Using songs for

language learning

Lynn Suico
 Contents
Why use songs What to use
Potential pitfalls?
Making it easier
Using songs for skills practice
Using songs for Using songs for
vocabulary grammar practice
development
Songs for productive use Useful website
Why use songs?
Theyre fun!
Can add
variety
Natural, authentic
language
Some evidence to show that
this can aid language learning
http://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2008/06/19/does-music-help-us-learn-langu/
 True or false
for L1 songs? for L2 songs?
I always hear all of the words
I notice the chorus
I notice the music/voices/ instruments
I know if I like it or not
I understand the mood of the song
I know what its about
I respond physically
What to use?
What you like?

What they like?

Potential pitfalls
Can they
understand?

Can you
understand?!
Is the song culturally appropriate?
What is the aim of the task you plan to use?

Are your practice activities varied ?

Making it easier
Setting it up well
Choosing your tasks
First listening tasks.

What is the mood of the song?

Is there one singer or more?
Gender of the singer?
Do you like it? What do you think of it?
Listen to the first and last words
What are they?

Who is the song for?

What is it about?
Using songs for
skills practice
Out on the _______ sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to ______ ___ ______,
But I guess we'll both,
Just ______ ___ ____ patience,
Yes it's a long way to go,
But ___ _____ __________,

Before you cross the street,

______ my _______,
Life is what happens to you,
While youre busy making other plans,
Out on ____ ocean sailing away,
I ____ hardly wait,
To see you __ come of age,
But I guess we__ both,
Just have __ have patience,
Yes it's __ long way __ go,
But __ the meantime,

Before ____ cross ___ street,

Take my hand,
Life ___ what happens __ you,
While you___ busy making other plans,
Out on the ocean sailing away,
__________________
To see you to come of age
______________________
Just have to have patience,
________________________
But in the meantime,

________________________
Take my hand
________________________
While youre busy making other plans,
__________________________,
I can hardly wait,
__________________________
But I guess we'll both,
__________________________
Yes it's a long way to go,
__________________________

Before you cross the street,

____________________
Life is what happens to you,
______________________________
 Speaking/Reading/Writing
Retell the story

Continue the story

Write to one of the protagonists

eg a letter of advice
Speaking/Reading/Writing

Discuss issues

Find out about the artist/ song

Using songs for
pronunciation
Connected speech

Im gonna
I wanna
I cudda
You shudda
Connected speech

Task
what does she want to do?
Using songs for
vocabulary development
 high
broke sane
poor short lost
 Im broke but Im happy
Im poor but Im kind
Im short but Im healthy
Im high but Im grounded
Im sane but Im overwhelmed
Im lost but Im hopeful
How would you explain these antonyms can
you think of interesting antonyms for.

young tired free

Using songs for
grammar practice
you 64 ? still Will me feed Im when
Will you still feed me when Im 64?
Grammar
When you are. 25
40
50
64.

Rich? Live? Married? Children? How

many? Famous? Happy? Healthy?
Grandchildren?
Using songs for
productive use
My bonnie lies over the ocean

My bonnie lies over the sea

My bonnie lies over the ocean

So, bring back my bonnie to me

Useful websites
Lyrics training.com