That's English! - Module 8 - Unit 5: The Music Industry

This a really amusing topic and we'll stat with our general questions, as usual:

• What kind of music do you prefer? Why? Is there a kind of music you can't stand?
• When and where do you usually listen to music? Compare your answer with your partner and try to see if you agree or you don't.
• Do you play a musical instrument? If not, what instrument would you like to play and why?
• Would you say  that your musical tastes have changed a lot? In what way? 
• Can you play any intruments? If so, when did you start? How well do you play? Do you practise very often? If not why not? Would you like to play an instrument? Why?
• Have you ever been to a concert? When was it? What was it like? Explain your experience
• Do you give any money to buskers (musicos callejeros)? Give reasons for your answer.
• Should music be used for political purposes like protest songs? Give reasons for your answer and think of examples in your country or in other places.

Activity 1

Here have you a listening exercise about Reading Festival. You can have a look and revise the vocabulary and to get some ideas to discuss with your partner. Click here

Activity 2

Listen to this radio programme and do the listening exercise: click here. Then discuss with your mate if you think that radio is dead or it's still alive; if you usually listen to the radio or if you buy music.

Activity 3

If you want to listen to some more audios about music you might like to see this about music in New Orleans: click here

Activity 4

Discuss with your partner about these statements and say if you agree or not. Give reasons for your answers.

• Downloading music shouldn't be penalised; it should be free
• Music is just a matter of business and marketing not quality
• Learning how to play a musical instrument should be compulsory at schools
• Music and politics shouldn't be mixed

If you are interested in this topic here are you  an article or an audio (you can use it as you like) about music and politics in the USA. Click here

Activity 5

A wonderful way of learning English is by using songs in order to improve your vocabulary, grammar structures and pronunciation. If you like you may use this link with songs;

• https://www.esolcourses.com/topics/easy-song-quizzes.html (there are different levels)
• watch this video to know how useful songs are for learning English: click here
• This is a list of songs I use in class:
• Don't Worry, Be Happy
• Someone Like You by Adele
• A Million Dreams by Pink
• When I was 7 years Old by Lukas Grahan
• If I Were a Boy by Beyonce
• Memory in Cats

Grammar reference: Defining relative clauses
As you can guess they are used to identify people (WHO/THAT), things (WHICH/THAT), places (WHERE) and moments or specific times (WHEN). The relative THAT  is more used in spoken English and we don't need to use it when it's NOT the subject of the subordinate clause.
If you want to know a bit more about this topic go to this link but pay attention because WHOSE (the possessive relative) is included.
To work with the relative clauses go to these exercises:

• exercise 1       exercise 2        exercise 3 this is with defining and non-defining relatives