EFL Listening & Vocabulary Lesson | Dumbo

If you're looking for a fun, engaging listening lesson that will teach your students vocabulary and enjoy a classic Disney film, this lesson is for you.

I've Never Seen An Elephant Fly

We will base this lesson on the original Dumbo animated film.

Objectives:
LESSON: Dumbo: I’ve Never Seen An Elephant Fly
OBJECTIVES: a. Practice listening b. Learn vocabulary
LEVEL: Intermediate and above. 
TIME: 20-30 minutes
PRE-LISTENING: Pronunciation tricks
·       Ask students what they know about Dumbo. Write them on the board.
·       In pairs (or individual), students write the meanings and/or example sentence using the different vocabulary- 6-8 minutes

Watch the original video and song here and play it for your students.

Pre-Listening Exercise

I. DOUBLE MEANINGS: Write the various meanings for these words from the song.
 
1. Well, I seen a horse fly. I seen a dragonfly. I seen a house fly.
            Fly (v) - ______________________________________________________
            Fly (n) - ______________________________________________________
 
2. I’ve seen a peanut stand.
            Stand (v) - ____________________________________________________
            Stand (n) – a kiosk
 
3. I heard a rubber band.
Band (n) – an elastic string
Band (n) – a musical group
 
I seen a needle that winked its eye.
            Eye (n) - ____________________________________________________
            Eye (n) - ____________________________________________________
 
I seen a front porch swing.
            Swing (n)(v) – type of music and dancing
            Swing (n) (v) - ____________________________________________________
 
I heard a diamond ring.
            Ring (n) - ____________________________________________________
            Ring (v) - ____________________________________________________
 
I seen a polka-dot railroad tie
            Tie (n) - ____________________________________________________
            Tie (n) - ____________________________________________________
 
I saw a clothes horse rear up and buck.
            Clothes horse (n) - ______________________________________________
Rear up and buck (v) – the aggressive or scared movements a horse makes
 
I heard a fireside chat.
            Meaning one: subject + verb
            Meaning two: adjective + noun
 ​

How to teach the lesson

Join and Enjoy An Updated Video

LISTENING: (Make any modifications for your class)

1.    Listen one time and fill in the blanks.
2.    Listen a second time and finish the exercise. 
3.    Review answers together.

How To Write The Meanings?

As the students fill out the worksheet before and after watching the video, encourage them to use whatever works best for them to learn the vocabulary. 
​

• Write the definitions - a good way to learn the meanings as well as think in English a bit more.
• Write example sentences - a good way to learn the words in context
• Draw pictures - good for students who are more visual and artistic. Allow their creativity to show
• Translation - this can be useful for students who can't grasp the concept of a word or needs to compare the word to their own language. (This may not be useful for words that don't have an exact translation)

Student Worksheet

II. Listen to the song and fill in the blanks with the words in the box.
 
When I See An Elephant Fly
Dumbo
 
I seen a peanut (1) ____________, heard a rubber (2) _____________
I seen a needle that winked its (3) ____________
But I be done seen about everything
When I see an (4) _____________________
(What'd you say, boy?)
I said, when I see an elephant fly

I seen a front porch (5) ___________, heard a diamond (6) ___________
I seen a polka-dot railroad (7) ___________
But I be done seen about everything
When I see an elephant fly

I saw a clothes horse rear up and buck
And they tell me that a man made a vegetable (8) __________
I didn't see that, I only heard
Just to be (9) ___________, I'll take your word

I heard a fireside chat, I saw a baseball (10) ____________
And I just laughed till I thought I'd die
But I be done seen about everything
When I see an elephant fly

But I be done seen about everything
When I see an elephant fly
When I see an elephant fly
 
 
 
III. Superstitions: What is this? ____________________________________________
 
Dumbo thought the secret to flying was the feather in his nose. This was a superstition.
In my country, people have some funny superstitions.
 
Walking under a ladder is bad luck.
If your palms itch, you will run into money.
Breaking a mirror will give you seven years bad luck.
Playing sports with lucky clothes.
Routines while watching sports. (eating the same food, not washing jersey, etc.)
 
What are some common superstitions in your country? 
Talk with your partner and create a list of superstitions. As many as you can create in 4 minutes.
 

1. _________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________________
6. _________________________________________________________________________
7. _________________________________________________________________________
8. _________________________________________________________________________
9. _________________________________________________________________________
10. _________________________________________________________________________

 

Download the Worksheet for Your Google Classroom

Pro Tips: 

- Keep a list of new vocabulary words that come up, and write it on the side of the board. Use these words in class games and openers.
​- Each listening activity should have a goal for listening (comprehension, listening for rhythm, pronunciation, etc.)

Good luck! Let me know how it works for you and if you have any special touches that I can try in my classes:

Post Listening: Superstitions

Break up into 2 or 3 groups. 
​- List superstitions in their country. 
- Each team gets 1 point for any superstition that the other groups don't have.
(Teachers: Play Stevie Wonder Superstition during their discussion time.)

Easter Egg Lessons

Superstitions - The students can think about superstitions in their and other countries.

Cultural History - Look below at some of the cultural discussions you can lead with nature students.

What else can you find?

Extra Cultural Lesson

For more advanced or mature learners, you can include a cultural lesson about this crows scene. Share with them that the crows were supposed to represent people hanging out "the hood" as demonstrated by their accents and style. They were essentially stereotypes (good word to write on the board) of black people in the United States.

(Conversation starter options:) 

• What do you think of the stereotype here?
• Are there any stereotypes of people in your country?
• What are other stereotypes you know of?

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