Englishman In New York – Sting – Notes
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
4. suffer
2.
3.
sobriety
avoid
notoriety
6. combat gear
5.
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
What is a “legal alien”? And an illegal one?
Are there any expat communities in your country? Do you know any immigrants?
Do you know any people who emigrated from your country?
Why do people emigrate to other countries?
How do stereotypes begin?
What’s the stereotype of immigrants in your country?
What’s the stereotype of your culture in other countries?
How far should expats retain their own culture?
What’s the difference between political and economic immigration?
What requirements do you think should be met by immigrants to be naturalized?
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.
-
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
Englishman In New York – Sting
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
An English person usually drinks beer.
An English person is usually recognized by their accent.
The Englishman in the song changes his behaviour according to his situation.
An English gentleman sometimes has to run.
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
I'm an Englishman in New York
Chorus:
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A stick that supports the person who leans on it
Moderation, seriousness
To keep away from sth/sb
To feel pain
The state of being widely known (derog. famous)
Military equipment
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
Englishman In New York – Sting – Complete
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
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
I'm an Englishman in New York
Chorus:
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
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
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Repeat Chorus
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