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

WELCOME to the SONG ACTIVITY FACTORY!

Here is the place to be if you believe in the power of songs to teach English!

The place to find Creativity, Inspiration, Teaching Ideas and Resources to bring Musical Innovation to your English Language Teaching Practice!

Whether you teach English online or not, teaching with songs has a wider scope than you might think, and it does not only mean gap-fill!. Check my older posts and don’t be afraid to try something new!

This week, the Song Activity Factory features a new activity with song extracts called: MUSICAL LISTENING PRACTICE!

I hope YOU and your students have a BLAST with it!

Description:

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

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

This song-based lesson plan is sure to spice up your classes! However, would you like to think, feel and act more creatively on your own to be able to turn ANY song you want into an engaging lesson plan?
HERE are TIME-SAVING ideas that do the heavy work so you can focus on the most important: INSPIRING and MOTIVATING YOUR STUDENTS to learn CREATIVELY!