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Beyond the Gap Fill: Dynamic Activities for Song in the EFL Classroom

The purpose of this article is to describe the advantages that the song brings and the
techniques used in educational purposes through song.

1. A Basic Framework for Incorporating Songs

The Pre-Listening Stage

• Activate the schema and background knowledge of the song’s main theme

The While Listening Stage

• The students listen to the song and complete the assigned task.

The Post Listening Stage

• Students analyze new vocabulary and discuss the lyrics and songwriter’s intended
meaning.
2. The Gap Fill
• Usually used in EFL Song Activity
• The students listen once or twice and fill in the blanks with the words they hear
• Trusting their ears more than their lexical or grammatical knowledge
3. The Double Gap Fill – Reenergizing the Old Stand by
• Modification
• Procedures
o Step 1 : Pre-Listening
o Step 2 : Pre-Listening
4. Seven Dynamic Song Activities
a. Activity 1 : Song Pictures

Level : Low to intermediate

Materials : Pencils (pens or crayons) and paper

Activity :

• Warm up

• Procedure

• Post-Listening

• Extension

b. Activity 2 : Re-Order it
Level : Low to intermediate

Preparation : Select 8 to 14 words from the selected song.

Tip : For lower-level students, you may play the song once before the
students do the activity.

c. Activity 3 : Matching Meaning

Preparation : select the vocabulary (8 to 15 words) you want to test or reinforce


and write out definitions in the order the words are heard in the song

Procedure :

a. Divide the class into pairs or teams

b. Hand out the sheet with the definitions, or write the chart on the board

c. Have students guess each word from the definition and write their answers
in the Guess column

d. Play the song and have students write down the correct words in the
Actual Word column as they hear them

d. Activity 4 : Changing the Text

Level : Low Intermediate to Intermediate

Preparation : Prepare a handout of the song lyrics where key words have been
changed to similar-sounding words

Activity : 1. Warm up

2. Procedure

Variation : To make this activity more challenging, ask students if they can
guess the original word before they listen, using context or rhyming clues as a guide

e. Activity 5 : Song Strip Connection

Level : Low Intermediate to Advanced

Materials : Paper or pens of two different colors or a highlighter

Preparation : Select a song and divide each line into two parts or clauses

Make cards using uncolored and colored paper


Procedure : Students work in groups

Distribute the uncolored card and play the song

Distribute the colored card and complete with the correct ending.

f. Activity 6 : Song Cards—Take–sort–write

Level : Beginner to Intermediate

Preparation : Choose 12–20 vocabulary words or phrases and write each one
on an individual card

Procedure for lower level student

Variation and extension for higher-level students: Listen and Sort and Gap Fill

• Step 1

• Step 2

• Step 3

g. Activity 7 : Pair Watching

Level : High Beginner to Advanced

Preparation : Find a music video that tells a good visual story.

Procedure

Follow-up activity

Variation and extension

5. Conclusion :

1. There are many creative and dynamic ways to adapt music and song for the
classroom.

2. Teachers can strengthen that connection by using creative activities that make
listening to songs both entertaining and educational for English language
learners.

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