Page in Japanese

Do you have any brothers or sisters? Target Language: Do you have any brothers or sisters? Target Grade: All ages You can find this song in the Instant Download Pack

And in the new curriculum Level.

	Click the pictures, hear them talk!

I wrote this song as kids are always asking "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" but I was fed up with textbooks and teachers telling them to say things like "How many members in your family?" which always sounded really strange to me!

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How to teach
You sing "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" and the kids sing "I have .... brothers / sisters". As usual do the song without the music first, build up the speed then hit them with the funky Motown beat! Adding in claps keeps the interest high, and having "No!" as the final answer gives the coolest answer to the "only child" kids in the class.



Once you've gone through the song once, you can then go through again, but this time the kids ask you the question and you answer. Or split the kids into two groups, once asks the question, one answers.

The only tricky part is that the phrase can be a bit of a mouthful, so first of all teach "Do you have any pets?" and "Baby Monkey Family" songs. Then it becomes quite simple to teach. It's also a great way to show the kids how they can mix and match the English they already know to say new things.

You could teach "big brother" and "little brother" if you wish, but I simply stick with just "brother" and "sister" as it's more natural in real English. Plus it's great for showing kids that English can sometimes be a lot easier than other languages e.g. compared to Japanese where you have to specify "big" or "little".


Recommend Games

This is a really simple, but great game!

Play the song and everyone sings the song whilst mingling round the classroom. After one of the chorus lines you stop the music and say "I have ... brothers and ... sisters" - the kids have to get in groups of this number of boys or girls!



As usual with Genki English it's fine for the teacher to use some of the kids' native language to help the explanation where necessary, but during the game it's English only! And remember Genki English rule number 2, losing just means "Try again!". Do this and the kids will be singing the song and playing the game all day....


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You can find this song in the Download Pack

Picture Book


Brothers & Sisters

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