Table of Contents
Listening Activity
This listening activity is based on the song “This Is It by Michael Jackson“. The song lyrics can be perfect for English Learners and contain many interesting language topics, such as the simple future and the present perfect simple.
Let’s start with some information about the song!
This Is It by Michael Jackson
“This Is It” is a song co-written by the legendary American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson and the Canadian artist Paul Anka. This page provides information about the song, a link to the lyrics, and the official video.
This is it by Michael Jackson
Level
Beginner and intermediate students.
Facts about the Song
- Song: This is it
- Album: Michael Jackson’s This Is It
- Date of release: October 12, 2009
- Genre: Pop
- Length of the song: 3 minutes and 37 seconds.
- Writer: Michael Jackson, Paul Anka
- Produced by: Michael Jackson, John McClain, Mervyn Warren
Interesting Information about the Song
“This Is It” was co-written by recording artists Paul Anka and Michael Jackson, with a demo version recorded by the duo in 1983 at Anka’s California recording studio. The song was initially intended for Anka’s 1983 duet album, Walk a Fine Line.
After Michael Jackson’s death, his brothers released the song, prompting Anka to threaten legal action against Jackson’s estate. To resolve the dispute, the estate agreed to give Anka 50% of the song’s publishing rights.
The Video
The Lyrics
Language Points
The song includes many interesting language points:
Expressions that may be useful to students:
- This is it,
Here I stand
I’m the light of the world
I’ll feel grand - And it feels as though I’ve seen your face a thousand times
- And I feel as though I’ve known you since a thousand years
And you tell me that seen my face before
Listening Comprehension
Sentence Completion Exercise
Complete the sentences using the words or phrases provided.
- This is it, here I stand, I’m the ________ of the world, I feel grand.
- (light, voice, guide)
- And it feels as though I’ve seen your ________ a thousand times.
- (face, smile, expression)
- I never thought that I would be your ________.
- (friend, lover, hero)
- Every time I’m in love, that, I ________.
- (fear, feel, believe)
- And you said you want to go with me all the ________.
- (way, time, while)
Gap Fill Exercise
These words are used in the lyrics of the song:
- Addicted: Strongly inclined or compelled to do something repeatedly.
- Hang around: To spend time idly or aimlessly in a place, often with no specific purpose or agenda. For example, “The kids like to hang around the park after school.” (Check detailed definition of hang around)
- Understand: To grasp the meaning or significance of something.
- Runaway: Something that is out of control or unrestrained.
- Feel: To experience an emotion or physical sensation.
- Real: Genuine; not artificial or imagined.
- Plan: A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word from the list:
hang around, lovers, understand, runaway, feel, real, plan, addicted
- She became so __________ to her new hobby that she spent all her free time on it.
- In every romantic story, there’s always a conflict between two __________.
- It was hard for him to __________ why she was upset, despite his best efforts.
- The horse was a __________ winner, outpacing all the other competitors easily.
- You could __________ the excitement in the air as the concert began.
- The emotions they shared were __________, not just for the cameras.
- His __________ for the weekend included visiting the new museum exhibit and a dinner date.
Source: Wikipedia