There have been times in my teaching career when I’ve wished I could play a musical instrument or could at least be certain I was singing in tune, nevertheless I’ve always been an enthusiast for using songs in my classroom even if I’ve had to rely on cassettes or CDs for backup. There are a lot more really good song packages out there now that primary languages are taking off but I can still remember all the words from ‘Un kilo de Chansons’ by Jasper Kay and if I can remember the words I know my pupils also retained them. Sometimes I bump into former pupils and they remind me of the ’sing songs’, including the actual lyrics, we used to have in class or maybe in the coach on a trip to France. Such is the power of song. It’s just a pity that ‘Un kilo de Chansons’ has never been reproduced on CD instead of cassette and that the cassette is so expensive. I think I’ll contact Mary Glasgow and see if they have any plans to reissue.
‘Singing French‘ by A.C. Black has many catchy numbers and is almost the modern equivalent to ‘Un kilo de Chansons’; I like it very much (but watch out, there are a couple of mistakes in the French which I’ve informed the publishers about).
Having said all that about CDs and cassettes, at Essex West RSG I landed up by relying on my own voice for inroducing them to some Songs and Rhymes and Stories. They were a very small group but very enthusiastic and I really enjoyed working with them.
Here is what Chantal Darke Comenius East Regional Manager had to say about the session:
“This session was a real treat for the participants - everything Jan demonstrated was amply supported by resources, books, puppets, animations, models and music. Using what seemed a veritable magician’s workshop of accessories. Jan taught us some classical French childrens’ rhymes and games, finger rhymes and songs, and showed some German and Spanish resources too. Perhaps one of the most unusual features of Jan’s session was that particpants went away armed with website addresses of where to obtain - at little or no cost - the kind of support items which make all the difference to the teaching of these stories songs and rhymes. Particularly memorable were the acccesories for “Le grand monstre vert”. Another addition to the session was that a couple of participants had brought along their Yr 5/6 children - so we even had proper “pupils” present to see how various aspects of the activities might appeal. This was a very successful session and we left determined to invite Jan back at a future occasion.”
Chantal Darke
