A Song Lesson

©Mason’s Living Languages


Frère Jacques

Teacher Prep : Find a picture of “Frère Jacques” and a corresponding audio file.   

Song:

Frère Jacques,  

(Brother John,) 

Frère Jacques,  

(Brother John,) 

Dormez-vous?  

(Are you sleeping?) 

Dormez-vous?  

(Are you sleeping?) 

Sonnez les matines,  

(Morning bells are ringing,) 

Sonnez les matines.  

(Morning bells are ringing,) 

Din, din, don.  

Din, din, don. 

 Method : 

In this lesson, your student(s) are going to pick up the vocabulary, by-the-way, just as a young child does.  Be sure to use gestures and insist the student(s) use gestures also. 

Tell the story of Frère Jacques.  You might use something like this: 

Have you ever been so tired you didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning?  Frère Jacques is a Franciscan monk who has slept in past the morning bells ringing in the cathedral!  Let’s help wake him up with this song! 

Listen to the song in its entirety, using the picture and gestures to communicate meaning.  Listen closely to each phrase, three times.  Listen to and act out the song for the remainder of the lesson time, encouraging the students to speak it as they feel able.