Teaching With Song

I learned from teaching kindergarten that its more fun to learn (and teach) by singing and movement. Taiwan is KTV country and like teens everywhere, my teen students love to hear new music. Fill in the blanks worksheets (I show on the screen to save paper) are here.

Beatles (Here Comes..)
Christmas Carols
Civil Rights Movement (We Shall Overcome)
Coldplay
The Cure (Friday I'm in Love)

Genres 
Grunge

Heavy 

Kindergarten

Mamas and Papas (California Dreamin')

Mellow 
Nirvana (Teen Spirit)

Pop

Prince (Purple Rain)

Reggae
Spring Songs
Summer

Steve Miller Band (Winter Time)

Winter Songs

Christmas Carols for Singing Class

My singing class is the 7th grade's most basic of English classes. I want them to at least be exposed to some basic carols as well as some modern Christmas song , as the English in pop songs are more simple than old English traditional carols.

First things first is the kids need to know all about the Christmas story -the Nativity. I found some videos on YouTube in English  with Mandarin subtitles:

 "Jesus is Born" with Chinese subtitles

Obviously, because of their level, I'll only expect them to sing a stanza or the Chorus of any song. They need to know some basic Christmas vocabulary and perhaps one or two students could learn some intermediate level vocabulary.

                                    (12 Min video on Christmas Vocab for Intermediate)

                                           (short video of Christmas flashcards basic level)

The first carol I will teach will be "Go Tell It on the Mountain" (Mandarin/ English),
Vocabulary: mountain, shepherds, heavens, hills, everywhere, born, tell, silent

Go Tell It on the Mountain (ppt)

They will need to know the first stanza which includes the chorus.

Go Tell it On the Mountain到各山嶺去傳揚

While shepherds kept their watching Over silent flocks by night, Behold throughout the heavens, There shone a holy light: Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, Tell It On The Mountain That Jesus Christ is born. The shepherds feared and trembled When lo! above the earth Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior’s birth: Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, Tell It On The Mountain That Jesus Christ is born. Down in a lowly manger Our humble Christ was born And God send us salvation, That blessed Christmas morn: Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, Tell It On The Mountain That Jesus Christ is born. When I am a seeker, I seek both night and day; I seek the Lord to help me, And He shows me the way: Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, Tell It On The Mountain That Jesus Christ is born. He made me a watchman Upon the city wall, And if I am a Christian, I am the least of all. Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, Tell It On The Mountain That Jesus Christ is born.

副  歌 到各山嶺去傳揚，越過山崗到各地方； 到各山嶺去傳揚，說基督已降生！ 　 有牧羊人在野地，夜間看守群羊，忽然自天上照耀，極聖潔的亮光。到各山嶺去傳揚，越過山崗到各地方；到各山嶺去傳揚，說基督已降生！ 　 牧羊人心裏戰兢，但聞天使歌聲，歡呼讚美聲嘹亮，救主今夜降生。到各山嶺去傳揚，越過山崗到各地方； 到各山嶺去傳揚，說基督已降生！ 　 卑微低賤的馬棚，救主基督降生，帶來救恩好福音，主降生人蒙恩。 到各山嶺去傳揚，越過山崗到各地方； 　 到各山嶺去傳揚，說基督已降生！

The next traditional carol I will teach will be "Silent Night". Here is a Chinese version.

Silent Night    

Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Saviour is born Christ, the Saviour is born Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

平安夜，聖善夜！ 萬暗中，光華射， 照著聖母也照著聖嬰， 多少慈詳也多少天真， 靜享天賜安眠， 靜享天賜安眠。 平安夜，聖善夜！ 牧羊人，在曠野， 忽然看見了天上光華， 聽見天軍唱哈利路亞， 救主今夜降生， 救主今夜降生！ 平安夜，聖善夜！ 神子愛，光皎潔， 救贖宏恩的黎明來到， 聖容發出來榮光普照， 耶穌我主降生， 耶穌我主降生！

Here is Oh Holy Night in Mandarin and with English lyrics.
Here is also Hark the Angels  Sing in Mandarin and with English lyrics.

A song that teaches the Christmas story in modern English is  Mary's Boy Child.

Mary’s Boy Child玛丽亚的小圣婴

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you. Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man? Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God. Oh Mary did you know? The blind will see, the deaf will hear,the dead will live again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb---. Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? This sleeping child you're holding is the great--I--- AM---.

瑪麗, 妳知道 妳的寶貝嬰兒, 有一天將會行走在海上嗎? 瑪麗, 妳知道 妳的寶貝嬰兒, 能拯救我們的兒子女兒嗎? 妳知道 妳的寶貝嬰兒 來使妳生命更新. 妳所生的孩子, 很快的也使妳得生　 瑪麗, 妳知道, 妳的寶貝嬰兒, 將會使瞎眼的看得見. 瑪麗, 妳知道, 妳的寶貝嬰兒, 他的手將平靜風和海. 妳知道, 妳的寶貝嬰兒, 曾經走過天使走過的地方. 當妳親吻 妳的小寶貝時, 可知道妳正親吻 上帝的臉 瑪麗, 妳知道嗎? 瞎眼將能看見, 聾子將能聽見, 死人將能復活, 瘸腿的將跳躍, 啞巴將說話, 讚美神羔羊 瑪麗, 妳知道, 妳的寶貝嬰兒, 是創造萬有的主宰 瑪麗, 妳知道, 妳的寶貝嬰兒, 有一天要掌管全世界 妳知道, 妳的寶貝嬰兒, 是天上聖潔完美的羔羊 妳懷裡抱著的睡了的孩子, 是偉大的自有永有的　神.

An easy modern song for the G7 Singing class is Jingle Bell Pop by IM5. Thanks to my coworker Teacher Mia for her translation:

"Jingle Bell Pop"-IM5鈴聲舞曲  IM5
Vocabulary: jolly, galore, parking, mood, tune, jam, wonderland, silent, merry, stocking, Christmas Day, fireplace, cheer, jingle bell, Santa, reindeer, chimney, rooftop

It’s that time of the year, yeah, that time of the year When everybody’s feeling very merry All the girls and the boys got stockings loaded with toys But that don’t make me happy Ooh woah oh, get me in the mood Yeahhh, play my favorite tune It would make my Christmas Day So gather ‘round the fireplace And light up the night with lights everywhere We’re spreading all that good old holiday cheer So, please don’t let the good times stop Play that jingle bell Play that jingle bell pop Every house on the street is all red and green Santa will come sliding down the chimney Can’t you hear reindeer on the rooftop? Don’t let the good times stop Play that jingle bell pop Ooh woah oh, Yeahhh Ooh woah oh, Come on play that jingle bell pop It’s that time of the year That time of the year Where everybody’s feeling holly jolly They are led to the stores With wishes galore My only wish is that we find some parking Ooh woah oh, get me the mood Yeahhh, play my favorite tune If you hear that winter jam I’ll be in winter wonderland       (Chorus) I don’t want this night to be silent, silent Come on play that jingle bell pop x 4        (Chorus) Ooh woah oh, Yeahhh Ooh woah oh, play that jingle bell pop Ooh woah oh, Yeahhh Don’t let the good times stop

又到了這個時候，每年的這個時候 每個人都感覺非常歡喜 孩子們的聖誕襪裡裝滿著玩具 但這些並沒有使我感到開心 喔～帶我進入這氛圍吧 耶～放我最喜歡的歌曲吧 這樣才是我的聖誕節 還不快圍過來火爐邊 今晚將每處的燈點亮 我們分享散播季節的歡樂 所以別讓幸福的時光停止 放這首鈴聲舞曲吧 就放這首鈴聲舞曲吧 紅色及綠色裝飾著街上的房子　 聖誕老公公滑進煙囪裡 你有聽到屋頂上馴鹿的聲音嗎？ 所以別讓幸福的時光停止 讓這首鈴聲舞曲響徹四處吧 喔耶！ 一起播放這首鈴聲舞曲吧 又到了這個時候 每年的這個時候 每個人感受喜樂 大夥聚集在商場各處 帶著大大的期盼 我的唯一願望是能找到停車位 喔～帶我進入這氛圍吧 耶～放我最喜歡的歌曲吧 當你聽到這首冬季熱舞曲 我就在那冬季的歡樂世界裡 （副歌） 我不要今晚是個寧靜之夜 來吧！一起跟著這首歌曲狂歡吧 （副歌） 喔耶！ 一起讓鈴聲舞曲響徹四處吧 喔耶！ 讓幸福的時光無止境

G7 Singing 3 Class

Weeks 13-18 Christmas Songs!!

Weeks 1-12: Here are the songs we have used with links to lyrics/video and grammar studies. The Midterm test will be a combination of written and oral evaluations.

1. "Let it Be" by the Beatles

Phonics Lesson: Short/Long Vowels                                                   

Short a “an”	Long A “Wake”
and	Mary
standing	wake

Short e “Let”	Long E  “Be”
get	Me
when	Agree
broken	See
darkness	She
	Speak

Short i “in”	Long I “find”
it	right
living	night
wisdom	time
still	find
will

2. "Don't worry be Happy" by Bobby McFaren

3. "Hey Jude" by the Beatles

4. "Everything Breath You Take" by the Police