Monday 19 June 2006

Bring it all back (song)

One of the ways to celebrate the end of the school year is to sing the songs you learned during that year.
Here's a lively song my class VII3 learned this school year. The song was the first single of the band S Club 7, released in 1999:

Don't stop. Never give up.
Hold your head high and reach the top.
Let the world see what you have got.
Bring it all back to you.

Hold on what you try to be,
Your individuality.
When the world is on your shoulders
Just smile and let it go.

If people try to put you down
Just walk on by. Don't turn around.
You only have to answer to yourself.

Don't you know, it's true what they say,
That life, it ain't easy.
But your time's coming around,
So don't you stop trying.

Don't stop. Never give up.
Hold your head high and reach the top.
Let the world see what you have got.
Bring it all back to you.
Dream of falling in love
Everything you've been thinking of
When the world seems to get too tough
Bring it all back to you.

Try not to worry about a thing.
Enjoy the good times life can bring.
Don't keep it all inside you.
You gotta let the feeling show.
Imagination is the key
'Cause you are your own destiny.
You never should be lonely when time is on your side.

Don't you know, it's true what they say,
Things are sent to try you.
But your time's coming around,
So don't you stop trying.


Saturday 17 June 2006

I saw her standing there (song)

Here's how my class VII3 sang a song called 'I saw her standing there' in June 2006:

The song was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and recorded by The Beatles in 1963.

Here are the lyrics:

Well, she was just seventeen,
You know what I mean,
And the way she looked 
Was way beyond compare.
So how could I dance with another 
When I saw her standing there?

Well, she looked at me, 
And I, I could see
That before too long 
I'd fall in love with her.
No, she wouldn't dance with another 
When I saw her standing there.

Chorus
Well, my heart went "boom,"
When I crossed that room,
And I held her hand in mine.

Oh, we danced through the night,
And we held each other tight,
And before too long 
I fell in love with her.
Now I'll never dance with another 
Since I saw her standing there.
 
Chorus

We used some of these activities as warmers and follow-ups:
- Listen to the song and find out if a boy or girl is singing, where the two met, what happened, how they feel about each other now.
- Explain some of the expressions (e.g. The way she looked was way beyond compare = She looked beautiful).
- Identify the verbs in the past simple, regular and irregular.

Friday 16 June 2006

I'm only sleeping (song)

This is how my class VII3 sang a song called 'I'm only sleeping' in June 2006.

This song was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and recorded by The Beatles in 1966.

Here are the lyrics: 
 When I wake up early in the morning,
I lift my head, I'm still yawning.
When I'm in the middle of a dream,
I stay in bed, float upstream (Float upstream)
Please, don't wake me, 
No, don't shake me,
Leave me where I am. I'm only sleeping.

Everybody seems to think I'm lazy,
I don't mind, I think they're crazy.
Running everywhere at such a speed,
Till they find there's no need (There's no need).
Please, don't spoil my day, 
I'm miles away.
And after all I'm only sleeping.

Keeping an eye on the world 
Going by my window.
I'm taking my time.

Lying there and staring at the ceiling,
Waiting for a sleepy feeling
When I'm in the middle of a dream,
I stay in bed, float upstream (Float upstream)
Please, don't wake me, 

No, don't shake me,
Leave me where I am. I'm only sleeping.


Some of the warmers or follow-up activities were:
- Listen to the song and find out what the singer likes doing, what people think about him and what he thinks about them.
- Find and underline the words you think are about sleeping and  resting.
- Find the words that rhyme.
- Compare yourself to the singer (Do you find it difficult too get up in the morning?).

Thursday 15 June 2006

Every day (song)

This is how my class VII3 sang a an old song called 'Every Day' in June 2006.



This happy song was originally sung by Buddy Holly in the 1950s.

Here are the lyrics:

Every day it’s a-getting closer,
Going faster than a roller coaster.
Love like yours will surely come my way.

Every day it’s a-getting faster.
Everyone said ‘Go on up and ask her’.
Love like yours will surely come my way.

Every day
Seems a little longer.
Every way
Love’s a little stronger.
Come what may,
Do you ever long for
True love from me?

Sunday 11 June 2006

When I grow up (essay)

Last year of primary school... it is time to make a decision about my future profession. My opinion has changed from being a lawyer or an economist to becoming a journalist. It is my final decision.
This job is not easy, but it is so interesting and exciting. Since I am curious, lively and talkative, I think I would be good at my job.
This job is attractive because it offers a lot of opportunities, like travelling, meeting famous people, sightseeing or finding out more about the cultures of people from all over the world.
It also gives you a chance to help people. So many people and children in the world need help. With my job of a journalist, I could not help them like a doctor, but my help would be moral and with my work I would attract the attention of people who could help only if they wanted to. My friendship and support would make their lives a bit lovelier. I would organize parties, cultural programmes and fancy-dress balls... all this for them to forget about their problems.
On the other side, this job offers fun, glory and popularity. It is tempting to get acquainted with all the things in the world, with all its beauties, scarcenesses and surprises.
Meeting various people also has its magic. Interviews with some of them would be very unusual.
All these things make the job of a journalist. Are they not beautiful and enough to choose that profession? For me, they are.
Tijana Velemirov, VIII3, June 2006

It is important to know what you want to do when you grow up. Well, I want to be a doctor.
I enjoy helping people. Unfortunately, there are many people in this world who are very ill and I want to help them. There are also many sorts of incurable disease, like leukaemia, cancer or AIDS, and I want to find a cure for them.
The reason why I want to become a doctor is my dad. My father is a good doctor and I want to be just like him.
Medical studies are hard, but I am ready for every challenge. I want respect for my work and I also want to be an honourable man.
Health is very important. Many people do not see it. They smoke a lot, drink a lot of alcohol, and maybe use drugs. They do not understand what they are doing to themselves.
I hope I will fulfill my ambitions in the future.
Dragoljub Grujin, VIII4, June 2006

I am fourteen years old and I like motorbikes. My father has his own business where he sells Aprilia bikes. That is what I would like to do as well.
When I grow up I would like to do the same thing... maybe have my own little company. I already know a lot about motorbikes and races, since my dad takes me to fairs and motor exhibitions.
I think that the job is interesting because you travel a lot and meet some new people with the same interests. You get to know about the new models before the others. It is not only selling the bikes, but also the accessories that you can get if you want – helmets, jackets, boots or gloves. Nowadays, bikes also have fancy equipment, such as computers which measure speed, fuel, oil and tank, wheel shock absorbers which help you in curves...
My favourite brand is Suzuki. It is a Japanese factory, well-known in the world. It would be rather exciting to work for them in the future.
My biggest plan is to learn to design bikes.
I hope that these dreams will come true soon. I do not think that I will change my mind in the future.
Marko Grbić, VIII4, June 2006

When I grow up I want to become a computer programmer, because computers have become our future.
People who have knowledge of working with computers are the most wanted workers. They can get a job in every country and in every company. They make lots of money and the job is interesting.
I have been working on computers since I was five. My dad and my older sister had already known how to work on computers, so I learned from them.
I really like working on my computer, because every day I learn something new.
Since computers get better every day, the job of a computer programmer becomes more interesting. I would like to design video games and computer applications. I have dreamt about doing that for living ever since I was just a little kid.
Kids must think about their future profession on time, because they must be ready for life. It is important to choose the profession you really like. I have chosen my profession on time.
Damjan Fijat, VIII2, June 2006

Since I was a little girl I have always worried about what I want to be when I grow up.
Talking to my friends and family there has always been a big dilemma of what I want to become. Sometimes I wanted to do the things that actually could not be done. Now when I am more mature and older, I know exactly that I want to be a professor of P.E. in a primary school.
I would like to do this job because I love working with kids and being in great shape. Sports are the things I love most in my life.
I have trained judo for five years. Judo is the only thing that I do with pleasure and I am fully aware of my qualities. Gym is the place where, I think, I can give my hardest and my best. It is the place where I feel free and welcome to do what I want. When I see the space between two baskets, my heart starts beating faster.
I know that it is very hard to be a professor in general, but I will try to make the best out of my job.
Jovana Milešević, VIII1, June 2006

My family loves sport, and when I was little my father would regularly take me to watch football matches. Since then I have begun to love sport.
I have thought about my future and what I would like to do when I finish school. Well, I would like to be a coach or a teacher working with children and teaching sports such as basketball. As this is a team game, it would show children how you can win by working together. It would also give them opportunity to play in tournaments, therefore, to travel to places and countries they would not otherwise go to. I would like the children to have that feeling of joy when they play their first match. One of the nicest things about being in a team is that you make friends and have fun together. The bad thing is that you do get bumps, bruises and at times start to cry. All of this is what sport is all about and of which I take on and hope that one day I can pass my experience onto others.
As a future coach, I have a lot to learn and will try very hard to become the best. Basketball is part of my life and by working hard I hope to fulfill my ambition.

Marina Trkulja, VIII1, June 2006

I am Svetlana and I am fourteen. I like animals very much. My family has three cats so far.
I would like to be a vet when I grow up. I would like to work in a vet surgery and help sick cats and dogs. 
My cats have been ill a few times and I have taken them to the vet's. The lady who works there was very nice and kind to my pets. She managed to cure them every time. That is how I would like to spend my time.
It would be interesting to work in a zoo, to take care of all those unusual animals, especially monkeys. Once I saw on TV that the people from the Belgrade Zoo give some baby monkeys to a family to look after them until they are strong enough to mix with other monkeys. That is something I would like to do, or maybe to work in the baby zoo.
I am still young and my interests may change. Even if I do not become a vet, I will never stop loving animals. If I become something else, I might organise a society for animal protection, like they have in some western countries, to save the cats and dogs without owners. 
Svetlana Ugrinov, VIII3, June 2006

Saturday 3 June 2006

Fame (song)

This is how my class VIII1 performed a disco song from our coursebooks at the beginning of June 2006:

The song was originally sung by Irene Cara in 1983, and the lyrics are:

Baby you look at me
And tell me what you see.
You ain’t seen the best of me yet.
Give me time I’ll make you forget the rest.
I’ve got more than you
And you can set it free.
I can catch the moon in my hand.
Don’t you know who I am?
Remember my name.

Fame!
I’m gonna live forever.
I’m gonna learn how to fly
High!
I feel it coming together.
People will see me and cry
Fame!
I’m gonna make it to heaven.
Light up the sky like a flame.
Fame!
I’m gonna live forever.
Baby, remember my name

Baby, you hold me tight,
‘Cos you can make it right.
You can shoot me straight to the top.
Give me love and take all I’ve got.
Baby, I’ll return.
Too much is not enough.
I can ride your heart till it breaks.
Ooh, I’ve got what it takes.