Halloween and Autumn Shows

Emelie and Costa teaching "On Halloween" in Budrione (MO)

The hundreds of children who have participated in our shows these last few weeks have been celebrating Halloween and the season of Autumn through song, dance, movement and of course, English. It is always a pleasure to return to schools that know us and appreciate our method and material. The video clip shows Emelie and Costa, (our new FunSongs actor from Sydney who is also an opera singer) leading the children in a collective performance of On Halloween.

FunSongs Labs

Andrew Tyree helping kids to be creative in English

FunSongs Labs is a new project we are developing after the success of our FunSongs English Weeks summer camps. Families form small groups of 4 to 5 children and once a week for ten weeks FunSongs provides a trained English teacher. He or she holds the lessons at home. The scheme is currently limited to Bologna and the surrounding area. For further details, please contact the FunSongs Italy office to ask for an application form.

New developments as the School Year starts

Robin Hood's Band by Charles Goodger
Collective performance during a FunSongs Show

As always the month of October is a busy time for FunSongs. As well as organizing the many bookings for FunSongs Shows, the Italy office in Zola Predosa is also coordinating a new project entitled "FunSongs Labs". These are English lessons for small groups of children based on the FunSongs Approach.

September 2007 - multilingual FunSongs!

Charles Goodger and Andrew Tyree present the
FunSongs method to kids in a Madrid school

After a season working for FunSongs Italy, Californian actor and teacher Andrew Tyree (tel. 0034 665 11 53 86) is now based in Madrid. He is working to interest schools and teachers in the validity and effectiveness of the FunSongs Approach. Andrew and his staff in Madrid are now available to bring the magic and joy of FunSongs language-learning action songs to Spain.

A seguito dell'ultimo anno scolastico lavorando per la FunSongs Italy, l'attore e insegnante californiano Andrew Tyree (tel. 0034 665 11 53 86) ora vive a Madrid. Si sta impegnando per interessare le scuole e gli insegnanti della capitale nella validità e efficacia dell'Approccio FunSongs. Andrew e la sua équipe sono pronti a presentare la magia e la gioia delle canzoni animate didattiche FunSongs ai bambini spagnoli.

Después de trabajar para FunSongs Italy, ahora el actor y profesor californiano Andrew Tyree (tel. 0034 665 11 53 86) vive en Madrid. El objetivo de Andrew, que habla perfectamente el castellano, es de interesar las escuelas y los profesores de la ciudad en la validez y la eficacia del Enfoque FunSongs. Andrew y su personal en Madrid están disponibles a traer la magia y la alegría de las canciones de FunSongs a los alumnos españoles.

FEWs June 2007 - unforgettable events

Kids performing an action song at FunSongs
English weeks Show in Zola Predosa

This June FunSongs organized six weeks of FEWs - FunSongs English Weeks - in four different locations. In Rome, Chatillon (Valle d'Aosta), Zola Predosa and Bologna.

Thanks to its staff of mother-tongue teachers and team leaders, the events were much appreciated. The format of each FunSongs English Week is based on a series of themes. Participating students are placed in teams, each of which works collectively to develop a particular theme.

This summer there were three teams: The Dino Pack and their special classroom "The Saurus Cave". The Dip Pack's project was the Age of Dinosaurs; the Water Drops in their classroom "Behind the Waterfall" - climate change, ecology and water conservation and the Space Monsters in their classroom "Starship Command" - astronomy and the solar system.

At the end of each FEW, the children exhibted their arts and crafts and performed their action. Som videos of these performances can be viewed on the FunSongs channel at http://www.youtube.com/.

Given the success and interest in these innovative events, FunSongs is planning to offer FunSongs English Weeks to schools during the school year. Teachers interested in hosting a FunSongs English Weeks are invited to contact the FunSongs Office.

FunSongs English Weeks 2007!

Kids enjoying a FunSongs Monster show at
IC Berlinguer, Secondigliano, Naples

These last two months have beeen, to say the least, busy for FunSongs. The Naples Tour in May came after several intense days of meetings and presentations in Madrid where actor and teacher Andrew Tyree will be managing FunSongs Espana from September 2007. There was much interest in the FunSongs Approach both from the British Council School and several state schools participating in the "bilinguismo" project.

Charles Goodger and his team have been getting ready for FunSongs English Weeks, opportunities for young learners to immerse themselves in the English language through our particular blend of music, rhyme, rhythm and mime. This year FunSongs will be coordinating FEWs in Rome, Chatillon near Aosta, Zola Predosa and Bologna.

FunSongs launches in Spain

Actor and teacher Andrew Tyree from Los Angeles
after a FunSongs Quiz Show in Ferrara

FunSongs is getting ready to launch its first franchise. Although FunSongs CDs and books have been sold around the world since the organization's foundation in 1998, FunSongs Shows and Quiz Shows have been limited to Italy where Charles Goodger, author of the songs and shows lives. However next month Charles Goodger and Andrew Tyree who has been performing FunSongs Shows with great success since January 2007 will be flying to Madrid to conduct market research in the Spanish capital. Andrew speaks fluent Spanish and is looking forward to the challenge. He hopes to start promoting and performing shows in Madrid from the start of the next school year.

FunSongs English Weeks 2007

Children playing during last summer's
FunSongs English Weeks in Zola Predosa (BO)

From Monday 11th June through Friday 22nd June FunSongs will be coordinating four FunSongs English Weeks - summer camps for primary school children in which participants learn English using the FunSongs approach. There will be a FEW in Rome, one in Chatillon near Aosta, another in Bologna and finally one again in Zola Predosa. FunSongs hopes to be able to host several hundred children and will be hiring over twenty part-time English teachers. For further details look at www.italian.funsongs.co.uk/english weeks or contact FunSongs direct.

FunSongs Seminar in Bergamo

Teachers learning "The Monster March" at a CRT
Lingue Conference, Bergamo 22 February 2007

More than 200 teachers attended a training seminar organized by Bergamo's Centro Risorse Territoriali last 22 February. After a brief presentation by Ispettrice Giovanna Barzanò, Charles Goodger and Emelie Loeb involved participants in a number of song-based TPR techniques. Teachers were also given free material to use in class.

New FunSongs Shows in March

This month sees the launch of two new FunSongs shows for Primary and Prima Media classes: The Dino Show, which showcases aspects of prehistory and the new FunSongs Water show, scheduled for March 30th in Calderino near Bologna. This workshop is based on ecological themes including water conservation and climate change. Downloadable work sheets related to both songs will soon be available on the

FunSongs Quiz Shows - a full immersion experience

The Sala Magna at IC Cassino set up for a Quiz Show

February 2007 stood out for the many Quiz Shows presented in several Italian regions. Charles Goodger, and his team travelled to Bologna, Cassino, Rome, Scandicci and Ferrara to involve hundreds of Scuola Media and High School students in the FunSongs Civiltà Quiz Show. From the highly positive comments received from teachers on the FunSongs feedback form on the www.funsongsshow.com website, we are confident the format we use with revolving spokespeople is the most interactive possible.


Charles Goodger with School Head Venturini at the
start of aQuiz Show at IC Cassino February 2007

The Quiz show is a competition between two teams - the boys and the girls. Both teams represented by a spokesperson, compete to win points based on questions drawn from six categories: Food, People, Places, Sports Hobbies and Games, School University and Work and The Animal World. For further details, visit the FunSongs Quiz Show website.

New action song on climate change

Alessandro Macchiavelli recording "Water is
Everything" 23 January 2007

FunSongs is proud to announce the arrival of a new action song to add to its growing repertoire. "Water is Everything", written by Charles Goodger presents and teaches vocabulary related to the broad themes of water conservation, respect for the natural environment and climate change. Like all FunSongs action songs, "Water is Everything" which teachers will soon be able to hear on the FunSongs website, can be used as the starting point of a new project together with teachers of other subjects - specially natural science and geography.

FunSongs in 2007

Kids displaying their Time Travellers poster

Action songs are always a great way to start a new teaching module. This photo shows a class of children proudly displaying a poster based on the song "Words for Time, Time for Words".
You can hear the full version by clicking here .

End of the line? No it's 2007!

Itty and Britty at Scuola Carducci, Bologna
FunSongs Christmas Show 15 December 2006

FunSongs would like to wish everyone who appreciates our songs, material and shows a happy and peaceful Christmas holiday and all the best for 2007. Thank you for your interest and support.

Best wishes from us all at FunSongs, Italy.

Charles Goodger, David Crisante, Emelie Loeb, Andrew Tyree, Sarah Holloway

FunSongs Christmas Shows!

David and Emelie with kids in Carpi (MO), December 2006

Teachers and children congratulate FunSongs!

The last few weeks have seen FunSongs actors Emelie Loeb from California and David Crisante from Sydney performing shows in three regions of Italy: Valle d'Aosta, Lombardy and Emilia Romagna. Most of the shows chosen have been FunSongs Christmas shows. This gives the teachers time to work on the songs and download material available from the FunSongs Resources website.

On 2nd December in Sant'Agostino near Ferrara David and Emelie - together with Quizmaster Charles Goodger presented two FunSongs Civiltà Quiz Shows and a Robin Hood FunSongs show to classes attending the local Scuola Media. The teacher, Prof. Anna Tassinari was highly complimentary and told us she would spread the word to other schools in the area. FunSongs is grateful to Giancarlo Guzzi for introducing us to Prof. Anna.

On 7th December Charles Goodger spoke about action songs at the British Council Conference for English teachers in Milan which attracted about 150 participants.

FunSongs English Weeks 2007


FunSongs English Weeks in Zola Predosa June 2006

FunSongs is starting to plan a series of FunSongs English Weeks camps for June 2007. On the basis of the success of last June in Zola Predosa, we hope to organize FEWs in three or more locations around Italy. Keep reading this blog for developments!

FunSongs Halloween shows

Charles Goodger with teachers at a workshop in Genoa

This has been a busy period for Charles Goodger, author of FunSongs action songs with appearances at the national TESOL conference in Naples and a number of workshops and seminars in Veneto and Emilia. The British Council conference in Milan at the start of December will be another opportunity to inform teachers about the latest FunSongs proposals.















David Crisante at Scuola Carducci, Bologna


The end of October brought an intense series of FunSongs Halloween shows to a close in Lombardy and Emilia Romagna. Actors Emelie and David are now preparing for Monster, Christmas and Winter shows to perform in Valle d'Aosta, Milan Province and Emilia in November and December.

Our Autumn Song!

FunSongs Autumn Show in Modena

More and more schools are acquiring the FunSongs Download licence as teachers come to appreciate how effective using action songs can be in presenting new themes and language. Just last week there were orders from schools in Bologna, Bergamo and Valle d'Aosta.
The staff at FunSongs are busy improving and updating the song packages. For details and samples visit the FunSongs website.
In October Charles Goodger will be busy hosting a series of FunSongs workshops and seminars for teachers in Veneto and Emilia Romagna including a high profile LEND workshop on 20th October at ITIS Nobili in Via Makallé, Reggio Emilia. At the start of November he will be speaking at the national Tesol teachers conference in Naples.
This is also a time of rehearsal and with a spate of FunSongs Halloween shows booked for Halloween and the FunSongs actors Emelie Loeb from California and David Crisante from Sydney are gearing up!. The first shows this season are at a large Istituto Comprensivo near Bergamo on October 26th.
In the meantime work continues on the new FunSongs publication Songs in Action.

FunSongs gets ready!

FunSongs Monster Show, Scuola Corridoni Parma


With Summer 2006 almost over, there is growing excitement at FunSongs about the New School Year and the many challenges and projects that lie ahead. These include the new FunSongs textbook, Songs in Action, which should be ready for worldwide distribution in the first few months of 2007. Schools interested in Songs in Action may already use some of the songs and worksheets by acquiring a FunSongs Licence. For a limited period this is available at a reduced price. Please contact FunSongs directly for details.

In Italy the latest season of FunSongs school Show is about to start. FunSongs now has its own Sales manager Giancarlo Guzzi, responsible for all show bookings in the provinces of Bologna, Ferrara and Modena.

Following the success and interest generated by FunSongs English Weeks, Charles Goodger expects to reach a joint agreement with Zola Predosa Council to set up the very first FunSongs Language Centre. All details will be posted here!

Songs in Action in Production

Teaching actions for Our Autumn Song

A few days after the end of FunSongs Summer Weeks at the end of June, Serena De Santis, Claudia Catinelli and Charles Goodger met to plan the latest FunSongs publication "Songs in Action". This is a new photocopiable textbook containing twelve action song-based modules. It will contain a CD with two versions of the songs and multimedia material. Charles Goodger had originally been invited to publish a similar textbook with a large international publisher but then decided that FunSongs itself could do the job! Songs in Action should be available from the start of 2007.

FunSongs Summer Weeks
- an unforgettable experience
















Jeff Canada with his Space Monsters

As you can see from the photos, the kids all had a great time - and also learned English as they danced, sang, played and drew. The second week was even more successful than the first. Charles Goodger and his team received praise for the quality of the organization and contents from FunSongs's sponsor, the local council of Zola Predosa as you can see in this email from local councellor Stefano Fiorini:

Ho avuto l'opportunità di constatare, tramite alcuni genitori che mi hanno informato, l'alto livello di questa iniziativa.
La relazione del Dr.Goodger mi conferma ancora una volta la sensibilità e la competenza di questo professionista che, peraltro, abbiamo la fortuna di avere come nostro concittadino.
Come cittadino e consigliere comunale ringrazio tutti coloro che hanno contribuito a questa iniziativa. Cordiali saluti, Stefano Fiorini

FunSongs English Weeks on Target

Amy, Team Leader of the Time Travellers

After more than a year's planning the very first FunSongs English Weeks project is underway! Every day last week 60 kids aged from 6 to 11 came to the Centro Torrazza in Zola Predosa near Bologna to take part in an intensive programme of action songs, games, competitions and handicrafts.

Children found themselves in one of four teams: Time Travellers with Amy Hough, Rainbow Kids with Scott Bishop, Space Monsters with Jeff Canada and Dino Pack with Emilie Loeb. Lots of fun and learning were had by all and many kids decided to enrol for the second week. As well as his stalwart Californian team leaders, Charles Goodger, who organized the event, was ably assisted by Massimo Braile, a local English teacher at the nearby Scuola Elementare Albergati.

Appreciation for FunSongs Rome shows

Amy and Scott performing the FunSongs
Monster Show, Rome April 2006

We were naturally glad to receive a highly complimentary review of the FunSongs shows performed in Rome at Scuola Elementare Lombroso Besso 105th Circolo in Rome last April including a mention on this important school's website. The teacher who invited us, Marzia Catalani, wrote this: "Abbiamo tutti trovato molto interessante il vostro modo di usare la lingua inglese attraverso il teatro e le canzoni e ciò che abbiamo visto sarà un buono spunto per i nostri lesson plans del prossimo anno scolastico. Le scrivo di seguito l'indirizzo del sito. Si trova una recensione sulla pagina "I nostri Progetti" per l'anno 2005-2006. http://scuolabessoroma.altervista.org/ Ringrazio Lei e la FunSongs e auguro a tutti voi buone vacanze."

I couldn't have put it better myself!

FunSongs English Weeks countdown!

Now that May's almost over, the countdown for the very first FunSongs English Weeks is on! To date 65 children aged between 7 and 11 have enrolled for the event, some for two weeks. FunSongs will be relying on an all-Californian team of teachers and entertainers: Amy Hough, Scott Bishop, Jeff Canada and Emilie Loeb.
Italian teacher of English Massimo Braile will be assisting Charles Goodger and coordinating handycraft activities together with Emilie. FunSongs is grateful to local teachers Rossella Gualandi, Antonella Gasparini and Gloria Vannucchi for their encouragement and support.

The Union Song - teaching module goes live


Kids performing the Union Song

Though completed in January, Italy's INDIRE website, part of the Ministry of Education, waited until mid May to publish Charles Goodger's introduction to language learning action songs in the form of a free module based on the Union Song. The module is restricted to teacher trainees signed up with the training programme. Details of the site can be found at http://puntoeduri.indire.it/lingue/index.php.

Letter to Charles Goodger

This shows an extract of a letter (apologies for the poor scan) given to Charles Goodger at a teachers' conference in Venice recently. It was collectively written by Classes 4a and 4b of Marcon Primary School near Venice to tell the creator of FunSongs writer how much they like the songs and which are their favourites. Charles Goodger wrote back personally to the class to thank them.

FunSongs English Weeks

FunSongs Animals Show, Zola Predosa 5th May 2006

As days get warmer and the school year draws to its close, the focus has switched to FunSongs English Weeks. Thanks to the support of local teachers and heads, Charles Goodger has been promoting the very first FunSongs English Summer Camp; it will take place at the Centro Torrazza, in Zola Predosa near Bologna from June 19th to June 30th. For further information please call or write Charles Goodger on +39 348 2338787.

FunSongs Stowaway Story in Ferrara

We used this ship as the backdrop to our show!

On Saturday May 6th alongside the River Po in Ferrara, Scott Bishop and Amy Hough in the roles of Captain Krettin and Sailor staged the very first "FunSongs Stowaway Story". This open-air event was sponsored by Assonautica to promote interest in yachting. It's a fast-paced musical based original action songs and chants and tells the story of Jack, an 11-year-old English boy from Bristol who hides on The Esmeralda, a clipper bound for New York. Though everyone appreciated the show, Assonautica had failed to promote it properly and Scott and Amy ended up performing to just two 4 year-olds! It was a valid experience though and FunSongs will include the Stowaway Story in its new repertoire of shows for the 2006-2007 school year.

FunSongs in Rome and Naples

Santa Chiara church in the heart of old Naples

April 2006 was a difficult month for schools in Italy as there were so many vacations and interruptions. The Easter vacation and, a week before, the national elections, broke up the month and considerably reduced the number of study days. However, FunSongs made the most of the month culminating in a successful Rome-Naples tour with Animal, Robin Hood and Monster shows at the 105th Circolo Didattico in Rome and at the Minucci Primary School in the Vomero district of Naples. The photo of this famous church was taken from the roof of our Bed & Breakfast in the chaotic but colourful downtown of the ancient city. The kids in Naples were particularly responsive to the FunSongs Approach.

FunSongs Stowaway Show in Ferrara

Our sponsor Massimo Gardelli
at the venue in Ferrara

Next Saturday 6th May, Scott, Amy and Charles will present the new Stowaway Story show sponsored by Assonautica. Watch this space for reports and developments.

FunSongs English Weeks

This is a copy of the official FunSongs English Weeks flyer. Next week Charles Goodger will start to promote the event at schools in Calderino, Zola Predosa, Casalecchio and Bologna.