Table of Contents
Listening Activity
This listening activity is based on the song “My Favorite Things “. The song lyrics are beautiful and ideal for English learners and include many interesting language topics, such as the simple future, conditionals, relative clauses, and going to + verb.
Let’s start with some information about the song!
My Favorite Things
My Favorite Things is a popular show tune, originally from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. This listening activity includes information about the song, a link to the lyrics, and the official video.
My Favorite Things (Sound of Music)
Level
Beginner and intermediate students.
Facts about the Song
- Song: My favorite things
- Album: Chinese Wall
- Published: 1959
- Genre: Musical
- Composer: Richard Rodgers
- Lyricist: Oscar Hammerstein II
Interesting Information about the Song
The story of Maria Augusta von Trapp served as an inspiration for the musical. The lyrics to the song are a reference to things Maria loves, such as “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens”. These are the things she selects to fill her mind with when times are bad.
The Video
The Lyrics
Language Points
The song includes many interesting language points:
Expressions that may be useful to students:
- Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things - When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad.
Listening Comprehension
Sentence Completion Exercise
Complete these sentences while listening to the song:
- Raindrops on roses and ________ on kittens.
- Bright copper kettles and warm ________ mittens.
- Cream-colored ponies and crisp ________ strudels.
- Wild geese that fly with the ________ on their wings.
- Girls in white dresses with blue ________ sashes.
Gap-Fill Exercise
These words are used in the lyrics of the song:
- Sleigh – A vehicle on runners used for conveying people or goods over snow or ice, often pulled by horses.
- Whiskers – Long, stiff hairs growing on the face of a cat, rat, or other mammals, typically near the mouth.
- Mitten – A type of glove that covers the hand but does not have separate fingers.
- Geese – Plural of goose, a large waterbird with a long neck, short legs, webbed feet, and a short broad bill.
- Strudel – A type of pastry filled with fruit, nuts, or cheese, often associated with Austrian cuisine.
- Sash – A long strip or loop of cloth worn over one shoulder or around the waist, especially as part of a uniform or ceremonial dress.
- Schnitzel – A thin slice of meat, usually breaded and fried, commonly found in German and Austrian cuisine.
Complete these sentences with the words provided above:
- The chef prepared a delicious apple ________ for dessert, filled with cinnamon and sugar.
- She wore a red ________ across her waist to complement her formal dress.
- The ________ bells jingled as the horses pulled the sleigh through the snow.
- The cat’s ________ twitched as it curiously watched the bird outside the window.
- He put on his thick ________ to keep his hands warm during the winter hike.
- A flock of ________ flew across the sky, heading south for the winter.
- We ordered a traditional ________ with a side of potatoes at the German restaurant.
Source: Wikipedia