欣蓉的教學網誌 » Learning through songs http://june.ettachou.com 紀錄教學點滴 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:36:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 “The Christmas Shoes”–A Touching Song http://june.ettachou.com/2011/12/27/the-christmas-shoes-a-touching-song/ http://june.ettachou.com/2011/12/27/the-christmas-shoes-a-touching-song/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:02:13 +0000 admin http://june.ettachou.com/?p=5033 Though Christmas Day has bid adieu, it’s still Christmas season. The song “The Christmas Shoes” reminds us again of what Christmas really means. To me, it’s about love and giving.

Annie (詹麗馨老師) told me about this song this evening. It’s touching! If the boy in the song were before me in a line, I would not only pay for the shoes for her mother, but also buy him new warm clothes. Thank you, Annie, for introducing such a heartfelt song.

Here are two videos. The first is the song with its lyrics, the second, the MV.

]]> http://june.ettachou.com/2011/12/27/the-christmas-shoes-a-touching-song/feed/ 0 “Proud of You”–a Lovely Song http://june.ettachou.com/2011/12/13/proud-of-you-a-lovely-song/ http://june.ettachou.com/2011/12/13/proud-of-you-a-lovely-song/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:46:01 +0000 admin http://june.ettachou.com/?p=4964 Today I had Classes 301 and 311 listen to a lovely song “Proud of You” at the beginning of the class. While listening, they were asked to write in English anything that came into their mind. When the song was over, they handed in their paper.

Some students just jotted down a few words; others told about their recent life; still others wrote about the song. The following are words about the song:

“An angel in the sky flying high, A paradise without pain comes into my mind. My sweet, old memory. I wish I were a kid.” (30114)

“It speads hope into humans’ minds, beautiful voice.” (30117)

“It empowers me. relax. Believe me, I can fly.” (30135)

“Be who you want to be. Everyone has their sky. A beautiful song.” (30104)

“…I love this song! THere is one with the same melody in Chinese.” (31132)

“lulluby, comfortable, relaxk enjoy, good song, meaningful, brave, elegant, encourage, inspire.” (31115)

“smooth, peaceful, lovely.” (31121)

“happy, great, comfortable, wonderful, so good.” (31137)

“The song is great and it can soothe a person. It’s a perfect song to play while we are sleeping. There is also a good song entitled “firework” The lyrics inspire mje a lot.” (31127)

“I want to sleep. This song is great.” (31113)

“This was one of the songs we sang in the English drama when I was in junior high school. I love the song so much! And we won the 1st prize. Those great memories sprang to my mind!” (31116)

“Perfect.” (311)

“So soft, warm, good.” (31108)

“I love loved it since I first heard it when I was little. Believe in yourself. Be proud of yourself. fly…fly and fly…” (31107)

“I love the song very much! I like the smooth melody and lovely lyrics. Beautiful songs relax me and makes me happy. Thank you, teacher!” (31124)

“There is a picture in my mind. We graduate from this school and we all get into good colleges. We are happy and laughing.” (31122)

“The song makes me feel warm, entirely free from the stress.” (31103)

“It is really soft. The voice of the child is sweet and innocent.” (31131)

“Comfortable, cozy, warm, elegant.” (31123)

“Sleepy, enjoyable, comfortable.” (31118)

“When I heard this song, I thought of getting into a college I like, and the new college life. I will have a beautiful smile on my face every day.” (31133)

Here I’d like to thank Annie (詹麗馨老師) for introducing this song on FB yesterday. In fact, I’ve heard this song dozens of times for it was played at almost all the wedding banquets I have attended since two years ago. However, I didn’t know its title until yesterday. A beautiful song, indeed.

]]> http://june.ettachou.com/2011/12/13/proud-of-you-a-lovely-song/feed/ 2 Using “Tears in Heaven” to Teach the Subjunctive Mood http://june.ettachou.com/2011/08/31/using-tears-in-heaven-to-teach-the-subjunctive-mood/ http://june.ettachou.com/2011/08/31/using-tears-in-heaven-to-teach-the-subjunctive-mood/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:21:50 +0000 admin http://june.ettachou.com/?p=4612 This morning when reviewing the subjunctive mood in Class 311, I used the song “Tears in Heaven” to demonstrate the different patterns for reality and irreality. It’s fun!

First, I had the students listen to the song with lyrics, then I showed the lyrics on the ppt as follows, dividing the lyrics into two parts–imagination/irreality and reality.

Subjunctive Mood-Tears in Heaven.ppt

]]> http://june.ettachou.com/2011/08/31/using-tears-in-heaven-to-teach-the-subjunctive-mood/feed/ 0 Teaching the Relative Clause http://june.ettachou.com/2011/08/11/teaching-the-relative-clause/ http://june.ettachou.com/2011/08/11/teaching-the-relative-clause/#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:11:11 +0000 admin http://june.ettachou.com/?p=4532 Today in class, we reviewed the relative clauses. I used PowerPoint to go over some important points, interwoven with some oral practices, using the relative clause to talk about their personal prefrence or opinion. After the review, the students were given a small quiz, followed by the song “Because You Loved Me,” which contains a lot of relative clauses.

The following is the song. You might like to sing along and count how many relative clauses there are. Enjoy it!

]]> http://june.ettachou.com/2011/08/11/teaching-the-relative-clause/feed/ 2 Happy Father’s Day! & “Daddy” by Beyonce http://june.ettachou.com/2011/08/08/happy-fathers-day-daddy-by-beyonce/ http://june.ettachou.com/2011/08/08/happy-fathers-day-daddy-by-beyonce/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:54:07 +0000 admin http://june.ettachou.com/?p=4521 Happy Father’s Day!

 This is a song introduced to me by my dear friend Annie.   I like the lyrics.

Daddy

by Beyonce

I remember
When you used to take me on a bike ride every day on the bayou
(Remember that? We were inseparable?)
And I remember when you could do no wrong
You come home from work
And I jump in your arms when I saw you
(I was so excited)
I was so happy
(So happy to see you so happy to see you)
To see you
Ooh

Because you loved me
I overcome
And I’m so proud of what you’ve become
You’ve given me such security
No matter what mistakes I make you’re there for me
You cure my disappointments and u heal my pain
You understood my biz and you protected me
I treasure every year in place a comemory
And that’s why I want my unborn son
To be like my daddy
I want my husband to be like my daddy
There is no one else like my daddy
And I thank you for lovin’ me
(daddy daddy daddy)

I still remember the expression on your face when you found out
I’d been on a date and had a boyfriend
(my first boyfriend, you shoulda seen your face)
I still remember I caught you cryin
cuz of my tattoo coulda said “Beyonce I told Ya”
So instead you said you’d get one too
(You and my momma said yall’d get one just like mine)
Words cant express my boundless gratitude for you
I appreciate what you do oh
You’ve given me tight security
No matter what mistakes I know you’re there for me
Cure my disappointments and heal my pain
You understood my biz and you protected me
I treasure every extraordinary memory
that’s why

I want my unborn son
To be like my daddy
I want my husband to be like my daddy
There is no one else like my daddy
And I thank you (thank you) for lovin’ me

Even if a man broke my heart today
No matter how much pain I’m in I would be ok
Cuz I’ve got a man in my life that can’t be replaced
His love is unconditional
It won’t go away
And I know I’m lucky (lucky)
Know it ain’t easy
Men who take care of their responsibilities
Love is overwhelming
Lord why did you pick me,
Can’t stop my tears from falling
I love you so much daddy

Thank you
You’ve done so much for me
I love you,
Daddy

I’m so emotional daddy
Every time I think of you
I get emotional daddy
Every time I think of you
There is no one else like my daddy
No one will replace my daddy
Daddy daddy daddy daddy
[fade]

]]> http://june.ettachou.com/2011/08/08/happy-fathers-day-daddy-by-beyonce/feed/ 0 Teaching the Song “You Raise Me Up” http://june.ettachou.com/2011/07/29/teaching-the-song-you-raise-me-up/ http://june.ettachou.com/2011/07/29/teaching-the-song-you-raise-me-up/#comments Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:21:58 +0000 admin http://june.ettachou.com/?p=4483 Today I taught two classes the song “You Raise Me Up.” In Class 311, since they have sufficient time, on the handout, I left the refrain part of the song blank. The students had to listen and write down the refrain, which repeated three times. After checking if they got the right words, we sang the song together. In Class 301, because there were only 3 minutes left after we discussed the quiz, their compositions and an article, I just let them sing along with the video.

We finished discussing the story “The Girl in the Fifth Row” this week. In the story, the girl Liani kind of raised the writer Leo up by paying utmost attention to him and helping him regain confidence on his first day of teaching. That was why I chose this song.

The following are two videos of the song with the lyrics from YouTube, the first one sung by Joshn Groban and the other by Westlife.  You might like ot make a comparison between them.  There is an MTV version performed by Westlife; however, embedding is not allowed.  Just visit the website http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1_MydgRFZw&feature=related and enjoy it.


 

]]> http://june.ettachou.com/2011/07/29/teaching-the-song-you-raise-me-up/feed/ 0 To Love You More http://june.ettachou.com/2011/07/15/to-love-you-more/ http://june.ettachou.com/2011/07/15/to-love-you-more/#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:26:58 +0000 admin http://june.ettachou.com/?p=4426 Today, to relieve the students of some pressure, after the discussion of today’s quiz, I taught the three classes the song “To Love You More” sung by Celine Dion. It’s a beautiful, touching song and I love the passion flowing from both the melody and the lyrics.

After presenting the song, I challenged Classes 301 and 303 to locate the imperative sentences in the song, a grammar point we reviewed this week, and Class 311 to discover the relative clauses. Then we sang the song together.

I love teaching English through songs. A student I taught long time ago once wrote in his email to me that he could hardly remember what he had learned in junior high school except for the songs I had taught then. 

Interestingly, I invited the students to take the singer as the English language and imagine it singing to them:

“Take me back into the arms I love / Need me like you did before / Touch me once again…/ You will see I can give you / Everything you need… / See me as if you never knew / Hold me so you can’t let go / Just believe in me / I will make you see / All the things that your heart needs to know…”

It makes sense, doesn’t it?em22


 
In the video below, you will see Celine Dion perform the song. Brilliant! The violinist is amazing too.  Best of all, you can listen to Celine Dion introduce the violinist.

]]> http://june.ettachou.com/2011/07/15/to-love-you-more/feed/ 0 My Greatest Fear–a Song by Randy Travis http://june.ettachou.com/2011/04/12/my-greatest-fear-a-song-by-randy-travis/ http://june.ettachou.com/2011/04/12/my-greatest-fear-a-song-by-randy-travis/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:17:01 +0000 admin http://june.ettachou.com/?p=4061 Today Chris introduced me a song “My Greatest Fear.” A song new to me. Though not easy to sing, the lyrics are simple and quite beautiful. Well, I like it.

Just read the first verse. Can you guess what the man’s greatest fear is?

Sometimes many miles
may lay between us
But only for the job
I choose to do

And what part helps me
through my darkest hours,
Each mile brings me
closer to you

(Chorus)
Please believe you’re
all I ever wanted
If you should leave
I don’t know what I’d do

I’d be like a child
afraid of darkness
The greatest fear I have
is losing you

Heaven knows I’ve always
had these demons
watchin for a place
to take control

Whispering you’ll never
be there for me
Waiting at the end
of my road

(Chorus)

Alone I wander through this world,
no meaning in my life
Then I found you
and finally saw the light

(Chorus)

]]> http://june.ettachou.com/2011/04/12/my-greatest-fear-a-song-by-randy-travis/feed/ 0 The Song “Heal the World” http://june.ettachou.com/2011/03/18/the-song-heal-the-world/ http://june.ettachou.com/2011/03/18/the-song-heal-the-world/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:24:44 +0000 admin http://june.ettachou.com/?p=3947 Yesterday I taught Class 309 the song “Heal the World,” which was written by Michael Jackson. The lyrics hold so much meaning that I didn’t need to say much. It is a song to promote world peace and brotherhood. A very beautiful song, a little calmer than “We Are the World.” Both are among my favorite songs.

Here I posted a different video from what I showed to the students yesterday because there is only one mistake in the lyrics in this one. The phrase in the middle of the song “crucify it’s soul” should be “crucify its soul.”

I also taught my special student the song. Asked which he liked better, “Heal the World” or “We are the World,” a song we sang last semester, he said both.

You may like to print out the handout.

Heal the World and We Are the World lyrics-handout.doc

BTW, on the first frame of the video, the word “lyricks” is a misspelled word. Its correct spelling is “lyrics”

]]> http://june.ettachou.com/2011/03/18/the-song-heal-the-world/feed/ 0 Happy Teacher’s Day–To Sir with Love http://june.ettachou.com/2010/09/28/happy-teachers-day-to-sir-with-love/ http://june.ettachou.com/2010/09/28/happy-teachers-day-to-sir-with-love/#comments Tue, 28 Sep 2010 03:04:00 +0000 admin http://june.ettachou.com/?p=3317 A song dedicated to all the teachers.

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