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Black Alley

Template for ECA/A/L

Wordplay is brought to you by ECA/A/L, American Music Abroad, and American Voices.

NOTE: This template can be hosted elsewhere as required.

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Playlist for Classroom Engagement

Featured Song: “Be Me” – Black Alley

Music Video

Karaoke Video

Program Materials

Click the tabs below to access all the materials for Wordplay.

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Incredible resources from American English to provide fun new ways of teaching and learning English.

Collections of curricula to combine music lyrics and English learning.

https://americanenglish.state.gov/

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Great information for teachers to use in the English classroom.

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Special section for unique resources provided by ECA/A/L.

Promoting the learning and teaching of American English around the world is an integral part of the Department of State’s efforts to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Increasing the English language capacity of audiences overseas deepens and enriches their engagement with American counterparts and builds lasting bridges between cultures. English language learning is also key to increasing access to the many exchange programs administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and other academic and professional exchange opportunities in the United States, particularly for potential grantees from underrepresented groups, including women and minorities. In addition, English language programs advance the Department of State’s economic statecraft and foreign assistance goals by expanding access to the local and global job markets, particularly among youth.

The Office of English Language Programs designs and manages programs to promote language learning and support the teaching of English in countries around the world. These programs are administered through local American Embassies and Consulates and are overseen by Regional English Language Officers. The Office of English Language Programs also provides academic expertise and develops English teaching and learning resources for use worldwide. The American English website provides links to multimedia resources and information on exchange opportunities for teachers and students of English as a foreign language.

Coming soon!

Great places for students to find more.

Snapshots

Short question videos to use in the classroom to start new conversations in a modern “Stories” format.

SNAPSHOT ACTIVITIES

These short games can be used with the Snapshot videos for a quick activity in the classroom.

Students try to match answers to with the students who wrote them.

Students move to a specific spot in the room, and stand together to show answers to a prompt.

Students ask and answer a series of set questions in pairs.

Students compete to remember gestures and sounds created for common vocabulary.

Students compete to make small groups as quickly as possible.

Video Activities

Password: lyrics

Song Inspiration

Black Alley talks about the story behind their song.

Password: lyrics

About My Instrument

How the drums work with Black Alley’s style.

Password: lyrics

Spoken vs. Written

How speaking differs from writing, especially through lyrics.

Password: lyrics

Song Writing Process

How Black Alley writes their songs through storytelling.

Password: lyrics

Culture References

How “Be Me” is about being your authentic self.

Password: lyrics

Hood Rock Style

Black Alley’s unique genre of trap, rock, and gogo.

Password: lyrics

Discovering New Music

Black Alley’s trick to discovering new songs and artists.

Password: lyrics

Drumming Exercise

Learn some simple rhythms (even if you’re not a drummer).

About The Artist

Washington, D.C. based BLACK ALLEY has been pushing the art of music to its rhythmic limits for some time now. Determined to create a unique musical elixir, Black Alley has taken the finest ingredients of rock, hip-hop, and go-go to create their own genre-bending sound called “Hood Rock”.

With endorsements from national recording artists such as Raheem DeVaughn and Jill Scott; hip-hop standouts Common, Big KRIT, & Wale; producers Tone P and Chucky Thompson; super engineer Young Guru; and legendary musicians Doug E. Fresh and Sheila E, Black Alley is striving to rock harder and put on for the culture.

In September 2017, BLACK ALLEY won Musicology’s first-ever Paisley Park Battle of the Bands in Minneapolis, MN.  The contest, held at the late great estate of Prince, was judged by some of Prince’s former band members who worked closely with the legend. Even before the national recognition that came along with winning the Battle at Paisley Park, Black Alley was, and continues to be, one of the most followed, trend-setting, and sought-after music groups hailing from the nation’s capital.

Black Alley was also hand-selected to perform at the inaugural South By South Lawn Festival (SXSL) held at the White House and spearheaded by former President Barack Obama.

Classroom Survey

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Wordplay is brought to you by ECA/A/L, American Music Abroad, and American Voices.

More information available at:
https://americanenglish.state.gov/