English through songs

Music is a popular way for ESL students to practice their listening skills - and if they aren't shy about it, their speaking skills. Lyrics can be just as useful to practice as stock phrases when the grammar isn't too messed up, and easier to memorize.

These kinds of lessons can also be whipped up quickly with the help of some burned CDs and Lyrics.com, a site where you can usually find the words for popular songs.

Of course, you don't have to use Lyrics.com - just typing in a block-quoted verse of the song in question will usually lead you to the rest of the lyrics.

These sorts of lessons can even be too easy to create, copying and pasting the lyrics onto an MS Word document, erasing random bits and printing them out five minutes before class starts. Instead, take the time to only erase those words or phrases that you actually wanted to practice (eg. all of the articles - a, an, the; all of the modals; can, must, have to, etc; or words ending in the sound, "m" or "n"). The students will get way more out of the lesson if it is focused.

Just remember - leave the gangsta rap at home for your own entertainment. We're trying to create fluent, functional English speakers - not 50 cent wannabes.

tags: English songs, practice ESL with music, using music in the classroom, English song lyrics