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Writing Activity How To Make Jam Sandwiches

This English writing activity is designed to get students to write clear and precise descriptions.  Their goal is to write explicit step by step instructions about how to make a jam sandwich. Then the teacher attempts to make the sandwich using real bread and jam in front of the class, following the students instructions. This is a common early years activity in UK schools. For second language learners understanding the in and on prepositions correctly can be difficult. Giving a visual show of trying to make the jam sandwich from their instructions with real ingredients helps students to see their mistakes in action and cements their corrections. As a teacher you can decide how difficult you make this activity. For lower level students using the correct verbs of cut and spread may be sufficient. For higher level students you could pretend that you don't know what bread, a knife or jam are and they would need to describe these items too.  How to Introduce The Sandwich Technic...
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10 Pop Songs That Use Subjunctive Mood

What Is The Sunjunctive Mood In English Grammar?

Subjunctive mood is an English grammar point that is used to talk about hypothetical or imaginary situations. One very common subjunctive mood phrase is "if I were..." this phrase is found in many song lyrics. 

How Can Pop Songs Help Teach English Grammar?

Strengthen your grammar lessons with culturally relevant, natural exposure by using English pop songs in the English classroom. Music also helps to enhance memorisation. Check out these English pop songs which highlight the use of subjunctive mood.

Subjunctive mood English pop song music class lesson grammar

10 Pop Songs That Highlight The Subjunctive Mood

If I Were a Boy Beyonce (2008)

"If I were a boy, I would turn off my phone tell everyone it's broken so they'd think that I was sleeping alone. "


Me Too Megan Trainor (2020)

"If I was you, I'd wanna be me too."


If I Could Turn Back Time Cher (1989)

"If I could turn back time, if I could find a way, I'd take back those words that have hurt you and you'd stay."


If I Didn't Have You Randy Travis (1992)

"If I didn't have you, I'd long ago been left in the dark out in the cold."


If I Were You Blackbear ft. Lauv (2020)

"If I were you and you were me, I would say goodbye turn around and leave."


If I Were A Rich Girl Gwen Stefani (2004)  

"If I was a wealthy girl, no man could test me" 

If I Were A Rich Girl from Gwen Stafani samples If I Were A Rich Man by Barbara Striesand, teaching the two together makes for a fun English pop song class.


If I Were A Rich Man by Barbara Striesand (1964) 

If I Were A Rich Man is from the 1971 movie Fiddler on The Roof. This song contains non lexical vocables like biddy biddy bum which always makes it fun to teach.

"If I were a wealthy man, I wouldn't have to work hard".


If You Had My Love Jennifer Lopez (1999)

"If you had my love and I gave you all my trust would you comfort me?"


If I had A Milion Dollars Barenaked Ladies (1992)

"If I had a million dollars, well I'd buy you a house."


If I Told You That Whitney Huston & George Michael (2000)

"If I told you that I have feelings for you," There are several other examples of subjunctive mood in this emotive classic from these pop mega stars.


Have you used music to teach grammar before? Share your favourite songs that use subjunctive mood in the comments.

Check out the Songs Using Subjunctive Mood Playlist on Youtube.

You may also like this post about learning English from song lyrics

subjunctive mood English grammar examples in music pop songs lyrics


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