Teachers' Tips

Review! Teach the Learner Encouragement Library Vocabulary Directions Jazz Chants Buildup Opportunity Begin Home

azz Chants These little jewels help non-native speakers get the "feel" of American English. The student learns the stress, rhythm and intonation patterns by "doing" them. It's a very effective and enjoyable way to learn. Check out Carolyn Graham's book Jazz Chants. It can be a great help in your classroom. Be sure to get her accompanying tape cassette, as it will give you the sense of jazz, timing and fun that must accompany them. (Address given below.)

Steps in teaching a jazz chant: Be sure students know all the key vocabulary. Write the chant on the board. Read the entire chant to the class. Read one line at a time and have students repeat the line until they can say most of the words. Add the rhythm (clapping, marching, pounding the table or a drum). Let the class do the rhythm and say it at the same time. Let "soloists" say it while everyone else claps. azz Chant #1 Here is a jazz chant I wrote after my trip to Costa Rica. You can insert any country or place instead of "Costa Rica" or "California." You model the first line and the students repeat it. Just snap your fingers or clap your hands to 4/4 time and chant away:

I went to Costa Rica one fine day. I went to Costa Rica one fine day. And what did I find? What did I find? Warm, loving people with hearts so kind, Warm, loving people with hearts so kind.

I have a class in California yes I do. I have a class in California yes I do. And what do I find? What do I find? Warm, loving people with hearts so kind, Warm, loving people with hearts so kind. I do, I do, I do, do, do. I do, I do, I do, do, do.

After the chant has been learned, divide into two groups. Group 1 chants the poem: "I went to Costa Rica one fine day..." Group 2 chants: "Warm people, Loving people, Hearts so kind." azz Chant #2 The Good Samaritan Lesson 5, Book 1 Chorus: Walkin', walkin', walkin' down the road. Walkin', walkin', walkin' down the road. I'm going to Jerusalem, walkin' down the road. Peace in my heart, not a care in the world. Chorus Along came some robbers, beat me on the head. Took all my money, left me for dead. Chorus Along came a rich man, dressed so fine. Stuck his nose in the air, he didn't have the time. Chorus Along came a poor man with a heart so kind. He took one look at me and changed his mind. Chorus He put me on his donkey, took me into town. True friend, true friend, couldn't let me down. Fade out: True friend, true friend, couldn't let me down. True friend, true friend, couldn't let me down. True friend, true friend, couldn't let me down. True friend, true friend, couldn't let me down.

et brave Write your own jazz chant with your class. Don't worry about trying to make the words rhyme, just snap your fingers for the rhythm and make up stories about your class. They love chanting about themselves. You can order a catalog or Carolyn Graham's Jazz Chants from: Oxford University Press, Inc. 2100 Evans Road Cary, North Carolina 27513 1-800-445-9714

More Teacher's Tips Review! Review! Review! Teach the Learner The Power of Encouragement A Trip to the Library Vocabulary: Increasing it the easy way Directions: Finding your way around Jazz Chants: Accent reduction and learning the rhythm of English Using a theme picture: Check out what they already know Clap the Stress: Accent reduction Clap the Stress: Learning the rhythm of the English language Backward Buildup: Help in learning long sentences

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ESL Ministry

Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church

1801 Lacassie Avenue  Walnut Creek  California 94596   925-935-1574

Joanne Rae Meads  jrmeads@worldnet.att.net

September 16, 1999

© Copyright 1999 by Joanne Meads, All Rights Reserved