How to Use Glee in Your English Club (Guide for Episode 1)

Sometimes students need to unwind after a long term or after a test week. Series are great ways to keep the students entertained with little supervision. But, instead of just showing mindless TV programs, rather show something which can be adapted to use to teach the students English too!

Glee is a great way to get your students exposed to a wide variety of music and dance styles. It also gives the students the opportunity to discuss “teenage issues” and share their ideas about it. Conversations and discussions can be adjusted to a variety of levels. The students can discuss a variety of issues such as bullying, stereotypes, relationships, career choices etc. One episode and its activities can take up to three days.

How to use Glee in your English Club (Guide for Episode 1).

Listening activity 1

Step 1: Hand out character name and picture list before watching the episode. Let the students try and fill in the names of the characters as the story progresses. (Students continue with this activity until they have all the names of all the characters. After they finish the name list – they can write about their favourite character).

Step 2: After watching the first episode, listen to one song (You’re the one that I want from Grease) (I prefer to choose songs which can be used to show different or unique dance styles as well as lyrics which are meaningful or which teach lessons to the students). Students listen to the songs and do fill in the blank activities. Afterwards, students watch the music videos.

Step 3: To teach students more about the 1950s, show the students pictures of the fashion. If there are students who are interested in dancing, they can practice the Grease dance OR students can do some research about 1950s Pop Culture.

Listening activity 2 and writing activity

Step 1: Students listen to another song (Respect by Aretha Franklin). They can do an unscramble the song activity or high level students can try to translate the song.

Step 2: Students write about what they think about what respect means to them.

Discussion activity

As a casual discussion activity, ask the students to decide which character they like best and why. Higher level students can speak without preparation, lower level students can speak after writing an answer down.

Who are they? Listen carefully when you watch the episode and try to find all of the characters’ names!