Latest videos
Here you can find the latest videos from my YouTube channel
Colour Scheme Activity
Want to use a song in your class, but not sure what to do with it?
In this video, I’ll take you step by step through a fun, creative activity you can use with any song at any language level.
Download the worksheet from the Free Activities page.
Creating choir harmonies
Do you love the idea of creating beautiful harmonies when singing? Have you got a singing group with lots of enthusiasm but not much technical knowledge when it comes to music?
Here are some straightforward tips, ideas and information to help you get started creating beautiful choir harmonies.
Teaching in Harmony welcomes Rodrigo, an English teacher from Chile, who’s here to help us harmonise.
The following songs are referred to in this video for educational purposes only.
Stand by Me Ben E King Songwriters: Ben King / Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller Stand by Me lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Bird Set Free Sia Songwriters: Sia Furler / Gregory Kurstin Bird Set Free lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Just Give Me a Reason P!nk Songwriters: Alecia Moore / Jeff Bhasker / Nate Ruess Just Give Me a Reason lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc
Lean on Me Bill Withers Songwriters: Bill Withers Lean on Me lyrics © Songs Of Universal Inc
Teaching second language songs to young learners
Are you interested in conducting an action research project, but not sure what’s involved?
In this video, I give a basic overview of the main steps in an action research project, with examples of what you need to consider or implement at each step.
Teaching second language songs to young learners
How can we effectively teach songs in a second language to young learners?
In this video, we’re looking at the principles of achievability, diversity, personalisation and modelling participation, with some “how-to” strategies and example songs.
Song examples in this video:
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
“Hello Song”
“How’s the Weather?”
“Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
“One Potato, Two Potato”
“Five Little Ducks”
“Old MacDonald Had a Farm”
“Sing a Rainbow”
“What do you think my name is?”
“Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?”
“Goodbye Song”
How to use songs as models for language students to write their own lyrics
Looking for a quick and easy creative writing exercise that will challenge your students but also be fun and motivating?
In this video, I give three examples of how to use the lyrics from popular songs as a template for your second language students to write their own lyrics.
Explore rhythm , rhyme, vocabulary, grammar and emotional expression by modelling language with songs you’re using in class.
The following songs are used in this video as examples for teaching purposes only.
You Gotta Be
Songwriters: Des’ree Weekes / Ashley Ingram
You Gotta Be lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Performed by: Des’ree
Friday I’m in Love
Songwriters: Boris Williams / Porl Thompson / Perry Bamonte / Robert James Smith / Simon Johnathon Gallup
Friday I’m In Love lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Performed by: The Cure
Say Something
Songwriters: Campbell Mike / Axel Ian / Campbell Mike
Say Something lyrics © Reservoir 416, Ian Axel Music, Chad Vaccarino Publishing, Manhattan Astronaut Music, Songs Of Universal Inc.
Performed by: A Great Big Wold (feat Christina Aguilera)
Top Tip for teaching student-centred listening classes: easy and successful
Giving students enough opportunities to thoroughly practise listening skills in class can mean a lot of repetition and stop-starting.
This can make listening classes low energy and a bit tedious at times.
Here’s my top tip for a change in teaching practice which may make a big difference in your class.
How to get students speaking English in class: An easy and effective method
Are you a language teacher who can’t get your students consistently using the second language in class?
This simple but incredibly effective method, based on behavioural management theory, is a game-changer for classes that are capable of, but not engaging well with, spoken language production.
My thanks and love to my husband Jose Stein Guerrero, at Ayuda Portafolio Docente, for his help with crafting this strategy.
Thanks to his Masters in behavioural management studies, we were able to come at the issue from a different angle, and produce a system that is prosocial, up-to-date, and highly effective.
Warming up your voice before singing
We often hear that we should warm up our voices before singing, but what exactly are we warming up, and how should we do it?
This video is for teachers who want to do singing/choir exercises with their class, or even warm them up for a speaking test or a presentation.
Range, sounds, flexibility, quality and mechanics are different aspects of your voice you need to warm up before you sing. Here’s how…
Classroom Management strategies using empathy: activities and song suggestions
Want to improve class dynamics, increase participation and help your students learn more effectively?
Empathy is the key to it all.
Here are 5 ways your can build and develop empathy in your classroom, and some suggestions for songs you can use for this purpose.
Creative language class warmers with little or no prep
A good warmer is an essential part of every lesson plan.
Need some ideas for creative warmers that you can use straight away in your language classes?
Here are 4 creative class warmers that use different methods to:
– connect the learners to the lesson content;
– motivate them to learn, and;
– encourage participation.
Singing activities for the online language classroom
It’s pretty challenging to do singing in the online classroom, right?
Here are 5 ideas you can use with minimum preparation to introduce a bit of harmony into your virtual language classroom.
Beyond the gap fill: Activities for using songs in the classroom
Do you love doing songs with your language class?
Need some fresh ideas for song-based activities?
In this video, I suggest 4 receptive and 4 productive activities that language teachers can do to get learners engaged and interacting with songs in the classroom.
“Say Something” by A Great Big World (feat. Christina Aguilera) is used as an example in this video for educational purposes only.
Songwriters: Mike Campbell, Ian AxelÂ
Say Something lyrics © Reservoir 416, Ian Axel Music, Chad Vaccarino Publishing, Manhattan Astronaut Music, Songs Of Universal Inc.
Encouraging singing in the language classroom
Would you like to do more singing in your classroom? Do your students need a bit of encouragement to sing? Have you tried singing in the classroom before, but with mixed results?
Here are 5 tips to help language teachers encourage their students to sing in the classroom to improve their language learning experience.
How to teach songs in the classroom: The Triple-Ex Approach
Songs are excellent material for language learning – they help students improve their pronunciation, vocabulary, functional language and so much more, in an authentic context.
But what happens when teachers are time-poor and don’t have hours to spend thinking of a detailed lesson plan for a song?
The Triple-Ex Approach is a simple framework for how to use songs in your language classroom. Just keep it in mind any time you pick up a song you want your learners to hear and learn with.
“Fighter” by Christina Aguilera is used in this video as an example song for educational purposes only.
Songwriters: Christina Aguilera, Scott Spencer StorchÂ
Fighter lyrics © Reservoir Media Music, Universal Music – Careers, Xtina Music
Why should language learners join the choir?
Singing in a choir is excellent for language learning! In this video, I give a brief overview of some of the linguistic, social and emotional benefits for learners.Â
Keep an eye out for coming videos giving a more detailed look at some of these points.
Easy low-prep games with songs in the in-person or online language classroom
5 tips for conducting second language choirs that don’t read music
What do you do when your choristers don’t read sheet music?Â
Is sheet music even necessary for a community choir?
Here are 5 tips for language teachers who’d like to try conducting a choir without using sheet music.
“Safe and Sound” by Taylor Swift is used in this video as an example for educational purposes only.
Songwriters: John Paul White / Joy Williams-Yetton / T Bone Burnett / Taylor Alison Swift
Safe & Sound lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Â
“El Tango de Roxanne” from the soundtrack to the movie Moulin Rouge is used in this video as an example for educational purposes only.
Songwriters: Baz Luhrmann / Mariano Alberto Martinez / Marianito Mores / Craig Pearce / Gordon Matthew Sumner
El tango de Roxanne lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Fox Music, Inc
