Using songs and stories for teaching grammar and vocabulary | TeachingEnglish | British Council

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Using songs and stories for teaching grammar and vocabulary

Submitted by stella.sargsyan on 23 January, 2012 - 07:53

Nowadays most children, teenagers as well as adults are fond of listening to music. To make our work easier we can use a great number of songs in the teaching process. It will be both helpful and pleasant. There are songs for almost every grammar structure and a particular vocabulary. Why not use “We are the champions” by Queen for teaching collocations or Katie Melua’s “If you were a sailboat” for teaching second conditional?

Could you, please, add songs or stories you use for teaching/practising grammar or vocabulary?

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Grammar thro' Songs & Stories

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stella.sargsyan

using songs

Submitted on 23 January, 2012 - 10:57

Katie Melua Lyrics – If You Were a Sailboat

If you were a cowboy, I would trail you
If you were a piece of wood, I’d nail you to the floor
If you were a sailboat, I would sail you to the shore
If you were a river, I would swim you
If you were a house, I would live in you all my days
If you were a preacher, I’d begin to change my ways

Sometimes I believe in fate
but the chances we create
always seem to ring more true
you took a chance on loving me
I took a chance on loving you

If I was in jail I know you’d spring me
If I were a telephone you’d ring me all day long
If I was in pain I know you’d sing me soothing songs

Sometimes I believe in fate
but the chances we create
always seem to ring more true
you took a chance on loving me
I took a chance on loving you

If I was hungry you would feed me
if I was in darkness you would lead me to the light
If I was a book I know you’d read me every night

If you were a cowboy I would trail you
If you were a piece of wood I’d nail you to the floor
If you were a sailboat I would sail you to the shore
If you were a sailboat I would sail you to the shore

stella.sargsyan

teaching collocations

Submitted on 23 January, 2012 - 11:02

Teaching collocations through the song "We are the champions"

I've paid my dues -
Time after time -
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -
But I've come through

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls -
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
-
I thank you all -

But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
And I ain't gonna lose -

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -

Victoria Kamchatka

Grammar songs

Submitted on 23 January, 2012 - 11:22

I believe that grammar structures or collocations can't be taught isolated but in the meaningful context and communication. Have you ever heard the Bare Naked ladies song If I had a million dollars?

Grammar structure: If I had, I would... Ss may complete the sentence in their own way.

If I Had $1000000 (If I Had $1000000)

I'd buy you a house (I would buy you a house)

If I Had $1000000 (If I Had $1000000)

I'd buy you furniture for your house

(Maybe a nice chesterfield (длинный мягкий диван) or an ottoman)

If I Had $1000000 (If I Had $1000000)

I'd buy you a K-Car (a nice Reliant (на который можно положиться) automobile)

If I Had $1000000 I'd buy your love.

If I Had $1000000

I'd build a tree fort in our yard.

If I Had $1000000

You could help, it wouldn't be that hard.

If I Had $1000000

Maybe we could put put a little tiny fridge in there somewhere

([Talking:] We could just go up there and hang out.

Like open the fridge and stuff, and there'd be foods laid out for us

With little pre-wrapped sausages and things. Mmmmm.

They have pre-wrapped sausages but they don't have pre-wrapped bacon.

Well can you blame them. Yeah)

If I Had $1000000 (If I Had $1000000)

I'd buy you a fur coat (but not a real fur coat that's cruel)

If I Had $1000000 (If I Had $1000000)

I'd buy you an exotic pet (Like a llama or an emu)

If I Had $1000000 (If I Had $1000000)

I'd buy you John Merrick's remains (All them crazy elephant bones)

If I Had $1000000 I'd buy your love

If I Had $1000000

We wouldn't have to walk to the store

If I Had $1000000

We'd take a limousine 'cause it costs more

If I Had $1000000

We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner.

(But we would eat Kraft Dinner. Of course we would, we'd just eat more.

And buy really expensive ketchup with it.

That's right, all the fanciest Dijon Ketchup. Mmmmmm.)

If I Had $1000000 (If I Had $1000000)

I'd buy you a green dress (but not a real green dress, that's cruel)

If I Had $1000000 (If I Had $1000000)

I'd buy you some art (a Picasso or a Garfunkel)

If I Had $1000000 (If I Had $1000000)

I'd buy you a monkey (haven't you always wanted a monkey?)

If I Had $1000000 I'd buy your love

If I Had $1000000, If I Had $1000000

I'd be rich.

Elfresh

A very good technique!

Submitted on 23 January, 2012 - 11:35

Idioms through the following song:

Idioms
Jim Thompson

"Search me,"
"Hit the deck,"
"Adding fuel to the flame."
"Let it slide,"
"It’s not my bag," and
"Go against the grain."

He said, "Kick the habit”,
I said, “Let me get my shoe”
It means: Stop a behavior I probably shouldn’t do.

These expressions are called Idioms and they are used
To convey a meaning that’s unique to the language that’s in use.
The words used in the phrase have meanings that stand alone,
But when used in Idioms they have meanings all their own.

"Eat a horse,"
"Chew the fat,"
"Sleeping like a log."
"Die down,"
"Fool around,"
"Get lost" and
"Knock it off."

"Put the cart before the horse"
and "getting on the ball"
"Two strikes against" and
"Beating one's head against the wall."

So you’ve got the feel for Idioms and now you can say.
You’re no "Babe in the woods,"
You weren’t "Born yesterday."
These expressions we call Idioms will surely make some waves,

So "keep your head,"
"Don’t lose your cool" and
"Pull your own weight."

With Idioms
You don’t mean what you say.
With Idioms
It’s a word play
With Idioms
You don’t mean what you say.

Yearinthelifeof

:-)

Submitted on 23 January, 2012 - 13:20

I recently started using songs and now wonder why it took me so long. 'In the air tonight' by Phil Collins is great for the 'horrible' present perfect continuous. I wrote up my lesson plan here:

http://www.yearinthelifeofanenglishteacher.com/2011/10/why-has-it-taken-...

OxanaKhrushcheva

Songs are really good to

Submitted on 23 January, 2012 - 14:04

Songs are really good to relax and study.For example, modal "can" is trained while singing "I believe I can Fly" by R.Kelly.

In fact there are very good books on this issue.For example, "Song Lessons" by Azar.

Mike Le Prof

Using songs is fun!

Submitted on 23 January, 2012 - 15:04

I've been using songs in teaching English for about 3 years and I'm really keen on it. This is authentic, it increases cultural awareness and broadens students' minds. Well, if this is a song you like, it will bring you additional pleasure! (and why not choose the songs you really like?)

Sometimes you can even get sth yourself. For example, there's some wonderful vocabulary in Sting's "Fields of gold", full of metaphors and epithets. However, I didn't notice at first that there was some interesting gender issue) There was the SKY and the SUN and they were somehow opposed to HE and HER. If you look at the lyrics it'll certainly give you some food for thought)

However, using songs sometimes might not be as efficient as it could be. In my experiences there were some cases when ss didn't like some old songs (even Queen and Beatles). Sometimes they're looking for some modern songs (which tend to be less and less precious for grammar and vocabulary issues). e.g. it's not easy to find a good rap song whic could be used in the class as there is some strong language, slang, etc.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to further blogs of you as this might be an exciting topic)

stella.sargsyan

Thank you very much,

Submitted on 23 January, 2012 - 17:21

Thank you very much, Victoria!!!

I haven't heard the song but I'll download it now and include in my materials. Thanks once more!

stella.sargsyan

fabulous site

Submitted on 23 January, 2012 - 17:24

I have visited the site and am really impressed!! Thank you!!!