Sunday, October 5, 2008

While you blog, listen to the songs we've worked on in class

Oh, my God! Where is the tape????????? Don't worry people, this is just a matter of organization and layout... Look at the side-bar on the right. You'll find a beautiful purple cassette there... Have fun!!!!

9 comments:

GilMattos said...

Dear Lueli...
I've simply loved the combination here. - Advanced Grammar and Music. Great job! Very good selection as well. The ABBA song is my favorite - it does bring back so many good memories I must admit I feel a bit of nostalgia. Anyway...Do you actually use the songs to teach Grammar? If so, which grammar points were covered considering these particular songs?

Dennis said...

Hi, Lu.

Like Gilmar, I also loved the combination of advanced grammar and music. I think moving from studying grammar rules and models to how grammar points are actually used in real life is critical, and to be able to hear grammatical items in catchy pop music is a very good way of engaging students' attention.

I also like your plans for how the "Advanced Grammar at CTJ" will be used. You're wise, I think, not to expect too much too soon. You're also wise to realize that it's good to plan for a variety of activities "from the git-go" instead of following the same format over and over and over. If your later blog entries are as interesting as this first one, I predict that you'll have great success in engaging your students in how grammar works, not merely what the rules are!

I wish you only the best!

Dennis in Phoenix

P.S. "I Heard It through the Grape Vine" brought back memories. Will Vinton, the well-known animator and creator of the California Raisins, produced some of his early material at a video-audio production studio where I worked (as an ESL/EFL textbook editor!) in the mid to late 1980s, and I remember those days every time I listen to the "Grape Vine" song.

testecarla said...

Dear Lueli and students,

Gilmar and Dennis said it all! Grammar and music are a perfect fit to motivate you to keep learning and exploring English.

My question to you all is: how much English have you learned through music? Can you think of a specific song that has helped you to learn stuff in English? I'd love to hear your own experiences.

Cheers from Key West.

GilMattos said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
GilMattos said...

Wow...what a difficult question. There are so many. Imay sound repetitive but Barbra's songs have always helped me a lot. IMHO, very few artists can deliver a song the way she does (reminds me of the way we were -lol). Her pronunciation is flawless and I find it really helpful when I decide to use a song in the classroom. I also love Josh Groban and I have learned many new words, phrasal verbs through his songs as well. I could keep writing about it for ever.

testecarla said...

hahah, Gilmar, that's exactly the idea of blogging, interaction, conversations and thoughts, the tough ones! Thanks for sharing. I'll have to think the answer for that one, as well, but I'd say that U2 has always had an impact on me as a learner.

Lueli Ceruti said...

Dear friends, I think I can say that at least 50% of my English comes from songs... When I was learning English I asked my parents to buy me a collection that was being sold at newstands... It was called "Por Music". It brought a record (I mean the good old ones) and all the lyrics of the songs with grammar and vocabulary exercises... Bear in mind that those were times when lyrics were not available on the internet... I started from there and I carried it into my teaching practice. Songs are memorable and if I can transfer that into grammar and vocabulary, what else can I ask for????

Lueli Ceruti said...

I mean "Pop Music"

testecarla said...

Nothing, Lueli. Nothing else. And I think we have to consider our students who simply listen to music all the time. What better way to learn when you do it in an environment which is full of things that we're passionate about?