Teaching Grammar using songs in MFL

1. Any excuse for a song!
(Teaching grammar)
Isabelle Jones
@icpjones
http://isabellejones.blogspot.com

2. Mental ChecklistMental Checklist
• Why do I like this song? How does it make me feel?
• What is the general theme of the song? Is it appropriate for my
class?
• Are the words clear?
• Does it have any slang in it? Any link to particular themes?
• Is it different? What can this lead to?
• What is the image of the singer? (age/ style)
• How typically French, Spanish, Algerian, Colombian… are they/
is their music?
• How memorable is their official music video? Is it a distraction?
• What structures are repeated in the chorus?
• What tenses are used in the song?

3. Musical translation
* Compare words in the song with transcript-
correct mistakes
* Compare words in the song with the
translation-what has been changed? Why?
* Tense discrimination/comparison
Use cover versions of popular songs like …

4. En vano hoy mi corazón saltó,
Pero sin preguntar, hoy te besé
Un hechizo fue
Amor, no lo puedo negar
No me digas que sólo me alejé
Yo siempre te amaré
Ya no mentiré, por ti escaparé
Yo siempre te amaré
Es como una Demolición
Golpea fuerte el corazón
cada muro en mi derribas hoy
lo único que hiciste tu, fue destruir
sólo, fue destruir
Te puse en lo alto de Cielo
Y ahora no bajarás
Esto cambio el fuego
Me quemó
Cenizas quedarán
No me digas que sólo me alejé
Yo siempre te amaré
Ya no mentiré, por ti escaparé
Yo siempre te amaré
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVtL8Uv22D8
“Wrecking Ball"
We clawed,
we chained our hearts in vain
We jumped never asking why
We kissed, I fell under your spell.
A love no one could deny
Don't you ever say I just walked away
I will always want you
I can't live a lie, running for my life
I will always want you
I came in like a wrecking ball
I never hit so hard in love
All I wanted was to break your walls
All you ever did was wreck me
Yeah, you, you wreck me
I put you high up in the sky
And now, you're not coming down
It slowly turned, you let me burn
And now, we're ashes on the ground
Don't you ever say I just walked away
I will always want you
I can't live a lie, running for my life
I will always want you

5. AS-Popular CultureAS-Popular Culture
• Introduction-from Jacques Brel to Stromae
• Ne me quitte pas/ Formidable
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk7_HY9svAw
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymodDYIYBVw
• Compare themes
• Compare their backgrounds, personalities and how they
convey their emotions in the video
• Compare the language used (standard/ slang)
• Study the different tenses used in song/ time frames?
• Gap for Question 9 (grammar)-type exercise: immigration/
revision of imperfect (French): Said et Mohamed, Francis
Cabrel

6. Essential LinksEssential Links
• Karaoke!
• http://www.lyricstraining.com
• Fill in the gap exercises (10%, 30% or
transcription)
• All songs graded for difficulty
• All authentic songs with youtube videos
• Ipad/iphone app: Discovr Music

7. Essential LinksEssential Links
• http://chansons-fr.com/ blog with French songs-videos and lyrics
• http://www.lepointdufle.net/chansons.htm Links to French videos, lyrics and activities
• http://www.tv5.org/cms/chaine-francophone/Musique/p-14241-Musique.htm (for French)
• http://www.musique-de-la-semaine.eu/index.html Keeping up to date with French music
• http://formespa.rediris.es/canciones/ Spanish songs, videos and activities
• http://platea.pntic.mec.es/cvera/hotpot/chansons/index.htm Carmen Vera (French)
• http://elmundodebirch.wikispaces.com/Spanish+Music+Database Sharon Birch (Spanish)
• http://www.todoele.net/canciones/Cancion_list.asp Todo ELE (Spanish)
• https://www.mindmeister.com/fr/23760404/la-musique-en-france (mindmap)
• http://www.profedeele.es/ (blog with resources)

8. Any excuse for a song!
(Teaching grammar)
Isabelle Jones
@icpjones
http://isabellejones.blogspot.com