Jazz chants

I was a young teacher when I attended a seminar on methodology, and a teacher trainer from England presented us with Jazz chants. I found them really enjoyable and motivating and so did my students.

A Jazz chant is a poem that uses jazz rhythms to illustrate the natural stress and intonation patterns of conversational English. It provides an exciting way to improve your student's speaking and listening comprehension skills while reinforcing the language structures of everyday situation.

Here's an example:

I'm sorry, but you've got to do better than this.

I'm doing the best I can.

I'm sorry, but you've got to walk faster than this.

I'm walking as fast as I can.

I'm sorry, but you've got to work harder than this.

I'm working as hard as I can.

It's not good enough

It's not good enough

It's not good enough

It's not good enough

I'm doing my best.

Try a little harder.

I'm doing my best.

Try a little harder.

I'm doing my best.

Try a little harder.

I can't, I can't.

Don't say can't.

I won't, I won't but I'm doing my best.

Do a little better.

I'm doing my best.

Do a little better.

I'm doing my best.

Try a little harder.

I'll try, I'll try.

Try a little harder.

I'll try, I'll try

How to do this activity in class:

1. Write down the poem on the blackboard. Ask the students who they think is taking part in the conversation ( teacher and student; parent and child, etc.)

2. Divide the class into two groups.

3. Read the poem to the class, using proper intonation/melody. ( Of course the rhythm may be changed to something more modern like rap if the students are not into jazz).

4. Read the poem again, making the students repeat, but in groups - the first group is the teacher and the second is the student.

5. The students do it without your help.
6. As a follow-up you can ask the students to write their own Jazz chants.

For more information on Jazz chants: 

http://carolread.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/j-is-for-jazz-chants/

http://www.scribd.com/doc/23248564/Jazz-Chants-text