chants

CHANTS

   

DEFINITION

A chant is vocabulary spoken   particularly with  music or rhythm.  They are useful because something about the music energizes the students, and they have to pronounce the word in a rhythm.  Chants are great and  is  a lot easier to teach  new vocabulary.

Also chants is a good  way for students to remember  new vocabulary  ,expressions  and phrases to say in different  situations and in real life, so students can use them in  proper syntax. Even the youngest learners will enjoy the repetition and rhythm of these language activities.

 Alphabet Chants

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The following is a  simple chant  to help students remember the sounds made by each letter of the alphabet.

The general rhythm of each chant is the same. Please note the [CLAP] markings in the first sample.  This follows stressed syllables.

This is intended as a fun review.  Teach one or two sounds a day like this. You can sing it loudly, softly, slowly,  you can also ask the boys to say it, asking everyone wearing red to say it, etc. After students have memorized new sound, do a quick review of old sounds. With just five to ten minutes a day of this review, even the youngest learners will be able to associate words with their initial sounds.

A [CLAP] says /a/ [CLAP] like ap- [CLAP] ple [CLAP].
A [CLAP] says /a/ [CLAP] /a/ [CLAP] /a/ [CLAP].

B says /b/ like baseball.
B says /b/ /b/ /b/.

C says /c/ like cookie.
C say /c/ /c/ /c/.

D says /d/ like dinosaur.
D says /d/ /d/ /d/.

E says /e/ like elephant.
E says /e/ /e/ /e/.

F says /f/ like fireman.
F says /f/ /f/ /f/.

G says /g/ like goldfish.
G says /g/ /g/ /g/.

H says /h/ like hospital.
H says /h/ /h/ /h/.

I says /i/ like igloo.
I says /i/ /i/ /i/.

J says /j/ like jumping.
J says /j/ /j/ /j/.

K says /k/ like kitten.
K says /k/ /k/ /k/.

L says /l/ like listen.
L says /l/ /l/ /l/.

M says /m/ like mother.
M says /m/ /m/ /m/.

N says /n/ like nurse.
N says /n/ /n/ /n/.

O says /o/ like octopus.
O says /o/ /o/ /o/.

P says /p/ like pencil.
P says /p/ /p/ /p/.

Q says /q/ like queen.
Q says /q/ /q/ /q/.

R says /r/ like rabbit.
R says /r/ /r/ /r/.

S says /s/ like snowman.
S says /s/ /s/ /s/.

T says /t/ like turtle.
T says /t/ /t/ /t/.

U says /u/ like umbrella.
U says /u/ /u/ /u/.

V says /v/ like van.
V says /v/ /v/ /v/.

X says /x/ like X-ray.
X says /x/ /x/ /x/.

Y says /y/ like yellow.
Y says /y/ /y/ /y/.

Z says /z/ like zebra.
Z says /z/ /z/ /z/.

This is also a good chant to sing in class with your students .

 If I Were ...

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If I were an astronaut, (Crouch down close to the ground, pretending to be in a space shuttle.)
What would I do?
Blast off to the moon, (Jump up as high as possible.)
Then look down at you. (Hold hand above eyes and look down.)

If I were a baker (Pretend to put on apron.)
What would I do?
Bake lots of cookies (Make a circle with hands.)
For me and you. (Point to self and a friend.)

If I were a dentist, (Look in friend's mouth.)
What would I do?
I'd clean your teeth (Pretend to clean friend's teeth.)
Because that's good for you!

If I were a farmer, (Pretend to remove hat; wipe forehead.)
What would I do?
I'd rise up early every day,  (Yawn and stretch.)
And milk the cows for you. (Pretend to drink glass of milk.)

If I were a pilot, (Pretend to fly.)
What would I do?
I 'd climb into the cockpit, (Pretend to climb into cockpit.)
And fly my plane for you.

If I were a secretary, (Pretend to type.)
What would I do?
Answer the phone, (Pretend to hold phone to ear.)
Saying, "How do you do?"

PERSONAL REFLECTION : 

In my opinion , chants are very useful in a class because students can learn different expressions , new vocabulary ,etc, specially with children because they like to sing  a lot .For example in my case I learnt the alphabets by making a song. Even the youngest and adults can have fun singing or reciting in class .The best way to use these chants is to practice the vocabulary a few times without the chant, and then play the chant for the students so that they can get the new words and remember them .You can also use chants when you feel the class is not going so good.

links :

 

http://www.esl4kids.net/chants/were.html

http://dreaminenglish.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/teaching-children-english-with-chants/

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/CHANTS?s=t

http://www.dreamenglish.com/animals