| Authentic English Language Text | | | | picture or drawing that represents each of your |
| In English as a foreign or second language teaching | | | | chosen lexis for you to use to help elicit the key lexis |
| (EFL, ESL), if you ever need to come up with an | | | | from the learners before they hear the song. For a |
| authentic English text of any kind, i.e., newspaper, | | | | REAL test of this system (which I regularly use, by the |
| magazine, movie clip, etc. that you need to present to | | | | way) is to find and use a song that you think the |
| the class and you've been powerfully influenced by | | | | learners don't know! You'll get kudos for this one for |
| music your whole life you might chose to take the | | | | sure. It's especially effective when the class is |
| song approach. You'll be okay using a popular song as | | | | multi-cultural; that is, composed of learners from |
| authentic language text - which it certainly is. I'd go with | | | | different countries and diverse language backgrounds. |
| popular songs, like "Imagine" by John Lennon, which | | | | (Russia, Iran, South Korea, Mexico, and so on) Using a |
| have more appeal. You can get some additional | | | | snappy but "unknown" song will help to ensure a ample |
| mileage out of the song using cultural aspects as well | | | | amount of "learning" on the part of your students, in |
| as some others. Profiling, doing a biography of and | | | | more ways than one. |
| discussing John Lennon as an example in this case. | | | | Finding Unique Songs |
| Here are some ways to go about it. | | | | So how would you find such songs - easy; just check |
| Select and Concept Check the Lexis | | | | out songs from other genres, songs sung in other |
| Be sure to select at least six to eight key lexis | | | | varieties of English and popular songs from past eras |
| (minimum) from the song. To aid in concept checking | | | | aka "oldies but goodies". |
| you should create a series of short exercises such | | | | Some suggestions you might consider include:o country |
| as:o a True - False exerciseo a short matching | | | | and westerno oldies from the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70'so |
| exercise and perhapso a fill in the blanks exercise | | | | jazz vocalso soul or rhythm and blues songs |
| In each of these exercises you'll be using the lexis | | | | (especially from previous eras)o comedy songso |
| (vocabulary) you've chosen. You might also try to find | | | | Bluegrass songso Folk songso Ballads |
| a few pictures or photos to visually - graphically | | | | Process Need Not Be Difficult |
| illustrate both the key lexis and themes or phrases | | | | If you don't have the time or inclination to do the extra |
| from the song. You can also prepare a re-order | | | | preparation you can just go with the activities I've |
| exercise using the song lyrics by cutting the lyrics into | | | | mentioned for your presentation. The process needn't |
| strips, mixing them up and having the learners re-order | | | | be overly difficult at all. |
| the lyrics line strips of the song by listening to it. | | | | Let me know if you need any further guidance or |
| Re-Ordering Sequences | | | | some actual exercise examples. I'll be happy to send |
| Play the song again afterwards to have learners | | | | you some. |
| check their re-ordered sequence. Try to have a | | | | Good luck. |