New Feelings Song Video: I’m Happy! Song for Children’s English Class

Feelings vocabulary is important in the young learners classroom (ESL, EFL). This simple feelings song teaches 8 emotions. More below the video:

Lyrics:

Sometimes I’m happy, happy
sad, sad
sleepy, sleepy
angry, angry
Sometimes I’m hot, hot
cold, cold,
hungry, hungry,
thirsty, thirsty
(repeat)
But now I’m happy, happy…

Give the song a try and practice the question and answer:

Student 1: How are you feeling?

Student 2: I’m happy!

New Podcast: How to Teach New Songs and Engage Your Young Learners

In this episode I talk about my method for introducing new songs in your children’s English class. This is an excerpt from my Instagram live talk with @teachermiriam_ follow her on Instagram for great teacher tips!

Please check out my new “10 Steps to Teach English to Young Learners” book on Amazon.

Here is a direct link for the book: https://amzn.to/3ncHuVn

Thanks for listening and happy teaching! -Matt

Follow Dream English on Instagram: @dreamenglishkids

New Podcast: Lesson Plan Archive # 2 And Book Announcement!

Hi! In this podcast I talk about my lesson with young learners ages 3-4. It was a 20 minute class and we sang a few songs and covered basics like body parts, numbers, and ABCs. Also available on Apple Podcasts!

My new book is available on the Kindle at Amazon.com! Search for “10 Steps to Teach English to Young Learners” on Amazon.com.

Here is a direct link for the book: https://amzn.to/3ncHuVn

Thanks for listening and happy teaching! -Matt

Top 5 Ways to Use Songs in the Children’s English Classroom

Songs can be used in many fun ways in English class (ESL, EFL). I love music, so I make it a centerpiece of my classes. For me, the more songs the better. Here we go!

    1. Before Class Time: Get your students ready for the class before it starts by playing songs in English. This can be a playlist of songs that you are singing in your class, or something else nice to listen to.
    2. Warm-Up Songs: I always sing a song with my students as part of the warm-up. Keep the warm-up songs simple and introduce the language as part of the warm-up. A great warm=-up song example is “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.”
    3. Topic Songs: You can use songs to help teach the vocabulary and phrases that you are learning in the class. For example, if you are learning the weather try the “Weather Song/Sun Comes Up.” It introduces the weather and asks, “How’s the weather?”

4. Fun Time: Sometimes we need a bit of a break from drilling and games and songs can be a lot of fun! Choose a student favorite or some action song to get the kids moving. For example, try “Shake It Out” a student favorite!

5. Goodbye Song: I always end the class with a Goodbye Song. This lets the students know that the class is over. For some reason, the students sing this song very enthusiastically! Check out the Dream English Goodbye Song here.

These are some of my favorite uses of children’s English songs in the classroom. What are your favorite uses of songs? Let us know with a comment on our Dream English Facebook or Instagram Page!

New Teaching Tips Podcast Episode: Lesson Plan Archive # 1

In this new series I will talk you through a lesson that I taught to young learners. Today’s lesson is a preschool lesson students age 5-6, 30 minutes once a week class. Listen here or on Apple Podcasts search: Dream English Teaching Tips Podcast.

Below are the links to the materials I talked about in the lesson:

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Song

https://www.dreamenglish.com/kidsongbodyparts

I Like Apples Book

http://kidsenglishbooks.com/ilikeapples

I Like Apples Song

https://www.dreamenglish.com/fruit

Goodbye Song

https://www.dreamenglish.com/goodbye

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New Song and Video: Walking, Walking Song

Young learners of English (ESL, EFL) love to interact by saying, “No!” For example, if I hold up a flashcard of a dog and say “banana” the students will either say “no” or “dog”. This always comes with a lot of laughter. The Walking, Walking Song is based on this idea. More below the video:

Give the idea a try. Don’t over do it, but when you are counting numbers for example, when you get to 10 say banana instead of ten! See how your students react.

Lyrics:

 

I’m walking, walking in the park
And I see a dog (No!)
I see a dog (No!)
I see a dog (yay!)
I’m walking, walking in the park
And I see a cat (No!)
I see a cat (No!)
I see a cat (yay!)

I’m walking, walking in the park
And I see a bird (No!)
I see a bird (No!)
I see a bird (yay!)

I’m walking, walking in the park
And I see a bear (No!)
I see a bear (No!)
I see a bear

A bear?
Run! run, run,
run run, run,
run run, run,
run stop, safe!

Great job!

Visit our Free Download page to download our top songs for teaching children English. Click here!

 

How to get your students to say, “My name is (student name)” using only English

When I teach young learners English ages 4-6 I do not use any of their L1 (native language). Teaching these students to say “My name is (student name)” can be a challenge. In this post I will talk about one method to teach students without using any props or L1. The basic concept is what I will call modeling. 

Modeling

The definition of modeling in an online dictionary is:

use (a system, procedure, etc.) as an example to follow or imitate.

What I mean by modeling is to get the students to imitate you, but also take the extra step to say the words and actions with your students until they can say it on their own.

Below are the steps I would take:

  1. As the teacher say a few times, “My name is (your name).” So I would say, “My name is Matt.” I would recommend doing this 2-3 times. Your students might try to repeat after you. That is ok.
  2. Next, ask a student to come to the front of the class. Make sure that you know their name. Hold their hand and gently raise it up and say their name. For example, “My name is Sally.” Say it very slowly like My…..name….. is….. Sally. Do not force your students to repeat after you. You are still giving an example. If they are ready they will speak. 
  3. Now try this again with other students. If you have a small class you can do it with every student. If you have a large class, pick a few students each class time. Eventually your students will be able to say the phrase, “My name is (student name).” 

It could take a few days, or a few weeks depending on the students age or level. Be patient, have fun with it. Laugh and smile a lot. I hope this is helpful!

Check out a Video on this Topic:

For more resources and a What’s Your Name? Song click here! 

Total Physical Response (TPR) In the Children’s English Classroom Podcast

I use a lot of actions with language in my classroom. It is an excellent way to get children moving and listening to English, without the pressure of speaking right away. Have a listen to this podcast with my short introduction to TPR:

Total Physical response is a way for language students to acquire the sounds of the language before being asked to speak. I think it is important not to put a lot of pressure on young students to speak English, before they are ready.

Using actions and commands like, “sit down, stand up, touch your nose, spin around” is a fun way for students to get used to the sounds of English without requiring them to speak. When they are ready, they will begin speaking.

I hope this is helpful and gives you some ideas for your classes!