Space Man - Eurovision Song Contest - gap-fill activity

 

Winds of change

Listen and read the lyrics. What is the song about?

I follow the Moskva
And down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change

An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change

The world is closing in
And did you ever think
That we could be so close, like brothers

The future's in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change

Walking down the street
And distant memories
Are buried in the past forever

I follow the Moskva
And down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change

The wind of change blows straight
Into the face of time
Like a storm wind that will ring
The freedom bell for peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to say

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change

Song: Arcade

Try doing this activity while you listen to Duncan Lawrence Eurovision Song Contest Winner song, Arcade.

Duncan lawrence arcade from Ana Arias Castro

Music instruments project

The Berimbau from Ana Arias Castro

Concertina from Ana Arias Castro

Didgeridoo from Ana Arias Castro

Fiddle from Ana Arias Castro

Hurdy-gurdy from Ana Arias Castro

Ocarina from Ana Arias Castro

The ukelele from Ana Arias Castro

The New Year in the UK

SONG: I Still Haven't Found What I Was Looking For

U2 I Still Haven't Found What I Was Looking For from Ana Arias Castro

MORE SONGS FOR EFL CLASSES

Morris dancing and May Day in the UK

What is Morris Dancing?

It is a traditional dance seen throughout the month of May is Morris Dancing. It is a traditional English form of folkdancing, performed by groups of men or women.

Morris Dancing has been danced for centuries, and passed down through the generations in the villages of rural England. The dances are usually performed at festivals such as May Day, Whitsun and Christmas.

Morris men dacing - image by Richard2s

What is its origin?

There are different hypotheses about the origin of Morris Dancing. The name might refer to the possibility of the form of dancing coming to England from the Moors of North Africa; or it may have been called 'Moor-ish' simply because the dancers sometimes painted their faces black, and people compared this to the dark-skinned Moors.

The Music

The dancing is very lively and accompanied by an accordion player, a melodeon or fiddle player (Cotswolds) or a noisy band with a drum (Border Morris or North West sides).

Morris dancing - image by Kaihsu

Costumes

Morris dancers wear different clothes depending on the part of the United Kingdom where they are from. They are often dressed in white with coloured baldrics (coloured belts) across their chests but red or green are also common.

The Dances

There are usually six or eight dancers arranged in two lines or in a circle facing each other. The dancers may carry white handkerchiefs that they shake, or short sticks that they bang against each other as they dance. Some dancers have bell-pads tied at their knees, which make a loud and cheerful rhythm as they dance.

ESL Song: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"

Complete the song with vocabulary related to geographic features: mountain, valley, river,

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" lyrics

Ohhh

Ain't no __________ high

Ain't no __________ low

Ain't no river wide enough, baby

If you need me, call me

No matter where you are

No matter how far

Just call out my name

I'll be there in a hurry

You don't have to worry

'Cause baby,

There ain't no _________ high enough

Ain't no _________ low enough

Ain't no ___________ wide enough

To keep me from getting to you

Remember the day

I set you free

I told you

You could always count on me darlin'

And from that day on I made a vow

I'll be there when you want me

Some way, soooooome how

'Cause baby,

There ain't no __________ high enough

Ain't no ___________ low enough

Ain't no __________ wide enough

To keep me from getting to you

No wind (no wind) , no rain (no rain)

{Ohhhh..ooh ooh ooh}

My love is alive

Way down in my heart

Although we are miles apart

If you ever need a helping hand

I'll be there on the double

Just as fast as I can

Don't you know that

Ain't no __________ high enough

Ain't no __________ low enough

Ain't no __________ wide enough

To keep me from you

Ain't no __________ high enough

Ain't no __________ low enough

Ain't no __________ wide enough

To keep me from you

Don't you know that

There ain't no ___________ high enough

Ain't no __________ low enough

Ain't no __________ wide enough

To keep me from gettin' to you babe..

ain't no = there is no


More songs and activities for English as a Foreign Language students.

New Year's Day

The New Year is widely celebrated in countries that share our calendar and, thus, start the New Year on the 1st of January every year.

In English-speaking countries most people sing "Auld Lang Syne" as the new year begins. This poem was composed by Scottish poet Robert Burns and was made popular by Scottish immigrants in Canada.

In the USA probably the most famous tradition is the dropping of the New Year ball in Times Square, New York City, at 11:59 P.M. Thousands of people watch the ball make its one-minute descent, arriving exactly at midnight. The tradition first began in 1907. 

There are other common traditions all over the world:

New Year's Resolutions: It is believed that the Babylonians were the first to make New Year's resolutions, and people all over the world have been breaking them ever since. The early Christians believed the first day of the new year should be spent reflecting on past mistakes and resolving to improve oneself in the new year.

Fireworks: Noisemaking and fireworks on New Year's eve is believed to have originated in ancient times, when noise and fire were thought to dispel evil spirits and bring good luck. The Chinese are credited with inventing fireworks and use them to spectacular effect in their New Year's celebrations.

Read More:

• About traditions in many different countries
• Infoplease

Ed Sheeran's "Perfect"

1. Listen to the song. What have you understood?
1. What type of song is it? Love? Absence? A poem?
2. Who loves who?
3. Have they been in love for a long time?
2. Some vocabulary before you listen a second time:
1. follow one's lead: follow someone
2. the someone: the person
3. to give up: to leave, to quit, to abandon
4. to own: to have
5. barefoot: with no shoes, with nothing on one's feet
6. to look a mess: to look horrible
7. to whisper: to speak in a low voice
8. underneath: under
9. to share: to have the same
10. of our own: our
11. against all odds: in spite of all likelihood against one; even if it didn't seem probable
12. to deserve: to be worthy of
13. to have faith in something: to believe something
3. Listen again and try to answer these questions:
1. What do we know about their past?
2. What do we know about their future?

LYRICS:

I found a love for me

Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead

Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet

Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me

'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love

Not knowing what it was

I will not give you up this time

But darling, just kiss me slow

Your heart is all I own

And in your eyes you're holding mine

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark

With you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass

Listening to our favourite song

When you said you looked a mess

I whispered underneath my breath

But you heard it,

Darling, you look perfect tonight

Well, I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know

She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home

I found a love to carry more than just my secrets

To carry love, to carry children of our own

We are still kids but we're so in love

Fighting against all odds

I know we'll be alright this time

Darling, just hold my hand

Be my girl, I'll be your man

I see my future in your eyes

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark

With you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass

Listening to our favourite song

When I saw you in that dress

Looking so beautiful

I don't deserve this

Darling, you look perfect tonight

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark

With you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass

Listening to our favourite song

I have faith in what I see

Now I know I have met an angel in person

And she looks perfect

I don't deserve this

You look perfect tonight

Christmas songs

Christmas songs 2010 from Ana Arias Castro

The Big Bang Theory song by The Barenaked Ladies

by Marcin Chady (Wikipedia)

BEFORE LISTENING: Write the past tense of these infinitives:

• be X 3:
• begin X 2:
• build x 2:
• develop:
• die:
• freeze:
• meet:
• set:
• stand:
• start X 3:
• try:

WHILE LISTENING: Complete the lyrics with the missing past tense forms you have written down before:

Our whole universe ___________ in a hot, dense state

Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion ___________, wait

The earth ____________to cool, the autotrophs ____________ to drool

Neanderthals ____________ tools

We ______________ a wall (we ____________ the pyramids)

Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries

That all ____________ with the big bang! Hey!

Since the dawn of man is really not that long

As every galaxy was formed in less time than it takes to sing this song

A fraction of a second and the elements ____________ made

The bipeds _____________ up straight, the dinosaurs all ___________ their fate

They _____________ to leap but they _____________ late

And they all ________________ (they ________________ their asses off)

The oceans and Pangea, see ya wouldn't wanna be ya

_________________ in motion by the same big bang!

It all __________________ with the big bang!

AFTER LISTENING: Now listen to the song again and check.

The Big Bang Theory Song by The Barenaked Ladies - Key

BEFORE LISTENING: Write the past tense of these infinitives:

• be X 4: was / were
• begin X 2: began
• build X 2: built
• develop: developed
• die: died
• freeze: froze
• meet: met
• set: set
• stand: stood
• start X 3: started
• try: tried

WHILE LISTENING: Complete the lyrics with the missing past tense forms you have written down before:

Our whole universe was in a hot dense state,

Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait...

The Earth began to cool,

The autotrophs began to drool,

Neanderthals developed tools,

We built a wall (we built the pyramids),

Math, science, history, unraveling the mystery,

That all started with the big bang (bang)!

"Since the dawn of man" is really not that long,

As every galaxy was formed in less time than it takes to sing this song.

A fraction of a second and the elements were made.

The bipeds stood up straight,

The dinosaurs all met their fate,

They tried to leap but they were late

And they all died (they froze their asses off)

The oceans and Pangaea

See ya wouldn't wanna be ya

Set in motion by the same big bang!

It all started with the big bang!

AFTER LISTENING: Now listen to the song again and check.

"This is Halloween" light show

"Every Breath You Take" by the Police

 ACTIVITIES

• Write the words in three groups: break, day, face, make, play, embrace, say, stay, take, trace, aches and take.

/ei/	/eis/	/eik/
day	face	break

• Now complete the song with those words:

 EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE

1                 Every breath you __________

Every move you __________

Every bond you _________

Every step you _________

I’ll be watching you.

2                 Every single __________

Every word you __________

Every game you __________

Every night you __________

I’ll be watching you.

3                 Oh can’t you see

You belong to me

How my poor heart __________

With every step you take.

4                 Since you’ve gone

I’ve been lost without a __________

I dream at night I can only see your _________

I look around but it’s you I can’t __________

I feel so cold and I long for your ___________

I keep crying, baby, baby, please

More songs and activities for English as a Foreign Language students.

Idioms about music

If you want to read more infographics like this, you'll find them at www.grammar.net

"Let Her Go" by Passenger

Mike Rosenberg, Passsenger, is an English folk-rock singer who has become famous with his song, Let Her Go.







QUESTIONS:

• how does the narrator feel?
• what has he/she recently experienced?

LYRICS
Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you’re missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go

Staring at the bottom of your glass
Hoping one day you'll make a dream last
But dreams come slow and they go so fast

You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why
Everything you touch surely dies

But you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart
'Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast

Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
'Cause you loved her too much
And you dived too deep

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go
And you let her go
Well you let her go

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

Interview to Mike Rosenberg

More songs and activities for English as a Foreign Language students.