Kesha promotional image for the song “Here Comes the Change” featured in the film On the Basis of Sex – ESL lesson plan cover.

Here Comes the Change (From the Motion Picture ‘On The Basis of Sex’) – Kesha

B1, B1+, Cambridge English First Preparation, Expressing Opinions / Justifications, Integrated Skills, Kesha, Song Activity 2 comments

Lesson at a Glance: Kesha – Here Comes the Change

The Experience: This socially significant lesson focuses on gender inequality and the fight for civil rights, inspired by the film On the Basis of Sex. Students engage in high-level discussions using the language of FCE Speaking Part 4, refine their grasp of future and present verb tenses within the lyrics, and conclude with a listening task based on historical cinematic dialogue.
  • Media / Artist: Kesha (from the motion picture On The Basis of Sex)
  • Target Level: B1+ (Intermediate) and above
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Language Focus: Verb Tense Correction & Justifying Opinions (FCE Skills)
  • Key Outcome: To master the functional language needed to agree, disagree, and justify personal opinions on complex social issues. Students also improve grammatical accuracy by identifying and correcting mixed verb tenses in a lyrical context.
  • Materials: YouTube music video, Song Activity Worksheet (.pdf), song (.mp3), instructions.pdf
Expert Author: Márcia Bonfim
Source: Song Activity Factory

Quick Lesson Overview:

This song-based activity lesson plan for English language teaching features the song ‘Here comes the Change’ by Kesha and the official music video. Students read quotes about gender inequality, talk about it, read the lyrics of the song and work with verb tenses, listen to the song, watch the music video and do a listening exercise with  it,

  • Language level: Pre-Intermediate (B1+) and above
  • Learner type: All ages
  • Skills: speaking, reading & listening
  • Topic: gender inequality
  • Language: Vocabulary related to gender inequality, expressions to agree, disagree and express opinions (good for Cambridge Exam preparation FCE)
  • Materials: Youtube video, mp3 file, and song activity Worksheet pdf
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Downloadable materials: Here Comes- instructions; worksheet and mp3 file

How to Teach English with Kesha: Step-by-Step Instructions

PART 1- WARM – UP and QUOTES

Step 1.

WHOLE CLASS:: Besides physical differences, what is different between men and women? (write students answers on the board, help with some vocabulary) [5 min]

Step 2.

IN PAIRS. Hand out the song worksheet part 1. Students read and talk about the meaning of the following quotes and say which ones they agree and disagree with and why[10 min]:

quotes for the activity ‘Here Comes the Change’ by Kesha.

Step 3.

WHOLE CLASS: (students share what they discussed in pairs with the whole class. As each pair shares their answers, the teacher asks other students if they agree/disagree and why, so everyone gets the chance to participate and get practice with interaction and using the language of opinions/agreement/disagreement. [5 – 10 min]

PART 2 – LYRICS and VERB TENSES

Step 4.

INDIVIDUAL TASK  Exercise 2 of the song worksheet. Tell students they have to read the lyrics of the song and correct the verbs. [10 min] when they have finished, before playing the mp3 file of the song, have them check their answers in pairs.

Answer key:
  1. will keep turning
  2. you’ll be
  3. they live
  4. it’s time
  5. there’ll come

PART 3 – MUSIC VIDEO and LISTENING EXERCISE

Step 5.

INDIVIDUAL TASK  Exercise 3. The students watch the music video and fill out the blanks in the script for the scenes from the upcoming movie ‘on the basis of sex’ which appears in the music video

Answer key:

answer key for ‘Here Comes the Change’ by Kesha.

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2 comments

  1. Pingback: Using Songs to Teach English: Five ideas to make students speak (and enjoy the process) – Song Activity Factory
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