My Corner for Education

It is almost reaching that graduation time. I bet many of you arethinking about songs with lyrics that would bring inspiration tomotivate students. Here are two of those songs that I reallyenjoy.

If you do like these songs, I suggest that you should go and buy theseCDs. It is always handy to have "tools" when you need them. Thesevideos are only used to give teachers some ideas about teaching English through media literacy. That is the beauty of using media to teach English because you can findall kinds of materials around you, such as a brochure, a poster, a recipe or a song, to teach the language. In fact,you can get even deeper and more advanced to view the making of YOU RAISE ME UP asanother lesson for older students. (I used to teach adults inTaiwan. Sometimes, you have to make your teaching fun!)

I just taught a group of primary students to read the instructions for the game, Monopoly, this afternoon. Those students all claimed that they knew how to play the game. So, with their prior knowledge, it should be very easy to get into reading and understanding the instructions. At the end, they were amazed that they did not know all the rules. Some adults never like to read instructions either. It always amazes me that people can not follow simple instructions to put together a piece of furniture they bought. (Hahaha. I have the first hand experience! I used to work at a furniture store as a store manager.) We just have to teach them when they are young, I guess.


Sung by R. KELLY

"I Believe I Can Fly"

I used to think that I could not go on
And life was nothing but an awful song
But now I know the meaning of true love
I'm leaning on the everlasting arms

If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[1]
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly

See I was on the verge of breaking down
Sometimes silence can seem so loud
There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me, oh

If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Repeat 1]

Hey, cuz I believe in me, oh

If I can see it, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Repeat 1]

Hey, if I just spread my wings
I can fly
I can fly
I can fly, hey
If I just spread my wings
I can fly
Fly-eye-eye


You Raise Me Up (Westlife version)The song has been sung by manyincluding Gosh Groban and my favourite group Il Divo. This is theone I found on YouTube, the Westlife version.




When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.