Surviving Through Song – Words of Wisdom for TEFL Teachers

Neil McMahonneil@ih-buenosaires.com

Anglo ConferenceMontevideo, 19/8/12

Song ideas to help you survive

Words of wisdom for teachers

Observation ideas to help you

reflect

Surviving through song

Surviving through song

The sixtiesThe sixties

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

For studentsFor students

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

Lead-in 

What’s the best / worst party you’ve ever been to?

Whose party was it?

What was the celebration?

Where was it held?

Who was there?

What happened at the party?

Why was it good / bad?

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

 Detailed task

1. Who knows where Johnny is?

2. Who left the party with Johnny?

3. Who is Johnny?

4. What is the singer doing?

5. Is she happy?

6. What surprise does she get at the end of the

song?

Gist taskWhy does she want to cry?

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

Playin' my records, keep dancin' all nightLeave me alone for a while'Till Johnny's dancin' with meI've got no reason to smile

Judy and Johnny just walked through the doorLike a queen with her kingOh what a birthday surpriseJudy's wearin' his ring

Nobody knows where my Johnny has goneJudy left the same timeWhy was he holding her handWhen he's supposed to be mine

It's my party, and I'll cry if I want toCry if I want to, cry if I want toYou would cry too if it happened to you

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

Language focus

1 I'll cry if I want to a b

2 You would cry too if it happened to you c d

 Is she singing about the present or the past?

Which sentence is about the real world (real)? 1 / 2 Which sentence is about an imagined world (unreal)? 1 / 2 

presentpresent

22

11

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

1 I'll cry if I want to a b

2 You would cry too if it happened to you c d

Which phrases express conditions? a & c / b & d Which phrases express results? a & c / b & d In real present conditions we use

if + present / if + past In unreal present conditions we use

if + present / if + past 

b & db & d

a & ca & c

if + presentif + present

if + pastif + past

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

1 I'll cry if I want to a b

2 You would cry too if it happened to you c d

In real results we use present modals / past modals

In unreal results we use present modals / past modals Can the condition come before the result? yes / no 

present modalspresent modals

past modalspast modals

yesyes

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

Controlled Practice Complete the sentences in a fun way: 

1. It’s my __________ and I _____ __________ if I want to.

2. It’s his __________ and he _____ __________ if he wants to.

3. If she wants to, she _____ __________ .

4. If they __________ , they _____ __________ .

5. We _____ __________ if we __________ .  Compare your sentences with your partner.  Who do you think are the he, she, they and we of your partner?  

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

Freer practice What ‘conditions’ are you ‘under’ at the moment? 

E.g. I have to go straight home from class tonight.

I have to go to work tomorrow.

I have to go to a wedding next Saturday.

I want to watch the game tomorrow.

I want to have pasta for dinner tonight.  

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

Discuss with your partner what results will/would happen if these conditions don’t / didn’t take place.  

E.g. If I didn’t go straight home tonight, my wife would kill me.

If I didn’t go to work tomorrow, I would have to get a doctor’s certificate.

If I didn’t go to the wedding on Saturday, my best friend would never talk to me again. If I don’t watch the game tomorrow, I’ll see the

highlights on the news. If we don’t have pasta for dinner tonight, maybe

we’ll have a pizza.  

Do you agree your partner has chosen the correct un/real conditions and results? 

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

For teachersFor teachers

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

Playin' my records, keep dancin' all nightLeave me alone for a while'Till Johnny's dancin' with meI've got no reason to smile

Judy and Johnny just walked through the doorLike a queen with her kingOh what a birthday surpriseJudy's wearin' his ring

Nobody knows where my Johnny has goneJudy left the same timeWhy was he holding her handWhen he's supposed to be mine

It's my party, and I'll cry if I want toCry if I want to, cry if I want toYou would cry too if it happened to you

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

So what does Lesley have to say to us? So what does Lesley have to say to us?

It’s not your party! It’s not your party! No crying!No crying!

• Put the students first, don’t talk about or plan ‘your’

lesson, plan theirs!

• Do what the students want to do and need to do

• Listen carefully to what your students are saying

• Always be in a good mood

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

For observationFor observation

Errors and correction

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

Surviving through song

The seventiesThe seventies

I don’t like Mondays – Boomtown Rats

For studentsFor students

I don’t like Mondays – Boomtown Rats

Lead in

What’s your favourite day of the week?

What do you usually do that day?

What do you eat? When? Where?

Who do you spend it with?

What’s your least favourite day of the week?

What do you usually do that day?

What do you eat? When? Where?

Who do you spend it with?

I don’t like Mondays – Boomtown Rats

  Detailed task Why do you think she doesn’t like Mondays?  Quote the text three times in your answer.  What story does the song tell?

Gist task Who doesn’t like Mondays? Why not?

I don’t like Mondays – Boomtown RatsThe silicon chip inside her headGets switched to overloadAnd nobody's gonna go to school todayShe's going to make them stay at homeAnd daddy doesn't understand itHe always said she was as good as goldAnd he can see no reasonCos there are no reasonsWhat reason do you need to be shown

Tell me why I don't like Mondays...I want to shoot the whole day down

The Telex machine is kept so cleanAs it types to a waiting worldAnd Mother feels so shockedFather's world is rockedAnd their thoughts turn to their own little girlSweet 16 ain't that peachy keenNo, it ain't so neat to admit defeatThey can see no reasonsCos there are no reasonsWhat reason do you need to be shown

Tell me why I don't like Mondays...I want to shoot the whole day down

And all the playing's stopped in the playground nowShe wants to play with her toys a whileAnd school's out early and soon we'll be learningAnd the lesson today is how to dieAnd then the bullhorn crackles and the captain cracklesWith the problems and the how's and why'sAnd he can see no reasonsCos there are no reasonsWhat reason do you need to die

The silicon chip inside her headGets switched to overloadAnd nobody's gonna go to school todayShe's going to make them stay at homeAnd daddy doesn't understand itHe always said she was as good as goldAnd he can see no reasonCos there are no reasonsWhat reason do you need to be shown

Tell me why I don't like Mondays...I want to shoot the whole day down

I don’t like Mondays – Boomtown Rats

Webquest presentations Find out as much as you can about your topic and then prepare a three minute presentation for the rest of the class Group A - Bob Geldof Group B – The Boomtown Rats Group C – I don’t like Mondays Start with Wikipedia in English!

I don’t like Mondays – Boomtown Rats

For teachersFor teachers

I don’t like Mondays – Boomtown Rats

So what does Bob have to say to us? So what does Bob have to say to us?

Like Monday! Like Monday! Stay fresh! Stay fresh! Be efficient! Be efficient!

• Put your life before your teaching (be happy!)

• Limit your lesson planning (schedule it)

• Borrow, copy, steal and share (local and global)

• Structure your marking (use writing portfolio)

• Think about Monday on Monday, not Sunday!

I don’t like Mondays – Boomtown Rats

For observationFor observation

I don’t like Mondays – Boomtown Rats

Critical moments

Surviving through song

The eightiesThe eighties

Just Like Heaven – The Cure

For studentsFor students

Just Like Heaven – The Cure"Show me how you do that thing The one that makes me dream" she said "The one that makes me ask" she said And threw her arms around my neck "Show me how you do it And I promise you I promise that I'll spend a day with you I'll spend a day with you"  Spinning on that silly bed I missed the place and missed the bed And screamed of all the different days I had To make her know "Where are you on father’s day?" she said "Why won't you ever go one time in Liverpool That I'm in Liverpool" 

You, soft and only You, often lonely You, strangers and girls Dancing in the deep sea oceans Wishing for a daughter You're just like a dream Daylight hit me into shape I must have been a sheep agraze I moved my lips to breathe her name I opened up my eyes And found my shelf at home at home At home upon a raging seatThat stole the lonely girl I loved And drowned her sleep inside of me You, soft and only You, often lonely You, dressed like heaven

Just Like Heaven – The Cure

For teachersFor teachers

Just Like Heaven – The Cure

"Show me how you do that trick 

The one that makes me scream“ she said 

"The one that makes me laugh“ she said 

And threw her arms around my neck 

"Show me how you do it And I promise you, I promise that I'll run away with you 

I'll run away with you" 

Spinning on that dizzy edge 

I kissed her face and kissed her head 

And dreamed of all the different ways I had to make her glow 

"Why are you so far away?" she said 

"Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you 

That I'm in love with you“ 

You, soft and only,

You, lost and lonely 

You, strange as angels 

Dancing in the deepest oceans 

Twisting in the water You're just like a dream 

Daylight licked me into shape I must have been asleep for days And moving lips to breathe her name I opened up my eyes And found myself alone alone Alone above a raging sea That stole the only girl I loved And drowned her deep inside of me You, soft and only You, lost and lonely You, just like heaven

So what does Robert have to say to us? So what does Robert have to say to us?

Show me!Show me! Get proof!Get proof! I think...I think...

• elicit instructions to obvious tasks

• do student-centred examples

• check meaning precisely (CCQs/pictures/realia)

• ask students give reasons for answers in feedback

(why)

• get students to repeat corrected language accurately

• look for evidence in your lessons when reflecting on

them

Just Like Heaven – The Cure

Just Like Heaven – The Cure

For observationFor observation

On the podium

Just Like Heaven – The Cure

Surviving through song

The ninetiesThe nineties

For studentsFor students

Wonderwall – Oasis

Wonderwall – Oasis

realiserealise

lightslights

wordword

feelfeel

savesave

howhow

windingwindingdoubtdoubt

heartheart

throwthrow

Wonderwall – Oasis

throw it back

should have realised

the _____ I do

put out __________

hear __________ before

__________ a doubt

__________ roads

blinding __________

Wonderwall – Oasis

throw it back

should have realised

the way I do

put out a fire

hear it all before

have a doubt

winding roads

blinding lights

Wonderwall – Oasis

For teachersFor teachers

Today is gonna be the dayThat they're gonna throw it back to youBy now you should've somehowRealized what you gotta doI don't believe that anybodyFeels the way I do, about you now

Back beat, the word was on the streetThat the fire in your heart is outI'm sure you've heard it all beforeBut you never really had a doubtI don't believe that anybodyFeels the way I do about you now

Wonderwall – Oasis

And all the roads we have to walk are windingAnd all the lights that lead us there are blindingThere are many things that IWould like to say to you but I don't know how

Because maybe, you're gonna be the onethat saves meAnd after all, you're my wonderwall

Today was gonna be the dayBut they'll never throw it back to youBy now you should've somehowRealized what you're not to doI don't believe that anybodyFeels the way I do, about you now And all the roads that lead you there are windingAnd all the lights that light the way are blindingThere are many things that IWould like to say to you but I don't know how

I said maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves meAnd after all, you're my wonderwall

Wonderwall – Oasis

So what do Liam & Noel have to say to us? So what do Liam & Noel have to say to us?

• Try different ways of doing the same activity,

teaching the same language, correcting an error

• Try and match your students to activity types

• Experiment with new ideas, old methods, etc.

• Think critically about everything you do and reflect!

all the roads that lead you there are windingall the roads that lead you there are winding

Wonderwall – Oasis

For observationFor observation

Successful stages

Wonderwall – Oasis

Surviving through song

The noughtiesThe noughties

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

For studentsFor students

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

Lead in

Do you like dancing?

How often do you go dancing?

What are the benefits of dancing?

Do you ever watch dance?

What is your opinion of dance as an art form?

Gist task

When the singer sings ‘you spin me round’ what does he mean?

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

Detailed task  What does the listener do to the singer?What does the singer want from the listener?What does the singer know about the listener? What does the singer ask the listener to do?What does the singer warn the listener?

Follow up speaking  Could you dance to this song? Do you find it catchy?Would you play it at your birthday / wedding / mum’s birthday / BBQ / nephew’s baptism

You spin me round – Dead or AliveI really _____ this song!

Controlled practice 

Describe someone in the class or a famous person to your

partner using the like phrases below.

They have to guess who you’re talking about.

they look / seem / act / think / talk like they’re _____-ing...

they look / seem / act / think / talk like a...

they.......... me like they’re _____-ing...

they.......... me like a...

they’d like to...

they’d like a...

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

For teachersFor teachers

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

Yeah I, I got to know your nameWell and I, could trace your private number baby

All I know is that to meYou look like you're lots of funOpen up your lovin' armsI want some, want some

Well I...I set my sights on you(and no one else will do)And I, I've got to have my way now, baby

All I know is that to meYou look like you're havin' funOpen up your lovin' armsWatch out, here I come

You spin me right round, babyright round like a record, babyRight round round round

I, I got to be your friend now, babyAnd I would like to move inJust a little bit closerI want your love

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

So what does Pete have to say to us? So what does Pete have to say to us?

Keep spinning those cycles!Keep spinning those cycles!

Examples

Checking

Instructions

Instructions

cycles

Instructions

cycles

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

So what does Pete have to say to us? So what does Pete have to say to us?

Keep spinning those cycles!Keep spinning those cycles!

Monitoring

Feedback

Instructions

Activity

cycles

Activity

cycles

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

So what does Pete have to say to us? So what does Pete have to say to us?

Keep spinning those cycles!Keep spinning those cycles!

Whole class feedback on

contentWhole Class

feedback on

language

Pair checking

Feedback

cycles

Feedback

cycles

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

So what does Pete have to say to us? So what does Pete have to say to us?

Keep spinning those cycles!Keep spinning those cycles!

Pronunciation

Form

Meaning

Clarification

cycles

Clarification

cycles

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

So what does Pete have to say to us? So what does Pete have to say to us?

Keep spinning those cycles!Keep spinning those cycles!

PlanTeach

ReflectPlanning

cycles

Planning

cycles

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

For observationFor observation

Going around in circles

You spin me round – Dead or Alive

Surviving through song

The last fifty yearsThe last fifty years

Surviving through song

Words of wisdomWords of wisdom

Surviving through song

Words of wisdomWords of wisdomIt’s not your party! It’s not your party! Enjoy Monday! Enjoy Monday!

Keep spinning those cycles!Keep spinning those cycles!

Show me!Show me!

All the roads that lead us there are winding!All the roads that lead us there are winding!

Let it be!Let it be!

Surviving through Song – Words of wisdom for TEFL TeachersNeil McMahon

IHWO / IH Buenos Aires Teacher Training

All handouts and session slides:

amuseamuses.wordpress.comNeil McMahon

IHWO / IH Buenos Aires Teacher Training

Neil.McMahon@ihworld.com

neil@ih-buenosaires.com

@mcneilmahon

amuseamuses.wordpress.com