Just for a bit of fun and to encourage my B2.1 students to practise asking questions related to housework using the song “The Boy Does Nothing” by Alesha Dixonand while also learning how to use ‘nothing’ and dropping the habit of leaving out ‘do/does’ in questions.
By engaging with these questions, students can deepen their understanding of housework-related vocabulary and grammar while exploring cultural perspectives embedded in the song.
I hope you enjoy the activity!
Before we dive in, you might want to revise some vocabulary for house chores and of course, collocations related to this.
When we talk about ‘doing housework’, students usually find ‘make’, ‘do’ and other forms confusing.
For example, we say make the beds or do the washing-up. We also say things like ‘run an erran. This can be tricky, so here’s an activity where you must sort the words into the correct box according to what verb would typically be used with it.
- Vocabulary Acquisition:
- What housework-related vocabulary did you notice in the song lyrics?
- Can you identify any specific chores mentioned in the song?
2. Grammar Focus – Using “Does” in Questions:
- How does the song use the word “does” in the lyrics? Can you give examples of questions using “does” from the song?
3. Exploring “Nothing”
- How does the song incorporate the word “nothing” in relation to housework?
- Why do you think the concept of “nothing” is emphasized in the song’s lyrics?
4. Comparing Cultural Perspectives:
- How do the attitudes towards housework in the song’s lyrics compare to those in your own culture?
- Do you think the song portrays a realistic view of housework responsibilities?
Who said grammar couldn’t be fun!
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Ha, ha, ha! I’m really glad you were not venting against my lesson plan! Anyway, I did this class last week and my students had a great time. We teachers have to rack our brains out to deliver imaginative classes 😀
This comment is nothing to do with your lesson plan, it’s just I want to vent…
I HATE this song. The verse and the chorus have absolutely nothing to do with each other. She starts singing about her man who can’t dance… and ends up complaining that he doesn’t clean up. I’ve never understood it and can’t stand it.
vent over.
Sorry