Description: This was a request left by a teacher at the Song Activity Factory. This is for you, Ana! Enjoy! Engage your students in an exciting, interactive listening comprehension activity based on Wham!'s "Last Christmas". This activity not only enhances listening skills but also fosters critical thinking as students interpret the song's message. Participants will work in pairs and as a group to discuss and share opinions, providing an excellent practice for the Cambridge Exam B2 first paper 4 part 4. Don’t miss this innovative approach that combines music, discussion, and language skills!

1. Engage your students in an exciting, interactive listening comprehension
activity based on Wham!'s "Last Christmas". This activity not only
enhances listening skills but also fosters critical thinking as students
interpret the song's message. Participants will work in pairs and as a group
to discuss and share opinions, providing an excellent practice for the
Cambridge Exam B2 first paper 4 part 4. Don’t miss this innovative
approach that combines music, discussion, and language skills!
Hello! Welcome to Cambridge Chats! Here we use songs as a fun way
for your B2 students to practice speaking for Cambridge Exams. This is a
sample lesson, and the song choice was a request left by a teacher at
the Song Activity Factory. This is for you, Ana! Enjoy!
[SAMPLE]

2. Tell your students they are going to practice giving opinions, supporting
their ideas and discuss politely with a partner. Important skills for the
Speaking Paper 4, part 4 of B2 First Cambridge Exam. They are going to
do this with the help of a song!
STEP 1 (2 MIN)
1
STEP 2 (5 MIN)
2
Tip: Ensure the song
extract is audible for all
students.
Suggestion: For beginner
teachers, start by asking students
if they know the song or the band.
This could be a good ice-breaker
and can make students more
engaged.
Listening Comprehension
Warm-Up
Genially presentation slide 01. LINK
Students listen to the song extract
and then answer a question for a
listening comprehension warm-up:
What is the main theme or
message of this song extract?
Also ask students if they recognize
the song or the band (Last
Christmas" by Wham!)
Reading and vocabulary.
Slide 2. Students listen to the extract again and read the lyrics. Help with
vocabulary.
Tip: Highlight key
vocabulary words in the
lyrics and provide
definitions.
Suggestion: Don't rush
through this step. Allow
students time to process
the lyrics and understand
the words
NOTE:
The idiom "once bitten, twice
shy" means that someone who
has been hurt or disappointed
before will be more careful in a
similar situation in the future to
avoid getting hurt again. In the
song "Last Christmas," it refers
to being cautious about falling in
love after having a bad
experience.

3. The pairs share their ideas with the whole class. Have other students
say if they agree or disagree. Have the pairs report what they have
talked about the lyrics.
Pairwork
In pairs, students discuss what
they understood from the
message of the song extract.
Tip: Encourage students
to take notes or write
down their thoughts about
the song's message.
Suggestion: For teachers who are
unsure about this kind of lesson,
remember that there's no wrong
answer here. The goal is to foster
understanding and discussion.
Tip: Create a supportive
environment for sharing.
Praise students for their
ideas and encourage others to
do the same.
Suggestion: Keep track of time
to ensure all pairs get a chance
to share their thoughts.
STEP 3 (3 MIN)
3
STEP 4 (5 MIN)
4
STEP 5 (5 MIN)
5
Tell students they are going to answer questions in the style of the
Cambridge Exam B2 first paper 4 part 4 in which they are supposed to
be tested on their ability to give opinions, give reasons for their
opinions, and their ability to politely discuss things with their partner.

4. Show slide 3 with some useful
expressions and go over them with
your students.
STEP 6 (10 MIN)
6
Tip: Make sure students
understand the format
and expectations of the
Cambridge Exam B2.
Suggestion: Use examples to
demonstrate how to give
opinions, provide reasons, and
discuss politely.
Ask the questions below.
When appropriate, ask “What do you think?” to other students and also:
“Do you agree?” to model what the examiners do during the real exam.
Discussion Questions
The song describes a situation of giving and receiving during the
holiday season. In your opinion, is the act of giving gifts an important
part of holiday celebrations? Why or why not?
1.
The lyrics mention feelings of regret and moving on. Do you think it's
more challenging to overcome personal setbacks during the holiday
season?
2.
The chorus repeats the decision to "give it to someone special." What
qualities do you think make someone 'special' enough to deserve
such a gift?
3.
The singer reflects on being fooled by someone they trusted. Is trust
more easily built in personal or professional relationships, and why?
4.
The narrative revolves around a Christmas experience. How does the
holiday season affect people's emotions and decisions about
relationships?
5.
The song's perspective is about learning from past experiences. Do
you believe personal growth is more influenced by positive or
negative experiences?
6.

5. ACTIVITY EXTENSION + FOLLOW-UP / HOMEWORK
Show them the Official Music Video and have students comment on the
story as it relates to the song extract they read and talked about.
For the following class, have students search for the full lyrics of the
song and write a paragraph on how the music video portrays the story
told in the lyrics.
Tip:
Ask open-ended
questions to stimulate
discussion and avoid yes/no responses.
Suggestion:
Be patient and give students time to formulate their
responses. Remember, the goal is to stimulate
discussion, not to rush through the questions.
Remember, the goal is to stimulate discussion, so
encourage students to explore their thoughts,
feelings, and opinions about the song's theme. They
should feel free to agree or disagree with each other
and justify their opinions.
GENERAL TIPS:
Be flexible: If a step is taking longer than expected, adjust your lesson
plan accordingly.
Focus on interaction: The goal of this activity is to get students talking,
so facilitate conversation rather than lecturing.

6. Get ready for an exciting addition to the
Song Activity Factory:
the Exclusive Subscriber Club.
This upcoming subscription service is crafted to infuse your English
teaching with creativity, interactivity, and the latest hits in the world
of music.
As a member of the Exclusive Subscriber Club, you'll unlock access to
an exclusive area teeming with innovative resources and
collaborative opportunities. Each month, you'll be enriched with a
variety of unique song activities and materials that are sure to
invigorate your teaching approach and captivate your students.
Here's a glimpse of what awaits:
Frequently Updated, Specially Curated Content: Your teaching
toolkit will never grow stale with our regular content updates.
Tune into Teaching: Monthly Song Activities: Engage students
across all skill levels with four new and exclusive song activities
every month.
Digital Notes: Tech Tools for ELT: Discover and integrate cutting-
edge digital tools into your English language teaching.
Song Secrets: Pop Music in ELT: Uncover the potential of pop
music as a powerful tool in engaging and educating students.
Be supportive and encouraging: Make sure to create a safe and
supportive environment for all students. Encourage them to share their
thoughts and opinions without fear of judgment.
Be prepared: Before the lesson, familiarize yourself with the song, its
lyrics, and be ready to explain difficult vocabulary or cultural references.

7. Sound Bites: Warm-ups from Music Quotes: Start your lessons
on a high note with musical quotes that inspire creativity and
discussion.
Cambridge Chats: B2 Song Conversations: Foster meaningful
conversations with song-based questions designed for B2 level
Cambridge exam preparation.
Verbal Variations: 20-Min Song Activities: Reinforce verb tense
mastery with brief, targeted activities that students will love.
B2 Speak Peak: First Speaking Exam Resources: Prepare
students for the B2 First speaking exam using our specially
crafted song-based worksheets and questions.
2023 Soundbites: Current Song Conversations: Keep your
classes fresh and relevant with conversation starters based on
the latest song extracts.
B2 Grammar Beats: Song-Based Worksheets: Transform B2 level
grammar practice into a fun and interactive learning experience
with our song-based worksheets.
Stay tuned for more details on how to join the Exclusive Subscriber
Club and revolutionize the way you teach English with the power of
songs!
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