Music Vocabulary Test for ESL Learners at A2 Level

Preparing a Music Vocabulary Test for ESL Learners at A2 Level

With music playing an integral part of our lives, introducing English learners to its vocabulary and concepts can be both engaging and enriching. As an ESL teacher, you're preparing a vocabulary test for your A2 level students, focusing on music-related topics such as instruments, genres, musical terms, and the difference between present simple and present continuous tenses.

Instruments

Get your students acquainted with various musical instruments by presenting them in their respective categories, for example:

• Strings: Violin, viola, cello, double bass
• Woodwinds: Clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone
• Brass: Trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba
• Percussion: Drums, snare drum, cymbals, tambourine

Ask students to match instruments with their respective categories and provide examples of instruments that don't fit in each category to challenge their understanding.

Genres

Explore different music genres by showing students examples from each and teaching them the essential vocabulary related to those genres:

• Pop: Adele, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande
• Rock: Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Queen
• Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, John Coltrane
• Country: Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Luke Combs

Ask students to correctly identify the genre of provided song excerpts, and encourage them to explore more artists within each genre.

Musical Terms

Introduce musical terminology that will help students to better understand lyrics and song structures. Be sure to explain the following terms:

• Verse: A part of the song that comes before the chorus
• Chorus: A repeated section that often contains a catchy melody and the song's title
• Bridge: An interlude that provides a new melodic or harmonic direction before returning to the chorus
• Key: The musical tone that a song is sung or performed in

Encourage students to identify these elements in songs that they know, and to notice how they are used differently in various genres.

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

Explain the difference between the present simple and present continuous tenses in the context of music. For example:

• Present simple: I listen to music.
• Present continuous: I am listening to music.

Ask students to provide examples of activities related to music that would be correctly conjugated in each tense, and to write sentences using these forms.

As you challenge your students with this vocabulary test, remember to keep the tone light and engaging. Encourage them to explore music outside of class, and to use their newfound vocabulary to enhance their enjoyment of English and music. With this foundation, your students will be ready to dive deeper into music and its rich world of language.