#9: Why does everyone sing in English? extra lesson!

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Lesson 

English songs

You really notice that English is a global language when you realize how many songs have English lyrics. If you want to make it big, you need to appeal to English speaking fans. 

Are you ready to listen up? 

Billie Eilish is a global super star with fans all over the world. Today we are going to listen to a song Billie wrote with her brother while she was in lockdown due to the Corona pandemic. We will also get to know Billie a little better by listening to an interview. So in today’s lesson you will really be focussing on practising and improving your listening skills. 

Watch and listen to the video clip on the next slide and fill in the blanks from the words in the song text

0

I can't seem to …………
And you don't seem to ………..

1. notice/focus
2. focus/roses
3. focus/notice
4. notice/bogus

You check your …………….
To find your …………………..all alone

1. expression/reflection
2. reflection/expression
3. complexion/reflection
4. reflection/complexion

Do you ……………?
I've changed my ……………

1. who I am/plans
2. understand/plans
3. understand/super man
4. understand/i'm your man

With my …………..
Can't wait to meet ……………

1. tutor/her
2. suiter/her
3. butcher/her
4. future/her

But not with anybody ………….
Just wanna get to know ……………..

1. else/myself
2. else/as well
3. else/Michelle
4. else/oh well

I'd like to be your ……..
'Cause you're so ………..

1. answer/random
2. actor/handsome
3. anchor/handsome
4. answer/handsome

But not with anybody …………….
I'll see you in a couple …………………..

1. here/ears
2. dear/years
3. feared/years
4. here/years

     vocabulary quiz

Match the words with the same meaning on the next slide 

in love

understand

focus

a couple

a few

all alone

complexion

handsome

pretty

by yourself

crazy about someone

face

do you get it? 

good-looking

concentrate

two

Write down the less formal versions of these words in the song: coming/ I am/because/want to/I would/am I not

To the right you can see some examples of formal and informal ways of speech. 

Use the formal (full) version when you want to be polite and keep the informal one for family and friends. 

Listen to the robot interview with Billie and answer the multiple choice questions

Instructions:

• Read the first question and its answers first
• Start the interview. 
• When you think you have heard the answer, stop the recording. 
• Go to the next question, read it and start the recording again. 
• Keep doing this until you have answered all five questions. 

https:

What does Billie feel she might be missing out on?

1. Nothing at all
2. Ordinary things such as getting gas and shopping for her mum
3. Eating at Trader Joe’s
4. Not a lot of stuff

What does Billie say about people ‘draining her power’ ?

1. You never know if you are treating someone terribly
2. She always treats everyone like shit, so she doesn’t care.
3. She gets very mad at people who drain her power.
4. It is better if you tell people how they are affecting you because sometimes you don’t know.

What was the biggest deal to Billie ever?

1. Getting 40 likes on a picture
2. Getting 13 followers on Instagram
3. Getting recognised in the street.
4. Nothing. Big deals are out-of-date

How does Billie feel about looking up at the stars in the night sky?

1. She was scared because she felt the stars were falling on her.
2. She really likes looking at the stars as they are really clear in L.A.
3. Her whole family is uninterested in looking at the stars
4. Her whole family enjoyed looking at the night sky together while on vacation.

Does Billie want to go back to being anonymous?

1. Yes, she hates this life
2. Yes, she likes to disguise herself with wigs and hoodies so no one recognises her.
3. No, she accepts that it is part of her life now and she is happy and grateful
4. No, she likes pretending to be someone she is not.

writing exercise choose A, B or C

 Choose option A, B 

What do you think of the song or the video? (write 50-75 words)

Option C Get creative!

Write the next verse of the song (around 25-50 words)

Option A (song review)

What do you think of the song? Do you like it? Why or why not? What do you think the words mean? Do you think it is a happy of a sad song? 

Option B (video review)

What do you think of the video? Do you like it? Why or why not? Why do you think the artist chose to use animation rather than a live video? Do you think the video matches the music and the Lyrics? Why or why not? What do you think the message is behind the video?  

Option C (get creative!)

Write the next verse of ‘My Future’. Try to include two rhyming words. Maybe Billie is now ready to fall in love with someone? Is she still happy by herself? You can sing and record the next verse too if you like!