The activities that my secondary school students enjoy the most is when I put together listening worksheets featuring their favorite pop songs from 2017. I also love Bieber so he is usually a regular star of my song gap fills!
Friends by Justin Bieber featuring Bloodpop is great for ages 11-19 for ESL learners. It’s a clean song with no inappropriate vocabulary.
It starts with a fill in the blank activity where they have to listen for which word fits where.
Secondly, they’ll match the two phrase halves together.
In the third exercise, the students have to put the sentences in the correct sequence that they hear it.
In the fourth exercise, they need to write a sentence using “ulterior motive” which is a phrase in the song. This gives you a chance to teach them what this means as well.
After this, the song repeats itself so I don’t continue with more song lyrics and instead take the opportunity to teach five new friend and relationship themed idioms. Explain the idioms to the kids and then have them fill in the blanks with the appropriate sentence.
This exercise shouldn’t take much longer than 25-30 minutes. If you want to extend the length of the activity, I’d have the kids write out their own sentences and scenarios using the friends idioms.
Justin Bieber – Friends ESL Worksheet:
1 – Fill the gaps with the words given:
ulterior wondering problems
I was ___________ ’bout your mama
Did she get that job she wanted?
Sell that car that gave her __________
I’m just curious ’bout her, honest
Know your wonderin’ why I been callin’
Like I got __________ motives
Know we didn’t end this so good
But you know we had something so good
2 – Match the lyrics of the chorus:
| a) So | ( ) still be friends |
| b) Can we | ( ) to end |
| c) Doesn’t have | ( ) it ends |
| d) And if | ( ) I’m wonderin’ |
Can we be friends?
3 – Number the sentences 1 to 4 according to the song:
( ) Actually, don’t answer that
( ) Wonderin’ if you got a body
( ) Wonderin’ if you think about me
( ) To hold you tighter since I left
4– Use “ulterior motive” in a sentence:
5 – “Friends” idioms: Fill in the blanks
See eye to eye (with someone)
Get on like a house on fire
Fair weather friend
Know someone inside out
Clear the air
- I just met Bob and we _________________! We have so many of the same interests.
- I’ve been best friends with Emily for 16 years.I know her ___________________.
- I can’t believe Joe didn’t help me move this weekend when he knew I needed help. He is such a __________________.
- I don’t __________________ with my boss about how we should sell cars. His approach is too aggressive.
- You really need to ___________________ with Laura. You two haven’t spoken for days and I know she misses you!
Click here if you want to download my Justin Bieber – Friends Listening Worksheet.
I have also included a second page answer key.
I hope your students enjoy it!
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