If I were....

The main aim of this blog is to take advantage of songs...and teach English!
The reason why I like using songs in the classroom is very obvious. Our students (at least some of them) don't like studying English very much; however, they love songs, so I think this is the perfect opportunity for students to enjoy learning English. 
Today, I' ve chosen the song 'If I were a boy', by Beyoncé to revise conditional sentences, (second conditional in this case).

If I Were A Boy  (Beyoncé)

If I were a boy
even just for a day
_______________________________
and throw on what I wanted and go

Drink beer with the guys
and chase after girls
I'd kick it with who I wanted
_______________________________

cause they stick up for me

If I were a boy
_______________________________
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
Cause he's taking you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

If I were a boy
______________________

Tell everyone it's broken
so they'd think that I was sleeping alone

______________________
and make the rules as I go
Cause I know that she’ll be faithful,
waiting for me to come home, to come home.

If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
_________________

Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
Cause he's taking you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

It's a little too late for you to come back
Say it's just a mistake,
think I'd forgive you like that
__________________________

you thought wrong


But you're just a boy
You don't understand
and you don't understand, ohhhh
How it feels to love a girl
_______________________________

You don't listen to her
You don't care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
Cause you're taking her for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

_____________________________

I''d li

sten to her                        I’d put myself first

Someday you wish you were a better man

 I'd

 roll out of bed in the morning   

I think I could understand

                                                   

 But you're just a boy

If you thought I would wait for you

and I'd never get confronted for it

I would turn off my phone

              

We could ask students to listen to the song and fill in the gaps with the expressions below. 
In addition, students can be asked to underline sentences containing second conditional forms; in this way, they will be developing the listening skill as well as revising grammar at the same time.


Optionally, we can show the videoclip with the lyrics for students to check their answers


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WkXPPLiZOY

Finally, I would ask them to write a short paragraph with the title, If I were a boy/girl....


Any suggestions?