English as a Singing Language

English as a Singing Language has created an episode especially for International Workers’ Day on May 1st. We work hard as language teachers and podcasters, and we believe that ALL workers should be paid fairly and work in safe conditions. We chose the 1980 hit song “9 to 5,” written and sung by Dolly Parton for the film, “9 to 5.” We talk about the descriptive vocabulary and useful idioms that Dolly included in these lyrics, and we celebrate workers all over the world! Happy International Workers’ Day!! ⁠Official YouTube Video⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbxUSsFXYo4  For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-15-1 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

Both Heather and Ece are ready for a vacation after a long semester of teaching. While Ece is going to a nearby city to visit a friend, Heather is getting ready to go to the beach. In this episode, they are talking about prepositional phrases in the song, "Under the Boardwalk," by The Drifters. Have fun learning some useful English grammar while listening to this doo-wop classic song from the 1960s! Official YouTube Video ⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSddD6w5SKc  For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-14⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

There were so many inspirational and empowering songs to choose from for our International Women’s Day episode, we decided to include another song from our party playlist. Katy Perry’s 2013 hit pop song, “Roar” is the perfect song for building up your courage and finding your voice. This song is full of useful and interesting vocabulary, phrases and figurative language. It’s also really fun to sing! Check out this episode wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple podcasts, Spotify, or the English as a Singing Language website or YouTube channel. Make sure you follow us on Instagram, too!! ⁠Official YouTube Video ⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc⁠  For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-12⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

International Women’s Day is on March 8th. We like to think about all of the smart, strong, beautiful women we know on this day. In fact, Ece is planning a party to celebrate the day, and she is creating a playlist full of inspiring music. What is the first song she is going to add? It’s Rachel Platten’s 2015 hit, “Fight Song.” This song has extremely inspiring lyrics, and it has great practice with the sounds [f] and [v]. We hope you have a wonderful day celebrating all of the women in your life. Happy International Women’s Day! Official YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc  For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-12 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

Love and music are in the air! In this special Valentine’s Day episode of the podcast, Heather is worried that she doesn’t have enough days in the week to finish all of the things on her to-do list. Ece introduces The Beatles’s 1964 hit song, “Eight Days a Week,” and we talk about simple present and imperative verbs. We also talk about how great it would be to actually have eight days in a week! Listeners, eight days in a week is not enough to show you how much we care about you! We did, however, make a video version of this episode for our YouTube channel. We hope you enjoy this episode and we wish you a very Happy Valentine’s Day! ⁠Official YouTube Video⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEJd2RyGm8Q⁠  For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-11 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

We hope your new year is off to a good start. If your new year’s resolution is to improve your English language ability, and you want some inspiration, we encourage you to take a listen to this episode. Most people worry about what others think sometimes, and in this episode, we are using the hit song, “This is Me,” from the 2017 film, “The Greatest Showman,” to talk about accepting yourself and having a positive attitude. The language focus of this song is the pronunciation of the schwa sound in unstressed syllables. The schwa sound is part of what gives English the rhythm and sound that it has. This song will help you sing your way to natural-sounding English! Official YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEJd2RyGm8Q For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-10 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

What’s the weather like where you are? It’s definitely winter where we are, and Ece is once again trying to get Heather to enjoy the cold and snow. In this episode, we’re using Ariana Grande’s hit song, “Winter Things,” to talk about useful words for everyday conversation, and some special winter-themed vocabulary, too! Grab your hat and your gloves and get ready to visualize yourself doing some winter things like skating, skiing… and singing!! Check out our YouTube channel @singinglanguages for a video version of this episode! For more content, visit ⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-9 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

Do you like to practice perfect pronunciation? If you said “yes,” then this episode is for you. This song has many examples of aspiration. If you don’t know what this is, you should definitely listen to this episode. There is plenty of pronunciation practice, and a song with a good message. In this episode, we’re talking about Joni Mitchell’s hit 1970 song, “Big Yellow Taxi.” In addition to pronunciation, we also discuss the idea of “taking something for granted.” Isn’t it true that you don’t know what you have until it's gone?

The most recent episode of the podcast featured the song, “Adventurous Girl,” which was written and sung by our friend and fellow language teacher, Patti Spinner. We were so excited to meet someone who loves using music to teach and learn language as much as we do - some people might even say more! We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk to Patti and ask her about her experience as a teacher and singer/grammar songwriter! In this special Connections Episode, we would like to share our interview with Patti Spinner. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did! ⁠L-Pop Website⁠ ⁠https://lpop.commons.msu.edu/ ⁠ ⁠About Patti Spinner, Ph.D. ⁠ ⁠https://people.cal.msu.edu/spinnerp/ ⁠ For more content, visit ⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-connections-episode-patti-spinner-interview ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

Have you ever climbed a mountain? Have you ever flown in a plane? What kinds of adventures have you had? There is something extra special about the song featured in this episode. This song was written and sung by a friend of the podcast, and it is part of a series of songs that were created specifically to practice different grammar points in English! In this episode, we’re talking about the adventures that we have or haven’t had using the present perfect tense. The song in this episode, “Adventurous Girl,” by our friend, Patti Spinner, is full of examples of the present perfect verb tense. You may not have heard this song on the radio before, but we’re sure you’re going to enjoy listening to it and singing along! Adventurous Girl Lesson https://lpop.commons.msu.edu/lesson-1/ L-Pop Website https://lpop.commons.msu.edu/ About Patti Spinner, Ph.D. https://people.cal.msu.edu/spinnerp/ For more content, visit ⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-7 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

In each season, we have to include at least one fun, silly traditional folk song that might be considered a “children’s song,” but is actually for everyone! The traditional folk song, “Down by the Bay,” was recorded by the children’s artist, Raffi, in the 1970’s. People of all ages can enjoy creating rhyming lyrics of their own. For example, Ece came up with, “Have you ever seen Heather, enjoying cold weather?” (No, nobody has ever seen this!) Heather’s lyrics were, “Have you ever seen a teacher chasing a creature?” (No, but we’ve seen several creatures chasing teachers!) We hope you have fun inventing your own lyrics to this singalong song!! Official YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWKVKfk6e40 For more content, visit ⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-6 ⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

Heather is getting together with her friends from high school, and she’s putting together a playlist of songs from the 80s that they can listen to. One song in particular catches her attention, and it turns out it is a great song for talking about past, present and future tense verbs. In this episode, Ece and Heather are talking about Tracy Chapman’s 1988 song, “Fast Car.” It’s a song that tells the story of a young person who is facing choices, remembering the past, facing the present and looking ahead to the future. Official YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIOAlaACuv4 Luke Combs Cover https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st6XCAv0E4M For more content, visit ⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-5 ⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

Ece is extremely busy and she’s feeling a bit overwhelmed. Luckily, she runs into Heather at the park by the river. Heather convinces her that she needs to relax and listen to the sound of sunshine. Does sunshine make a sound? It does when you’re listening to Michael Franti’s 2010 hit song, “The Sound of Sunshine.” This upbeat, fun song is great for practicing fluency. It might seem way too fast the first time you listen, but we’re confident that with a little practice you will be singing along and enjoying the song. Join us for a relaxing, end-of-summer singalong. Official YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqgHosrqJ8o For more content, visit ⁠the ⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-4 ⁠⁠ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @singinglanguages. https://www.youtube.com/@singinglanguages

Heather is feeling a little down because of some negative comments on a photo she posted on Instagram (you can follow us on Instagram @singinglanguages). Fortunately, Ece is there to remind her that life’s too short to worry about what someone on Instagram thinks. She recommends the 2022 hit song, “Life’s Too Short,” by the K-pop band aespa. This song is full of really useful conversational English. Maybe right now you’re “bored out of your mind” and you need something to do. We suggest that you listen to this episode of the podcast and learn some practical, fun English phrases! YouTube Videos English Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2ZjutyxmjA Korean Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOR9h6uKptg For more content, visit ⁠the ⁠⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-3 ⁠⁠ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

Ece is planning a block party in her neighborhood, and she needs the perfect song for her summer playlist. Heather suggests the 1964 Motown hit, “Dancing in the Street,” by Martha and the Vandellas. It’s the perfect song for a summer party that is, or that’s, full of singin’ and dancin’! This episode focuses on contractions and reductions. You may have noticed when talking with proficient English speakers, (people who have a very high level of English), that they do not, or don’t, pronounce every sound of every word carefully. This song provides great practice with how and where to use contractions and reductions, and it’s perfect for dancin’ in the street! YouTube Videos Martha and the Vandellas: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68Uv959QuCg⁠ David Bowie + Mick Jagger: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HasaQvHCv4w⁠ For more content, visit ⁠the ⁠⁠Singing Languages website⁠⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-2 ⁠ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

In this episode, Heather is feeling nervous about an upcoming project. It is something new that she hasn’t done before, and she’s working in a place she has never been before. Luckily, Ece has the perfect song for the occasion. In this episode, we’re going to be using Shakira’s 2016 hit song, “Try Everything,” to talk about phrasal verbs. What are phrasal verbs? We encourage you to check out this episode and find out! Official YouTube Video⁠ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TO48Cnl66w For more content, visit ⁠the ⁠Singing Languages website⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-2-episode-1 Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

We always encourage our listeners to not be afraid to make mistakes. Making a mistake is a great chance to learn. But sometimes, all we can do when we make a mistake is laugh. We write scripts and practice before we record, but we still make mistakes. All we do is stop, laugh and then start again. Ece has saved her favorite mistakes, or “bloopers,” from Season One of the podcast. While we’re waiting for Season Two, we thought you might enjoy listening to our blooper reel. For more content, visit ⁠the ⁠Singing Languages website⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/season-1-bloopers Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

Welcome to the final episode in Season One of the English as a Singing Language podcast. When we got this crazy idea, we had no idea if we would be able to actually create even one episode. Here we are, one year later, and we’ve released a total of 17 episodes. There are songs from different artists, decades and styles. We’ve talked about pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary. What makes the whole process most enjoyable for us is you, our listeners. We hope you have enjoyed the podcast and you have learned some new English skills along the way. We want to thank you for giving us the best time of our lives!! And don’t worry, we’re already hard at work on Season Two!! ⁠Official YouTube Video⁠ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TO48Cnl66w For more content, visit ⁠the ⁠Singing Languages website⁠. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/episode-16 Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ @singinglanguages.

Ece is doing some online shopping and she’s feeling a little frustrated. This leads to a discussion about the importance of things that money just can’t buy. Can money buy you love? No, no, no, nooooooooo! In this episode, we’re listening to the Beatles 1964 hit song, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” and we’re focusing on real conditionals in grammar. If you don’t love this song, we will be very surprised! ⁠Official YouTube Video - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBB_QOZNEdc⁠ For more content, visit ⁠the Singing Languages website. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/episode-15 Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ @singinglanguages.

It’s finally spring where we are, and we are so excited to see the bird in a nest, the nest on a branch and the green grass growing all around!! And what do all of these things have in common? They all have at least one consonant cluster. We’re going way, way back in time to the 1800s for this song! It’s a traditional folk song called, “The Green Grass Grows all Around,” and it’s great practice for those tricky consonant clusters. Join us for this episode to learn a song that you will be singing for days! Official YouTube Video of Barney Version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBB_QOZNEdc Official YouTube Video of Jewel Version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI4-230geDs For more content, visit the Singing Languages website. https://singinglanguages.wixsite.com/home/post/episode-14 Follow us on Instagram @singinglanguages.