Ed Sheeran, a 26-year old British singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer, is a huge success around the world. He is currently on his Divide tour and played recently in Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte. I went to his show last Sunday and it was spectacular. Allianz Parque in São Paulo was packed with enthusiastic fans who were singing along to Ed’s catchy tunes.
This month, I have prepared an activity using one of Ed Sheeran’s songs called “Galway Girl” that you can use with your students. Recently, Ed was interviewed on the well-known Radio 4 programme called Desert Island Discs. If you like this very talented musician and want to know more about his childhood and background, I recommend listening to it. The link is http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08pddvs.
ACTIVITY
Aim: to listen to a song and practise past simple irregular verbs
Timing: 30 mins
Level: B1
PRE-ACTIVITY
- Tell your students they are going to listen to a song called “Galway Girl”. Ask them where they think Galway is. Give them 3 options:
a) Scotland
b) England
c) Ireland
Answer: Ireland
You might like to show them where Galway is on the map.
WHILE ACTIVITY
- Give the students a copy of the lyrics below. Ask them to read the lyrics and fill in the gaps with the past simple of the verb in brackets. Play the song so they can check their answers. You can find it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjHr-6Zl5P8.
| GALWAY GIRL Chorus She played the fiddle in an Irish band But she 1._______________ (fall) in love with an English man Kissed her on the neck and then I 2.____________ (take) her by the hand Said, “Baby, I just want to dance” I 3._____________ (meet) her on Grafton street Right outside of the bar She shared a cigarette with me While her brother played the guitar She asked me what does it mean The Gaelic ink on your arm? 4._____________ (Say) it was one of my friend’s songs Do you want to drink on? She took Jamie as a chaser, Jack for the fun She 5._____________________ (get) Arthur on the table with Johnny riding a shotgun Chatted some more, one more drink at the bar Then 6._________________ (put) Van on the jukebox, got up to dance Chorus – She played the fiddle… (see above) With my pretty little Galway Girl You’re my pretty little Galway Girl You know she 7._______________ (beat) me at darts And then she beat me at pool And then she kissed me Like there was nobody else in the room As last orders were called Was when she 8.___________________ (stand) on the stool After dancing to Cèilidh singing to trad tunes I never 9._______________ (hear) Carrickfergus ever sang so sweet A capella in the bar using her feet for a beat Oh, I could have that voice Playing on repeat for a week And in this packed out room Swear she was singing to me Chorus And now we’ve outstayed our welcome And it’s closing time I was holding her hand, her hand was holding mine Our coats both smell of smoke, whisky and wine As we fill up our lungs With the cold air of the night I walked her home then she took me inside To finish some Doritos and another bottle of wine I swear I’m gonna put you in a song that I write About a Galway Girl and a perfect night Chorus |
Answers:
1. fell
2. took
3. met
4. Said
5. got
6. put
7. beat
8. stood
9. heard
POST ACTIVITY
- Ask the students to find words in the song that match the pictures below:
Answers:
1. Fiddle
2. Neck
3. Jukebox
4. Darts
5. Stool
Ask your students to create a story in pairs using the nine past simple verbs and the vocabulary they learnt.
