ESLSongs

Practice the topic of “school subjects” in your ESL class with this song, Wonderful World by Sam Cooke.

The 10 school subjects and other school-related vocabulary that appear in this song’s lyrics are: algebra, an A student, book, biology, French, geography, history, science, took (took a subject) & trigonometry

There is a suggestion on how to use this song in your ESL classes below, but for more ideas, click here.

Lyrics

Don’t know much about history
Don’t know much biology
Don’t know much about a science book
Don’t know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me, too
What a wonderful world this would be

Don’t know much about geography
Don’t know much trigonometry
Don’t know much about algebra
Don’t know what a slide rule is for

But I do know one and one is two
And if this one could be with you
What a wonderful world this would be

Now, I don’t claim to be an A student
But I’m trying to be
For maybe by being an A student, baby
I can win your love for me

Don’t know much about history
Don’t know much biology
Don’t know much about a science book
Don’t know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me, too
What a wonderful world this would be

La ta ta ta ta ta ta (History)
Hmm-mm-mm (Biology)
La ta ta ta ta ta ta (Science book)
Hmm-mm-mm (French I took)

Yeah, but I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me, too
What a wonderful world this would be

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Listen to the song and fill the gaps with the school-related vocabulary words: algebra, an A student, book, biology, French, geography, history, science, took (took a subject) & trigonometry

(I) don’t know much about ¹__________
Don’t know much ²__________
Don’t know much about a ³__________ ⁴__________
Don’t know much about the ⁵__________ I ⁶__________

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me, too
What a wonderful world this would be

(I) don’t know much about ⁷__________
Don’t know much ⁸__________
Don’t know much about ⁹__________
Don’t know what a slide rule is for

But I do know one and one is two
And if this one could be with you
What a wonderful world this would be

Now, I don’t claim to be ¹⁰__________
But I’m trying to be
For maybe by being ¹¹__________, baby
I can win your love for me

(I) don’t know much about ¹²__________
Don’t know much ¹³__________
Don’t know much about a ¹⁴__________ ¹⁵__________
Don’t know much about the ¹⁶__________ I ¹⁷__________

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me, too
What a wonderful world this would be

La ta ta ta ta ta ta (¹⁸__________)
Hmm-mm-mm (¹⁹__________)
La ta ta ta ta ta ta (²⁰__________ ²¹__________)
Hmm-mm-mm (²²__________ I ²³__________)

Yeah, but I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me, too
What a wonderful world this would be

Sam Cooke

Samuel Cooke was an American singer and songwriter. Considered one of the most influential soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred to as the “King of Soul” for his distinctive vocals, pioneering contributions to the genre, and significance in popular music. During his eight-year career, Cooke released 29 singles that charted in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as 20 singles in the Top Ten of Billboard‘s Black Singles chart. In 1964, he was shot and killed by Bertha Franklin, a motel owner in Los Angeles with a prior criminal record. Franklin was later convicted in 1979 when she was found guilty of second-degree murder following another similar shooting. The courts at the time of Cooke’s death ruled in favor of Franklin, stating that his death was a justifiable homicide. Cooke’s family and many fans worldwide have since questioned the circumstances surrounding his death and the lack of a proper investigation. Forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril H. Wecht argued in 2017 that his death was not a justifiable homicide. Cooke was ranked No. 3 in Rolling Stone‘s 2023 list of the “200 Greatest Singers of All Time” and No. 28 on Billboard‘s 2015 list of the “35 Greatest R&B Artists of All Time”.