View Content #4831
| Contentid | 4831 |
|---|---|
| Content Type | 1 |
| Title | Write Your Own Songs for Language Learning |
| Body | A recent request on the TESL listserv for songs which contain examples of the simple past tense in English received several recommendations of English song titles and one suggestion to write lyrics which suit the learning task. Below are those titles and some examples of songs teachers have adapted for use as teaching tools. These examples came from teachers of English, but the write-your-own idea can be used for any language. "Because You Loved Me" (Celine Dion) Puff the Magic Dragon Yesterday (The Beatles) He Stopped Loving Her Today (George Jones) ---- My suggestion is to create it yourself by taking a simple tune that has been around for a long time and rewriting the words to suit the task you are teaching. Your students may already know the tune from translated versions in their own culture. Examples of songs which are easy to use are: Oh, My Darling, Auld Lang Syne, and Frere Jacques. It takes a little time to create the words, but then it stays in your bag of tricks forever. Here's an example we created for teaching simple functions. It's sung to the tune of Frere Jacques: Could you repeat that?/ Could you repeat that? I didn't hear!/ I didn't hear! Could you speak more slowly?/ Could you speak more slowly? Thank you very much!/ Thank you very much! I am looking/ for the office. Where is it?/ Where is it? Could you tell me where it is?/ Could you tell me where it is? I don't know!/ I don't know! Ironically, this song is more popular than any mainstream music we do with our students because it's basic survival English that they can use and it was created specifically to address their needs. Richards, M. Re: Need a song - Write your own! Teachers of English to speakers of other languages electronic list. TESL-L@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (18 July 2006). |
| Source | TESL-L |
| Inputdate | 2006-07-20 12:20:00 |
| Lastmodifieddate | 2006-07-20 12:20:00 |
| Expdate | Not set |
| Publishdate | 2006-07-24 00:00:00 |
| Displaydate | Not set |
| Active | 1 |
| Emailed | 1 |
| Isarchived | 1 |
