Basic Listening Practice With Songs! [Teaching With Songs A1]

Quick Lesson Overview:

In this song activity – using only new 2021 songs – students watch a video with five song extracts. The lyrics appear on the screen with some gaps. Their task is to write down the missing words as they hear them. You can use it as review, extra listening practice, reward activity, or just for FUN! You and your students deserve it! XD

OBS: This lesson plan was made for ONLINE TEACHING, but it can be modified for face-to-face instruction, as well.

Language level: A1
Learner type: All ages
Skills: listening and writing
Language and grammar: basic vocab: (my, today, always, last, feel); Pronouns and nouns: (me, she, you, store, time, girl, man, streets, house) adj (happy); adverb of frequency (always)
Materials: Musical Listening Practice Video (Youtube, Vimeo) 
Duration: 20 – 30 minutes

Downloadable materials:  instructions

Musical Listening Practice: an ESL Video Activity for A1:

How to Teach English with Musical Listening Practice: Step-by-Step Instructions

You can play the video for them (face 2 face), or via Zoom or any similar app, if the speed of the Internet connection is an issue, you can send the link for your students to watch on their own devices. Instruct them to write down their answers for later correction.

Step 1. (5 min)

Explain the activity. Play the video twice without stopping. Students write down their answers.

Step 2. (5 min)

Put students in pairs to check their answers (breakout rooms). 

Step 3.  (5 min)

(Back to the main room, Play the first song and pause the video. Have students write the words in the chat box.

Correct the exercise by writing the words in the gaps (annotation tool/board). Have students read the extracts.

Step 4. (5 min)

Play the second extract and repeat the same steps. 

ANSWERS:
SONG 01 (SYML - Stay close):
Stay close, stay close
No I can't stay here and let you go
I lost my faith but heaven knows
It can't be your time to go

SONG 02 (Olivia Rodrigo - Driver’s licence)
I got my driver's license last week
Just like we always talked about
'Cause you were so excited for me
To finally drive up to your house
But today I drove through the suburbs
Crying 'cause you weren't around

SONG 03 (Home Free - American Pie ft. Don McLean)
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play

SONG 04 (Phora - Loaded gun)
I was so lonely inside
'Cause you led me and you broke me down 
and left me to die
Now I know the reason why, I
I feel so empty, all you did was kill me inside

SONG 05 (Angelina Jordan - Million Miles)
When I was a child
I walked the streets
They’ve seen me growing up
Knew you were all I need
I see him in myself through all the years
It's like he's in my tears 

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