An ESL song to help students learn about the verb "to be".
No surprise I use music in my classroom when teaching, so I'm mixing a bit of business and pleasure since this week was so open-ended. On my professional development long-term goals I wrote I would research or publish ESL material, so bit by bit I have been working on putting "ESL songs" together, so here's one attempt to use with Grades 3-5 (upper elementary ESL students).
Y9W46 “To be†a student
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11043307
I was thinking yesterday how
I am in school almost every day and
I will be going to school
Year after year after year feels like forever
I was studying yesterday since
I am taking a test today but
I will be getting good grades
Because I study every day
Chorus
I was, I am, I will be a student
It's the past, present and future of to be
I was, I am, I will be a student
To be what I am meant to be
To be a student
Then my teacher came to me and told me
You were in class with me yesterday and
You are in school almost every day and
You will be learning more
So let's see how you answer these
Were you trying to do your best?
Are you eating and getting rest?
Will you be graduating from a university?
chorus
Then my teacher went and told the principal
This child was in my class today and
This child is working to get good grades
This child will be studying
And learning more than you and me
We were students with rulers
Are we as good with computers?
We will be learning
To keep up with technology
chorus
I was, I am, I will be a student
I was, I am, I will be a student
I was, I am, I will be a student
To be what I was meant to be
I was, I am, I will be a student
I was, I am, I will be a student
I was, I am, I will be a student
To be what I am meant to be
chorus
Cool song! That ought to get your students learning. Aside from the fact that this will be a great teaching aid, the music is good. Very catchy tune.
Renee
Cool song! That ought to get your students learning. Aside from the fact that this will be a great teaching aid, the music is good. Very catchy tune.
+1 Great work James. :D
As usual, I'm getting slack about doing any practice between guitar lessons, so that was a good prompt to get on with it!
I enjoyed the drums on the track too.
Cheers,
Chris
Hi Renee and Chris,
Thanks for the listens and encouraging feedback. :D I'll probably try it out with my students next week to see how it works in a real class situation.
I enjoyed the drums on the track too.
Thanks. I've tried different drums, but the easiest (once you figure it out) and best program I've found is jamstix 3. Just set the number of measures and style and the drum "brain" makes the various patterns and fills.
http://www.rayzoon.com/index.html
Thanks again.
James
Very catchy chorus and i like the verse, it has 'blink 182' kinda fun feel to it, keeps it interesting for the kids.
I might use this in class for winter camp when it arrives if thats ok? I used "Hello Goodbye" by the beatles for the summer camp and the kids loved it.
I think music is unbeatable at driving information into peoples heads if its delivered properly and I reckon you've done really well here.
Nice work!
Ben
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."
Hi Ben,
Very catchy chorus and i like the verse, it has 'blink 182' kinda fun feel to it, keeps it interesting for the kids.
I've gotten good feedback from my ESL students this week on the song. (Grades 3, 4, 5).
I might use this in class for winter camp when it arrives if thats ok?
Sure, you have my permission.
Thanks for the listen and post. :D
James
Good man James.
I'm glad it went down well in class. One thing I love about kids is the BRUTAL honesty. If they say they like it then they must do.
thanks,
Ben
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."
