Using Songs and Music to learn English

:) Ah, I see. I’ll remember it forever now, and I hope we’ll be able to get our mojo working from now on.

I mean it from the perspective of having your collective positive energy working to accomplish your goal(s).  It’s like the phrase “being on a roll!”  Once you have success, multiple times, one after the other, you begin to get encouraged and it takes on a life of its own!  At that point, you’re “on a roll” or “got your mojo working!”

My mojo is working by listen to a song I like, find it’s lyric and sing along. After I work on the grammar. It indeed good to study this method. Good lesson Mr Alston, thanks :))

Hmmm, interesting expression, I know that mojo is magic power, but couldn’t guess the meaning of the idiom. Would you, plz, explain it?

PhilologistAUL, sounds like you and your class “got your mojo working?”

Thank YOU Mr.Alston. I’ll be happy if it helps someone.

Well, in fact they like this so called informal grammar as well. You know, whenever they began learning any grammar rule, they immediately ask if they’ll be able to use it in daily speech. So, alongside with formal English, they like to learn informal as well. Surely, I inform them beforehand that this or that rule or word or construction cannot be used in academic speech or writing.

PhilologistAUL,

This is a good teaching strategy, I hope teachers and students will be encouraged to use it.  It’s the quickest way to learn English if you’re not using English everyday.  The key is to listen, understand, and speak the words.  Afterwards, you can learn the grammar.

Actually, many times the lyrics are not grammatically correct.  For example, the song. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by many singers or “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” are using poor grammar because the word “ain’t” will cause some English teachers to cringe.  In society, the goal is to get the message across.

Thanks for submitting your post.

One of the best ways to learn English, really. I experienced it myself when I was a student and now my students just love it. Grammar in itself is very boring but through songs it becomes much more interesting. This semester I used “If There’s Any Justice in the World” for teaching second and third conditionals, and “Someone Like You” by Adele for practicing nominal clauses. 

1) First we discuss the name of a song and try to guess what it is about;

2) Then a teacher distributes handouts with the lyrics of a certain song with some blank places in it to be fulfilled by the students;

3) Students listen to the song and fill in the blanks;

4) They listen again and sing together with a singer;

5) Then we discuss the essence of  a song and students exchange with their opinions;

6) We work on the Grammar focus;

7) Students are assigned to write an essay about a song as a homework.

Sorry for my dare, Mr.Alston:)

Song Lesson No. 2: “I’ll Always Love You” by Whitney Houston:

Here is your assignment:

1. Listen carefully to the words that are sung and train your ears to identify English words as spoken.

2. Try to understand what Whitney is saying.

3.  Repeat the words yourself to train your tongue to speak English by imitating Whitney.  She is singing very slowly so it should be easier for you.

4.  Keep practicing until you feel satisfied with your results.

5.  Write a paraphrase of the message of the song, I plan to post mine later.

This song is No. 1 in the Love Songs category in the Relaxation Lounge on my profile page.  If you can’t access the song, try to find it on the internet.

Song Lyrics:

If I should stay,

I would only be in your way.

So I’ll go, but I know

I’ll think of you ev’ry step of the way.

And I will always love you.

I will always love you.

You, my darling you.  Hmm.

Bittersweet memories

That is all I’m taking with me.

So goodbye.  Please don’t cry.

We both know I’m not what you, you need.

And I will always love you.

I will always love you.

(Instrumental solo)

I hope life treats you kind

And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of.

And I wish to you, joy and happiness.

But above all this, I wish you love.

And I will always love you.

I will always love you.

I will always love you.

I will always love you.

I will always love you.

I, I will always love you.

You, darling, I love you.

Ooh, I”ll always, I’ll always love you.

I think this is the best way to learn english because when we listen english songs they help us to recognise words , help in correct pronounciation of words & most important help to understand what they had said.If we regularly listen english songs it will help us to build our english strong.

Actually This is more likely to help learn pronunciation because it karaoke style where each word sang is individually defined as the music plays.

http://www.englishbaby.com/findfriends/view_photo/719709

Yes Ryo I agree something we love will keep our intrest, and we can all make sugestions of what we like.  Utube has so many beautiful songs with lyrics.

…English Teacher, I noticed we cant post songs with lyrics here. I do often on my photos but it dose not get everyone’s attention.

as  for instance: http://www.englishbaby.com/findfriends/view_photo/719685

Good point Ryo!

Hey all spammers, I’m not easily peeved by youuu, like snoopy said :)))) . better you having better reason, shoo shoo lol..

—

@snoopy:

But if you snoopy should be spammer to prove the lack of management, I will support youuu~uu. You know, just like Robinhood-in-disguise :))) lol

(..what the heck am I thinking?? XDD lolll)

The report button works, the tech support usually deletes them within 24 hours.

Anyway, on with the show! 

I just created a new lesson on pronunciation practice which you can access from the link below or my profile page.

http://www.englishbaby.com/lessons/5892/member_submitted/pronunciation_development_lessons

: )

their goals is to peeve people on this site, they’re not really trying to sell you stuff. so whenever they get a post deleted it only means to them that they’re getting the attention they need. The best  way is to turn a blind eye at their silliness.

that’s why I was wondering if there were a way to anonymously report those activities to Management, maybe delete their accounts indefinitely.

Management did a good job banning me from the chat room for God knows why. But they can’t seem to do the same with those guys.

maybe I should become a spammer myself

:)

Snoopy: “Whatever you do , don’t hit that “report” button it’s useless, it angers these spammers even more :)”

How could you know, Snoopy? Are you one of them? :))) LOLLL

How do people get a hold of management here?

Whatever you do , don’t hit that “report” button it’s useless, it angers these spammers even more

:)

Those inconsiderate spammers are always ruining Mr. Alston lesson. Why don’t you find another teacher to  bug, I’m getting tired of this… really! I think there’s foul play ; maybe some other teachers are funding those kids,

:)