englishman in new york – sting – · pdf filei'm an englishman in new york if...

This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only Activity © Tune into English 2015– www.tuneintoenglish.com Worksheet written by Prof. Maria Gulczynska, Ancona

� Activity types: Vocabulary, listening for correct words, discussion

� Language focus: Immigration

Notes: Sting wrote this song about English gentleman Quentin Crisp, who moved to New York in 1986 - Crisp appears in the song’s video. Sting told Rolling Stone

magazine: “It's very important for any kind of writer to have a period in exile. One, it

makes you see the country you're in a little clearer than the people there see it. Two,

it makes you see the place you come from a little clearer.” (Language note: not “a

little clearer”, but “a little more clearly”.) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Give each student a copy of the folded worksheet and ask them to look at the

statements and discuss whether they think they are True or False. Then play the

song, students listen for answers. (Do not feedback yet.)

Key: 1 F, 2 T, 3 F, 4 F, 5 T

2. Ask students to unfold the worksheet, and look at the lyrics. They can check their

True/False answers and guess which words are incorrect.

3. Play the song. Students correct the words where necessary.

Key: See Complete lyrics

4. Students work in pairs to find the definitions in the song.

Key:

1. walking cane

2. sobriety

3. avoid

4. suffer

5. notoriety

6. combat gear

5. Play the song and sing together.

Class Discussion – Immigration

Ask students to discuss the following (you can photocopy this part of the page if you like).

1. What is a “legal alien”? And an illegal one?

2. Are there any expat communities in your country? Do you know any immigrants?

3. Do you know any people who emigrated from your country?

4. Why do people emigrate to other countries?

5. How do stereotypes begin?

6. What’s the stereotype of immigrants in your country?

7. What’s the stereotype of your culture in other countries?

8. How far should expats retain their own culture?

9. What’s the difference between political and economic immigration?

10. What requirements do you think should be met by immigrants to be naturalized?

11. What does ‘home’ mean to you?

- Go to http://www.the guardian.com/uk/quiz/2013/jan/27/british-citizenship-test-new and

do the immigration quiz to check if you could become a British citizen.

- What questions would you ask immigrants who want to become citizens of your country?

Prepare a quiz.

�� Englishman In New York – Sting – Notes ��


Read the title of the song. What do you think the song is about? Do you think the following sentences are True or False?

1. An English person usually drinks beer.

2. An English person is usually recognized by their accent.

3. The Englishman in the song changes his behaviour according to his situation.

4. An English gentleman sometimes has to run.

5. American society is criticized in this song.

Now listen and check if you were right. ________________________________________FOLD____________________________________________

Listen to the song – are the words in italics correct? If not, write the correct word.

I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear

I like my toast fried on the side And you can hear it in my accent when I walk

I'm an Englishman in New York

See me walking down Fifth Avenue

A walking cane here at my side I take it everywhere I walk


Chorus:

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien


I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien I'm an Englishman in New York

If "manners maketh man" as someone says

Then he's the hero of the day

It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile

Be yourself no mind what they say

Repeat Chorus

Modesty, prosperity can lead to notoriety You could end up as the only one

Gentleness, sobriety are random in this society

At night a candle's brighter than the sun Takes more than combat fear to make a man

Takes more than license for a gun Contort your enemies, avoid them when you can

A gentleman will walk but never run If "manners maketh man" as someone says

Then he's the hero of the day It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile

Be yourself no mind what they say

Repeat Chorus

Read the lyrics and find words/phrases for the following definitions:

1. A stick that supports the person who leans on it

2. Moderation, seriousness

3. To keep away from sth/sb

4. To feel pain

5. The state of being widely known (derog. famous)

6. Military equipment

�� Englishman In New York – Sting ��


I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear

I like my toast done on the side

And you can hear it in my accent when I talk


See me walking down Fifth Avenue

A walking cane here at my side

I take it everywhere I walk


Chorus:





If "manners maketh man" as someone said



Be yourself no matter what they say

Repeat Chorus

Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety

You could end up as the only one

Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society

At night a candle's brighter than the sun

Takes more than combat gear to make a man

Takes more than license for a gun

Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can

A gentleman will walk but never run

If "manners maketh man" as someone said



Be yourself no matter what they say

Repeat Chorus

�� Englishman In New York – Sting – Complete ��

englishman in new york – sting – · pdf filei'm an englishman in new york if...

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