Free ELT audio from Kevin McCaughey
Short songs that lead students to creating their own tunes. Recycle songs go in several versions: a version with vocals, a karaoke version, and often an example of a student-generated version.
Below you’ll find two short and simple songs about dogs (41 seconds long). The first version is “I’m a Dog.” I’m a dog And I eat bones. I live in people’s homes. I like to chase the neighborhood cats. I … Read More »
This is an old nursery rhyme. It’s got great verbs. Write the infinitives and a gap-fill on the board, like this: bump, couldn’t, jump, pour, rain, snore, wake up. It’s ________ It’s ________ The old man is ________. He ________ … Read More »
Here’s an old song from a hundred years ago. It’s really short, so you can just play it a couple of times and ask students to listen close and write down the words. Oh where, oh where has my little … Read More »
Oh Where, Oh Where Is Jean Claude Van Damme, Karaoke [ 0:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (17252) Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone, Karaoke [ 0:28 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5131)This is an old old song, based apparently on Mary Queen of Scots, or Bloody Mary (in the picture above, she has the carving knife). I recorded a sweeter version – no carving knife. In the photo to the right … Read More »
This is a Christmas song from the early 19th century. Thus, its English is not particularly useful to today’s students. You can see the old form for plural “you” (ye) which isn’t too handy nowadays, for instance. God Rest Ye, … Read More »
This poem was written by Zhenya Dudina, 20, of Samara, Russia. Step 1 Try to fill in the missing words. They will rhyme with the final word of the preceding line, so that and the context are your clues. Teenage … Read More »
This song is said to have been written by Henry VIII, King of England, in the 16th century. It’s a beautiful melody, although, it’s a questionable listening activity for non-English speakers because the language is so old. Still, that’s the … Read More »
Step 1 Play the songs “The Number Waltz” and “Penny’s Number Waltz.” The music is the same, but the words – or in this case, numbers – are different. Students write down the numbers that they hear. Step 2 Ask … Read More »
In this creepy song the singer actually sings to a candle. What does he say? Some key words have been gapped out of the lyrics, but they are listed below. You might try filling in the blanks before listening. Nouns: … Read More »
Listen to this horrible old song. Sorry, Stephen Foster. I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee I’m going to Louisiana, my true love for to see It rained all night the day I left, the weather it … Read More »
