Music bingo in the classroom: listening practice for language teachers

Listening practice does not have to mean a worksheet and a recording. Music bingo gives students a reason to listen closely: they hear a short clip, decide which title they just heard and mark it on their card. The whole class takes part, and nobody has to speak in front of the others.

Below you will find 40 clear, familiar songs for an English class, card settings by level, three rounds and some tips. The list is ready to paste into My Music Bingo. If you have never made the cards before, start with how to make music bingo cards. It takes about ten minutes.

Why it works in class

Bingo turns listening into a game with a clear goal. Students have one job: recognise a song title. That is a small, achievable task, so beginners join in with the same energy as advanced learners.

The format also fits a normal lesson. Each song needs only 20 to 30 seconds, so a round of 12 songs takes about ten minutes. Use it as a warm-up, as a reward at the end of the week or as a revision activity before a holiday.

Titles also carry useful language. Students read words such as hello, sunshine or country roads, match them to the sound and meet common phrases in context.

The song list: 40 songs for English listening practice

We chose songs with clear voices, a steady pace and, in most cases, the title inside the chorus, so students have a fair chance of linking what they hear with what they read. The titles and artists are international, so the list works in any country. Paste it as it is into the text box of the card generator.

Hello - Adele
Count on Me - Bruno Mars
Yellow - Coldplay
Let It Be - The Beatles
Yesterday - The Beatles
Hey Jude - The Beatles
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Imagine - John Lennon
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Stand by Me - Ben E. King
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
Happy - Pharrell Williams
Can't Stop the Feeling! - Justin Timberlake
Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson
Counting Stars - OneRepublic
Viva la Vida - Coldplay
Fix You - Coldplay
Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Someone Like You - Adele
Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
Wonderwall - Oasis
Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Dancing Queen - ABBA
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
Firework - Katy Perry
Roar - Katy Perry
Riptide - Vance Joy
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Lemon Tree - Fool's Garden
Let It Go - Idina Menzel
Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan
Wake Me Up - Avicii

Card settings by level

Use one card per student, or one per pair if the group is large or the levels are mixed. These settings are a good starting point:

• Beginners (A1 to A2): a 3×3 grid, Show artist turned on and 12 to 15 songs per round. The artist name works as a clue.
• Intermediate (B1): a 4×4 grid with a free space. Turn Show artist off so students have to rely on the titles.
• Advanced (B2 and above): a 4×4 or 5×5 grid, no artist and shorter clips.

If phones are allowed, send the digital cards link to your class group. If not, print the cards. The step-by-step guide shows both options.

Three listening rounds

Make a separate set of cards for each round, using only that round's songs. A 3×3 grid is enough for 12 to 15 tracks.

Round 1: slow and clear

For beginners. Play Hello, Yesterday, Let It Be, Count on Me, Yellow, Imagine, What a Wonderful World, Stand by Me, Three Little Birds, Don't Worry, Be Happy, Happy and Here Comes the Sun. Before you start, read the 12 titles aloud together and check what each one means.

Round 2: pop hits

For intermediate groups. Play Perfect, Counting Stars, Riptide, I'm Yours, Lemon Tree, Firework, Roar, Shake It Off, Shape of You, Thinking Out Loud and Wake Me Up. After each clip, ask one student to answer in a full sentence: "I think it's ...".

Round 3: the challenge

For advanced students. Play Rolling in the Deep, Uptown Funk, Don't Stop Me Now, Wonderwall, Can't Stop the Feeling!, I Will Survive and Girls Just Want to Have Fun. Play only the first 10 seconds of each song.

Tips for teachers

• Pre-teach the titles. Two minutes of vocabulary before the round makes the game fairer for weaker readers.
• Keep the clips short. Twenty seconds is enough, and short clips keep attention high.
• Ask the winner to read the marked titles aloud. You check the card and practise reading and pronunciation at the same time.
• Mix the levels in pairs. A confident listener and a shy one make a good team.
• Follow up with one song. Pick one title and ask students to write three sentences about how it makes them feel.
• Note the titles that caused trouble. Replay them at the start of the next lesson.