Hey there, superstar ESL educators!,
Ready to turn up the dial on your teaching game with some musical magic? Jump into Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” and get ready to see your ESL classroom in a whole new light. This song isn’t just a treat for the ears—it’s a masterclass in language wrapped up in rhythm and rhyme.
Think of this post as your VIP pass to the ultimate teaching gig. We’re not just talking about a run-of-the-mill song breakdown. We’re diving deep into the story, the feels, and the linguistic gold that “Beautiful Things” is just bursting with.
We’re going beyond the basic ESL drills and tapping into today’s must-haves: real-world communication, teamwork, and those 21st-century skills like critical thinking and creativity.
So, are you ready to amp up your lesson plans with Boone’s “Beautiful Things”? Get set to transform your English class into an experience that’s as unforgettable as the song itself. Let’s rock this!
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Got a minute? Let’s chat about “Beautiful Things”
Have you tuned into “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone for your ESL lessons yet? If it hasn’t made your playlist, now’s the time. Released on January 18, this song quickly became a streaming sensation, with 6.9 million Spotify streams in just 48 hours. It’s also climbing the iTunes charts, hitting No. 2 across all genres.
But it’s not just the numbers that are impressive. The song itself is a heartfelt anthem, with Boone’s vocals delivering raw emotion and a melody that sticks. It’s a track that goes beyond language learning; it resonates with the soul.
And there’s more. “Beautiful Things” isn’t just a hit; it’s a narrative on the beauty of life’s journey, making it a perfect conversation starter for your English class. With its universal themes and Boone’s expressive delivery, this song is ripe for ESL song analysis.
So, are you ready to explore how “Beautiful Things” can inspire your students? Let’s get started and see how this track can bring a new dimension to teaching English. Boone’s latest hit is not just a song—it’s a teaching moment wrapped in a melody.
Unpacking the Lyrics: How Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” Resonates in an ESL Context
Are you prepared to go deep into the heartfelt lyrics of “Beautiful Things” for our ESL song analysis? Fantastic! We’ll explore each verse, line by line, to truly understand the messages Benson Boone conveys and how we can interpret this song for ESL learners.
Verse 1
“For a while there, it was rough / But lately, I’ve been doin’ better”
Boone starts by reflecting on rough patches and recent improvements. Great moment to chat about the simple past and present perfect continuous tenses, showing how time shapes our stories in English.
“Than the last four cold Decembers I recall / And I see my family every month”
Boone continues by comparing his current state to specific challenging times in the past, using “the last four cold Decembers” as a metaphor for difficult periods. This line can lead to a discussion on the use of time expressions in English and the importance of family connections.
“I found a girl my parents love / She’ll come and stay the night, and I think I might have it all”
These lines introduce a new character, a significant other, who is accepted by his family. The future tense “She’ll come” can be used to teach predictions and intentions about the future, while “I think I might have it all” can be a springboard for discussing modals of possibility and uncertainty.
“And I thank God every day / For the girl He sent my way”
Expressing gratitude, Boone acknowledges a higher power’s role in his happiness. This can be a chance to explore the use of religious references in everyday language and the structure of expressing daily routines with “every day.”
“But I know the things He gives me, He can take away”
Boone touches on the transient nature of life’s gifts. This line is perfect for discussing the passive voice and the concept of things being given and taken away, which can also lead to conversations about appreciating what one has.
“And I hold you every night / And that’s a feeling I wanna get used to”
Here, Boone expresses a desire for consistency in his relationship. It’s an excellent moment to teach the structure “wanna” as a colloquial contraction of “want to” and discuss the use of “get used to” for talking about becoming accustomed to something.
“But there’s no man as terrified as the man who stands to lose you”
Ending the verse with a powerful statement of fear of loss, Boone highlights the depth of his emotional attachment. This line can be used to discuss comparative structures (“as…as”) and to explore the simple present tense to describe a current state of vulnerability or potential loss (“stands to lose”)
Pre-Chorus
“Oh, I hope I don’t lose you / Please stay”
The repetition of “hope” and “please” emphasizes Boone’s deep wish for the relationship to continue. This is a chance to discuss the use of “hope” for expressing desires and “please” as a polite request in English.
“I want you, I need you, oh, God / Don’t take / These beautiful things that I’ve got”
In this poignant line, Boone voices a deep-seated fear of loss. These words set the stage for a lesson on expressing desires and necessities, using the simple present tense for “want” and “need”. Additionally, this line provides a practical context to teach the contraction “I’ve got”, which serves to express possession, something that students can apply when speaking about things that are meaningful to them.
Chorus
“Please stay / I want you, I need you, oh, God / Don’t take / These beautiful things that I’ve got”
The chorus echoes the pre-chorus, reinforcing the theme of cherishing and fearing the loss of the good in life. It’s a great example of how repetition can be used for emphasis in English, and it can also be an opportunity to discuss the emotional impact of music and lyrics.
Post-Chorus
“Oh, ooh / Please don’t take—”
The post-chorus features an emotional plea cut short, leaving the listener hanging. This can be a moment to discuss the effect of unfinished sentences in music and spoken language, conveying strong emotions without words.
Verse 2
“I found my mind, I’m feelin’ sane / It’s been a while, but I’m finding my faith”
Boone speaks of personal recovery and spiritual rediscovery. This can be a chance to teach the present continuous (“I’m feelin'”, “I’m finding”) for actions in progress and the use of “it’s been a while” to indicate a significant amount of time has passed.
“If everything’s good and it’s great, why do I sit and wait ’til it’s gone?”
This rhetorical question reflects Boone’s anxiety about losing his newfound stability. It can be used to discuss the structure of rhetorical questions in English and the concept of self-sabotage.
“Oh, I’ll tell ya, I know I’ve got enough / I’ve got peace and I’ve got love”
Boone affirms his contentment with what he has in life. This line is good for discussing the use of “enough” to express satisfaction.
“But I’m up at night thinkin’ I just might lose it all”
The verse ends with Boone’s admission of his fears, despite his current happiness. This line can be used to teach the structure “thinkin’ I just might” as a way to express worry about potential future events.
Outro
“Please stay / I want you, I need you, oh, God / I need / These beautiful things that I’ve got”
The outro reiterates the chorus, reinforcing the song’s central plea. It’s an opportunity to discuss how repetition in lyrics can be used to convey a message’s importance and to leave a lasting impression on the listener.
By unpacking “Beautiful Things” verse by verse, we can offer ESL learners a rich tapestry of language structures, cultural expressions, and emotional literacy. This song provides a wonderful platform for engaging students in meaningful conversations and deepening their understanding of the English language.
From Lyrics to Learning: Engaging ESL Activities Inspired by ‘Beautiful Things‘
With the heartfelt lyrics of Benson Boone’s ‘Beautiful Things’ now echoing in our minds, we’ve reached a deeper understanding of the song’s narrative. But our exploration doesn’t end here. It’s time to translate our insights into engaging classroom activities that will enrich our students’ learning experience. Let’s dive into a variety of exercises that will not only reinforce language skills but also encourage personal growth and creativity.
Vocabulary Building:
Identify words related to emotions and relationships (e.g., “terrified,” “peace,” “love”) and have students create a word map with synonyms and antonyms.
Focus on descriptive language, such as “cold Decembers,” and ask students to write their own sentences describing different seasons or times of their lives.
Comprehension and Interpretation:
After a first listening, ask students to summarize the story told in the song. Discuss the themes of gratitude, fear of loss, and the cherishing of “beautiful things” in life.
Dive deeper into interpretation by analyzing metaphors and exploring the significance of recurring symbols in the song (e.g., “cold Decembers,” “faith”).
Grammar Focus:
Use the song to highlight the use of the present perfect continuous (“I’ve been doin’ better”) and compare it to simple past tense to discuss the difference in meaning and usage.
Discuss the uncertainty mood conveyed by “I might have it all” and “I just might lose it all,” and practice forming sentences expressing possibility or uncertainty about the present or future.
Pronunciation Practice:
Pick lines from the song and use them to practice intonation and stress patterns, especially in emotional parts of the song (e.g., “Oh, I hope I don’t lose you”).
Focus on the pronunciation of contractions (e.g., “I’ve got” vs. “I have got”) and the linking of words in fluent speech.
Critical Thinking and Discussion:
Engage students in a discussion about the ephemeral nature of happiness and the human tendency to fear its loss. How does this relate to their own experiences?
Discuss the cultural aspect of expressing gratitude and seeking blessings, as seen in the lyrics “I thank God every day.”
Creative Writing:
Encourage students to write a letter or a diary entry from the perspective of the protagonist, expressing their fears and hopes.
Have students write a short narrative describing what “beautiful things” they have in their lives and how they would feel if they were at risk of losing them.
Listening Skills:
Lyric Reconstruction Challenge: Students collaboratively reorder mixed-up lyric segments while listening to the song
Musical Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of specific words, phrases, or grammatical structures that are present in the song lyrics. As students listen to the song, they can check off the items they hear. This activity focuses on detailed listening and can be tailored to the particular language points you want to reinforce.
Speaking Activity:
Role-play: One student is the singer, the other is the person he’s singing to. They discuss their feelings about the relationship.
Organize a debate on whether it’s better to have loved and lost or never to have loved at all.
Digital Integration:
Use music video creation tools to have students create a video for the song, focusing on images that they feel best represent the lyrics.
Integrate social media by having students tweet or post about the song with their interpretation or a line that resonates with them, using hashtags to connect with a wider audience.
Cambridge Exam Prep:
Use the lyrics to prepare for the speaking part of exams, discussing themes, and expressing personal opinions.
Create multiple-choice questions based on the lyrics for the reading comprehension part or use the song for a listening exercise.
Each of these activities not only uses the song to teach English but also encourages the development of 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, digital literacy, and cultural awareness.
Beautiful Things” in the Classroom: A Fresh ESL Lesson Plan Coming Soon!
Hey teachers, we’ve just finished exploring “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone, and I bet you’ve got some cool new ideas buzzing for your ESL lessons. This song’s a goldmine for language learning, with its honest lyrics and a melody that sticks.
Think of “Beautiful Things” as more than just a catchy tune—it’s your secret weapon to connect with your students. Boone’s lyrics are like a real talk about life, wrapped up in English that your class can really sink their teeth into. It’s got everything: emotion, language, and those everyday phrases we all use.
Now, imagine bringing this song into your classroom. It’s an easy win. You’ll get to spark up conversations that matter, break down grammar without the yawns, and watch your students light up as they nail those vocab words.
And guess what? The wait is over! I’ve just published a brand-new, super engaging lesson plan based on “Beautiful Things” right here on the blog. It’s designed to save you time and get your students totally hooked on English. The lesson plan is here
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