Have you ever wondered how to make your ESL listening exercises more engaging? Today, I’m excited to share a creative process that turned a pop song into a valuable B1 Preliminary listening resource. Let’s dive into how I transformed Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die with a Smile” into an authentic-style listening exercise.
In this blog post, you’ll discover:
- A step-by-step guide to creating B1 Preliminary listening exercises from popular songs
- How to effectively use AI tools to streamline your lesson planning process
- Tips for adapting song lyrics into exam-style listening scripts
- A behind-the-scenes look at the AI prompts used to generate initial content
- Strategies for refining AI-generated materials to suit your students’ needs
- A complete example of a transformed song, including the original lyrics, adapted script, and exercise questions
- An extended activity plan that incorporates the original song and music video
- Practical tips for implementing this approach in your own teaching, aligned with the latest B1 Preliminary exam format
This comprehensive guide will help you create engaging, exam-focused listening materials while leveraging popular music to boost student interest and participation. Whether you’re preparing students for the B1 Preliminary exam or simply looking to enhance your ESL listening lessons, this post offers innovative strategies to make your teaching more effective and enjoyable.
The Spark of Inspiration
While flipping through course books, a thought struck me: Why not create audio exercises for B1 Preliminary in the style of the listening paper Part 3, but based on popular song lyrics? This idea combines the familiarity and appeal of modern music with the practical needs of exam preparation.
The Final Product
Before we go into the process, here’s the listening exercise I created based on “Die with a Smile”:
Full Audio Script
Now look at Part 3. For each question, write the correct answer in the gap. Write one or two words or a number or a date or a time. Look at Questions 14 to 19 now. You have 20 seconds. (20 seconds)
You will hear a radio presenter called Mark talking about a new song he recently listened to.
Hi everyone! Mark here. On today’s programme I’m going to tell you about the new song I’ve just heard called “Die with a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. I first played it on Monday, and on Tuesday morning I listened to it again on my way to work. The song starts with a nice melody that everyone at work liked, though I thought the words about dreams were really interesting. When I listened again, I paid more attention to the main part. It was easy to remember – it’s about wanting to be with someone even if the world was ending! Everyone kept singing it all day … luckily! We thought about playing it again on Wednesday’s show; I was a bit worried because it’s about a serious topic and I wasn’t sure what listeners would think. We played it anyway, and people really liked it! On Thursday we had a meeting about new music: everyone was excited about this song. We decided to make it our ‘best song of the week’ – it wasn’t a hard choice, which was good for me, as I’m still learning about music. On Friday, we asked a music expert to talk about the song. I thought we’d talk about the tune, but we ended up talking about the words. It was fine though. We had a good talk. It was fun with different ideas about the song. On Saturday, we let listeners call in to tell us what they thought. Many people liked the song’s message and told us their own stories. I was happy we didn’t get any bad comments! Maybe next time.
Exercise Questions
MARK’S REVIEW OF “DIE WITH A SMILE”:
The (14) _____________ at the start of the song, was liked by everyone at work.
The main part talks about being together if it was the end of the (15) _____________.
On Wednesday, Mark was worried about the song’s (16) _____________ topic.
The song was chosen as the (17) _____________ of the week.
On Friday, the talk focused on the song’s (18) _____________.
On Saturday, listeners shared their (19) ___________________ about the song.
Answer Key: 14. melody 15. world 16. serious 17. best song 18. words 19. Own stories
[Full worksheet available for download]
Now, let’s explore how I transformed this popular song into an effective ESL listening exercise.
Behind the Scenes: Guiding AI in Content Creation
As part of my creative process, I developed a specific context to guide the AI in generating the initial draft of our listening exercise. This detailed prompt ensures that the AI-generated content aligns closely with the B1 Preliminary Listening exam format while maintaining an appropriate difficulty level for our students.
For those interested in the full details of the AI prompt I used, you can access it here:
Key Takeaways from This Approach:
- Clear Instructions: Providing specific guidelines helps the AI generate more accurate and useful content.
- Format Consistency: By referencing the exam format, we ensure the exercise mirrors what students will encounter in the actual test.
- Language Level Consideration: Explicitly stating the need for B1-appropriate language helps maintain the right difficulty level.
- Creativity Within Constraints: While transforming lyrics into a radio presenter’s script, we maintain the essence of the song without directly copying it.
- Exam-Specific Details: Focusing on question types and answer formats that match the B1 Preliminary exam prepares students more effectively.
The Creation Process: From Lyrics to AI-Assisted Listening Exercise
1. Selecting the Song
I chose “Die with a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars for its clear lyrics and relatable theme. The song’s emotional depth and storytelling quality made it perfect for adaptation.
2. Leveraging AI for Initial Content Creation
To streamline the process, I utilized Claude 3.5, an AI language model, to generate the first draft of the script and exercise. This innovative approach allowed me to quickly transform the song lyrics into a format suitable for a B1 Preliminary listening exercise.
3. AI-Generated Script and Exercise
The AI produced a script that mimicked a radio presenter’s review of the song, cleverly incorporating key phrases and themes from the original lyrics. It also created a set of questions aligned with the B1 Preliminary format.
4. My Personal Touch and Refinement
While the AI provided an excellent starting point, I carefully reviewed and refined both the script and the exercise. I made adjustments to ensure:
- The language sounded natural and appropriate for the target audience
- The content accurately reflected the song’s themes
- The questions were at the right difficulty level for B1 students
This step was crucial in maintaining the authenticity of the exercise and ensuring it met the specific needs of ESL learners.
5. Generating the Audio
Using Revoicer, a text-to-speech app, I created a realistic-sounding audio track of the finalized script.
6. Putting It All Together
With CapCut, I combined the audio with visual elements to create a complete video exercise, enhancing the listening experience.
Why This Approach Works
- Relevance: Using popular songs keeps the material fresh and relatable for students.
- Authenticity: The exercise mimics real exam questions while using content students might encounter in real life.
- Engagement: The familiarity of the artists and song can increase student interest and participation.
- Skill Integration: This exercise practices listening skills while also touching on vocabulary and cultural knowledge.
Tips for Creating Your Own Song-Based Exercises
- Choose songs with clear lyrics and themes appropriate for your students’ level.
- Use AI tools to generate initial drafts, but always refine the content yourself.
- Ensure your script sounds natural and conversational.
- Align your questions with the exam format you’re preparing students for.
- Use text-to-speech tools to create professional-sounding audio if you can’t record it yourself.
Extending the Activity: From Listening to Watching
To make this lesson even more engaging, we can incorporate the original song and its music video. Here’s how to extend the activity:
Step 1 (5 min)
Warm-up Speaking Activity Ask students:
- What kind of music do you enjoy?
- Have you heard of Lady Gaga or Bruno Mars? What do you know about them?
- What do you think a song called “Die with a Smile” might be about?
Step 2 (5 min)
Pre-listening Activity :
- Play a short clip (30 seconds) of the song without showing the video.
- Ask students to write down any words they hear and guess the song’s theme.
Step 3 (10 min)
Main Listening Activity: Proceed with the B1 Preliminary style listening exercise we created.
Step 4 (5 min)
Post-listening Discussion :In pairs, have students compare their answers and discuss:
- How did the transformed script relate to what they heard in the song clip?
- What do they imagine the music video might look like?
Step 5 (5-10 min)
Watch the Music Video :
- Play the official music video for “Die with a Smile”.
- Ask students to compare their imagined video with the actual one.
Step 6 (5-10 min)
Final Discussion and Reflection: Discuss as a class:
- How did the video compare to your expectations?
- How does the video enhance or change your understanding of the song’s message?
- Which did you prefer – the transformed radio script or the original song? Why?
This extended activity allows students to engage with the material in multiple ways – speaking, listening, and viewing – which can enhance their overall language learning experience. By incorporating the original song and music video, you’re not only preparing students for the B1 Preliminary exam but also exposing them to authentic language use in a real-world context. This multi-faceted approach can boost engagement and help students connect more deeply with the language learning process.
Conclusion
Creating custom listening exercises based on popular songs is a fantastic way to blend exam preparation with engaging, relevant content. This approach not only helps students practice their listening skills but also exposes them to contemporary language use and cultural references. By combining AI assistance with teacher expertise, we can create unique, effective ESL materials efficiently.
Have you tried creating custom listening exercises? Share your experiences or ask questions in the comments below!
for another activity with this song see:
Want to Bring Flow Into Your Classroom?
Song Activity Factory 
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