In CAL Song I, we will be working on Description and Advice.

For the Warm-up, promote a debate about the title of the song. Check if students can guess what the song is about. Cover the two questions keeping a chat-like atmosphere and demand everyone’s participation.

Start the activities by brainstorming situations that may make a person feel lost. If they have trouble remembering things, try to give examples of situations depicted in movies they have already watched. After that there’s a pair work to decide what would work as a “compass” to guide people towards the solution of those problems.

For Activity 3—Understanding Sting—you are supposed to play the song twice. The first time you play it, listen to students’ general impression of the song. As for the second time, ask them to write a paragraph about their interpretation of the lyrics. This could be done in pairs. Monitor their work and provide support. After that, have them present their ideas.

In Activity 4, students should create a profile of a person that is lost for one of the reasons already discussed. Afterwards, ask students to list a couple of suggestions so this person can get better. They are supposed to give advice. This activity can also be done in pairs.
Finish the class by explaining the Follow-up activity.

In CAL Song II, we will be working primarily on argumentation and also on the use of nouns and adjectives.
Run the Warm-up keeping a chat-like atmosphere. At this first moment, they will be talking about music and emotions.
In the activities, students are supposed to share what they already know about the subject—music therapy. After that, divide them into groups and ask them to read the text. Solve any vocabulary problems they might have. Finally, they will answer the questions. The groups will have to present their answers at the end of the activity.
In Activity 2, students are supposed to go over the lyrics in pairs and find extracts that will support their opinions about the sort of feelings the song raises.

For Activity 3, you will ask students to change the words in the lyrics so as to make it more relaxing or sadder. There are a couple of boxes containing suggestions of words. Investigate them if necessary. Students can also use dictionaries. After that, have them present their production.
Activity 4 is meant to be fun much as they will be describing what a music therapy session would be like. They can work on that in pairs. Have them present it afterwards.
Close the class by giving some overall feedback and also by encouraging them to take another look at “music therapy” at home.

Cesar Fonseca