1
2015. AO DEL BICENTENARIO LUCTUOSO DE JOS MARA MORELOS Y
PAVN
Escuela Secundaria oficial Nm. 534
5 de Febrero
English Project
Christmas carols
Teacher:
Yeslen Camacho Hernandez
Date:
1.1. BACKGROUND
WORD ORIGIN
The word carol or carole is a medieval word of French and Anglo-Norman origin, believed
to mean a dance song or a circle dance accompanied by singing. Broadly defined, carols
express religious joy and is often associated to the Christmas season. Carols are also used to
describe late medieval English songs on various subjects with a verse and refrain. Often the
verse
and
refrain
(also
called
burden)
alternates.
HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS
It is unclear when the first carol was written but it is believed that circa 1350 to 1550 is the
golden age of English carols and most of the carols followed the verse-refrain pattern.
During the 14th century carols became a popular religious song form. The theme often
revolved around a saint, the Christ child or the Virgin Mary, at times blending two
languages such as English and Latin.
By the 15th century the carol was also considered as art music. During this time, elaborate
arrangements were made and carols were considered an important contribution to English
medieval music.
The Fayrfax Manuscript, a court songbook featuring carols, was written by the end of the
15th century. The songs were written for 3 or 4 voices and themes were mostly on the
Passion of Christ.
By the 16th century though, the popularity of carols faltered, almost disappearing entirely if
not for the revival that happened by the middle of the 18th century. Most of the carols we
know today were written during this period.
1.2. JUSTIFICATION
THE IMPORTANCE AND THE ROLE OF SONGS IN LANGUAGE TEACHING
In our time, it is hard to escape music and song as it occupies ever more of the world
around us: in operating theatres, restaurants and cafs, shopping malls (muzak), at sports
events, in our cars, and literally everywhere. It would seem that the only place music and
song is slow to catch on is in schools (T. Murphey, p. 4). And it is exactly schools, that
could use the best and the most the immense potential a song disposes. Songs have a place
in the classroom for helping create that friendly and co-operative atmosphere so important
for language learning, but they can offer much more, claims D. T. Griffee, and I will try to
complete his idea by giving other instances of the importance songs have.
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
In the previous chapter we referred to the cultural significance of some songs in the past.
However, it is also the present culture in more modern songs that has its meaning. To sum
up: Bringing a song into the classroom entails bringing the culture of the song in with it.
And thus songs can be used as a way of looking at a culture and comparing it with other
cultures (D. Griffee, p. 5). From this point of view, it can be perfectly used as a crosssectional topic. I would like to add to this contemplation about the importance of cultural
background of songs in language teaching Dale T. Griffees statement. Songs are part of
what makes a generation a generation and the current generation is a global.
THE HELP OF SONGS WHEN LEARNING PRONUNCIATION
Songs can be very helpful as far as learning pronunciation is concerned. They provide the
authentic language with all its traps (such as connected speech, different pronunciation of
the same sound, or difficult pronunciation of some words) laid for learners, who should be
exposed to it as much as possible to strengthen their ability to understand it. In the
following subsections we will concentrate on three areas of difficulties in pronunciation
(sounds, words, connected speech), and on explaining why songs can be useful when the
learners are caught into these traps of language
In short words. Music improves listenings students and it makes them understand words at
the moment of listening, so this thing make students be ready for the real live in a real
contexts where culture and listening take an important place to communicate each other.
1.2.1 WHY TO TEACH CHRISTMAS CAROLS
As we read, in the justifications, they make students involve themselves in the English
culture and thought Christmas carols students can improve different language skills, so
Christmas carols are an excellent recourse to encourage students, due to the like singing
and celebrate Christmas in fact.
For this reason this Christmas carols project pretend use the previous knowledge that
students have and combine them with a new vocabulary and new expressions (idiomatic
expressions) that only English speakers have.
1.3 THE PROJECT
Basically, the project consist on teaching students a Christmas carol taking into account the
level in which they are in, so during the classes students practice the Christmas carols,
Christmas expressions, vocabulary related to Christmas, pronunciation, rhythm and
intonation.
1.3.1 DISTRIBUTION
GRADE AND GROUP
ST
1 A
1ST B
2ND A
2ND B
3RD A
3RD B
CHRISTMAS CAROL
The Little Drummer Boy
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Rudolf The Red Nosed Render
Silent Night
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Jingle Bells
1.3.2. EVALUATION
Each Christmas carol is going to be evaluated taking into account, the abilities that each
group show, attitude to the activity, organization, Christmas carol learned, Pronunciation
and fluency, rhythm and choreography, clothing.
Evaluation
Christmas carol learned
20%
Pronunciation and fluency
20%
Attitude to the activity and organization
20%
Rhythm and choreography
20%
clothing
20%
Total
100%
The evaluation is going to be given by a judgment, which is going to grade each point of
the evaluation, they are going to show who is going to be the winner as: 1 st, 2nd and 3rd
place. Based on the evaluation sheets that they are going to have and a copy of the lyrics of
each Christmas carol.
Note: the judgment and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place are going to get an acknowledgment of
participation.
1.3.3. TIMETABLE
It is pretend that the event stars 5:10 in order to put in order all the elements that this event
require, such as: judgment table, audio testing, materials, etc.
At 6:00 the event is going to taking place and so on each group will have the enough time
to present their Christmas carol.
TIME
6:00 pm
6:10 pm
6:20 pm
6:30 pm
6:40 pm
6: 50 pm
7:00 pm
GRADE AND GROUP
ST
1 A
1ST B
2ND A
2ND B
3RD A
3RD B
Judgement
VO.BO
EL DIRECTOR
CHRISTMAS CAROL
The Little Drummer Boy
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Rudolf The Red Nosed Render
Silent Night
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Jingle Bells
Results
ELABOR
___________________________________
_______________________________________
PROF.
PROFA: YESLEN CAMACHO HERNANDEZ
APPENDIX
Little Drummer Boy
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
Baby Jesus, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?
Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum.
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas - (3)
And a Happy New Year
We wish you a Merry Christmas - (3)
And a Happy New Year
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin.
Good tidings for Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Now bring us some figgy pudding - (3)
And a cup of good cheer
We won't go until we get some - (3)
So bring it right here
We wish you a Merry Christmas - (3)
And a Happy New Year
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin.
Good tidings for Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Now, bring us some figgy pudding - (3)
And a cup of good cheer
We won't go until we get some - (3)
So bring it right here
We wish you a Merry Christmas - (3)
And a Happy New Year
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose
Donder and Blitzen
and if you ever saw it
But do you recall
you would even say it glows.
The most famous reindeer of all
All of the other reindeer
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
used to laugh and call him names
had a very shiny nose
They never let poor Rudolph
and if you ever saw it
join in any reindeer games.
you would even say it glows.
Then one foggy Christmas eve
All of the other reindeer
Santa came to say:
used to laugh and call him names
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
They never let poor Rudolph
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
join in any reindeer games.
Then all the reindeer loved him
Then one foggy Christmas eve
as they shouted out with glee,
Santa came to say:
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
you'll go down in history!
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
You know Dasher, and Dancer, and
Then all the reindeer loved him
Prancer, and Vixen,
as they shouted out with glee,
Comet, and Cupid, and
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
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you'll go down in history!
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born
11
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
You better Watch out
He's making a list checkin it twice,
you better not cry,
he's gonna find out whos naughty or
nice,
you better not pout i'm tellin' you why,
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when your sleepin'
He's making a list checkin it twice,
he's gonna find out whos naughty or
nice,
Santa Claus is coming to town.
he knows when your awake,
he knows if you been bad or good
so be good for goodness sake.
You better Watch out
you better not cry,
He sees you when your sleepin'
you better not pout i'm tellin' you why,
he knows when your awake,
he knows if you been bad or good
Santa Claus is coming to town.
so be good for goodness sake.
Cause, Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town.
You better Watch out
you better not cry,
you better not pout i'm tellin' you why,
Santa Claus is coming to town.
12
Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow
Misfortune seemed his lot
In a one horse open sleigh
We got into a drifted bank,
O'er the fields we go,
And then we got upsot.
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tail ring,
Jingle bells, jingle bells
They make a spirits bright
Jingle all the way
What fun it is to laugh and sing
Oh, what fun it is to ride
A sleighing song tonight.
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh.
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Now the ground is white
Jingle all the way
Go it while you're young
Oh, what fun it is to ride
Take the girls tonight
In a one horse open sleigh.
And sing this sleighing song
Just get a bob tailed bay
A day or two ago,
two-forty as his speed
I thought I'd take a ride,
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
And crack! you'll take the lead
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank
Oh! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
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Jingle all the way!
Jingle all the way!
Oh, What fun it is to ride
Oh, What fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh.
In a one horse open sleigh.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
