Using Songs and Music to learn English

Yes I am glad to see this lesson,  I have been posting utub song with lyrics for a few years.

some songs do not have lyrics so I add them sometimes.

I one thig I found is finding songs whith lyrics the appeal to other so they will listen abd read at the same time.   I think it would be good to know what typs of music people like.

I eb (ebany membors mention what kind of music , it would be easier to find songs that include lyrics ,  Thak you English Teacher for this wonderfull lesson.

I hope one day to see a lesson on : old school or school of hard knocks because a lot of slang came fron indiduals who self educated them  selves.  Thank you

You are correct AppleRome, different avenues to arrive at the same destination!

Musics and movies are indeed helpful friends. Oh the good old days! :D

Here is the link for the phrase lesson “apple of my eye” which I did last year in the Teacher’s Forum.  It also has all of the mini lessons I’ve written.  There are two “Understanding American English Phrases” lessons, one on my profile page and the other in the Teacher’s Forum, for your information.

http://www.englishbaby.com/forum/TeacherTalk/thread/390410?page=6

You’re welcome Ricardom, good to have you on board!

Thank you, teacher!

Lesya, ditto, you go girl! :)

Snoopyboy, fun homework is coming!

I join the words of Anja and Snoopyboy. 

Alston, I kowtow to you with respect.

Buttafly and Snoopyboy, you have rendered me speechless!!! :)

For your sakes, its good I’m teaching by written form because if I was in a physical classroom, nothing would come out!  Have a good day everyone!

Mr . Alston

You’ve trespassed the fence between the teacher and the students, what you have done is simply amazing.  No teacher should have the rights to make the lives of his students that easy, but you do it over and over again. I wish I had you as my chemistry teacher  : ). I think you are losing your authority as a teacher, because we’re starting to see you as a father figure, the selfless father whose only goal is to spoil his toddlers. You make it easy; you make it entertaining, learning English. I find your method of teaching to be very versatile, if it’s not a riddle, it’s either a song, a colloquial phrase or a idiom. We’re looking forward to  your next lesson.

I can’t believe I’m saying that to a teacher , but I’ll say it anyway

“Any homework for next week ,teacher?” 

You’re welcome Julito! I’m glad you understand the value of using songs to learn English!

English teacher, thanks for your input and  encouragement. To improve  my listening skills I used to play songs  by Frank Sinatra ,Tony Bennet and some good female singers. 

Song Lesson No. 1- You Are the Sunshine of my Life (Stevie Wonder)

A.  Purpose of using songs to teach English:

1. Your ears will learn and recognize English words used in songs.

2. Your tongue will be trained to speak English words.

3. Your mind will comprehend the message of the song.

4. Your vocabulary will increase with new words and phrases.

5. You’ll receive self-satisfaction from learning new material.

B. Instructions for using this lesson:

1. Locate the song from the Relaxation Lounge or from the internet.

2. Listen to the song and try to understand the words and message.

3. Read the lyrics and try to write your own paraphrase of the lyrics.

4. Compare your paraphrase of the lyric with mine.

5. Recite the song and if possible use a voice or cassette recorder to assess your pronunciation.

6. Speak a verse of the song to someone (or yourself) and understand what you are saying.

7. Write a comment about the song.

8. Understand that you are speaking English by performing this exercise.

9. Most of the songs in the Relaxation Lounge have been selected to teach English and for entertainment.

C. Definitions used in the song paraphrase

1. Abstract noun= A person, place or thing that is subjective.

2. Adjective= Modifies a noun, that is, it adds more description and usually comes before the noun.

3. Figure of speech= Using words or phrases to express a thought in a non-literal way.

4. Hyperbole (pronounced: hi-per-bul-lee)= A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to make emphasis.

5. Light admonishment= To make a serious agreement to continue their relationship.

6. Personification= Using human attributes to an object.

7. Phrase= Substituting a non-literal group of words to describe something.

D. Song Paraphrase (under the actual lyrics, bolded and italicized)

You are the sunshine of my life (figure of speech, hyperbole)

You bring joy into my life

That’s why I’ll always be around (hyperbole)

That’s why I’ll stay in our relationship

You are the apple of my eye (figure of speech, phrase)

You are precious to me

Forever you’ll stay in my heart (hyperbole)

You’ll always be special to me

I feel like this is the beginning,

I feel like it was when our relationship first started

Though I’ve loved you for a million years, (hyperbole)

It seems like I’ve loved you for a million years,

And if I thought our love was ending,

If I thought our relationship was coming to an end,

I’d find myself drowning in my own tears (hyperbole)

I would be crying so much I would drown in my own tears

You are the sunshine of my life, (figure of speech)

You bring joy into my life

That’s why I’ll always be around (hyperbole)

That’s why I’ll stay in our relationship

You are the apple of my eye (figure of speech, phrase)

You are precious to me

Forever you’ll stay in my heart (hyperbole)

You’ll always be special to me

You must have known that I was lonely (adjective, usually precedes a noun)

I imagine that you knew I was lonely

Because you came to my rescue,

Because you came to me with your love to help me out of my loneliness

And I know that this must be heaven (hyperbole)

Living with your love is like being in heaven,

How could so much love be inside of you?

I wonder how much love could be in you?

You are the sunshine of my life, yeah, (figure of speech)

You bring joy into my life, yes,

That’s why I’ll always stay around, (hyperbole)

You are the apple of my eye, (figure of speech, phrase)

You are precious to me,

Forever you’ll stay in my heart, (hyperbole)

You’ll always be special to me,

[Background singers] Love has joined us, (abstract noun, personification)

Love has made us one

E. Summary:

This song expresses the love Stevie Wonder had for his first wife at a time when he was lonely.  You can feel the emotion expressed in the words and phrases that were chosen.  Hopefully this lesson will help you in learning English through songs, it can help you to read, write, and speak in English.

Yaramg, I appreciate your question, here are your answers.  My teaching style is to emulate how children learn their mother language.  Consider the fact that children can go from knowing no English to fluency in 2-4 years! 

The key is that children associate objects in their environment with the actual words.  Afterwards, they put the appropriate words together to express themselves.   First they learn to speak the language, then the grammar.

Just today, I was talking with a man who came from Mexico and I commented on how well he spoke English.  I asked him how did he learn English?  He told me he came to the US when he was 8 years old and started school.  He just attended class and learned day-by-day; the teachers were bi-lingual and answered any questions he had in Spanish.  In other words, he used total immersion in learning the language.

In regards to my material for lessons: I always carry a small notebook and pen.  When I hear a phrase on the TV, radio, or general conversation which I think will be content for a lesson, I’ll write it down and research the topic.  Finally, I’ll post it for my students.

My recommendation for you is this: Have your students identify everything around them, learn their English names and begin to put them into sentences.

Play close attention to the lessons on using songs for learning English, which I’m preparing to post shortly.  I hope this helps you and others.

Dzintra and Gelo, thanks for your comments!

Wonderful lesson as usual. I agree that learning through songs and lyrics is effective and much more interesting.  Looking forward to the comments!

It will be great for as!!! I waiting with impatient.

Thank you! I’m english teacher student, I mean, I’m studying to be an English teacher, and I would like to know about your experiences in the classroom or outside the classroom, for example what kind of teaching material do you use for your classes?  I hope you can help me! 

Buttafly and Lesya, its good to know you “got my back!”  I’m working on a paraphrase of the song and to extract metaphors, phrases, etc. which I think will be beneficial, especially for beginners.

Wishion, welcome, and thanks for your input!

Studying songs is the fastest method to learn English, even in one day!

I intend to post as soon as I complete it.

Good idea that help us understanding English, I try when I’m free read the lyirc to see the new word.

Thank you for your effort : )

Wishion I try to listen songs in English everyday. It helps to improve language, indeed. I like to translate the favourite onces. The improving of English lianguage will be even better if you  sing a song together with singer. :)