Jennifer Hansen

Jazz Chants for Fluency Development

Objectives: To help students feel and recognize the rhythms of spoken English. To
show students that stress is on content words and contrast words. This lesson
shows two variations of a jazz chant lesson: one with a recording and one
without.
Materials: Copies of “My Blue Jeans” and “Sense of Direction” jazz chant for each
student. Recording of jazz chant (optional, but makes it more fun). “My blue
jeans” found at http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/listening/jazz-chants/mp3-
files-and-recording-scripts/
Warm up: Talk about the rhythms of languages. Does English put equal stress on
each syllable? “No-be-cause-you-would-sound-like-a-ro-bot.” English puts stress
on content words.
Procedure:
Activity 1:
-Play the recording of “My Blue Jeans” for the first time just for fun.
-Give each student a copy of the recording script, and play the recording again as
they listen and read at the same time.
-Put students into pairs and have them put a small circle above each word that is
stressed. Check their answers, then play the recording again as they listen and
check.
-Finally, play the recording one more time and have students sing along.
To help students identify the stress and rhythm, clap your hands in time to the
beat. Encourage them to do the same.
Activity 2:
-Pass out “sense of direction” chant worksheet.
-Demonstrate clapping on the content words and speaking the chant.
-Have students do it together with you.
-Discuss emphasis on contrast words.
Conclusion: For the final sing-a-long stage, divide the class into two groups, and
have each group sing a different section! Or have each student chant two lines
each while class claps along.
Linguistic and Instructional Principles Demonstrated: This activity helps students
practice stress and rhythm in spoken English. It raises awareness of English stress
on content words and contrast words. It will help them sound more natural when
they speak. Students will feel more confident in speaking and improve their
listening. The upbeat activity is motivating.
Jazz Chant and recordings can be found at:
http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/listening/jazz-chants/mp3-files-and-
recording-scripts/
 These are my blue jeans
That’s my shirt.
This red shirt?
No, that brown shirt.

Those are my shoes.

These brown shoes?
No, those black shoes.

This is my jacket.
That green jacket?
No, this blue jacket.

These are my jeans.

Those black jeans?
No, these blue jeans.

Those are my shorts.

These green shorts?
No, those white shorts.

Recording found at: http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/listening/jazz-

chants/mp3-files-and-recording-scripts/
I have a terrible sense of direction.
I never know which way to go.

This way or that way. This way or that way.

I never know which way to go.

I think that it’s that way, but maybe I’m wrong.

I never know which way to go.

I have a wonderful sense of direction.

I always know which way to go.

Turn left, turn right.

I always know which way to go.

I know that it’s that way. I’m never wrong.

I always know which way to go.