Use songs that are popular with the students whenever possible.
Unfortunately, students frequently select songs for classroom use which are
objectionable in some way making the song unusable.
2. Songs MUST have clear and understandable lyrics. Nothing is worse than a song
almost nobody can understand. If you have trouble understanding the lyrics by
listening, then another song needs to be selected.
3. Songs should have an appropriate theme. There's enough bad news, negativity
and violence in the world already. Songs with any type of negative theme should
be avoided. There are plenty of positive, upbeat, even humorous songs available.
Use these.
Music pervades virtually every aspect of our lives. Students adore it. It
contains numerous useful elements for language teaching and it's fun for both
the teacher and students. So, why not include music and songs in your language
learning classes as well?
How to add drama to an EFL class
Using comics and cartoons in the classroom
Using art in the classroom
Using songs in the classroom
Downloadable classroom activities
What do you think of this article? Add a comment »
Hello, just to let you know
that I have thought of using music in the classroom but I can't get hold of a
good group of songs. Paul Simon has some very good lyrics in some of his music
but it's not easy to find these days. I am all for music in the classroom.
Thanks, Patricia.
It is a great idea and
undoubtedly a good technique but it would be good if you also tell us which
songs to use and in which context.
I DO agree with you but are
there any sorts of databases in which teachers could take their inspiration?
I don't know of a database
of songs or anything like that but I've compiled my own list during my time in
teaching. I usually hear something that has a lot of Past Simple or 2nd
conditional in it for example, download it and then use it in class. I will
survive is always a good one! - lots of past and future...
I use I've never been
to me from the Priscilla Queen of the Desert soundtrack for Present Perfect
practice. It's about things the singer has and hasn't done in her life, so
virtually every other line is present perfect. The lyrics are very clear to
understand too.
One song I use is If
You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next by Manic Street Preachers.
It's good for first conditional - there's only one first conditional sentence
repeated over and over, but if you use the rest of the lyrics as a comprehension
exercise and get students to fit them into the context of this conditional
sentence, it works well.
Another one is Vincent by Don McLean - not for anything specific, there
are a variety of tenses and the lyrics are clear, so it's good for general
listening comprehension.
Another one for
conditionals is Stand By Me by John Lennon - there are some alternative
conditional constructions in there like "If the sky that we look upon should
tumble and fall" and "I won't be afraid, just as long as you stand, stand by me
Coldplay's Yellow
works for irregular past tense verbs
I once used The Beatles
song Blackbird with a textbook lesson on Martin Luther King and the
civil rights movement. It's very allegorical and filled with quite simple yet
beautiful imagery. When the students finally made the connection between the
explicit meaning of the song about a blackbird and the implicit connection to a
social movement they were more than pleasantly surprised.
With a little imagination
you can use just about any song for any grammatical form, vocab - esp.
idiomatic. Lyrics are obtained easily from the many web sites and your peers may
surprise you with their collective collections. Even better, I get my students
to select some songs and I use those.
Songs by Peter Paul n Mary
are excellent choices. Also a favourite among my students oceans apart
by Richard Marx. The new age songs usually have a lot of obsenity so I choose
songs of a romantic nature or cheerful songs (the oldies).
Interesting article, I
teach pupils with special needs and who also need (ESL). Music is very important
to motivate, I often find that ones (songs, nursery rhymes) for special needs
are not age appropriate. I will definitly give the Coldplay and Manic Street
Preachers a go, however I will be pleased if they can remember the song and
read, let alone the 'first conditional'. Cheers.
I use lots of songs in
class. Every breath you take by Police or
Sorry by Elton John for Present Simple; You're beautiful by James
Blunt...
Thanks for letting me know
about this article. Can you please give me addresses for free downloads of music
and lyrics? I'd appreciate that. Cheers, Ruth
Do a Google search for
"song lyrics" and you'll find hundreds of sites... pick your favourite...
Songs are a source I've
used lots of times in my class, and students love it. Sometimes at the beginning
of the course I ask them to fill a form in order to know more about their
levels, and some of the questions are about their favourite singers and songs;
so when I am going to use a song in class I usually choose a song I know they
like. Great article.
I use songs in my class
very often. It is usually at the end of my classes when students/learners are
quite tired or after revisions for tests or practicing certain grammar points. I
try to find songs I think they might like or even know some of the lyrics
already. And of course the aim is also to practice certain grammar structures
with them.
I use Celine Dion Because you loved me which is great for past simple,
both regular and irregular verbs. Also, Beatles Yesterday, Smokie
Mexican Girl, Rolling Stones Anybody seen my baby, Bryan Adams
Have you ever loved a woman, these are all good for practising present
perfect. Bon Jovi In these arms is good for the second conditional.
ABBA
The winner takes it all, Bon Jovi Always, Whitesnake Is
this love for mixed tenses - present simple/continuous, past simple,
present perfect... Natalie Imbrulia Torn is good for past simple and
present perfect and there are lots more. The Internet has all the lyrics so use
it. It's great fun. You will love it and your students will definitely love it.
I usually use songs in the
classroom. They are good icebreakers, grammar practice, listening comprehension
(gap fill, put in order, etc...). Try esl lounge. This site has a songs archive
you can use.
Stevie Wonder's Lately
is great for present perfect simple and continuous. And sends shivers down my
spine and students appear to like it. It's true that it's a little more rare and
I agree with people who say that a popular song they may well hear on the radio
or on MP3 would be motivational.
Peter Gabriel's Don't give up has a good social element (Thatcher's
1980s Britain, unemployment, hope) and runs through most tenses fairly clearly.
Do as listening then gap fill.
I agree with the idea of
using songs to convey the meaningful knowledge of structures. However, teachers
should also be selective as we all know that there are some songs containing
incorrect grammar. Songs are very exciting for adults in beginning level. They
seem to catch the learners' interest and help expand their attention in class.
I have found this really
useful before - especially using songs that match the grammar/topic being
discussed in that unit. A nice example: If I had a Million Dollars by
the BareNaked Ladies when teaching conditionals.
Everybody loves music so we
teachers should take advantage of it. I try to make different activities while
listening to the selected song. They can fill in the blanks, then complete the
verses or choose the correct alternative, they can put the verses in order, etc.
It's also a good way of introducing new topics. I love working with songs!
I usually use a song to
know the students' level at the beginning of a school year. I usually introduce
a topic with a song. There are plenty of them. For example, to talk about
physical appearance, Beautiful by Cristina Aguilera; Human Rights,
Where is Love by Black Eyed Peas; drugs,
The drugs don't work by The Verve, environment, Animal Song,
etc. Students love listening to them.
I absolutely agree with the
idea of using songs in the classroom. However, it's a bit difficult to find a
song that might be interesting for every student in class. Tastes differ, as you
know.
Like the rest of the
others, I also completely agree with the usefulness of using songs in classes,
but we should take some important points into consideration while thinking about
which song to select. Firstly, whether the song includes the grammatical
structure we aim to teach, secondly whether the song appeals to our students'
taste, and thirdly whether we can make a follow-up activity from this song, are
crucial issues. I advise If you had my love
by Jennifer Lopez for teaching Conditionals type 2.
I absolutely agree with
this idea of using songs in the classroom. I usually do it and I've had
wonderful results. Students really feel motivated, they even dare to sing after
doing the activity.
I will not disagree with
the use of songs in the classroom. I try to use it as frequently as possible
especially in the grammar parts. I used Westlife's 'If I let you go' while
teaching first conditional. Students loved it very much. I even heard them
singing the song after the lesson in the corridors.
I am a fan of using songs
in class, but I find that students are not as motivated by the song itself as by
the fact that they prefer them to their course books. When I first started to
learn English the internet did not exist and we were absolutely eager to know
what songs were about. Today everybody can find the lyrics of their favourite
songs on the web and even translations in every language. Students bring to
class their own song lyrics and translations and share them with their
classmates, which is good. But there's little work left for the teacher to do, I
think. What's more, when you prepare activities around a specific song you know
they like, they usually know all the language involved by heart, so there's no
real effort there, just some fun.
Hi! Try visiting the
Slovene page of BBC Learning English - Pop grammar (pop slovnica), just to give
you ideas which songs to use. (For example - I've never been to me
(Charlene) - Present Perfect). Have fun in classrooms!
Great article. You only
show technique listening for music. Your article would be more excellent if you
add some songs for examples.
Hello! I am an English
teacher at the beginning of her teaching career. Although teaching is hard
stuff, I have my ways to make my English lessons as interesting and lively as
possible. And to do that I, of course, also use songs to teach English. For
example, just recently I have used one of my favorite songs, James Blunt's
You're beautiful, and have made a whole lesson out of it. This song is
great for past tense verbs (gap fill, the fill in the missing words while they
listen), for discussions about love, partnership etc. Well, what I did was, I
developed the lesson a bit further. I asked them to continue the story in the
poem, and they wrote wonderful endings, of course using the past tense. In the
end I asked them to imagine that James decided to call his ex, they arranged to
meet, but she never came. The next day she called him and told him why she
couldn't come on their date. They had to write her excuses: e.g.
I couldn't come, because I had to take my mum to the hospital,
therefore they had to use couldn't for past inability and had for past
obligation (modals).
Finally, I would just like to say that songs are a great tool to use in a
langugage classroom, but everything depends on the teacher and his or her
ability to use them in numerous ways possible. The learners just love songs -
the classroom lits up when they hear a song familiar to their ears... Use
songs!
I use I'm Too Sexy
by Right Said Fred with my teenage students and they seem to like this song.
It's funny and the lyrics are understandable. It is always good to check some
interesting facts about the songs at: www.songfacts.com
It's very good to read
these comments. I also use songs in my english classes but I have difficulty in
finding songs not lyrics. Is there anyone who can help me.
I always use
Affirmation by Savage Garden to work on several topics and values with
higher forms. It's a great song which enables all kinds of discussions. Try it!
Which song can be used to
teach passives in the simple present???
Hi! I am an English teacher
from the Philippines. When I was with at high school I used songs for my grammar
lessons. I remember Sad Movies a very good song for past tense. My
students appreciated my choice even if they were unpopular songs to them because
they were the songs most of their parents hum at home. Then I usually wind up
the lesson with the class singing the song and myself strumming the guitar for
them. Songs indeed are a very useful tool for effective English teaching. Thank
you.
I'm a teacher of EFL in
Thailand. Most of my students love songs, but they like only listening to them,
they don't want to learn language... what should I do?
Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega for prepositions of place or present
continuous. Hand in My Pocket adjectives.
Wonderful site! For present
continuous, Sailing by Rod Stuart. For present perfect
Have you ever seen the rain... When I'm sixty-four by the
Beatles is a lot of fun and students love it !!
My favourite for present
simple is Morning Train /9 to 5/ by Sheena Easton!
I am personally a fan of
Barenaked Ladies song "If I had a Million Dollars". Its slow and humorous, plus
the kids have usually not heard it before but like it.
It's quite hard to find
group songs, as many have said, that appeal to a broad, teenage audience. They
do come up with some crackers if you let them share with you. We did one last
year called
The game is won, can't remember the artist (Lucie Silvas maybe). Good,
simple pop song with a positive message. Just a note though The drugs don't
work is not about drug use as such but the death of Richard Ashcroft's
mother - as in the drugs cannot save her. Made all the more poignant in that it
was number 1 the day Princess Diana died and is far more emotional than Elton
John's rehashed effort with Candle in the Wind (this is the kind of
music we should be consigning to the dustbin of history! in my humble opinion,
though the students would possibly disagree and I hope they would!
All the Leaves are Brown... in the song California Dreaming, is good
for beginners as it has a very basic vocabulary."
I use the following songs:
I still haven't found what I'm looking for by U2 for the present perfect,
Terrifying by the Rolling Stones for comparatives and Yellow Lemon tree
for present continuous to contrast both of its usages."
Using songs for teaching is
definitely useful, however, you don't have to teach something while your
students listen to a song. You can just let them relax and feel more
comfortable. And also you can make them listen to a classical instrumental music
while they are reading a passage. This will definitely make them stress-free.
Chopin's Romantic Piano is just an example!"
I teach absolute beginners
and "SING A SONG" by the carpenters was great for teaching OPPOSITES."
For the second conditional
I recommend "All I want is You" from Juno Sountrack. The pace is fast but it's
packed with the second conditional, and its a great song :)
Rasamee - Given the
terrible grammar a lot of native speakers use, I think it's wrong to protect our
students from the fact that there are a great many grammatical mistakes out
there. I love using songs that have bad grammar in class - it gives the students
a chance to correct a native speaker's "mistake"!! I try to select songs that
have few mistakes, but it's nice to have 3 or 4 for the students to pick out. It
builds their confidence knowing that they can use better English than a native
speaker. I would perhaps combine the grammar mistakes with a word mistake
exercise. Giving the students the lyrics of the chosen song but with a certain
number of mistakes (perhaps changing past participles to infinities if I'm doing
a present prefect exercise, or deleting prepositions if I'm working on
preposition use for example) and adding at the end..."oh, there are 3 more
grammatical mistakes, can you spot them?"
Just a thought.
I've recentrly worked with
"Doth I protest too much?" by Alannis Morisette to revise -ed adjectives with my
upper-intermediate students. Love songs! Students usually approach these
activities with enthusiasm!
Has anyone seen this site?
www.tutortunes.com
This is an Australian music producer who writes pop songs that also have lyrics
that contain a lot of grammar in them. I think it's fairly new...
Help me out please! I need
a song to teach adverbs... Does anyone know a song? If you do, please let me
know... thanks =)
I need a song for the past
perfect simple or continuous... my students are having a hard time comparing it
to other verb tenses and I want to practise it from a musical perspective!
Finding a song is hard, as it's an uncommon tense for music... Thanks!
I created a video of songs
using the present perfect tense (only parts of 12 songs). It's at this link on
Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUGy9J_9cvg - feel free to use it. Also, if you
want a printable word doc. copy of the parts of the lyrics that I used, email me
at richzellers@aim.com If you do visit the site, please rate. Thanks, Rich
These tips were a great
help for me. My students love learning through songs. If you need some songs,
you could use "How do I live" by Leann Rimes to teach conditionals; "Every
breath you take" by the Police and Sting to teach simple present; "Can't fight
the moonlight" by Leann Rimes to teach the use of "can" and "be going to"; "I
will always love you" by Whitney Houston to teach the use of "will"; "Can't take
my eyes of you" (not sure of the singer) to teach adverbs... well these are all
I can think of now.
I agree with you that music
is a great back up when it comes to teaching Grammar. It would be very useful,
however, if you posted a list of songs containing such and such structure. Right
now I'm looking for a couple of songs containing Present Perfect Tense lyrics.
I'd appreciate it if anyone could give me a hand here!!!!
Try www.tefltunes.com for
lesson plans based on popular songs and their lyrics. You'll find a selection of
free worksheets... and the full database is due to launch spring/summer 2010.
The site also publishes lists of songs to use in teaching grammar points
(http://www.tefltunes.com/grammarsongs.aspx) and in class discussions
(http://www.tefltunes.com/themesongs.aspx).
I had the same ideas when I
was studying French. They have so many nice songs. So to make it easier for me
and organize all the songs and lyrics in one place and also add some fun
exercises I developed an application called "Sing and Study" -
http://www.singandstudy.com
Not limited to English but to any language you want , no ads and it's very easy
to enter your own material. Enjoy. www.singandstudy.com
Hi... can someone help me?
I need a song with regular past simple to practice pronunciation of the -ed
sound. I think it could be fun to use music to do so. Thank you!
I Will Survive" has present
perfect and past perfect (as well as simple past and future).
I taught my students "Lemon Tree"
when I was teaching the present cont.tense and they loved it! It's a great song. And it
became the song of my class. It's a must!
I work with teenagers who have only a
basic level of English (a tricky group to find appropriate songs for!). I used a chorus-only
version of Hot and Cold by Katy Perry for basic vocabulary/opposites.
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