Suzanne Vega, 1981

The song “Tom’s Diner” is loaded with verbs in the present progressive (also called present continuous) tense, and the lyrics are straightforward. If you’re looking for a song to supplement a lesson on the present progressive tense, “Tom’s Diner” is a great choice.

Choose from the following activities:

• Reading Read the story behind the song. It is at the high-beginning / low-intermediate level.
• Listening Watch both of these music videos: Suzanne Vega (a cappella) and the remix version with the group DNA.
• Grammar Complete the worksheet below, which is based on present-progressive sentences in the song.

pres prog ex.docx          pres prog ex.pdf

• Grammar Practice the present progressive tense (as well as pronouns) with the chant below. For the first four verses, you could have half the class ask the questions, and the other half  answer. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

waiting chant.docx          waiting chant.pdf

• Writing Write sentences in the present progressive tense. Teacher Kathryne Lyons suggests this follow-up activity to the song “Tom’s Diner.” For homework, she had her students pretend they were sitting in a public place (fast-food restaurant, library, etc.) and write their observations in the present progressive tense.