Many of you, fellow bloggers, have written about the joys of using songs and song lyrics to teach English in your lessons. Would you be surprised to learn that I almost never do that? It’s not that I don’t like the idea – or that I don’t like music – my problem is that almost all of the popular songs that teenagers like and listen to these days are riddled with swear words and sexually explicit content.
Here are some easy examples:
“I want to take a ride on your disco stick” Lady Gaga
“cause I gotta have you naked by the end of this song” Justin Timberlake
“F*** you Very Much” Lily Allen
“If you seek Amy / F.U.C.K. me” Britney Spears
Indeed, I find it near impossible to find current popular music (by any pop/rock/rapstar) that doesn’t contain expletives, sexually explicit content or at the very least sexual innuendo – not to speak of encouraging violence or worse.
Here are my options:
1. Use songs that my students (teenagers) consider “old” and/or “uncool” (or both)
2. Pretend I don’t understand the sexual metaphors and innuendo
3. Blank out the swear words/strong language
4. Teach “bad language” – since it is arguably a “natural” part of spoken English
I don’t like these options. Only #4 seems reasonable – but I am somehow not comfortable doing that. So, I avoid the problem. No music – no problem ... How do you deal with "bad language"?
♪♫♪ CoffeeAddict
Check out:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2010641.stm
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Comments
I sometimes have similar problems. I choose a song by which I can teach or revise a language point , but the ones I can use for this reason do not appeal to students' tastes. (my students are aged between 9-14) However, the ones they want to listen are not always suitable for educational purposes. Therefore, I follow the similar strategies. Sometimes, I reward them with a song they like when they take the song activity seriously.
you are right too!
:-) CoffeeAddict
But, you didn't answer my other question - how do you deal with bad language? Do you just avoid the subject like me?
None of these songs have bad language in them. Eminem, for example, is an impossibility.
First of all, I love the songs Aisha recommended :) As a die-hard fan of OneRepublic, I can easily recommend these songs by them, great lyrics and powerful music. You can 'youtube' them.
Good Life
Fear
Waking Up
All the Right Moves
It's a Shame
All This Time
Another song I surely recommend is "If Everyone Cared" by Nickleback. Amazing song! You should definitely lend an ear and check the lyrics. It can be used while teaching Conditionals. Great messages are given there.
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No matter how bad the songs are, I'm sure we can find great songs to help them but I also agree with CoffeeAddict as the types of the music our students listen to may be quite different from our taste. I'm glad my students are aged between 17-21(24). They can understand strong and powerful music-lyrics better and they appreciate more.
Thanks CoffeeAddict for bringing this topic to the table. We have to discuss such problems.