1. Using songs in the classroom

2. Advantages
• Help to develop language & pronunciation
• Natural and enjoyable repetition
• Can use to develop all skills
• Motivating and fun
• All children can participate
• Build confidence – children can learn ‘chunks’
• Help to develop cognitive skills (eg memory)
• Good tool for teacher – managing the class and adding
variety and pace; cross-curricular topics; short, fixed time
• Develop cultural understanding
• A social shared experience

3. Think about…
• Level of your students – Is language
appropriate? Adapt language?
• Age of your students
• Space in the classroom – can students do the
song at their desk? Do they need to move?
• When to use songs: A warmer? To move from
one activity to another? Introduce new
language? Revise language? Channel energy?
To get everyone’s attention? Change mood?

4. How? Activities and tips
• http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/tips/using-
songs-classroom
• http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/teaching-
kids/using-traditional-songs
• http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/language-
assistant/primary-tips/using-songs

5. Favourite and new activities
• Children suggesting/changing lyrics eg animals, parts of the
body (eg Pinocchio)
• Listening for words and raising hand when hearing them
(eg I can sing a rainbow)
• Performing actions (eg Incy Wincy Spider)
• Writing activities: write a new verse (eg Head, Shoulders,
Knees and Toes); order sentences
• Singing songs quickly/slowly
• Missing out words
• Karaoke
• Singing competitions
• Making song books

6. Finding songs
• Topic internet searches (eg parts of the body:
http://pinterest.com/simplesongs/teach-parts-
of-the-body/
• Song websites:
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/son
gs
• http://www.supersimplelearning.com/songs/
• BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/early
learning/nurserysongs/A-E/big_ship_sails

7. More songs!
• Alice the Camel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpoqrvTL
c8M
• Five little speckled frogs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVPmtaH
mL4g
• Five little monkeys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL9mI3K8
UiI

8. Adapting songs
• Make simpler for lower language levels
• Change to fit with a particular topic (eg 10
little aeroplanes can become 10 little
elephants…)
• http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/s
ongs/ten-little-aeroplanes
• Blog!
http://sonjaenglish.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/t
en-little-aeroplanes.html

9. One song – many uses!
• Alice the camel
• Make a song book – students make a page for
the camel with eg 5 humps, 4 humps…
• Introducing topic of the desert
• Writing – amazing facts about camels
• Where do camels live? Using maps…
• Learning about animals adapting to different
habitats (eg the desert)

10. Pop songs for older children
• Here is a presentation from IATEFL conference
about exploiting pop songs:
http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2010/sessions/
2010-04-10/useful-exploitation-pop-songs-
classroom
• A fantastic songs resource with free
worksheets and lesson ideas (need to register
but free – note for older learners):
http://www.tuneintoenglish.com/?p=833

11. Your favourite pop songs
• Some examples of songs used for upper primary to teach about culture,
vocabulary and music styles. Mariachu thinks about: whether the songs have a
moral lesson, lyrics that can apply to their own lives…
• Country: "The Human Race“ by Randy Travis
• R&B: "Video" by India Arie
• Reggae: ”Turn your Light down Low" by Bob Marley & Lauryn Hill
• POP: "We are the World" by USA for Africa
• Soul: "Ain´t no Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
• Soul: "You Gotta Be" by Patty Austin
• R&B: "Recipe for Love" by Harry Connick Jr.
• Country: " Country Roads" by J. Denver
• POP: " Yellow Submarine" by Beatles
• http://www.tuneintoenglish.com/yellowsubmarine.pdf
• POP: " You´ve Got a Friend" by James Taylor

12. Articles and books
• The Primary English Teacher’s Guide by
Brewster, Ellis, Girard (Penguin English, 2002):
Chapter 12