DVD Learning [easy]

6 easy steps to learning English with CDs [easy -medium]

Working with a CD can be a fun-filled and time-effective way of familiarizing yourself with new vocabulary and grammar. In this article we introduce an easy 6-step home-study method, using the song Que Sera by Doris day.



Step 1: Comprehension of spoken word
Pick a song from a CD of your choice. Listen to it, line by line, and stop after each sentence sung to write down the words. After 3 attempts, go on to the next line. Continue until the end of the song and then check your text against the CD booklet lyrics provided. Mark the words you did not get and then play the song, paying special attention to how the different words sound.


Step 2: Expand your vocabulary
Underline all the words you do not know in the text. Look them up in an English-English dictionary (advanced) or an English-German dictionary (beginner to intermediate levels). Write the new words down on memory flash cards, and also write the German meaning above the English text. Familiarize yourself with the new words.


Step 3: Fun-filled vocabulary game
Print out the lyrics, erase the difficult words - or words you personally have difficulties with. Go through the song a few times, and after some days look at the lyrics with some of the words being blank and sing them - or listen to the song - filling in the missing words


Step 4: Grammar
Underline the verbs in the text, and find the tenses used with the help of the practical LBT column table (click this link to get directly to the table). Find interesting phrases and underline them.


Step 5: Parts of speech
Look at the statements in the text, and turn these into questions. Example: if the text says: I loved you, turn this sentence into a question: did you love me? And so on…


Step 6: Learn the new vocabulary and grammar
Sing the song in the privacy of your own home, referring to the text you have written down. Keep singing it daily, until you know the text by heart and the words and phrases become ingrained in your own vocabulary – a time-effective and easy way to expand your vocabulary and have fun along the way!

Vocabulary:

comprehension - Verständniss
pick a song – Wählen Sie/wähle einen Song
write down – Schreiben Sie nieder / Schreibe nieder
attempt/attempts – Versuch, Versuche (Verb: to attempt – versuchen)
pay special attention to ... – widme … besondere Aufmerksamkeit
expand - erweitern

underline – unterstreiche/unterstreichen Sie
look them up – schau sie nach
to look something up – etwas nachsehen/schauen
to look someone up – jemanden aufsuchen)
meaning - Bedeutung
familiarize yourself – Machen Sie sich / mach Dich vertraut (mit)…

underline – Unterstreichen Sie / Unterstreiche
find the tenses used – finden Sie / finde die benutzten Zeitformen
with the help of – mit Hilfe von
interesting phrases – interessante Sätze
look at – Sehen Sie (sich) an / Sieh (Dir) an
statement/s – Aussage, Aussage

turn these into – ändern Sie diese in / ändere diese in
if – wenn/falls
referring to – bezugnehmend auf
keep singing it – Machen Sie / Mach weiter damit, es zu singen
you know the text by heart – du kennst / Sie kennen den Text auswendig
become – werden – (im Sinne von verwandeln) => NICHT: bekommen!!!!
to become ingrained – ein Teil werden von

Que sera (by Doris Day)	Que sera (by Doris Day)
When I was just a little girl	When = als / just = gerade
I asked my mother
what will I be	will = werden (Zukunft) NICHT: wollen !!!!
will I be pretty	pretty = hübsch (üblicherweise für Frauen/Mädchen)
will I be rich
here's what she said to me	say (said/said) = sagen
Que sera sera
whatever will be will be	whatever = was auch immer
the future`s not ours to see
que sera sera
what will be will be
When I grew up	grow up (grew up/grown up) = erwachsen werden
and fell in love	fall in love (fell/fallen) = sich verlieben
I asked my sweetheart	sweetheart = Liebling
what lies ahead
will we have rainbows
day after day	day after day = Tag für Tag
here's what my sweetheart said:
Que sera sera
whatever will be will be
the future's not ours to see
que sera sera
what will be will be
Now I have children of my own	Now = jetzt / of my own = eigene
they ask their mother	their = ihre
what will be
will I be handsome	handsome = gutaussehend (üblicher Gebrauch für Männer)
will I be rich
I tell them tenderly	tender (adj.) = zärtlich / tenderly (adv.) = zärtlich/auf zärtliche Art und Weise
Que sera sera
whatever will be will be
the future's not ours to see
que sera sera
what will be will be

Que sera (Doris Day)

_______I _______ just a little girl

I asked my mother

what _______I be

________I be pretty

________I be rich

here's what she_______ to me



Que sera sera

whatever _________ be be

the future's not __________ to see

que sera sera

what________ be _________ be



_________I __________up

and ___________ in love

I asked my sweetheart

what ___________ ahead

__________we have rainbows

day____________ day

here's what my sweetheart _________ :



Que sera sera

whatever ___________be ___________be

the future's not____________ to see

que sera sera

what __________ be _____________ be



_________ I have children _________________

they ask ______________ mother

what _________ I be

________ I be handsome

___________I be rich

I _____________ them ___________________



Que sera sera

whatever __________ be ___________ be

the future's not _____________ to see

que sera sera

what __________ be _______________ be



Zurück zu: Newsletter Dezember 2005