How to use 'imagine' by John Lennon for an EFL music lesson.

It has been a while since I last published an entry about songs for EFL lesson. Moreover, I has been a while since I last taught elementary students as well. Right now I feel very energetic and motivated about the lessons (we're at the begging of this semester) and the challenge I will have, say, to face. I have been teaching pre-intermediate, intermediate and advanced groups for the last few years.

I could not remember the feeling of being again participating in this stage, say, of English learning. Teaching this level might be a bit hard at the beginning. Students might need more time to think and it is quite normal to have some moments of complete silence in the classroom while they absorb, process, and practice new information in the language they are learning.  

Here I have this incredible John Lennon’s song called imagine. I am quite sure that everyone has heard about this song or even listened to it a thousand times.  

I have used this song so many times in my lessons, but always with different approach and purpose. I usually use it to present some prepositions, but there are many other possibilities.

Divide the group into two teams and give them these pictures. Play the song and ask them to only listen to it at the first time. After that, ‘brainstorm’. I mean, ask them to tell you what they were able to understand. Write everything they say on the board (even the mistakes and misunderstandings). Play the song again, but now you should ask them to put the following pictures (cards, if you like) in the correct order. Eventually, I may provide them with the lyrics and ask them 'to fill in the blanks.

I’m playing this song this week to my elementary students. Yes, that’s right. I’ll bring my guitar and ask them to sing along with me.

Hope you liked this entry. Leave a comment if you did. 

Imagine

John Lennon

01. Listen to the song and complete with the words you hear.

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
above us only sky

Imagine all the people
Living ______ today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't________ to do
____________ to kill or die for
And no religion too

Imagine all the people
Living life ______ peace
You may say,
I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the _________ one
I hope some day
You'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A ____________ of man

Imagine all the people
_______________ all the world

You may say,
I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day
You'll join us
And the world will be as one

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

Did you spot a typo?

Do you have any tips or examples to improve this page?

Do you disagree with something on this page?

Use one of your social-media accounts to share this page:

TAKE A MUSICAL TRIP AROUND THE WORLD WITH THESE ESL ACTIVITIES.

Music is one of the magical things that can bring together nations.

People all over the world find pleasure and enjoyment in listening to music. Because music is something to which you and your students will probably relate, at least on some level, why not use it as a starting point for a language unit? Your students will appreciate the opportunity to share some of the music that is important to them, and they can use the musical studies as a chance to further increase their language skills!

How to Proceed

1

A Classical Approach

Music is special in its ability to tap into the very center of our beings. Simple strings of notes connected together to make a melody can sometimes penetrate the very center of our selves. Classical music is unique in that it not only touches its listeners, but it also frees the mind to imagine a story or an image to go along with the wordless music. Using a piece of classical music for inspiration, have your students write a description or story based on a selection of your choice. To do this, choose a piece of music that does not have lyrics to play for your class. A five to ten minute selection is probably a good length, depending on the age of your students. You should give your students a large piece of blank paper and some crayons, markers, pastels or other drawing materials. As you play the selection, ask your students to draw something inspired by what they hear. They may want to draw something that progresses with the music, such as a story or scene. They may also want to draw something more abstract, reacting to the music in one ever-expanding image. Explain to your students that either approach is acceptable.

Once the music is over, give your students some class time to write about what they have drawn. They may write a story that they found in the music. They may describe a person or a location that they heard the music describing. They may choose to write something completely different. Encourage creativity and originality in your students’ writing, and make sure they know they have the freedom to write anything they choose. Once your writing time is up, put your students in pairs to talk about what they heard in the music and what they wrote during the writing session. You may then want to ask volunteers to share what they have written with the entire class. One advantage to approaching this activity with art first and then with writing and conversation is that you eliminate the language barrier as your students listen to the classical selection. This will allow them to be more creative and gain more inspiration from the music, which can then be channeled in to their speech and writing.

2

A Piece of American History

Stephen Foster is considered one of the greatest musicians in American history. His earthy music written in the 1800’s speaks to a simpler time in the history of the United States. One unique quality that his songs hold is their geographical references. Many of his songs mention different areas of the U.S. Some of these songs include Oh, Susanna!, Sewanee River, Camptown Races, and My Old Kentucky Home. Break your class into groups and assign one of these songs to each group. Then have the groups research two things. First, have each group research the geographical region mentioned in the song. What information can your students find out about that region today and that region in the 1800’s? How has it changed over time? Why would this be a good location to write about? Second, have your students do some research on the song itself. What types of people sang it? Why did they sing it? Why did Foster write it? If you like, you can use this as an opportunity to explain how to do library research. If you have computers available to your students, they can also use the internet to locate their information. After they have completed their research, ask each group to create two posters, which explain the information they discovered during their research – one for the geographical region and one for the song. If possible, dedicate a bulletin board in your classroom to the research results. Draw or post a map of the United States on the bulletin board and then display the posters near the geographical regions they mention.

3

A Global Perspective

If you have the resources, you can download the free app “Top 100 Hits” by Sixpack. This music application lists the top 100 songs in twenty-three countries around the world. Your students may enjoy exploring the music that is most popular in their home countries and those of their classmates. This can be done best in groups of two or three students. Have your students take note, as they explore, which songs are popular across national borders. Encourage your students to share in a class discussion any thoughts or feedback they have on their experience.

Follow this activity with some class presentations. Ask each person to bring in a song he or she would like to share with the class. (Plan ahead what resources you will need to play the music for the class.) Each person should talk about the song he has chosen. Have your students share what the song means, why they like it, and whether or not they would like to meet the singer or group who sang the song.

If you like, follow up by having each person write either 10 interview questions she would ask the group and the answers she thinks they would give or an article about the artist to be featured in a music magazine. You may want to have some copies of Rolling Stone or other music magazine available for your students to use as a model. Then compile all the interviews and articles into your own class magazine which features music from around the world.

Music is a special medium of expression.

It has the ability to touch the very cores of our being and elicit emotional responses from us as we listen. Giving your students an opportunity to make a musical connection with their English studies will help them learn in a new way and give them the chance to share with you and the class on a more personal level.

Fonte: busyteacher

[EXPRESSIONS] Aprendendo inglês com os Beatles!

[The Beatles - Paul, Ringo, John, and George]

Hoje gostaria de postar um tópico onde meus alunos pudessem aprender com a banda mais popular de todos os tempos: the Beatles.

Na música “a hard day’s night” do álbum que tem o mesmo nome, podemos encontrar duas expressões que são utilizadas na mesma: I’ve been working like a dog; I should be sleeping like a log.

I’ve been working like a dog = estive trabalhando igual a um cachorro. O que isso quer dizer? Que cachorro trabalha muito? Não. A palavra ‘cachorro’ ou ‘cão’ é usada para mostrar o exagero. Nesse caso, por ter trabalhado muito; além do normal; não igual à uma pessoa comum; normal.

I should be sleeping like a log = nesse caso, “log” quer dizer “pedra”, ou seja, “eu deveria estar dormindo como uma pedra”. O sentido é fácil de ser entendido aqui. “dormir igual a uma pedra”; ou “como uma pedra”, quer dizer que a pessoa está tão cansada que dormiria de forma pesada; sem se mexer; quase sem vida.

SEGUE AGORA A LETRA COM A CANÇÃO COMPLETA:

OUÇA A MÚSICA E COMPLETE AS LACUNAS COM AS PALAVRAS EM BRANCO:

A Hard Day’s Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSm0M-BbVdY

(Lennon/McCartney)

It’s been a hard day’s night, and I been working like a dog

It’s been a hard day’s night; I should be sleeping like a log

But when I get ______________ to you I find the things that you do

Will make me feel _____________

You know I work all day to get you money to buy you things

And it’s worth it just to hear you say you’re going to give me ____________

So why on earth should I moan, ’cause when I get you alone

You know I feel ok

When I’m ______________ everything seems to be right

When I’m home feeling you holding me tight, tight

It’s been a hard day’s night, and I been working like a dog

It’s been a hard day’s night; I should be ____________ like a log

But when I get home to you I find the things that you do

Will make me feel alright Owww!

So why on earth should I moan, ’cause when I get you alone

You know I feel ok

When I’m home __________________ seems to be right

When I’m home feeling you holding me tight, tight

It’s been a hard day’s night, and I been working like a dog

It’s been a hard day’s night; I should be sleeping like a log

But when I get _________________ to you I find the things that you do

Will make me feel alright

You know I feel alright

You know I feel alright

Observação: Música apropriada para os níveis 1 e 2 de qualquer curso.

[SONG] The Tiny - Last Weekend

SONG: LAST WEEKEND

ARTIST: THE TINY 

My friend got married last weekend
and I was there to witness
as he filled his life with love
and everyone around him was dancing,
laughing, getting drunk on champagne
and there was I feeling lonely by your side
for you not being able to promise me a lifetime being true

Maybe that’s just not the way for me and you
But I would surely like to know what it feels like to
not be afraid of losing you

I could not stand -losing you x3
I could not stand to -lose you x9

Our friends got married last weekend
and we were there to witness
as they filled their life with magic
everyone around them was dancing,
laughing, getting drunk on champagne
and there were you feeling lonely just like me
for me not being able to promise you a lifetime being true
Maybe that’s just not the way for me and you

but I would surely like to know what it feels like to
not be afraid of losing you

I could not stand -losing you x6
I could not stand to -lose you x3
could you stand to- lose me? x3
I could not stand to -lose you x

Our friends got married last weekend
and we were there to witness
as they filled their life with love

Oasis - Don't Go Away.

Don't Go Away [Oasis]

Cold and frosty morning
There's not a lot to say
About the things caught in my mind
And as the day was dawning my plane flew away
With all the things caught in my mind

I don't wanna be there when you're...Coming down
I don't wanna be there when you hit the ground

So don't go away
Say what you say
But say that you'll stay
Forever and a day... in the time of my life
'Cause I need more time, yes I need more time
Just to make things right

Damn my situation and the games I have to play
With all the things caught in my mind
Damn my education I can't find the words to say
About the things caught in my mind

I don't wanna be there when you're...Coming down
I don't wanna be there when you hit the ground

So don't go away
Say what you say
But say that you'll stay
Forever and a day... in the time of my life
'Cause I need more time, yes I need more time
Just to make things right

Me and you what's going on?
All we seem to know is how to show
the feelings that are wrong

[songs] Foo Fighters- Times Like These Acoustic (Live)

Song:Times Like These

Artist: Foo Fighters

I, I'm a one way motorway
I'm a road that drives away
Then follows you back home

I, I'm a street light shining
I'm a white light blinding bright
Burning off and on

It's times like these
You learn to live again
It's times like these
You give and give again

It's times like these
You learn to love again
It's times like these
Time and time again

I, I'm a new day rising
I'm a brand new sky that
Hang the stars upon tonight

I, I'm a little divided
Do I stay or run away?
And leave it all behind

It's times like these
You learn to live again
It's times like these
You give and give again

It's times like these
You learn to love again
It's times like these
Time and time again.

Indico essa Música para quem gosta de Blues.

Song: I'd Rather Go Blind

Singer: Etta James

Something told me it was over

When I saw you and her talking

Something deep down in my soul said

"Cry Girl"

When I saw you and that girl

Walking out

I would rather

I would rather

Go blind, boy

Than to see you walk away

From me child

Ooooo, So you see I love you so much

That I don't want to watch you leave me, baby

Most of all I just don't

I just don't want

To be free, no

I was just

I was just

I was just

Sitting here thinking

Of your kisses

And your warm embrace, yeah

When the reflection

In the glass that I held

To my lips now, baby

Revealed the tears

That was on my face, yeah

And baby, baby

I would rather be blind, boy

Than to see you walk away

See you walk away from me, yeah

Baby, baby, baby

I'd rather be blind now

Profile: Paula Fernandes.

Born in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Paula Fernandes started singing when she was eight years-old, releasing her first album two years later.  Her second album, named Voarei, was released in 1995, and was inspired by the Ana Raio e Zé Trovão telenovela (soap opera). She went to the college to study Geography in Belo Horizonte when she was 18 years-old, singing in bars during that time. She recorded one of the theme songs of Rede Globo's telenovela América, named Ave Maria Natureza, releasing the album Canções do Vento Sul soon after that.

Paula Fernandes was nominated as Best Popular Singer in the Prêmio Tim de Música Brasileira award for that album. The song Jeito do Mato, from her album Pássaro de Fogo was the theme music of the telenovela Paraíso, and her version of Ivete Sangalo's song Quando a Chuva Passar was the main theme music of the telenovela Escrito nas Estrelas. 

Paula Fernandes released her first DVD in October 2010,  and participated in two Rede Globo special shows, which were the Roberto Carlos' end of the year show, broadcast on December 25, 2010, and Show da Virada, broadcast during the New Year's Day, on December 31, 2010. Her album, Paula Fernandes - Ao Vivo, released in 2011, placed in the 2011 top sellers albums.

Source: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Fernandes. September, 15^th 2011.