Issue 2
TECHNIQUES THAT
INVOLVE SINGING
Safety in Numbers If your students are
a little shy, take the safety in numbers
approach. Ask the whole class to sing along
together, with or without the lyrics in front of
them. Or, use the lyrics and audio early on,
so that when students are more familiar with
the song, they can sing a cappella and
without lyrics.
than sing it. That way they will focus on the rhythm and
intonation of each line. Students can rap in groups, take
turns rapping each line, or compete with each other for the
most impressive rap presentation.
If your students
are a little shy,
try the safety
in numbers
approach. Ask the
whole class to sing
along together,
either with or
without the audio
and lyrics in front
of them.
Dramatic Interpretations
Ask students to listen to a song and then listen again, the
second time miming the actions in the story. They can
then vote on which student performed the best mime show.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, songs can be a powerful and
motivating adjunct to language instruction.
The techniques offered here are only a start.
We encourage you to use them as a menu
of possibilities, choosing those that fit
your teaching style and the needs, age level,
and personality of your group. Above all,
have fun!
Allen Ascher
Andrea Notarpietro
Andrea Notarpietro is an International Educational
Consultant for Pearson Longman ELT based in White
Plains, NY. Prior to this position Andrea worked as National
ELT Specialist for Pearson Education Australia. He holds an
RSA Certification in TEFL from Milner College and a B.A. in
Communication Studies from Murdoch University in
Australia.
References
Joan Saslow and Allen Ascher. Top Notch and Summit: English for
Todays World. Pearson Longman. 2006.
Joan Saslow and Allen Ascher. Top Notch TV. Pearson Longman.
2006.
Maximizing Video:
Techniques for the Language Classroom
Joan Saslow and Allen Ascher. Top Notch Pop and Karaoke. Pearson
Longman. 2006.
ISBN 0-13-242410-X