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5 Free ESL/EFL Exercises by Bibi Baxter to use with

In The Ghetto

By Elvis Presley

• All of the following exercises can be used independently of each other or in combination with each other for a mixed-ability class

• All can be used as fun exercises

• Exercises 4 & 5 can be used for fun testing or revision purposes

• Exercise I:      Listening Practice (Vocabulary: Nouns)
• Exercise II:     Listening Practice (Sequencing)
• Exercise III:     Listening Practice (Vocabulary:  Adjectives)
• Exercise IV:   Listening Practice/Fun Test (Tenses: Simple Present & Present Continuous))
• Exercise V:    Listening Practice (Vocabulary: Verbs)
• The Complete Lyrics
• Instructions for tutors
• Instructions for students

RELATED PAGES

• Send an Elvis greeting e-card

• More pedagogic ideas for lyrics, poetry, etc. (listed by language points)

• More pedagogic ideas for lyrics (listed by song & singer)

• Create your own worksheets

• Create a Library of Instant Lessons

• Information is given below on how to make this song suitable for students of varying levels;  however, please click here for additional advice

(Pedagogic ideas & worksheets by Bibi Baxter)

INSTRUCTIONS

IN THE GHETTO

By Elvis Presley

Exercise-1:  NOUNS 

(Listening Practice by Bibi Baxter)

As the .............. flies on a cold and grey Chicago ..............

A poor little baby ..............  is born

In the ..............

  <>()<>

And his ..............  cries ‘cause if there’s one ..............  she don’t need

Is another hungry ..............  to feed

In the ...............

  <>()<>

Ah, ..............  don’t you understand

A ..............  needs your helping .............. ?

He’s going to be an angry young ..............  some ..............

Oh, take a look at you and me,

Are we too blind to see?

Do we simply turn our ..............

And look the other ..............?

  <>()<>

Well the ..............  turns and a hungry little ..............  with a running ..............

Plays in the ..............  and the cold .............. blows,

In the ..............

  <>()<>

And his ..............  burns, so he starts to roam the ..............  at night

And he learns how to steal and he learns how to fight

In the ..............

 <>()<>

Then one ..............  in desperation,

The young ..............  breaks away.

He buys a ..............  and steals a ..............

He tries to run but he don’t get far,

And his .............. cries

As the ..............  gathers round an angry young ..............,

Face down in the ..............  with a ..............  in his ..............

In the ..............

 <>()<> 

And as a young ..............  dies on a cold and grey, Chicago ..............,

Another little baby ..............  is born

In the ...............

 <>()<>

And his ..............  cries

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

(VOCABULARY AID:  Remove this section for higher level students)

THE MISSING NOUNS

boy/car/child/crowd/day/ghetto/gun/hand/heads/hunger/mama/man/morning/mouth/night/nose

people/snow/street/streets/way/wind/world

ANSWER KEY

INSTRUCTIONS

IN THE GHETTO

By Elvis Presley

Exercise-2:  SEQUENCING

(Listening Exercise by Bibi Baxter) 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

A child needs your helping hand;  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

A poor little baby child is born  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Ah, people don’t you understand  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

And as a young man dies on a cold and grey, Chicago morning,  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

And he learns how to steal and he learns how to fight  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

And his hunger burns, so he starts to roam the streets at night  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

And his mama cries  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

And his mama cries ‘cause if there’s one thing she doesn’t need  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

And his mama cries..... 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

And look the other way?  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Another little baby child is born  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Are we too blind to see?  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

As the crowd gathers round an angry young man,  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

As the snow flies on a cold and grey chicago morning  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Do we simply turn our heads  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Face down in the street with a gun in his hand  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

He buys a gun and steals a car; 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

He tries to run but he doesn’t get far,  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

He’s going to be an angry young man some day  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

In the ghetto  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

In the ghetto.  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

In the ghetto.  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

In the ghetto.  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

In the ghetto.  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

In the ghetto.  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Is another hungry mouth to feed  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Oh, take a look at you and me,  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Plays in the street and the cold wind blows,  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

The young man breaks away.  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Then one night in desperation, 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Well the world turns and a hungry little boy with a runny nose  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -    

ANSWER KEY

INSTRUCTIONS

IN THE GHETTO

By Elvis Presley

Exercise-3: ADJECTIVES 

(Listening Practice by Bibi Baxter)

As the snow flies

On a ..............  and ..............  Chicago morning

A .............  .............  ............. child is born

In the ghetto.

And his mama cries

‘Cause if there’s one thing she doesn’t need

It’s another ..............  mouth to feed

In the ghetto.

 <>()<>

Ah, people don’t you understand

A child needs your ............. hand;

He’s going to be an ..............  young man some day

Oh, take a look at you and me,

Are we too............ to see?

Do we simply turn our heads

And look the other way?

 <>()<>

Well the world turns

And a  ..............  little boy with a ............. nose

Plays in the street and the ..............  wind blows,

In the ghetto

And his hunger burns,

So he starts to roam the streets at night

And he learns how to steal and he learns how to fight

In the ghetto.

 <>()<>

Then one night in desperation,

The .............   man breaks away.

He buys a gun and steals a car;

He tries to run but he doesn’t get far,

And his mama cries

<>()<>

As the crowd gathers round an ..............   .............  man,

Face down in the street with a gun in his hand

In the ghetto.

And as a .............  man dies

On a .............. and ............. Chicago morning,

Another .............   .............. child is born

In the ghetto.

And his mama cries

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(VOCABULARY AID:  Remove this section for higher level students)

THE MISSING ADJECTIVES

angry/baby/blind/cold/grey/helping/hungry/little/mama/poor/runny/young

ANSWER KEY

INSTRUCTIONS

IN THE GHETTO

By Elvis Presley

Exercise-4: TENSES 

(Pre-Listening Practice or Fun Test by Bibi Baxter)

As the snow ...............(FLY) on a cold and grey Chicago morning

A poor little baby child ............... (BE BORN)

In the ghetto.

<>()<> 

And his mama ............... (CRY) ‘cause if there...............(BE) one thing she ............... (NEED)

...............(BE)  another hungry mouth to feed

In the ghetto.

 <>()<>

Ah, people ............... you ...............(UNDERSTAND)?

A child ............... (NEED) your helping hand;

He ............... (GO) to be an angry young man some day

Oh, ............... (TAKE) a look at you and me,

............... (BE) we too blind to  ............... (SEE)?

...............  we simply ............... (TURN)  our heads

And ...............  (LOOK) the other way?

<>()<> 

Well the world ...............(TURN) and a hungry little boy with a runny nose

............... (PLAY) in the street and the cold wind ............... (BLOW),

In the ghetto

 <>()<>

And his hunger ............... (BURN), so he ............... (START) to roam the streets at night

And he ............... (LEARN) how to steal and he ............... (LEARN) how to fight

In the ghetto.

 <>()<>

Then one night in desperation,

The young man ............... (BREAK) away.

He ............... (BUY) a gun and (STEAL) a car;

He ............... (TRY) to run, but he ............... (GET) far,

And his mama ............... (CRY)

As the crowd ............... (GATHER) round an angry young man,

Face down in the street with a gun in his hand

In the ghetto.

 <>()<>

And as a young man ............... (DIE) on a cold and grey Chicago morning,

Another little baby child ............... (BE BORN)

In the ghetto.

 <>()<>

And his mama ............... (CRY)  

ANSWER KEY

INSTRUCTIONS

IN THE GHETTO

By Elvis Presley

Exercise-5: VERBS/TENSES 

(Listening Practice by Bibi Baxter)

As the snow ............... on a cold and grey Chicago morning

A poor little baby child ...............

In the ghetto.

<>()<>

And his mama ...............  ‘cause if there............... one thing she ...............

...............  another hungry mouth to feed

In the ghetto.

<>()<> 

Ah, people ............... you ...............?

A child ............... your helping hand;

He ...............  to be an angry young man some day

Oh, ...............  a look at you and me,

............... we too blind to see?

...............  we simply ...............   our heads

And ...............  the other way?

 <>()<>

Well the world turns and a hungry little boy with a runny nose

...............  in the street and the cold wind ............... ,

In the ghetto

<>()<>

And his hunger ............... , so he ............... to roam the streets at night

And he ...............  how to steal and he ............... how to fight

In the ghetto.

<>()<> 

Then one night in desperation,

The young man ...............  away.

He ...............  a gun and ............  a car;

He ...............  to run but he ...............  far,

And his mama ...............  

<>()<>

As the crowd ............... round an angry young man,

Face down in the street with a gun in his hand

In the ghetto.

 <>()<>

And as a young man ...............  on a cold and grey Chicago morning,

Another little baby child ............…... 

In the ghetto.

 And his mama ............…...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(VOCABULARY AID:  Remove this section for higher level students)

THE MISSING VERBS

be/be born/blow/break/burn/buy/die/fly/gather/get/go/ learn/look/need/play/start/steal/take/try/turn/understand

ANSWER KEY

IN THE GHETTO

By Elvis Presley

THE FULL LYRICS

As the snow flies on a cold and grey Chicago morning

A poor little baby child is born

In the ghetto.  

<>()<>

And his mama cries ‘cause if there’s one thing she doesn’t need

Is another hungry mouth to feed

In the ghetto.

<>()<> 

Ah, people don’t you understand

A child needs your helping hand;

He’s going to be an angry young man some day

Oh, take a look at you and me,

Are we too blind to see?

Do we simply turn our heads

And look the other way?

 <>()<>

Well the world turns and a hungry little boy with a runny nose

Plays in the street and the cold wind blows,

In the ghetto

 <>()<>

And his hunger burns, so he starts to roam the streets at night

And he learns how to steal and he learns how to fight

In the ghetto.

 <>()<>

Then one night in desperation,

The young man breaks away.

He buys a gun and steals a car;

He tries to run but he doesn’t get far,

And his mama cries  

<>()<>

As the crowd gathers round an angry young man,

Face down in the street with a gun in his hand

In the ghetto.

 <>()<>

And as a young man dies on a cold and grey chicago morning,

Another little baby child is born

In the ghetto.

 <>()<>

And his mama cries.....

PEDAGOGIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR TUTORS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS

EXERCISES 1,3,4:

PRACTICE:  Listening

ACTIVITY:  Gapped

Instruct students to complete the gaps, as they listen to the song.  

Play the song according to the level of the class, ie: 

-line by line

-continuously

-continuously, but stopping on damand

EXERCISES 1,3,4:

Listen to the song at your own speed and complete the gaps.  Check your answers with the Answer Key.

EXERCISE 2: 

PRACTICE:  Listening

ACTIVITY:  Sequencing

LEVEL:  Pre-intermediate/Intermediate/Upper-intermediate 

-Cut the lyrics into strips

-If possible allow one set of lyrics per pair of students

-Instruct your students to listen to the music and put the strips in order

-Play the song according to the level of your students.  (ie: for struggling students, play the song line by line, make it a little more difficult by playing the song continuously and stopping only when requested, make it a much more difficult by playing it continuously.)  

Instruct upper-intermediate students to try and arrange the lyric strips before listening to the song.

EXERCISE-2

LEVEL:  Pre-intermediate/Intermediate/Upper-intermediate 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

-Cut the lyrics into strips

-Work on your own, or with a friend

-Listen to the music and put the strips in order

-Play the song according to your level, (ie: play the song line by line, or make it a little more difficult by playing the song continuously and stopping only when you necessary, or make it a much more difficult by playing it continuously.)  

Upper-intermediate students should try to arrange the lyric strips before listening to the song.

 

EXERCISE 5:

-Instruct students to complete the gaps

-When ready, instruct students to check their answers as you play the song.

EXERCISE 5:

-Complete the gaps

-Listen to the song to check