Editorial

The lesson idea based on the song and the questions in it may bring to mind Jane Revell’s activity:

Find the Nine Questions in “Top Class Activities “ – Penguin books 1997. Fergal assures me that

this is his original idea and adds: “They say there is nothing new in ELT, and it seems they are

correct. I have never seen this book, and can assure you this idea is my own, so feel this

acknowledgement is unnecessary. “

From a Website: A Game and Song for the Present Simple Yes/No Question

Forms

Fergal Kavanagh, Italy

Fergal runs the website www.tuneintoenglish.com with the aim of promoting the use of pop music

as a language learning tool. With his touring Tune Into English Roadshow he encourages tens of

thousands of students every year to listen to and use the language used in songs. He has taught at

the Scuola Superiore, British Council and the University "L'Orientale” in Naples, Italy and has co-

written a coursebook at lower secondary school level. He has conducted teacher training sessions

Game

Song

Conclusion

Introduction

It is no accident that the word “play” refers to both music and games – both engage students on an

emotional level, involving them completely. Pop songs are a very powerful and motivating teaching

tool, while games and quizzes challenge students, adding an element of competition and allowing

The following benefits are common to using both games and songs in the classroom:

• Participation

• The student is at the centre of the learning process

• Involvement

• They are engaged emotionally – effective learning (and indeed affective) is an emotional

experience.

• Challenging, exciting

• Develop a positive attitude

• Fun for both the teacher and the student!

This lesson plan uses both tools to practise yes/no question forms in the simple present at A1+

level, or higher.

Game

Warm up - Ask students if they like playing games. What is their favourite game?

Write the following dialogue on the board (before the lesson starts!), or print it onto a photocopy. If

this is not possible, ask two students to role play it in front of the class.

A: Hey, let’s play a game! Write a famous person’s name on a piece of paper.

B: OK. Let me think… How about…

A: Good! Is he American?

B: No, he’s English.

A: Don’t tell me! Say yes or no!

B: OK… No, he isn’t American…

Ask students to role play this dialogue in pairs.

Students then play the game together. You can provide them with post-its if necessary. Allow them

just 10 or 20 questions, or maybe give them a time limit.

Song

Explain that you will give them the incomplete lyrics of “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”, one of

Elvis’s best known songs, which they will complete before listening to the song.

Vocabulary - write the following on the board (or on a photocopy), and ask students to match the

words with their meanings. You can point out that “lonely” is more commonly used than

“lonesome”. (note: this activity can also be done after the next activity).

lonesome

miss

stray

bright

empty/bare

parlour

doorstep

pain

a modal used (with 1

person or plural) for suggestions

adjective to mean a lot of light

hurt

old word for room

the place you stand outside the front door

to feel alone

to wander

to wish someone (or something) was with you

Downloadable Worksheets page in the Teachers’ Area of www.tuneintoenglish.com)

Are you lonesome tonight?

________________________?

________________________?

____________________ to a bright summer’s day

When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?

________________________empty and bare?

________________________and picture me there?

hand column). Point out that some questions will use the verb to be, others the auxiliary verb do.

Allow them to compare with their partner, then play the song. Students check their answers while

listening. Allow them to compare again, then correct in open class.

Sing the song together. There is a long spoken part, but tell students not to worry about this, just to

enjoy Elvis’s wonderful voice!

Conclusion

This lesson works on all four skills, as well as grammar and vocabulary, through a game and a song.

Most students are obsessed by pop music, and while Elvis may no longer be their favourite, they

will find this lesson extremely motivating, probably being unaware they are practising the target

language throughout.

Further worksheets using pop songs can be downloaded from the Teachers’ Area of

www.tuneintoenglish.com.