Teaching With Songs: Lyrical Reading (Jonah Kegan- Broken)

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Here’s another Lyrical Reading, this time featuring Jonah Kagen and the song ‘BROKEN‘! ENJOY!

Description:

This song-based STEP-BY-STEP LESSON PLAN for ENGLISH language TEACHING features the lyrics and music video for “BROKEN” by JONAH KEGAN. Students TALK about asking for help, DO a matching exercise in pairs, TALK about pictures, LISTEN to the song lyrics being read, SPECULATE about the song and its meaning, and WATCH the music video to check their ideas.

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

Language level: B2+
Learner type: All ages
Skills: speaking, reading, listening and writing
Topic: Asking for help, depression
Materials: YouTube videos, genial.ly presentation
Duration: about an hour
Download your free teaching resources: instructions.pdf

STEP-BY-STEP LESSON PLAN

Step 1 (7 min)

Genial.ly presentation LINK

Screen-share the slide 1 with the PICTURE. have a student describe it and ask the following questions: 1- Is it easy for you to ask for help when you need it? 2- When you need help with something, who do you turn to? 3- Do you prefer to talk to your friends or to your family when you need help? Explain

Ask other students if they agree/disagree and explain.

Step 2 (5 min)

Show slide 2 with the “7 Reasons Why it is good to ask for Help” source

Ask students to read them. Help with the vocabulary, and have other students explain the words if they can. Ask students if they agree/disagree with the 7 reasons.

Step 3 (10 min)

Tell students to work in pairs (breakout rooms) to do the exercise. They have to match the 7 reasons with the sentences (a-g).

When the time’s up, correct the exercises.

Answer key: A1 B3 C2 D7 E4 F5 G6

Step 4 (7 min)

Screen-share the slide 3 with the 2 pictures. Ask students to say if the pictures represent the same thing. Have various students give their opinions. Ask other students if they agree/disagree.

Ask them which picture they prefer and why.

Step 5 (5 min)

Tell students they are going to listen to the lyrics of a song being read.

They must pay attention to the words, and take notes of interesting ideas, words, anything they can. Tell them they MUST write something, even if it’s just single words..

Play the video 2x.

Step 6 (7 min)

In pairs (breakout rooms), students share the ideas and words they got from the lyrics. They task is to come up with a conclusion about the message of the song.

Step 7 (10 min)

Back to the main room, have the pairs share their ideas.

Ask the following questions:

1 – What kind of song do you think is this? (fast, slow, etc) What music genre? (pop, rock, etc)

Step 8 (5 min)

Play the music video for them to check. Have students comment on it to close the activity.

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!