COMMUNICATION

Understanding
a song

LEVEL NUMBER LANGUAGE

Upper-Intermediate EN_B2_2051X English
(B2)

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 Learning outcomes

● I can read and analyse the

lyrics of a song.

● I can give my views and

opinions of songs and their
lyrics.

2
 Warm-up

Do you know the

lyrics to any songs
by heart?

Share your answer with the

rest of the class!

3
 Discuss
Answer the questions.

What is more important to you, the lyrics or

the melody?

Do you think it’s important to understand

the lyrics to appreciate a song?

Is it easy for you to understand English

song lyrics?

When you listen to a song, do you try to

interpret the message that the lyrics are
conveying?

4
 Brainstorm
1. Think of the songs you like to listen to.
2. What are these songs about?
3. Then, think of as many different song themes as you can.

_______________

_______________ aspirations

breakups Song themes desire

_______________ _______________

loss

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 Scarborough Fair
1. Read about the song, Scarborough Fair, in the pink box. 2. Read the lyrics in the yellow box.

Scarborough Fair was a large agricultural

fair held annually from the 1200s to the
1700s in Scarborough, England. Singers
used to sing ballads about the fair on
their way to it. The song is thought
to be over 500 years old.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Remember me to one who lived there.
She once was a true love of mine.

Ask your teacher to

search for the song online
and play the first 30
6
seconds!
 Scarborough Fair
In breakout rooms or together as a class, answer the questions below.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Remember me to one who lived there.
She once was a true love of mine.

Would you be
How might you say
What do you think interested to listen
‘Remember me to
the theme of this to the rest of this
one who lived there’
song is? Why? song? Why or why
today?
not?

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 Who do you agree with?
Chelsea and Matt have just listened to Scarborough Fair.
1. Read their reactions below.
2. Tell your classmates who you agree with more and why?

Chelsea Matt

Ugh, that has to be one of the most banal I thought the song was affecting, even if I
songs I’ve ever listened to! What’s the didn’t understand most of the lyrics. It
point of listening to something with such captures a specific time and place in
archaic lyrics? It didn’t resonate with me history, and I think it’s important that we
at all. When I listen to music, I want to listen to such songs every now and then.
understand what I’m listening to. Music has certainly come a long way! The
Otherwise, what’s the point? song makes me appreciate the music we
Scarborough Fair—no thanks! have available at our fingertips!

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 Matching
Match the words to their definition.

to recognize and value how good

1 archaic a
someone or something is

2 to resonate b old-fashioned

to have a powerful, and long-lasting,

3 affecting c
effect

4 to appreciate d boring, not original

causing a strong emotion, usually

5 banal e
sadness

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 The song makes me
appreciate the music we
have available at our
fingertips!
Real-life language

If you have something at your

fingertips, you can get it and use it
very easily.

What other things are at your

fingertips?

10
 Discuss
Answer the questions below.

Do you think the folk

songs in your country
are banal or
interesting?

Do you have similar

musical tastes to your
friends and family?

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 What’s your opinion?
1. Read the statements below.
2. Do you agree or disagree with them?

Lyrics of popular songs Listening to music helps

are getting simpler over me study more
time. effectively.

Song lyrics have the Writing song lyrics is not

power to impact my well- challenging—anyone
being. could do it!

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 Let’s reflect

● Can you read and analyse the lyrics

to a song?

● Can you give your views and

opinions of songs and their lyrics?

Your teacher will now make one suggestion

for improvement for each student.

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End of the lesson

Idiom

Blow your own trumpet

Meaning: boasting about your own achievements or successes

Example: I don’t want to blow my own trumpet, but I think I’m perfect for the job.
Additional practice

Additional practice

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 Fill in the gaps
Complete the sentences with the correct word.
Additional practice

I didn’t understand most of the lyrics to Scarborough Fair. The lyrics

1
were so _______________. No one speaks like that anymore!

banal
Even after all these years, the song _______________ with me. It still
2
brings tears to my eyes.
archaic

The film’s music was incredibly _______________. Nearly everyone in the

3 resonates
theatre was crying.

appreciate
Sometimes people only come to _______________ a band’s talent years,
4 and even decades, after they’ve released their music.
affecting

My best friend’s favourite band is playing in town next week. I find their
5 music so _______________. Listening to it makes me want to fall asleep.

16
 Discuss
Answer the questions below.
Additional practice

Have you ever checked

the lyrics to a song?

Have you ever

misunderstood or
misheard the lyrics to a
song?

17
 Game: What’s the song’s theme?
Complete the task in the pink box.
Additional practice

1. Think of a song theme.

2. Take 3 minutes to write down the lyrics

of a made-up song that fits under this
theme.

3. Share your lyrics with the rest of the

class. Can you classmates guess your song’s
theme?

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 Answer key

P.5: Suggested answers: friendship, pain, rebellion, confusion, nostalgia, jadedness,

celebrations.
P.9: 1.) b 2.) c 3.) e 4.) a 5.) d
P.16: 1.) archaic 2.) resonates 3.) affecting 4.) appreciate 5.) banal

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 Notes

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