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Using Song Gap Fills

The document discusses how to use song gap fills as an activity with ESL/EFL students. It provides guidance on choosing an appropriate song based on the lesson objective, considering factors like language level and content. It also outlines a procedure for conducting the activity, which involves students listening to a song multiple times while filling in missing words, then comparing answers and coming to a consensus as a team.

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Luis Enrique Simancas Hernandez
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66 views

Using Song Gap Fills

The document discusses how to use song gap fills as an activity with ESL/EFL students. It provides guidance on choosing an appropriate song based on the lesson objective, considering factors like language level and content. It also outlines a procedure for conducting the activity, which involves students listening to a song multiple times while filling in missing words, then comparing answers and coming to a consensus as a team.

Uploaded by

Luis Enrique Simancas Hernandez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TEACH-THIS.

COM
Using Song Gap Fills with ESL/EFL
Students
Songs are an enjoyable way for students to learn English. They provide students with an
authentic source of English language usage. Using music in class has many benefits and
musical activities should be used regularly to help improve your students' listening skills.
Before you do a song gap fill with your ESL/EFL students, there are a few things you should
consider.

First, think about the purpose for doing a song gap fill. Make sure you have a clear purpose
for listening to a song in class. Don't do a song gap fill for the sake of it or to fill in time. This
will come across as a waste of time to your students and you will lose credibility.

Do you want to concentrate on listening or reading skills? Generally, slow songs are used to
improve listening skills. Long songs are used to practice reading. Also, you can use a song
with repetitive lyrics to concentrate on pronunciation and language structures.

Do you want to use a song to review a recently covered topic or introduce a new one? Using
a song helps to create interest in a topic and focuses the students' attention. It also provides
students with a context for using the language.

Do you wish to use a song to introduce or revise a grammar point? There are many websites
that cater for teachers looking for songs. By searching online you can easily find a song that
relates to a particular tense or grammar focus.

Will the students be interested in your song choice? Don't just choose a song you like
personally. Try to choose a song that will best suit the purpose of the gap fill. If it is a modern
song that the students like, all the better.

You will also need to think about the content of the song. Songs with explicit lyrics may
cause offence to some students. If you are teaching a fairly advanced level, you could use
songs to teach slang expressions or idioms to your students. Advanced students are usually
keen to learn slang terminology and idioms as this helps them to sound more fluent.

As well as looking at the language, students want to come away from a gap fill
understanding the song and its meaning. It is always worth having a short classroom
discussion about the meaning of the song you listen to in class. Understanding the meaning
of the song will give the students a great sense of achievement and satisfaction.

Depending on the length of the song, you should take out 15 to 20 words or phrases that
you wish to concentrate on. Number all the missing words or phrases in the song gap fill.
Then, make a copy of the gap fill for each student.

On the next page is a general procedure for doing a song gap fill.

Teach-This.com ©20I5 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.


TEACH-THIS.COM
Song Gap Fills
Procedure

Divide the class into small teams and assign each team with a number.

On the board, write the title of the song and then write up the numbers for the missing words.

Hand out a copy of the gap fill to each student.

Have the students listen to the song two or three times, depending on your students' ability.

Students should work on their own the first two times they listen to the song.

Then, after you have played the song a second time, have the students compare their
answers with their teammates.

Give the students time to discuss their answers, and then play the song a final time.

After that, teams take it in turns to write their answers on the board. A team chooses a
number. Then, a team member comes to the board and writes the missing word.

Give a team one point for a correct word and an extra point for spelling. If a team spells a
word incorrectly, you can ask the other teams to give the correct spelling. If another team
manages to give the right spelling, award them with the spelling point.

Continue like this until all the missing words have been written on the board. If the teams are
really struggling, play the song one more time.

After all the words have been written on the board and the winning team is announced,
discuss the meaning of the song. Ask the students what they think the song is about. Get
their ideas and opinions and round off the activity.

Teach-This.com ©20I5 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

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