Songs
What
and why?
In
general, secondary school students like singing songs particularly
if they are melodic. They are a way of recycling language in a 'fun'
format, they develop a natural sense of language achievement and
can also bring about student involvement.
Practical
ideas
- The
songs in CES are on both the class cassette and the workbook
cassette. You can point this out to the students and ask them
to practise a song at home.
- You
can ask the students to suggest a song that you can all sing.
It is best if the song is one that they all know already so that
everyone can sing. If you use songs regularly, students can take
it in turns to bring in a song or decide in their groups which
song they would like to sing next time.
- It
is probably best to sing the song either at the very beginning
or the very end of a lesson.
- Make
sure you allow enough time - 10 minutes at least - to give students
a chance to listen and then to sing together at least twice.
- Some
students may feel shy about singing, don't force them!
- Play
the song through first, if you have it recorded - make sure students
can hear. If the students have the words, they can read or sing
while they listen.
- In
some songs the students continue by making up words of their own.
Try
to vary the presentation:
- Sometimes
half the class or different groups can sing the verses and the
other half sings the chorus.
- Sometimes
half of the class sings alternate verses.
- Perhaps
an extrovert has a wonderful voice and can sing a solo!
- Some
students may have a guitar and would like to play the tune along
with the music.
- Perhaps
at the end of the term/year, the students could give a concert
to the rest of the school.
The
best thing to do with a song is to sing it! However, there are various
teaching techniques that you can use from time to time with songs:
- Give
the students the lyrics with some words missed out. The students
have to listen and put in the words.
- If
the song has a chorus or verses that are repeated, you can put
the students into groups and give each student one sentence from
the song. While they are listening, they have to put the sentences
in the right out.
- Give
them some questions about the song before they listen and sing.
Afterwards, they can tell you their answers.
- Sing
all the verses except the last one. Give a choice of three verses
for the last one, (you can modify/make up you own). Students have
to read it and work out which one fits the tune best.
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