Because famous songs are used in this task, another interesting way of song presentation is to introduce deliberate mistakes into the lyrics. This manipulation of comprehensible input forces students to negotiate the meaning from context when doing the task and it also forces them to be creative when developing the task. As with most listening activities, students learn more if they are asked to correct the mistakes before listening. If possible, other activities should also be included in the learner materials. These can include vocabulary exercises, comprehension exercises, discussion tasks, and links with other materials, such as a reading.
Songs are an excellent launching pad for discussion classes as their meaning is often ambiguous.
By including a few simple discussion questions on the topic of the song, learners are amazed at the different interpretations, and the personal nature of music encourages even the most reticent student to express opinions freely. As a musician and songwriter, I sometimes bring to class materials based on my own songs, and, each year, at least one or two musically inclined students reciprocate by bringing in songs that their bands have written. While teachers occasionally may have to listen to some dreadful music, students are always interested in classmates' compositions. Students can compose their own melodies or change the words of standards. These songs can then be incorporated into learner materials for use with the whole class or in groups.