Incorporating a song chosen by students into ESL exercises can be both fun and educational, as
music is a great tool for improving language skills. Here are some engaging activities that will help
secondary school ESL students enhance their vocabulary, listening comprehension, grammar, and
speaking skills while enjoying their favorite tunes.
1. Lyric Gap Fill (Cloze Activity)
Objective: Improve listening comprehension and vocabulary
• Instructions: Give the students a handout with the lyrics of their chosen song, but leave out
certain words. While listening to the song, students fill in the blanks with the correct words.
• Variation: Leave out different types of words depending on the focus:
• Vocabulary (e.g., verbs, adjectives, nouns)
• Grammar (e.g., prepositions, articles, auxiliary verbs)
Example:
• Original lyric: "I’m feeling good."
• Fill-in-the-blank version: "I’m feeling ____."
2. Lyric Translation Challenge
Objective: Practice translation and language structures
• Instructions: Ask students to translate the lyrics of the song from English into their native
language. Afterward, have them discuss tricky phrases, idiomatic expressions, or interesting
structures they noticed.
• Variation: They could also try to translate their favorite part back into English without
looking at the original, comparing their version to the original lyrics.
3. Discussion: Song Meaning & Themes
Objective: Practice speaking, critical thinking, and discussion skills
• Instructions: After listening to the song, lead a class discussion about the meaning and
themes. Ask questions like:
• What is the song about?
• How do you think the singer feels in the song?
• Have you ever felt the way the singer describes?
• Do you agree with the message of the song?
Variation: Students can work in pairs or small groups to analyze specific lines or stanzas.
4. Vocabulary in Context
Objective: Build vocabulary and reinforce contextual understanding
• Instructions: Pick a set of 10–15 key words from the song lyrics and provide a list to the
students. They must guess the meanings of the words based on the context of the song.
Then, have them use those words in their own sentences.
• Example Words from Song: Dream, faith, escape, journey, freedom
Variation: For higher-level students, they can define the words and then create new lyrics using
those words.
5. Song Rewrite (Paraphrasing)
Objective: Practice paraphrasing and creative writing
• Instructions: Ask students to rewrite a verse or chorus of the song using their own words
while keeping the original meaning. This activity strengthens paraphrasing skills.
• Variation: Students could also rewrite the lyrics from a different perspective or in a
different setting (e.g., modernizing an older song).
6. Grammar Hunt
Objective: Review specific grammar structures (e.g., past tense, modals)
• Instructions: Before the activity, identify examples of a grammar structure in the song (e.g.,
verb tenses, modals, conditionals). After listening, ask students to find examples of this
structure in the lyrics.
• Variation: You can focus on grammar points like:
• Tenses: "Find examples of the past simple and present perfect in the lyrics."
• Conditionals: "Find examples of conditional sentences (if-clauses) in the song."
7. Pronunciation Practice (Phonetics)
Objective: Improve pronunciation and rhythm in speech
• Instructions: Play the song and focus on pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. Pick out
words or lines that contain challenging sounds. Have students practice repeating them,
paying attention to the singer's pronunciation.
• Variation: Focus on connected speech, such as how words are blended together in the song
(e.g., "gonna," "wanna").
8. Music Video Analysis
Objective: Develop listening and speaking skills through visual interpretation
• Instructions: If the song has a music video, play it for the class. Have students watch the
video without sound and try to guess what the song might be about based on the visuals.
After listening to the song, discuss how the video enhances or changes their understanding
of the lyrics.
• Variation: Have students describe scenes from the music video, using as much detail as
possible, and then compare them to the lyrics.
9. Create a Storyboard
Objective: Practice storytelling and writing skills
• Instructions: Ask students to choose a section of the song and create a storyboard of what
they imagine happening during that part. They can describe scenes, emotions, and actions
related to the lyrics.
• Variation: Students can work in groups to create a music video concept based on the song.
10. Role Play: Song Dialogue
Objective: Practice speaking and conversational skills
• Instructions: Ask students to imagine the song is a dialogue between two characters. In
pairs, they act out the conversation, using the lyrics as the basis for their lines but adding
their own dialogue as needed. This helps build fluency and comprehension.
Example:
• Original lyric: "You said we’d be forever, but you lied."
• Conversation:
• A: "You said we’d be forever. Why did you lie to me?"
• B: "I never meant to hurt you…"
11. Create a Quiz
Objective: Improve comprehension through interactive learning
• Instructions: After analyzing the song, students create a quiz based on the lyrics, meaning,
and themes. They can quiz their classmates on details such as vocabulary, metaphors, or
facts about the singer.
• Variation: Quizzes can include multiple choice, true/false, or open-ended questions.
12. Song Review Writing
Objective: Practice writing skills and expressing opinions
• Instructions: Ask students to write a review of the song, evaluating the lyrics, melody, and
overall message. Encourage them to use descriptive language to convey their opinion.
• Variation: Compare two songs of the same genre or by the same artist and write a
comparative review.
