Integrating songs and video clips to teach equality and inclusion

Integrating songs and video clips into ESL teaching can be a powerful tool to address themes like bullying, self-appreciation, gender equality and empowerment. Here’s a simple guide:

1. Choose songs that are lyrically rich and address the themes you want to cover. Ensure the language is appropriate for the learners. Popular songs or those with a catchy tune can engage students better.
2. Introduce the theme without giving away too much. Discuss the concept of bullying, self-appreciation, or empowerment briefly. Ask students to predict what the song might be about based on the theme.
3. Play the song once without lyrics. Encourage students to just listen and feel the music. Play the song again, providing the lyrics. Ask students to follow along and underline any words or phrases related to the theme.
4. Initiate a group discussion about the song. Encourage students to express their thoughts, feelings, and interpretations. Relate the song to real-life situations, prompting discussions on personal experiences or opinions.
5. Identify key vocabulary related to the theme. Discuss meanings, synonyms, and usage. Create language exercises or games based on the song’s lyrics to reinforce vocabulary and grammar structures.
6. Show a video clip related to the theme. This could be a short film, documentary, or scenes from a movie. Discuss the visual elements, how they complement the song, and the impact on understanding the theme.
7. Have students create their own content, such as writing a short paragraph, drawing, or even composing their song or rap on the theme.

Here’s a playlist I have found suitable for exploring these themes:

• Beautiful – Christina Aguilera
• Shake it off – Taylor Swift
• Brave – Sara Bareilles
• True colours – Cyndi Lauper
• Mean – Taylor Swift
• Who’s laughing now – Jessie J
• Who says – Selena Gomez
• Amendment – Ani DiFranco
• Born this way – Lady Gaga

“Love Yourself” by Khari Turé is a great choice for promoting self-appreciation and empowerment.

Khari Toure is an author, spoken word artist and filmmaker from Oakland, California. When Khari Touré found out his 6-year-old daughter Nia was being teased about her weight at school, he decided to fight back with positivity. Instead of confronting the bully or his parents, he encouraged Nia to embrace self-love – and then turned his inspiring message into a rap song with the title “Love Yourself.” The song encourages all three of his daughters to take pride in their bodies and themselves, and not listen to anyone that may criticize them.

It also offers a mantra for anyone who is feeling bullied to repeat to themselves: “I’m beautiful/ I’m worthy/ And those mean words/ Can’t hurt me/ I’m priceless/ I’m smart/ And I love myself/ I’m focused on my health.”

Here’s a plan on how to use the video:

1. Begin by introducing the theme of self-love and appreciation. Discuss the importance of these concepts in personal growth and well-being.
2. Ask students to share their thoughts on what “loving yourself” means to them. Discuss any personal experiences related to self-appreciation.
3. Play the video “Love Yourself” by Khari Turé. Ensure subtitles are available for better understanding. After watching, have a brief class discussion about the visual elements, emotions conveyed, and the overall message of the video.
4. Provide the lyrics of the song to students. Analyse the lyrics together, focusing on key phrases related to self-love and empowerment. Discuss any challenging vocabulary and their meanings.
5. Divide the class into small groups and ask them to discuss how the video and lyrics relate to their own experiences or the experiences of people they know. Encourage students to share positive affirmations or messages they took from the song.
6. Have students create something inspired by the video – it could be a drawing, a poem, or a short paragraph expressing their thoughts on self-love. Alternatively, students could write their affirmations or messages promoting self-appreciation.
7. Develop short role-play scenarios where students act out situations that require self-love and empowerment. This helps to apply the concepts in practical situations.
8. Conclude the lesson with a reflection session. Ask students to share what they’ve learned and how they can incorporate self-love into their lives.

“Always Like a Girl” is a thought-provoking video that can be used to discuss gender stereotypes and empowerment. Here’s a plan on how to incorporate it into your ESL teaching:

1. Start by introducing the concept of gender stereotypes. Discuss common stereotypes associated with girls and boys.
2. Engage students in a brief discussion about the phrase “like a girl.” Ask them how it is commonly used and if they think it carries a negative connotation.
3. Play the video “Always Like a Girl.” After watching the video, ask participants to reflect individually on their initial reactions. What stereotypes were challenged? How did the video make them feel? Discuss specific scenes or moments in the video that stood out to them. Ask participants to relate the video to their own experiences. Have they ever encountered or challenged gender stereotypes in their teaching or learning environments?
4. Connect the video to the importance of creating an inclusive environment for everyone, irrespective of gender. Discuss actions that promote inclusivity in schools and communities. Develop role-play scenarios that challenge gender stereotypes. This can include situations where traditional gender roles are reversed or eliminated.
5. Have students create posters or artworks that promote gender equality and challenge stereotypes. Encourage them to come up with empowering slogans or messages.
6. Have a 5-minute film & music festival: they choose a video clip and song and present it to the class. They explain what values the clip shows and why they think it’s important.

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