Engaging English Lesson: Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” – Vocabulary & Memory Game

Creative Song Activities for Your ESL Classroom: A Taylor Swift “Anti-Hero” Lesson Plan

Have you ever wanted to bring the pure energy and magic of a chart-topping song into your classroom, only to feel stuck with the same old boring gap-fill exercises? I know that feeling. That’s why I’ve poured my heart into creating this complete, step-by-step lesson plan using Taylor Swift’s smash hit “Anti-Hero” to teach powerful B1-B2 vocabulary and speaking skills. These creative song activities for the ESL classroom are designed to go far beyond the mundane, to truly engage your teens and adults with a fun memory game and inspiring collaborative tasks.

If you’ve ever wanted to use popular music to awaken your students’ souls but felt short on time or ideas, this ready-to-use plan is my gift to you. It’s time to bring your classroom to LIFE.

Why Use This “Anti-Hero” Song-Based Lesson Plan?

So, why this lesson? What makes it different? Because this is not just another worksheet; it’s a structured experience designed from the heart to build REAL confidence and fluency. It’s a pathway to connection. Built using the MUSIC+ Framework, a key part of my BEAT+ Method, this lesson ensures your students connect with the language on a much deeper, more soulful level.

• Boosts Engagement: Can you feel the energy? The lesson uses prediction, games, and personal reflection to keep your students hooked and motivated from the very first minute.
• Develops 21st-Century Skills: Your students will do more than just learn English; they will practice critical thinking, collaboration, and their own beautiful creativity.
• Saves You Time: I know how precious your time is. That’s why I’ve prepared a complete, 60-minute lesson with all materials included. It is PERFECT for both your online and face-to-face classes.

Lesson Details

Language level: B1+/B2
Learner type: Teens & Adults
Skills: speaking, listening, reading, writing
Topic: identity, self-image, feelings
Materials: Genially presentation, YouTube music video, pdf worksheet (normal and editable)
Duration: 50–60 minutes

Download Your Free Lesson Materials

Downloadable materials: Instructions.pdf, Worksheet.pdf, Editable Worksheet.pdf

A Step-by-Step Guide to Your Creative Song Activities

Ready to see how the magic unfolds? This lesson is broken down into seven simple, powerful steps. Each one builds on the last to create a seamless and truly IMPACTFUL learning experience.

Step 1 – The Hook (Motivation+) — 5 min

Ask students what they know about Taylor Swift and if they like her songs or not and why.

Tell them that Taylor Swift has become the first artist in history to claim every slot in the top 10 of the US singles chart. She overtakes Drake, who held the previous record of nine top 10 singles in September 2021. Before him, the Beatles scored eight top 10s in 1964. WOW!

Step 2 – Visual & Auditory Prediction — 5 min

Slide 01/02Genially presentation. With 3 pictures. Students describe the pictures quickly. Play the first minute (intro) of the song. In pairs, students choose which picture best matches the mood and explain their choice.

Step 3 – Activating the Theme (Understanding+) — 5 min

Reveal the song title: Anti-Hero. Ask: “What is a hero?” then “What might an anti-hero be? What does it mean to be your own anti-hero?”

Students brainstorm in pairs for 2 minutes and briefly share ideas with the class. This primes their understanding before the language focus.

Step 4 – Vocabulary in Context (Skills+) — 15 min

Worksheet with List of word definitions and lyrics. (see links for the worksheet pdfs: editable and normal, in the ‘downloadable materials’)

Students read the lyrics, find the words being defined, and complete the list with them. (see answers in the instructions pdf in the ‘downloadable materials’)

Step 5 – Collaborative Comprehension Game (Interaction+) — 15 min

MEMORY GAME!

Divide students into 2 groups and tell them you’re going to play the music video for the song Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift, and they must pay attention to all the details for a Memory Game of questions about it!

Play the music video for them.

Memory Game Questions
1. Where is Taylor at the beginning of the video? (Kitchen)
2. What’s she eating? (Eggs, broccoli and bacon)
3. How many shots of tequila do the two Taylors drink the first time? (6 – 3 each)
4. What’s written on the blackboard? (“Everyone will betray you”)
5. How many people are eating in the dining room when giant Taylor arrives? (5)
6. What are they drinking? (Red wine)
7. What’s Taylor’s son wearing around his neck at her funeral? (Headphones)
8. Which animal appears in Taylor’s funeral photo? (Cat)
9. How much money does she leave her children? (13 cents)
10. What kind of house do they discuss at the funeral? (Beach house)

The team with the most correct answers wins. Use this stage to encourage negotiation of meaning (students justify answers to score points) and to recycle vocabulary.

Step 6 – Personal Response Discussion — 5 min

Play the video again (short clip or final scene) and prompt a brief whole-class discussion: “What did you think of the video?” “Which scene was most memorable and why?” Encourage short personal opinions and quick follow-up questions to practice speaking fluency.

Note: there’s a transcript of the funeral part of the video on the instructions.pdf (see ‘downloadable materials’ in the description).

Step 7 – Creative Transformation (Creativity+) — 10 min (or extension)

Students choose one creative task to do in pairs/small groups. Allow 5–7 minutes to create and 2–3 groups to share quickly.

• Choice A (Writing): Rewrite the funeral scene—what happens next? Write a short dialogue.
• Choice B (Visual): Create a 3-panel comic strip that summarizes the music video’s story.
• Choice C (Conceptual): Write a 4-line “antidote” verse titled My Own Hero, focusing on positive self-talk.

Invite a few groups to share their amazing work. Remember to focus your feedback not just on accuracy, but on their brave and creative use of language and vocabulary.

And that’s it! You have just guided your students through an experience that is memorable, meaningful, and full of positive energy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How does this lesson teach ESL vocabulary with music?

Instead of just listening, students actively search the lyrics for words that match definitions. The memory game then reinforces this vocabulary by connecting it to strong visual scenes from the music video.

What speaking skills does this lesson plan practice?

Students practice multiple speaking skills: describing images, sharing opinions, explaining choices, and negotiating answers with teammates during the game. This builds both fluency and confidence.

Are these song-based ESL activities good for teens?

Absolutely. Taylor Swift is highly relevant to teens, and the themes of self-image and identity in “Anti-Hero” are very relatable. The game format makes it fun and competitive, which is perfect for this age group.

How can I adapt this activity for lower-level students?

For A2 students, pre-teach 5-6 of the key vocabulary words before the lyric task. You can also simplify the memory game questions or provide multiple-choice options to make it more accessible.

What makes these activities more engaging than a gap-fill?

These activities are engaging because they are interactive and student-centered. Students aren’t just passively listening; they are predicting, collaborating, creating, and competing, which leads to deeper processing and better retention.

Can I use these creative song activities for online teaching?

Yes, this lesson plan was originally designed for online teaching. You can use breakout rooms for pair work, share the Genially presentation on your screen, and have teams type their game answers in the chat.

Author Bio:

About the Author:Márcia Bonfim is an ESL/EFL teacher and creator of the Song Activity Factory. She helps educators create engaging lessons using her signature BEAT+ Method, which features the MUSIC+ Framework. You can discover her complete methodology summary here.