Hello by Adele. Classroom activity

 

Shared by M. Carmen Carbajo:

Adele is one of the best artist of the moment. Her voice is special and her lyrics catch you. From my point of view, she has interesting songs that can be used to learn English. One of them is “Hello”.

I would like to share the song, a video related to the story behind the song and some activities on vocabulary and expressions.

ACTIVITIES

Exercise 1. Match the following expressions with their definitions

1. to look up a number
2. to hang up
3. answering machine
4. phonebook
5. to lose signal or to have a poor/strong mobile phone signal (reception)
6. pick up the phone
7. to leave the phone off the hook
8. to be on the phone
9. to dial a number
10. telephone box/booth
11. to call someone
12. the line is busy
13. a flip phone

A. refers to the strength of the signal received by a mobile phone from a cellular network
B. to finish a phone call
C. a small mobile phone that closes by folding in the middle to make it easier to carry
D. to answer a telephone call
E. personal list of phone numbers
F. to press the buttons, or to turn the dial, on a telephone in order to call someone
G. a small structure containing a telephone that you pay to use
H. to be speaking to someone through the phone
I. not to put the handset back correctly and it will not ring.
J. a machine that answers your telephone and records messages that people leave for you
K. to contact or attempt to contact a person or number by phone
L. to try to find a number by looking in a book or on a list, or by using a computer
M. being used when you try to call

Exercise 2.Find the following in the lyrics:

§ a verb meaning to desire to know something.
§ three phrasal verbs.
§ an informal contraction that some people consider incorrect.
§ an idiomatic expression meaning to be lucky, successful and greatly admired.
§ a modal+ perfect infinitive
§ an idiomatic expression meaning to cause someone great emotional pain.
§ a combination that goes against grammar, but which is very common in casual registers.
§ an idiomatic expression meaning to achieve a goal, to be successful.

Exercise 3. The lyrics

Hello, it's me
I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet
To go over everything
They say that time's supposed to heal ya
But I ain't done much healing
Hello, can you hear me?
I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be
When we were younger and free
I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet
There's such a difference between us
And a million miles
(chorus)
Hello from the other side
I must've called a thousand times
To tell you I'm sorry
For everything that I've done
But when I call you never
Seem to be home
Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I've tried
To tell you I'm sorry
For breaking your heart
But it don't matter, it clearly
Doesn't tear you apart anymore
Hello, how are you?
It's so typical of me to talk about myself, I'm sorry
I hope that you're well
Did you ever make it out of that town
Where nothing ever happened?
It's no secret
That the both of us
Are running out of time
(Chorus)

Hello by Adele: The Story Behind the Song