Talking about your favorite music

This ESL lesson plan is designed to help learners of all levels confidently discuss music, a universal topic that sparks engagement and cultural connection. By focusing on essential music-related vocabulary, practical phrases, and conversational skills, students will build the ability to express their preferences, describe music, and engage in meaningful dialogues.

The lesson incorporates interactive activities, audio-visual aids, and personalized tasks to make learning dynamic and relevant. From beginners mastering simple phrases like “I like pop” to advanced learners describing the vibe of a concert, this plan provides a structured yet flexible approach to improve speaking, listening, and vocabulary skills.

With cultural relevance and real-world application in mind, students will leave the lesson equipped to talk about their favorite songs, artists, and genres with ease.

Basic vocabulary

Start with essential words related to music and preferences. These should be simple and relevant to everyday conversations.

Vocabulary list

• Music: Sounds organized into songs or compositions.
• Song: A single piece of music with lyrics (e.g., “Happy” by Pharrell Williams).
• Band: A group of musicians playing together (e.g., The Beatles).
• Singer: A person who sings (e.g., Adele).
• Genre: A category of music (e.g., pop, rock, jazz).
• Favorite: Something you like the most.
• Listen: To hear and pay attention to music.
• Concert: A live music performance.
• Lyrics: The words of a song.
• Instrument: A tool used to play music (e.g., guitar, piano).

Teaching tips

• Use audio clips or pictures (e.g., a guitar, a concert stage) to illustrate vocabulary.
• Practice pronunciation, especially for tricky words like “genre” (/ˈʒɑːnrə/ or /ˈʒɒnrə/).
• Create a matching game: Pair words (e.g., “pop”) with examples (e.g., “Taylor Swift”).

Vocabulary for extension

To expand the learner’s ability to discuss music in more detail.

1. Album: A collection of songs released together (e.g., “Thriller” by Michael Jackson).
2. Rhythm: The beat or pattern of music.
3. Melody: The tune you hum or sing.
4. Live: A performance happening in real-time (e.g., “I saw a live concert”).
5. Playlist: A list of songs chosen to listen to.
6. Classic: Something old but still loved (e.g., “classic rock”).
7. Modern: New or current music.
8. Vibe: The feeling or mood of a song (e.g., “It has a happy vibe”).
9. Cover: A new version of a song performed by a different artist.
10. Festival: A large event with many music performances (e.g., Coachella).

Useful phrases

Teach simple sentence structures for discussing favorite music. These phrases should be adaptable and encourage self-expression.

Key phrases

1. Expressing preferences
   • “My favorite music is [genre].”
   • “I love listening to [singer/band/genre].”
   • “I really like [song/album].”
   • “I don’t like [genre] very much.”
2. Describing music
   • “It’s [fast/slow/relaxing/energetic].”
   • “The lyrics are [beautiful/sad/funny].”
   • “It has a great [rhythm/melody/vibe].”
3. Talking about habits
   • “I listen to music when I [study/work/relax].”
   • “I went to a [concert/festival] last [week/year].”
   • “I have a playlist for [working out/driving].”
4. Asking questions
   • “What’s your favorite music?”
   • “Do you like [singer/band/genre]?”
   • “What song are you listening to these days?”
   • “Have you been to a concert?”

Teaching tips

• Write phrases on a board or handout and have learners practice by inserting their own preferences (e.g., “My favorite music is jazz”).
• Model correct grammar, like “I like listening to jazz” instead of “I like listen jazz.”

Example conversations

Use short, realistic dialogues to model how to talk about favorite music. These examples progress from basic to more detailed exchanges.

Conversation 1: Basic exchange

Emma: Hi, what’s your favorite music?
Liam: I like pop music. My favorite singer is Billie Eilish.
Emma: Cool! Do you like her song “Bad Guy”?
Liam: Yes, it’s great! What about you?
Emma: I love rock. My favorite band is Coldplay.

Conversation 2: Adding details

Sofia: Do you like music, Ahmed?
Ahmed: Yes, I love hip-hop. My favorite artist is Kendrick Lamar.
Sofia: Nice! Why do you like his music?
Ahmed: His lyrics are very powerful, and the rhythm is cool.
Sofia: That’s awesome. I like jazz. It’s so relaxing.
Ahmed: Have you been to a jazz concert?
Sofia: Not yet, but I want to!

Conversation 3: More advanced

Jake: Hey, Mia, what music are you into?
Mia: I’m really into indie music. My favorite band is Tame Impala.
Jake: Oh, I know them! Their album “Currents” is amazing.
Mia: Totally! I love the melody in “Let It Happen.” It has such a great vibe.
Jake: Cool! Do you listen to music a lot?
Mia: Yeah, I have a playlist for studying. What about you?
Jake: I’m into classic rock, like Pink Floyd. I saw a cover band play their songs live last month.

Teaching tips

• Role-play these dialogues, switching roles to practice both asking and answering.
• Encourage learners to adapt the conversations with their own favorite music.
• In groups, have learners pair up and practice, asking at least two follow-up questions.

Teaching strategy

Here’s a step-by-step lesson plan (approximately 45 minutes).

Step 1: Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Ask: “What music do you listen to?” or “Who’s your favorite singer?” to engage learners.
• Play a short clip of a popular song and ask, “What genre is this?” (e.g., a pop or rock song).

Step 2: Vocabulary introduction (10 minutes)

• Present the core vocabulary using visuals (e.g., a picture of a guitar for “instrument”).
• Practice pronunciation and have learners repeat.
• Introduce 2-3 extension words (e.g., “album,” “rhythm”) and use examples (e.g., name a famous album).
• Play a quick game: Say a word (e.g., “pop”) and ask learners to name a singer or song in that genre.

Step 3: Phrase practice (10 minutes)

• Write key phrases on the board and model their use (e.g., “I love listening to jazz”).
• Have learners practice by substituting their own preferences (e.g., “My favorite music is ____”).
• Correct pronunciation and grammar as needed.

Step 4: Conversation practice (15 minutes)

• Read through one example conversation as a model.
• Role-play with learners or pair them up to practice the dialogues, using their own music preferences.
• Encourage adding one or two extension words (e.g., “The melody is beautiful”).
• Provide feedback on fluency and word choice.

Step 5: Wrap-up and personalization (5 minutes)

• Ask each learner to share one sentence about their favorite music (e.g., “My favorite band is BTS, and their music is energetic”).
• Introduce one more extension word (e.g., “playlist”) and ask, “What’s in your playlist?”
• Assign homework: Write 3-5 sentences about their favorite music or artist.

Additional tips

• Cultural relevance: Ask learners about music from their culture or country to make the lesson personal.
• Audio/visual aids: Play short song clips from different genres (e.g., jazz, hip-hop, classical) to illustrate vocabulary.
• Technology: Use a music streaming app (e.g., Spotify) to show playlists or search for artists mentioned by learners.
• Adapt for level: For beginners, focus on simple phrases like “I like pop.” For intermediate learners, encourage descriptive sentences like “The rhythm is fast, and the lyrics are funny.”
• Engagement: Create a fun activity like “Guess the Genre” where you play a song clip and learners guess if it’s pop, rock, etc.

Common mistakes to address

• Grammar: Learners might say “I like listen music” instead of “I like listening to music.” Emphasize the gerund form.
• Pronunciation: Words like “genre” or “lyrics” (/ˈlɪrɪks/) may be mispronounced. Practice these explicitly.
• Vocabulary confusion: Clarify “song” (one piece) vs. “album” (collection of songs) or “band” (group) vs. “singer” (individual).

Example activity: “Music match”

For group classes…

• Give each learner a card with a genre, artist, or song (e.g., “pop,” “Beyoncé,” “Bohemian Rhapsody”).
• Learners mingle, asking questions like “Do you like pop?” or “Is your favorite song ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’?” to find matches (e.g., someone with “pop” finds someone with “Beyoncé”).
• This encourages using vocabulary and phrases in a fun, interactive way.

Homework or follow-up

• Writing: Write a short paragraph (5 sentences) about your favorite music, using at least three new vocabulary words.
• Speaking: Record a 30-second audio answering “What’s your favorite music and why?”
• Research: Find a song in English and write down one line of its lyrics to share in the next class.

Extension for advanced learners

• Introduce more complex phrases like:
  • “This song reminds me of [memory/place].”
  • “I prefer [genre] because it’s more [adjective].”
  • “Have you heard [song/artist]? It’s a cover of [original song].”
• Discuss music preferences in context (e.g., “What music do you play at parties?”).
• Use all 10 extension words in a short writing or speaking task (e.g., “Describe a concert or festival you enjoyed, using words like ‘vibe,’ ‘melody,’ and ‘live’”).