Dictation is one way to check and improve your students’ listening level. However, it can be really boring for students.

Why not use a song for dictation? There’s a song I sometimes use for dictation in my English ESL class which is so good that the students enjoy the class even if it’s difficult.

You can show the Youtube video either at the beginning or end of the lesson, or not at all.  (Who knows, maybe the video will no longer be available when you want to show it.)

This version of the song, ‘Unchained Melody’ by Dan England performing on the TV Show Australian Idol  and just 1:45 minutes long, is perfect for a dictation for levels 3-5. For level 3, I pre teach some vocabulary: lonely; Verbs: flow, hunger, touch, Godspeed.

Here are the lyrics:

Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea, to the open arms of the sea.

Oh my love, my darling,

I’ve hungered for your touch a long, lonely time.

And time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much.

Are you still mine? ……… I need your love.

I need your love.

Godspeed your love to me.

Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that I recommend songs a lot. It really is one of the easiest ways to learn and remember English. Teachers, try this dictation and let me know how you go.

For English students who are reading this post, here’s my advice: Listen to the song and sing along. If you like the song, listen a few times. When you remember the song, you will   remember the grammar, the vocabulary, and the pronunciation. I’m sure that you will enjoy this modern version of a classic 60’s song.