15323 russian roulette

A LESSON PLAN:
Teacher: Mohammed I El Asri
School year: 2011 – 2012
Class Level: Intermediate and Upper
Materials: Handouts, VAs, CD player, CD ROM, and Classroom
Topic(s) of the lesson

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Interpreting the song Russian Roulette (Rihanna)
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Language Learning aims:
The learners are asked to
match words with definitions
read the text aloud
highlight keywords in a text
answer questions
listen to a song and fill in the missing words
find appropriate questions

Pre-listening:
Match the words in column A with those
in column B to make collocations.

Russian Roulette

By: Rihanna
Take a breath, take it deep
……………. (1) yourself, he says to me
If you play, you play for keeps
Take a ………….…(2) , and ………….…..(3) to three
I’m sweating now, moving slow
No time to ………...….(4), my turn to …………...(5)
[Chorus ]
And you can see my …………..…. (6) beating
You can see it through my …………..………(7)
And I’m terrified but I’m not leaving
Know that I must pass this ………….….……(8)
So just pull the ………………..……(9)
Say a ……………….…… (10) to yourself
He says close your eyes
Sometimes it helps
And then I get a............................. (11) thought
That he’s here means he’s never …………...….....(12)

COLUMN A
COLUMN B
take
yourself
calm
a test
pass
a breath
pull
the chance
say

the trigger
get
a prayer
IIWhile Listening:
Task 1: Listen to the song and fill in the gaps with the
words from the box.
trigger – scary – value – think – prayer – chance – lost –
flashes – test – chest – heart – go – count – calm – gun

Task 2: Read these definitions and decide which
concepts/words are meant.
1. It is a potentially lethal game of chance in which
participants place a single bullet in a revolver:
----------------------------------------------------------2. A small projecting tongue in firearm that, when
(Chorus)
pressed by the finger, actuates the mechanism that
discharges the weapon: -------------------------------As my life ……………...… (13) before my eyes
3. Thinking and speculating deeply: -------------------I’m wondering: “will I ever see another sunrise?”
4. Words which you say to God: -----------------------So many won’t get the ………….…(14) to say goodbye
5. Shine with a sudden bright light: -------------------But it’s too late too pick up the ……….(15) of my life
(Chorus)
Song Evaluation Criteria. Tick (√) YES or NO.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

8.
9.
10.

Is this song memorable?
Does it have useful English?
Is it easy to sing?
Is it easy to explain?
Is it tied up to your lives/fantasies?
Does it stimulate emotions?
Does it make you want to dance?
Does it relate to your age?
Is it suitable to your English level?
Would you recommend listening to
this song?

YES NO

Task 3: Answers these questions in your own words.
1. Why is the Russian roulette a dangerous game?
2. In your opinion, why does the speaker play this
game?
3. What shows that the speaker is terrified?
4. Will the speaker ever see another sunrise?
5. Did she shoot herself? How do you know that?
IIIPost listening:
Task 1: What does the speaker mean by the following?
1. “That he’s here means he’s never lost”
2. “My life flashes before my eyes”
3. “It’s too late to pick up the value of my life”

Task 2: A Singing Contest
1. Choral
2. Duet
3. Individual