Learning Through Song

Sometimes I wonder why I feel the need to keep songs such as this on file somewhere.

Maybe it's because I've never quite left my childhood behind. 

Or 

maybe it's because I've been an ESL teacher.  Maybe after having been a teacher it takes years to get the appreciation of kids songs out of your head.  Personally I think that if I would have been introduced to this Fruit of the Spirit song while still teaching I would've most likely taken it to the classroom.  

And

This thought brings back many memories. 

One thing that is so awesome about teaching English as a Second Language is that you can take kids songs into a classroom full of adults and get full participation.  

Well, sometimes you get full participation and sometimes they get a teacher that looks like a fool.  But really, take some simple words, put them to a catchy tune and I bet your students will remember them.    

I remember many a day walking through school and hearing strains of  "Hello. Hello. Hello. What's your name?" Drifting through the air.   

Yes, most likely that was a student from my class.  I'd say at least 75% of my students have heard that song at some point in their English Education.   

(I have no idea why this video clip has a Japan Airline picture on it)

Thank You Phaivahn for being my student! 

And yes, when I think of Mr. Phaivahn putting his heart into it his line of "My name is Phaivahn", amid the laughter of the rest of the class, it still makes me smile.

Of course there were also songs such as "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and the "ABC" song which could be brought out to liven up life a bit as well as teach important vocabulary such as body parts and...well... the ABCs.  

Somehow "The Ants Go Marching One by One" made it into my classroom.  This was inspired by my friend Linda who pointed out just how much English Vocabulary could be learned from this simple song.   Think about it...Verbs and Nouns. Think of all the everyday activities that littlest Ant does.   He sucks his thumb, (this is not an everyday activity for me), ties his shoe, opens the gate, climbs a tree, shuts the door and many other important things. 

Then there was Jesus, Love is a Bubblin' over.  First taught by my dear friend Jess, and later brought back into the classroom for students in the following years.  Ya gotta love songs with motions and very few words.  

But my favorite experience of all... Okay, I'm gonna brag just a little.  I'll admit I got a little bit of a big head over this experience but I've just gotta write this story down for snowy days when I need to remember that my students really did like me.  So sit back, relax and enjoy.   

Once upon a time, in a far away place, there was a group of about 20 students who all had this deep desire to learn English.   You see, English is an International Language and if they could only learn this rather difficult language they might possibly be given an opportunity for a better paying job. 

By an act of God these students became my students.  Ajaan Ann they called me.  Now Ajaan Ann had a curriculum to follow but she would randomly come up with things that really had no connection with the curriculum. Songs such as I've already mentioned.  Songs that involved marching like ants, or waving arms and making strange noises, or doing a little 'rap' such as this.  (okay so maybe it doesn't qualify as rap)

Basically I figured that my students were in a state of confusion when I appeared with my songs.   

Then one day I arrived at school to discover an IGo team had arrived.   Now I'm not at all sure IGo teams really appreciated when I gave them things to do.   I'm know to put them to painting rooms or cutting grass with hand clippers in the heat of the day.  In this case I noticed one of them carrying a guitar.  Since none of the other American staff had arrived at school yet and these poor IGoers really looked like they needed something to do (In actuality they were probably walking around with glazed eyes looking for a place to lay down and sleep They had just traveled all night by bus) I pointed out the guitar I asked if they liked to sing.   

They did.   

I handed them a song sheet and asked if they would teach my students this song.  Class starts in a few minutes.   (I'm sure their dreams of showers and sleep quickly vanished but this story is not suppose to include concern for the IGo students, this story is about my pride and me feeling like the most honored teacher)   

The IGoers readily agreed and showed up in my classroom to teach the song. They did an excellent job of it too.   Then they departed so that I could continue teaching all the good things I was actually suppose to be teaching.  

My students sat and quietly watched this tired team of IGoers file one by one down the steps.   As soon as everyone had disappeared the students all looked at me and said, "Now you teach us this song".   

Yeah, it made me a little proud.   

Yeah, I think they liked me.  I kinda liked them too!!