Songs can be a good starting point for a discussion or a presentation.

Photo of students giving a presentation.

Source: Getty Images/Hero Images

Discussion of themes

Choose a song that deals with a topic of interest to your students (e.g. Imagine by John Lennon which is about peace and brotherhood, Money by Pink Floyd or Money Money Money by Abba etc), do a listening activity like a gap fill, then follow up with a careful reading of the song and a discussion on its theme(s).

Presentations

In most of the world a class of teenagers will be full of music fans. I have yet to find a teenager who likes no music at all. By using the theme of music with children of this age group, they will be more motivated than if the topic is of no interest to them.

  • Students can work individually, in pairs or small groups
  • They choose a favourite singer, group, musician, composer
  • They research (internet, magazines etc) the above
  • They produce a presentation – which can cover the biography of their chosen musician(s), their career. It can be a talk, a role play, interview, sketch
  • They can use cassettes or CDs, posters, handouts to support their presentation
  • This could also take a written form – be produced as a poster, booklet, magazine article

Other ideas for using songs in classs

Teenagers: Songs 1: Music in the background

Teenagers: Songs 2: Music as a stimulus for speaking

Teenagers: Songs 3: Music as a stimulus for writing

Teenagers: Songs 4: Activities

Teenagers: Songs 6: Songs and grammar

Topics