Speaking Boost · B1 · Lesson 43 of 50
Speaking Boost B1 · Block 9: Culture and Entertainment

Why do some songs get stuck in our heads?

Scientists studied thousands of earworms and found what makes a song catchy, and why chewing gum might help. Talk about your music, plan your own festival, and remember Ukraine's three Eurovision wins.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Music and you

Answer and give a real example for each one.

  1. What kind of music do you listen to most?
  2. What song is stuck in your head right now?
  3. What was the first concert you ever went to?
  4. Do you play a musical instrument?
  5. What music reminds you of your childhood?
  6. Do you sing in the shower or in the car?
2

Words and phrases

10 min
2.1

New words

For each word or phrase, say one true sentence about you and music.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word or phrase that fits.

  1. I heard that song once and now it's an !
  2. The melody is simple but really .
  3. I don't know the verses, but I know the .
  4. The of this song are very sad.
  5. We went to a small in a bar last Friday.
  6. Who is the at the festival this year?
  7. I'm really jazz at the moment.
  8. The at the concert was amazing.
2.3

Meanings

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. the most important performer =
  2. to sing with the music = to sing
  3. not on the right notes =
  4. a list of songs =
  5. to play without notes = to play by
  6. the words of a song =
2.4

Useful phrases

Use each phrase to talk about your music taste.

  • I'm really into...Я дуже захоплююся...I'm really into Ukrainian folk-pop.
  • This song reminds me of...Ця пісня нагадує мені...This song reminds me of my first summer camp.
  • I can't get... out of my head.Я не можу викинути ... з голови.I can't get this song out of my head!
  • It's not really my thing.Це не зовсім моє.Heavy metal? It's not really my thing.
  • You like..., don't you?Тобі подобається..., так?You like jazz, don't you?
  • The best concert I've ever been to was...Найкращий концерт, на якому я був(-ла)...The best concert I've ever been to was in Kyiv in 2019.
  • It gives me goosebumps.У мене від цього мурашки.When the whole crowd sings, it gives me goosebumps.
  • I listen to it on repeat.Я слухаю це на повторі.I found this song yesterday and I listen to it on repeat.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Stuck in your head

Read the article. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Why do some songs get stuck in our heads?

You hear a song once in a café, and for the rest of the day it plays in your head again and again. Scientists call this an "earworm", and most people experience it at least once a week.

In 2016, researchers at Durham University and Goldsmiths, University of London, asked about 3,000 people which songs got stuck in their heads most often. They found that earworm songs tend to have a few things in common: they are usually faster, they have a melody shape that is common in Western pop music, and they include something a little unusual, like a surprising jump or a repeated pattern. Songs that were often played on the radio and in the charts were also more likely to become earworms.

Why does it happen? One theory is that the brain likes to "complete" things. When we hear only part of a song, especially the catchy chorus, our brain keeps repeating it, like an unfinished task.

How can you get rid of one? Some people listen to the whole song to "finish" it. Others try to do a task that needs concentration, like a puzzle. In one study at the University of Reading, people who chewed gum reported fewer earworms, maybe because chewing uses the same parts of the brain we use when we silently rehearse songs.

And if nothing works? Don't worry. Most earworms disappear on their own, usually within a few hours.

3.2

True or false?

  1. Most people experience earworms at least once a week.
  2. Earworm songs are usually very slow.
  3. Songs played often on the radio were more likely to become earworms.
  4. One theory says the brain wants to "complete" songs.
  5. In the study, chewing gum made earworms worse.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Which song is your worst earworm?
  2. What do you do to get rid of an earworm?
  3. What makes a song catchy, in your opinion?
  4. Which Ukrainian song do you think is the catchiest ever?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Question tags with be / auxiliaries

Positive sentence → negative tag; negative sentence → positive tag.

You're a fan, aren't you? She doesn't sing, does she? They've been there, haven't they?

Present / Past Simple

Use do / does / did.

You like rock, don't you? He played well, didn't he?

Intonation

Falling = you're sure, you want agreement. Rising = a real question.

It's a great song, isn't it? ↘ (agree with me!) You haven't heard it, have you? ↗ (real question)

Special tags: I'm → aren't I? (I'm right, aren't I?), Let's → shall we? (Let's go to the gig, shall we?), imperatives → will you? (Turn it up, will you?). Careful: ✗ You like jazz, isn't it?

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. You like jazz,
    ?
  2. It's a great song,
    ?
  3. She can't sing,
    ?
  4. They went to the festival,
    ?
  5. You've heard this song,
    ?
  6. I'm late,
    ?
  7. Let's go to the concert,
    ?
  8. He doesn't play the guitar,
    ?
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. You like rock, isn't it? →
  2. She is a singer, doesn't she? →
  3. They didn't come, didn't they? →
  4. I'm right, am not I? →
  5. You can play the piano, can you? →
  6. Let's dance, don't we? →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use question tags in conversation with your teacher.

  1. Guess five things about your teacher's music taste and check with question tags (You like..., don't you?).
  2. What songs remind you of important moments in your life?
  3. What music did your parents listen to? Do you like it?
  4. Describe the best live concert you've ever been to.
  5. What music do you listen to when you're sad, happy or working?
  6. Which musician would you love to see live?
5

Plan a music festival

8 min
5.1

Three festivals

Which festival would you choose? Then plan your own festival: where, when, what music, who are the headliners, what else happens there? Use question tags to check your teacher agrees!

Festival A

The big one

  • 50,000 people, three stages
  • Famous international headliners
  • Expensive tickets and camping
  • Amazing atmosphere, long queues
Festival B

The small one

  • 2,000 people in a forest
  • Local bands, folk and indie
  • Workshops and yoga
  • Quiet and friendly
Festival C

The city one

  • Free concerts in squares
  • One weekend in the summer
  • Mix of classical, jazz and pop
  • For all ages
5.2

Ukraine on stage

Give your opinions and examples.

  1. Ukraine has won Eurovision three times: in 2004, 2016 and 2022. Do you remember any of these wins?
  2. Why do you think Ukrainian music has become more popular abroad?
  3. Which Ukrainian artist would you show to a foreign friend?
  4. Is Eurovision about music, politics or fun?
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What music do you listen to on your way to work?
  2. Do you have a favourite playlist?
  3. Can you sing or play by ear?
  4. What song would you choose for your wedding (or did you choose)?
  5. Have you ever sung karaoke?
  6. What music can't you stand?
  7. Do you listen to the lyrics or just the music?
  8. Which concert would you travel abroad to see?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Does music taste change with age?
  2. Should children learn a musical instrument at school?
  3. Why do people pay so much for concert tickets?
  4. Is today's pop music worse than in the past?
  5. How has streaming changed the music industry?
  6. Do song lyrics influence young people?
6.3

Part III: Thinking deeper

  1. Can music change the world?
  2. Should musicians be political?
  3. Is music a universal language?
  4. Will AI-made music replace human musicians?
  5. Should artists be paid more by streaming services?
  6. Why does music affect our emotions so strongly?
7

Roleplay

10 min
7.1

The music journalist

You

Music journalist

You interview your teacher, a famous musician, for a magazine. But in this role, YOU do most of the talking: you introduce them, tell their story to the readers and check facts with question tags:
  • introduce the musician and their career (You started in..., didn't you?)
  • talk about their most famous song and why it went viral
  • describe their last concert and the atmosphere
  • ask about their future plans
Speak for at least 3 minutes in total. Use at least eight question tags.
Your teacher

Famous musician

Gives short answers, for example:
  1. Yes, that's right.
  2. No, actually it was in 2015.
  3. Well, not exactly...
  4. I can't tell you yet!
7.2

The festival organiser

You

Festival organiser

You are organising a festival in your town. Convince the mayor (your teacher) to support it:
  • the idea and the music
  • who will come and why
  • how it will help the town
  • how you'll deal with noise, rubbish and safety
You do most of the talking. Use: It'll be great for the town, won't it? · The atmosphere will be... · Imagine... · We've thought about...
Your teacher

Mayor

Has worries, for example:
  1. What about the noise?
  2. Who will clean up?
  3. How much will it cost the town?
  4. Will local people be able to come?
8

Debate

7 min
8.1

Agree or disagree?

"Music festivals are worth the money."

Ideas for

Live music has an energy you can't get at home. You meet people, discover new bands and create memories for life.

Ideas against

Tickets, food and travel are very expensive. It's crowded and uncomfortable. You can watch concerts online. The sound is often better on headphones.

Round 1: give your real opinion for 1–2 minutes. Round 2: defend the opposite side for 1 minute. Use: It's worth it, isn't it? · The atmosphere is... · It gives me goosebumps... · On balance...

9

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

earwormcatchychoruslyricsgigheadlinerplaylistatmosphere
  1. That song is a terrible — I've been singing it all day!
  2. The tune is really .
  3. Everyone joined in for the .
  4. I don't understand the . What is she singing about?
  5. We went to a jazz in a small bar.
  6. The was a famous British band.
  7. I made a for our road trip.
  8. The at the concert was electric.
H2

Question tags

  1. You like pop, ?
  2. It's a great song, ?
  3. She can't dance, ?
  4. They went to the concert, ?
  5. You haven't heard it, ?
  6. I'm right, ?
  7. Let's sing, ?
  8. He plays the drums, ?
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. You like jazz, don't you?
  2. She sings well, isn't it?
  3. They didn't come, did they?
  4. I'm late, am not I?
  5. Let's go, shall we?
  6. You can't swim, can't you?
  7. It was a great gig, wasn't it?
H4

Match the two halves

  1. I'm really into
  2. This song reminds me of
  3. I can't get this song
  4. Heavy metal?
  5. You like jazz,
  6. When the whole crowd sings,
  7. I found this song yesterday and

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.