Using Waist Deep In The Big Muddy by Pete Seeger for Verb Complements

(TESOL Worksheets--Word Patterns, Using Songs to Teach Grammar, Transitive and Intransitive)

Google Drive Folder HERE

* Worksheet: docs, pub

* Youtube Video HERE

I used this to supplement the lesson on verb complements for Q Skills 5 Reading and Writing p.146-148.  I'm not entirely happy with this, but like a lot of my worksheets, it was done on a deadline.  (I was rushing to get this done right before class.)  I wanted some sort of context to put the verbs in.  (None was provided by the textbook.)  I thought a short song that told a story might work.  I ended up settling on this song.  

I don't know... I might come back to this someday and see if I can fix it up any.  For the moment, though, here it is.

It was back in nineteen forty-two, I was a member of a good platoon.

We were on maneuvers in Louisiana one night by the light of the moon.

The captain told us to ford a river, That's how it all begun.

We were knee deep in the Big Muddy, the big fool says to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure this is the best way back to the base?"

"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river about a mile above this place.

It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging. We'll soon be on dry ground."

We were waist deep in the Big Muddy. The big fool says to push on.

While the Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment, no man will be able to swim."

"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie," The Captain said to him.

"All we need is a little determination; Men, follow me, I'll lead on."

We were neck deep in the Big Muddy. The big fool says to push on.

All at once, the moon clouded over, We heard a gurgling cry.

A few seconds later, the captain's helmet was all that floated by.

The Sergeant said, "Turn around men! I'm in charge from now on."

And we just made it out of the Big Muddy with the captain dead and gone.

We stripped and dived and found his body stuck in the old quicksand.

I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper than the place he'd once before been.

Another stream had joined the Big Muddy about a half mile from where we'd gone.

We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy when the big fool said to push on.

Well, I'm not going to point any moral, I'll leave that for yourself

Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking, you'd like to keep your health.

But every time I read the papers them old feeling comes on;

We're waist deep in the Big Muddy, the big fool says to push on.

Waist deep in the Big Muddy, the big fool says to push on.

Waist deep in the Big Muddy, the big fool says to push on.

Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a Tall man will be over his head, 

We're waist deep in the Big Muddy! The big fool says to push on!

Sort these verbs into categories

Verbs followed by an object (transitive)	Verbs followed by 2 objects (ditransitive)	verbs without an object (intransitive)	Verbs followed by a prepositional phrase	Verbs followed by Ving form	other patterns

Sort these verbs into categories

Verbs followed by an object (transitive)	Verbs followed by 2 objects (ditransitive)	verbs without an object (intransitive)	Verbs followed by a prepositional phrase	Verbs followed by Ving form	other patterns

Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves by Cher: "used to" and "would" for repeated actions in the past

(TESOL Worksheets--Used to, Would+base form)
Worksheet: docs, pub
Slideshow (for pre-listening): slides, pub
[Notes: I had previously used Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield for would + base form for repeated actions in the past.  But upon reflection, I've decided that I actually like Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves better.  It has a story-line that's easier to identify, and thus easier to talk about the difference between repeated actions and single actions.  And it has instances of both "used to" and "would" so it works good for introducing both grammar points.  It's a melodramatic song, admittedly, but sometimes over-the-top is good for the EFL classroom.  (Subtlety is not good for EFL students).  Although there is teenage pregnancy in this song, so use with caution in conservative environments.
In my lesson, I first used the slides to elicit from students what they knew about gypsies.  In my class, the Vietnamese students didn't know much, so I used the pictures to help guide them, and also supplied relevant vocabulary from the pictures (e.g. wagon, travelling show).
(I felt a bit worried that I was playing too much into stereo-types here, but the song relies on these stereo-types, so what are you going to do?  I believe in its day, this song was regarded as a sympathetic portrayal of Gypsies.  I'm not sure--is this song politically incorrect nowadays, or is it still okay to use? )
Then, I told the students that the song was a story about a girl born in one of the Gypsy wagons.  I told the students the song was going to be the story of what happened to her when she grew up, and  asked the students to talk about what they thought was going to happen with a partner.  Predictions are then elicited onto the board.  Then we played the song, and checked the predictions.  Then I handed out the lyrics sheet, the students listened again and sorted out the verbs into past actions that happened once, and past actions that happened repeatedly.  They checked with a partner, I gave them the answer sheet, and then I elicited from them which structures are used to talk about repeated past actions in English.]

Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves by Cher

I was born in the wagon of a travelling show

My mama used to dance for the money they'd throw

Papa would do whatever he could: preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of doctor good

Gypsies, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsies, tramps, and thieves

But every night all the men would come around and lay their money down

Picked up a boy just south of Mobile

Gave him a ride, filled him with a hot meal

I was sixteen, he was twenty-one

Rode with us to Memphis

And papa would’ve shot him if he knew what he'd done

Gypsies, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsies, tramps, and thieves

But every night all the men would come around

And lay their money down

I never had schooling but he taught me well

With his smooth southern style

Three months later I'm a gal in trouble

And I haven't seen him for a while, uh-huh

I haven't seen him for a while, uh-huh

She was born in the wagon of a travelling show

Her mama had to dance for the money they'd throw

Grandpa'd do whatever he could: Preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of doctor good

Gypsies, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsies, tramps, and thieves

But every night all the men would come around

And lay their money down

Gypsies, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsies, tramps, and thieves

But every night all the men would come around

And lay their money down

Verbs for a single action in the past

Verbs for a repeated action in the past

Answers:

Single Action in the past	Repeated action in the past
I was born [We] Picked up a boy [We] Gave him a ride [We] Filled him with a hot meal [He] Rode with us to Memphis She was born	My mama used to dance they’d throw Papa would do whatever he could: Preach… sell… We’d hear it They’d call us all the men would come around and lay their money down Her mama had to dance Grandpa’d do whatever he could

Other Structures

State verbs (past)	Mixed Conditional	Historic Present
I was sixteen, he was twenty-one I never had schooling	Papa would’ve shot him if he knew what he’d done.	I’m a gal in trouble I haven’t seen him (present perfect)

Present Tense Verbs using "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke

(TESOL Worksheets--Verb Forms General)
Google: docs, pub
[Notes: I was teaching out of a textbook (Close-up C1 p.10) that required reviewing all 4 aspects of the present tense in one lesson (present simple, present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous).  The textbook did not provide any context, so I was searching for some song that would illustrate all 4 aspects.  In the end, I couldn't find a song that had all 4 aspects in it.  (If someone can think of one, please let me know.)  But this song had 3 out of the 4 aspects, so I figured it was close enough.  Plus it's really slow and easy to listen to and has a beautiful melody, so I think it's good to use in the classroom.  (I had previously used it as a TESOL Songsheets.)]

A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke (1964)

I was born by the river in a little tent 

Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since 

It's been a long, a long time coming 

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will 

It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die 

Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky 

It's been a long, a long time coming 

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will 

I go to the movie and I go downtown

 somebody keep telling me don't hang around 

It's been a long, a long time coming 

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will 

Then I go to my brother 

And I say brother help me please 

But he winds up knocking me 

Back down on my knees 

Ohhhhhhhhh..... 

There've been times that I thought I couldn't last for long 

But now I think I'm able to carry on 

It's been a long, a long time coming 

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Present Tense Verbs	Present Simple	Present Continuous	Present  Perfect	Present Perfect Continuous

Find verbs in the song matching these descriptions.  Which verbs are they:

1. These verbs describe a condition that started in the past and continued until now.  The speaker imagines this as a state that is always true, all the time.

verb name:

examples: 

2. These verbs describe how the speaker is feeling now.

verb name:

examples: 

3. These verbs describe an action that started in the past and continues until now.  The speaker imagines this as an action that he repeats or continues over and over again.

verb name:

examples: 

4. An indefinite experience in the past.  From what the speaker has said, we know it’s sometime in the past, but we don’t know exactly when.

verb name:

examples: 

5. These verbs describe habits or things that happen repeatedly.  They are not necessarily happening exactly now, but they’ve happened often before and will happen again.

verb name:

examples: 

Answers:

Present Tenses	Present Simple	Present Continuous	Present  Perfect	Present Perfect Continuous
	I know, I’m afraid, I go to the movies, I go downtown, keeps telling, I go to my brother, I say, He winds up,  I think, I’m able		It’s been a long time coming, It’s been too hard living, There’ve been times	I’ve been running

Other forms	going to future	will future (simple)	imperatives	Infinitives (simple)	Past simple
	a change gonna (is going to) come	yes it will	brother help me please, don’t hang around	to die	was born (passive), I thought, I couldn’t last

Answers:

Find verbs in the song matching these descriptions.  Which verbs are they:

1. These verbs describe a condition that started in the past and continued until now.  The speaker imagines this as a state that is always true, all the time.

verb name: Present Perfect

examples: It’s been a long time coming, It’s been too hard living

2. These verbs describe how the speaker is feeling now.

verb name: Present Simple

examples: I know, I’m afraid, I think, I’m able

3. These verbs describe an action that started in the past and continues until now.  The speaker imagines this as an action that he repeats or continues over and over again.

verb name: Present Perfect Continuous

examples: I’ve been running 

4. An indefinite experience in the past.  From what the speaker has said, we know it’s sometime in the past, but we don’t know exactly when.

verb name: Present Perfect

examples: There’ve been times

5. These verbs describe habits or things that happen repeatedly.  They are not necessarily happening exactly now, but they’ve happened often before and will happen again.

verb name: Present Simple

examples: I go to the movies, I go downtown, keeps telling me, I go to my brother, I say, He winds up,