Listening Activity
We're going to study a grammar point through music. The grammar point is using similes with 'like'. For example:
Her eyes shone like stars.
When he yawned, he sounded like a lion roaring.
This simile describes one thing (eyes, yawning) like something else (stars, lion roaring).
Let's listen to a song. It's 'Fallin' by Connie Francis. Listen once and listen out for:
Like I was walkin' on a tight rope
Like the rain on a stormy day
Like the walls of Jericho
Here are the full lyrics:
I got the feelin I'm fallin'
Like a star up in the blue
Like I was fallin' off Niagara
In a paddle boat canoe
I got the feelin' I'm a fallin'
And it's all because of you
Like I was walkin' on a tight rope
Swingin' in the breeze
And though I tried to keep my balance
When I weaken in my knees
I got the feelin' I'm a fallin'
Lover, help me please
Like a leaf falls from the branch
Like a rock from an avalanche
Like the rain on a stormy day
I never thought I'd fall this way
I thought that love could never touch me
Yeah, I was ridin' high
And then my ivory tower toppled
And I tumbled from the sky
I got the feelin' that I'm fallin'
And you're the reason why
Like Goliath when he met his foe
Like the walls of Jericho
Like Delilah's holy town
And Samson tore it down
I thought that love could never touch me
Yeah, I was ridin' high
And then my ivory tower toppled
And I tumbled from the sky
I got the feelin' that I'm fallin'
And you're the reason why
And you're the reason why...
You now must listen again (it's important for learning).
The song is about someone falling in love and how she feels about that. She describes her feelings using 'like'.
Falling in love was 'like falling of Niagara' (a big waterfall in America).
She didn't want to fall in love and it 'was like walking on a tightrope, swinging in the breeze'.
Maybe she was nervous?
Then she fell in love and fell:
Like a leaf falls from the branch
Like a rock from an avalanche
Like the rain on a stormy day
Lastly, she says she didn't want to fall in love. It was unexpected. She thought it would be difficult to love anyone. Difficult:
Like Goliath when he met his foe
Like the walls of Jericho
Like Delilah's holy town
These are biblical examples so do not worry about learning them. Do not use them.
Listen for the last time. Can you hear all the similes?
More examples
The news hit me like a ton of bricks. = I was shocked.
You are describing hearing the news and it was like being hit very hard.
It feels like heaven. = It feels amazing.
The feeling is what are you describing. You are comparing it to heaven.
Stop it! You're behaving like a child. = The person is being childish.
You are describing a person. You compare them to a child.
Task 1
Finish these sentences in the comments:
The start of the rollercoaster was like______________
He sneezed like______________
She is gentle______________
Task 2
What do these mean? Answer in the comments.
...eat like a horse.
...drink like a fish.