Lesson video

Hello everyone.

How are you doing today? Hope you're feeling really, really good.

My name's Ms. Afzal, and I'm feeling great because we are going to be exploring some songs today.

The songs of Lord Kitchener.

So you will need a copy of two songs, so you'll need, "London is a Place for Me" and "Sweet Jamaica." So if you pause the video here, I will be waiting for you while you go off and get your copy of those two songs.

Okay, you're back.

You've got the songs, you've got the song lyrics, and hopefully you are ready to discuss them, compare them, contrast them, think carefully about them, share your ideas and opinions.

Let's get started with our lesson.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can make comparisons between songs with different perspectives.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

My turn, your turn.

Theme, context, imagery, compare, contrast.

And now let's find out what these keywords mean.

Theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text.

Context is the setting or background that helps us to understand something better.

Imagery is the use of vivid and sensory language that appeals to the reader's senses, creating vivid mental pictures and enhancing the emotional impact of the song.

Compare involves identifying similarities between two or more things, ideas, themes, or texts.

Contrast involves identifying differences between two or more things, ideas, themes, or texts.

These are our keywords.

Let's be on the lookout for them.

Let's think carefully about them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called comparing and contrasting.

"London is the Place for Me" and "Sweet Jamaica." There are two parts to our lesson, comparing and contrasting imagery and themes, and reflecting on the songs.

Let's begin by comparing and contrasting imagery and themes.

"London is the Place for Me" was written by Aldwyn Lord Kitchener Roberts in 1948.

"Sweet Jamaica" was written four years after his arrival on the Empire Windrush.

And we can see an image of Lord Kitchener on the screen there.

Aldwyn Roberts was born on April the 18th, 1922 in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago.

Roberts adopted the stage name Lord Kitchener after the British military figure, Horatio Kitchener, which was a common practise amongst calypsonians.

The songs reflect a period of significant change in Britain.

The song "London is the Place for Me" is written from the perspective of someone who had been to London, even though Lord Kitchener had not yet visited the city.

The song expresses a hopeful and positive outlook on life in London.

Imagery describes London as having a vibrant social atmosphere, where people are happy to see you.

And imagery is one of our keywords.

It's the use of language to create vivid mental pictures and sensory experiences for the reader or listener.

The song contains themes of exclusion, comfort, and belonging.

Themes are a big idea, topic or message that recur within the text.

Kitchener portrays the city as a land of opportunity and a place where dreams can be realised.

The song "Sweet Jamaica" shows a change in perspective from Lord Kitchener after he had spent time in London.

The song contains negative imagery about living in postwar London, including rationing, hunger and poor living and working conditions.

Positive imagery is used when referring to Jamaica, where Lord Kitchener migrated from.

The weather and food are remembered fondly and compared to London.

The song contains themes of regret, nostalgia and homesickness.

Kitchener portrays London as a city where it is a struggle to survive and make a living.

So we can see really quite a contrast in Lord Kitchener's perspective on London from "London is the Place for Me" to "Sweet Jamaica." Check for understanding, true or false.

Both songs describe London using positive imagery.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to justify your answer by selecting one of the following two statements.

"Sweet Jamaica" describes postwar London using negative imagery linked to rationing, hunger, and poor living and working conditions.

"London is the Place for Me," describes the city as having a vibrant social atmosphere where people are happy to see you.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements best justifies your earlier answer.

Both of the statements are true, but it's the first one that more directly justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected this statement.

When we compare and contrast, we are focusing on similarities and differences.

So similarities are things that are alike or the same in two or more things.

Differences are things that are not the same.

By comparing, we can find how things are alike, which helps us see patterns and connections.

When we contrast, we notice differences, and this helps us see unique details or aspects that make each thing special.

Pause the video now and turn to someone nearby.

And I'd like you to compare yourselves.

Can you think of a few ways in which you are alike? Can you find some patterns and connections? How are you and the person next to you alike? Pause the video while you discuss this.

Okay, hope you found some interesting ways in which you are alike.

And now let's consider contrast.

Where we contrast, we notice differences and this helps us see unique details or aspects that make each thing special.

So now I think you might have guessed what I'm gonna ask you to do.

I'd like to pause the video, turn to each other and think of some ways in which you contrast with each other.

So what are some differences between you and the person next to you? What are some things that make you unique? Pause the video here and discuss this.

Okay, thanks for sharing.

I hope you, maybe you even found out something new or that you didn't know before about the person next to you.

Check for understanding, match the following keywords to their definitions.

So we have the keywords, compare and contrast and here are the definitions.

Involves identifying differences between two or more things, ideas, themes, or texts.

Involves identifying similarities between two or more things, ideas, themes or texts.

Pause the video while you match up the keywords to their definitions.

When we compare, we're identifying similarities between two or more things, ideas, themes, or texts.

And when we contrast, we are identifying differences between two or more things, ideas, themes, or texts.

Well done if you match the keywords to their definitions in this way.

And now it's time for your task.

In this task we're going to explore the similarities and differences between the two songs.

How do the songs describe the countries of England and Jamaica through their use of imagery? Do they have similar or different themes? Compare and contrast the songs by filling in notes in the corresponding boxes and refer to both songs to support you.

So here's the table I would like you to use as you compare and contrast the songs.

"London is the Place for Me" and "Sweet Jamaica." So in the box in the centre, I'd like you to write down the similarities between these two songs and then I'd like you to write the differences on the outside boxes.

So what is different about "London is the Place for Me" and what is different about "Sweet Jamaica?" So pause the video here as you refer to these two songs and compare and contrast them using this table.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, it's great to be back with you.

How did you get on? We're comparing and contrasting these two songs.

Let's have a look at some ideas.

So some differences.

How "London is the Place for Me" is different.

Well, the imagery here describes a thriving busy city.

And some of the themes focus on the excitement of arriving and hope for the future.

Similarities between the two songs, both songs reflect the pursuit of a better life.

Both songs have themes around migration and differences relating to "Sweet Jamaica." Imagery is linked to fond memories of Jamaica.

Themes are linked to portraying challenges and regret of leaving Jamaica.

Well done for completing this task and perhaps you had some ideas like the ones we see here.

And now onto the next part of our lesson.

Reflecting on the songs.

Understanding the context of both "London is the Place for Me" and "Sweet Jamaica" is crucial for a deeper reflection on songs and context is the setting or background that helps us to understand something better.

So the context helps readers and listeners understand the artist's journey is personal migration.

When and why the songs were written, the changes that happened over time, the shifts between optimism to reality to nostalgia.

These are just some of the ways that the context supports us to develop comprehension.

There are many more and we can see an image on our screen of the route that the Empire Windrush would've taken with LOrd Kitchener on board in 1948.

"London is the Place for Me" celebrates the opportunities that England could provide for people from the Caribbean.

The migration of people from the Caribbean to England during the Windrush period, 1948 to 1971 was driven by a combination of pull factors including, promised employment, the potential for higher earnings, good living standards, the opportunity to advance their education.

Some of these are referred to by Lord Kitchener in the song.

For example, he compares his residence to Hampton Court Palace.

In comparison in "Sweet Jamaica" Lord Kitchener reflects on the previous four years which have not been as positive as he had hoped.

Many people from the Caribbean face racial discrimination, employment challenges, housing issues, and other barriers.

People from the Caribbean had to adjust to British culture, which was often very different from what they were used to, causing feelings of isolation and homesickness.

Despite these challenges, people from the Caribbean formed tight-knit communities to support each other and preserve their culture.

Check for understanding.

What is similar about "London is the Place for Me" and "Sweet Jamaica?" They both praise London.

They both describe Jamaica.

They both describe London.

Both songs are the same genre.

And you may like to listen to the songs and refer to the songs for support.

So pause the video while you listen and refer to the songs and then select which of these statements tell us what is similar about "London is the Place for Me" and "Sweet Jamaica." Well done if you selected the final two statements.

Indeed, they both describe London, though in very different and contrasting ways, and both songs are the same genre.

Both songs are part of the genre of calypso.

A style of Afro-Caribbean music developed in Trinidad and Tobago.

Despite the positive sound, the lyrics of "Sweet Jamaica" contain negative imagery.

"London is the Place for Me" and "Sweet Jamaica" both discuss Lord Kitchener hopes for the future.

One about what might happen when he arrives in London, the other hoping to return to Jamaica.

I'd like you to listen to both songs now, and then answer the following question.

How do the themes of hope differ between the songs? So pause the video while you listen to both the songs and share with someone your answer to this question.

How do the themes of hope differ between the songs? I wonder what you discussed.

Let's hear from Andy, in "London is the Place for Me" Lord Kitchener celebrates the potential of life in London.

While in "Sweet Jamaica," he expresses disappointment and nostalgia.

Thanks for sharing that, Andy.

Yeah really quite a contrast there between the way these themes are expressed.

Both songs express feelings of belonging, but for different places, belonging is a noun.

It's a sense of fitting in or feeling like you are an important member of a group.

I'd like you to pause the video for a moment and just reflect for yourself about where it is that you feel a sense of belonging.

Where do you feel like you're an important member of a group? What are some of the different places, perhaps in school, perhaps in your family, maybe there's some other group you're a part of.

So just reflect on this yourself for a moment.

Thanks for reflecting.

And now once again, I would like you to listen to both the songs and then answer the following question.

In what ways do you think the songs express feelings of belonging? So pause the video while you listen to both songs and then share your answer to this question.

In what ways do you think the songs express feelings of belonging with someone nearby.

Let's hear from Aisha, in "London is the Place for Me" Lord Kitchener feels a sense of belonging and excitement about contributing to London, but in "Sweet Jamaica" he feels outta place and longs for the familiar warmth of Jamaica.

Thanks for sharing Aisha.

Yeah, we can really sense that strong sense of belonging for London and then for Jamaica.

Check for understanding, true or false.

Lord Kitchener is views of migration changed between the release of "London is the Place for Me" and "Sweet Jamaica." Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

And now I'd like you to justify your answer by choosing from one of the following statements.

Lord Kitchener's feelings and emotions about migrating change from optimistic and excited to regret.

"London is the Place for Me" and "Sweet Jamaica" both discuss, Lord Kitchener's hopes for the future.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements will directly justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected the first statement.

Both these statements are true, but it's the first one that relates and justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected this statement.

A take-away idea within a text may link to themes that are explored and developed in it.

It may include a key message, insight, or perspective that the artist has communicated to their audience.

Let's see what take-away ideas Joan and Lucas have.

Migrating to a new place is very brave.

It must take lots of resilience and determination.

Yep, I hear you Joan, my parents migrated to Britain from Pakistan and I'm really grateful for their bravery, resilience, and determination.

And what about Lucas? When something or someone doesn't meet your expectations, it can be very challenging to overcome negative emotions.

Yeah, it can be hard.

I wonder if you've ever experienced that? You've ever had some experience where things didn't quite work out the way you thought they would and that can be quite tough.

Yeah, thanks for sharing that one, Lucas.

Okay, again, over to you now.

What are your take-away ideas from reading and listening to both songs? So pause the video here while you have a go at this task, discussing with someone nearby your take-away ideas from reading and listening to both songs.

Okay, great to be back with you.

I'm very curious.

I wonder what take-away ideas you have come up with.

Perhaps you mentioned something like, people can have very close ties with their home country.

Community should always be welcoming and support one another.

Yes, absolutely.

Helping people feel like they belong is crucial no matter where they're from or who they are.

I love that one, and I hope you are doing that.

Whenever you get the opportunity to.

Finding out about people who migrate from one place to another can be really rewarding and interesting.

And that's another great one.

It's like we get to travel the world by speaking to people and making friends with people who migrated from other places.

As our reading and listening experiences are unique, your ideas will be too.

Thank you for sharing your ideas.

Thank you for being unique, wonderful individuals.

In our lesson today, comparing and contrasting "London is the Place for Me" and "Sweet Jamaica." We have covered the following.

"London is the Place for Me" was written by Aldwyn Lord Kitchener Roberts in 1948.

"Sweet Jamaica" was written four years after his arrival on the Empire Windrush.

We can compare and contrast songs with similar themes or messages, noticing the impact that they have on us as readers.

Understanding the context of the songs can support readers to form deeper reflections.

From reading, listening and discussing songs about migration.

We can make connections to our own lives and experiences.

Thank you so much everyone for joining in this lesson.

It was great to spend time with you comparing and contrasting these two songs by Lord Kitchener.

And do take the opportunity to share your stories of migration or your family stories of migration, if that's your experience, and to listen to others and really value their stories of migration.

I'll see you in another lesson soon.

Bye for now.