Welcome back to our series “From Dull To Dynamic: Song Facts For ELT Success – Transforming Songs into Engaging Classroom Experiences!”
In this lesson, we’ll focus on the Song Fact Activity of exploring movies connected to songs when the lyrics are not suitable for the class. By shifting the focus to the movie aspects, you’ll engage your students in a different and exciting way.
Here are some steps to implement it:
1. Warm-up:
Start with an icebreaker to get your students talking. Ask them to share their favorite movie genres or a memorable movie they’ve seen recently. This sets the stage for the upcoming activity.
2. Introduce the movie title:
Write the movie title on the board and ask students to guess the genre based on the title. Encourage them to provide reasons for their guesses and create a supportive and inclusive classroom environment.
3. Watch the movie trailer:
To make this step more effective and engaging, follow these practical tips and steps:
a. Pre-teach key vocabulary: Before watching the trailer, introduce some important vocabulary words or phrases that students might encounter. This will help them better understand the content and make the activity more accessible.
b. Prepare guiding questions: Create a list of guiding questions that students should focus on while watching the trailer. These questions could be related to the characters, setting, overall mood, or any other aspect you’d like them to pay attention to. Examples of guiding questions include:
- What is the main conflict in the movie?
- How do the characters react to different situations?
- What kind of mood or atmosphere is created by the trailer?
c. Watch the trailer twice: Play the trailer once for students to watch and listen without pausing. Then, play it a second time, allowing students to take notes or jot down answers to the guiding questions.
d. Discuss in pairs or small groups: After watching the trailer, have students discuss their impressions and compare them to their initial genre guesses. Encourage them to use the guiding questions as a starting point for their discussions. Assign each group a specific question or aspect to focus on, which they will later share with the rest of the class.
e. Share observations and thoughts: After the discussions, invite each group to share their findings and thoughts with the rest of the class. Encourage students to actively listen and ask questions, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
f. Reflection and connection: Finally, ask students to reflect on the overall experience of watching and discussing the trailer. Encourage them to make connections between the movie and the song, and discuss how the song might contribute to the film’s atmosphere or theme.
4. Read movie reviews:
Provide your students with printed or digital extracts of movie reviews (preferably the initial paragraph only). Assign each student a review, and after reading, ask students to share the main ideas with the class.
5. Discuss the connection between the song and the movie:
Lead a conversation about how the song contributes to the movie’s atmosphere, theme, or storyline, even if the lyrics themselves may not be appropriate for the classroom.
6. Wrap-up:
Summarize the main points discussed during the activity. You may also assign a follow-up task, such as writing a brief paragraph about the importance of music in movies or how songs can enhance a film’s impact.
Classroom Management Tips for Beginner Teachers:
Remember, effective classroom management is essential for a smooth lesson. If you’re a beginner teacher or hesitant to try this new type of activity, consider these helpful tips to ensure a positive and engaging classroom experience:
1. Set clear expectations for behavior and participation from the beginning:
Before starting the activity, discuss your expectations with your students, including how they should behave, interact with each other, and participate in the lesson. This will help establish a supportive and respectful environment.
2. Model the desired behavior:
Demonstrate the type of behavior and engagement you expect from your students. By modeling the desired behavior, you set a positive example for them to follow.
3. Encourage a positive and respectful atmosphere:
Reinforce the importance of treating each other with respect and kindness throughout the activity. Praise students when they display positive behavior and address any issues that may arise promptly and calmly.
4. Circulate around the room to monitor and assist students as needed:
As your students work on the activity, move around the classroom to observe their progress and provide support when needed. This will enable you to address any misunderstandings or difficulties that may arise.
5. Use praise and constructive feedback to guide your students:
Acknowledge your students’ efforts and accomplishments, and provide constructive feedback to help them improve. This will motivate them to continue participating and engaging in the activity.
6. Be flexible and adjust the activity based on your students’ needs and interests:
Be prepared to make changes to the activity if you notice your students are struggling or not engaged. Adapt the content or format of the activity to better suit their needs, abilities, or interests.
7. Establish routines and transitions:
Help your students transition smoothly between different activities by establishing routines and clear instructions for each transition.
By incorporating this activity into your lessons, you can use the context surrounding a song to create engaging and memorable classroom experiences, even when the lyrics themselves are not suitable for your students.
In the next installment of the course “From Dull to Dynamic: Song Facts for ELT Success,” we will explore another exciting Song Fact Activity. Until then, keep on teaching and transforming even the dullest songs into dynamic classroom experiences!
Song Activity Factory 
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