Sumário

🎵Introduction

“That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars” is a fun and engaging ESL music lesson designed to help learners improve their English through real music. In this lesson, students explore natural American English expressions, lifestyle vocabulary, and speaking practice activities inspired by the song. By using music as a learning tool, “That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars” becomes a powerful way to develop listening skills, pronunciation, and fluency in a meaningful and enjoyable context.

📌 Table of Contents

WATCH THE SONG
CULTURAL INSIGHT
WARM-UP (Speaking Activation)
PRE-LISTENING (Prediction Task)
LISTENING TASK 1 – GENERAL IDEA
LISTENING TASK 2 – DETAIL FOCUS
LISTENING TASK 3 – CHUNK RECOGNITION
LANGUAGE FOCUS – EVERYDAY ENGLISH CHUNKS
CONTROLLED PRACTICE
SPEAKING PRODUCTION
CREATIVE TASK
FAST CHALLENGE
TEACHER SCRIPT
FAQs

▶️ Watch the Song That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars

🌍 Cultural Insight

This song reflects American “treat yourself” culture — the idea of enjoying life, rewarding yourself, and celebrating everyday moments.

In the U.S., expressions like:

“Let’s go out” [vamos sair]
“I’ll treat you” [Eu pago a conta]
“That’s what I like” [É isso que eu gosto]

are common in casual social life, especially in nightlife, dating, and celebrations.

1. WARM-UP “aquecimento” (Speaking Activation – ativação da fala)

Discuss in pairs or groups:

1. What makes a perfect day for you? “O que torna um dia perfeito para você?“

Possible answers:

A perfect day for me is spending time with my family.
(Um dia perfeito para mim é passar tempo com minha família.)
A perfect day is relaxing at home and watching movies.
(Um dia perfeito é relaxar em casa e assistir filmes.)
A perfect day is going to the beach with friends.
(Um dia perfeito é ir à praia com amigos.)
A perfect day is sleeping late and eating good food.
(Um dia perfeito é dormir até mais tarde e comer comida gostosa.)
A perfect day for me is enjoying a sunny day at the beach.
(Para mim, um dia perfeito é curtir um dia de sol na praia.)

2. Do you prefer simple pleasures or luxury experiences? “Você prefere prazeres simples ou experiências luxuosas?“

Possible answers:

I prefer simple pleasures.
(Eu prefiro prazeres simples.)
I like spending time with friends and family.
(Eu gosto de passar tempo com amigos e família.)
I prefer luxury experiences sometimes.
(Eu prefiro experiências luxuosas às vezes.)
I enjoy both simple pleasures and luxury experiences.
(Eu gosto tanto de prazeres simples quanto de experiências luxuosas.)
I prefer simple pleasures because I don’t feel comfortable with a lot of luxury. I think it’s unnecessary.
(Eu prefiro prazeres simples porque não me sinto confortável com muito luxo. Acho desnecessário.)

3. What kind of food, places, or activities make you feel happy? “Que tipo de comida, lugares ou atividades fazem você se sentir feliz?“

Possible answers:

Pizza and ice cream make me happy.
(Pizza e sorvete me fazem feliz.)
I feel happy when I go to the beach.
(Eu me sinto feliz quando vou à praia.)
I enjoy walking in the park.
(Eu gosto de caminhar no parque.)
Listening to music makes me happy.
(Ouvir música me faz feliz.)
Traveling to new places makes me happy.
(Viajar para lugares novos me faz feliz.)
I feel happy eating stroganoff and spending time at my mother’s house.
(Eu me sinto feliz comendo estrogonofe e estando na casa da minha mãe.)

Vocabulary Help

perfect day = dia perfeito
simple pleasures = prazeres simples
luxury experiences = experiências luxuosas
food = comida
places = lugares
activities = atividades
happy = feliz
relax = relaxar
spend time = passar tempo
enjoy = gostar / aproveitar
feel happy = sentir-se feliz

Quick share:
Ask 2–3 students to report one idea from their partner.

-------- Continua após a publicidade --------

2. PRE-LISTENING (Prediction Task)

Look at the title: That’s What I Like.

What do you think the song is about? **“Sobre o que você acha que a música fala?“**

I think the song is about love. (Eu acho que a música fala sobre amor.)
I think the song is about a happy lifestyle. (Eu acho que a música fala sobre um estilo de vida feliz.)
I think the song is about money and success. (Eu acho que a música fala sobre dinheiro e sucesso.)
I think the song is about enjoying life. (Eu acho que a música fala sobre aproveitar a vida.)

Do you expect it to be about food, love, lifestyle, or money? “Você espera que ela seja sobre comida, amor, estilo de vida ou dinheiro?“

I expect it to be about love. (Eu espero que seja sobre amor.)
I think it will be about lifestyle and happiness. (Eu acho que será sobre estilo de vida e felicidade.)
Maybe it is about money and luxury. (Talvez seja sobre dinheiro e luxo.)
I think it is about food and having fun. (Eu acho que é sobre comida e diversão.)

What words do you expect to hear? “Que palavras você espera ouvir?“

I expect to hear words like love, happy, and beautiful. (Eu espero ouvir palavras como amor, feliz e bonito(a).)
I think I will hear words about food and drinks. (Eu acho que vou ouvir palavras sobre comida e bebidas.)
I expect to hear words like money, gold, and luxury. (Eu espero ouvir palavras como dinheiro, ouro e luxo.)
I think I will hear words about friends, fun, and life. (Eu acho que vou ouvir palavras sobre amigos, diversão e vida.)

Answer:

Write 3 guesses:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Learn English with Bruno Mars – “That’s What I Like”. A fun A2/B1 ESL music lesson with vocabulary, expressions, listening practice, and real American English from the song.

3. LISTENING TASK 1 – GENERAL IDEA

Listen to the song.

Answer:

What is the main theme? (Qual é o tema principal?)
☐ Love (amor)
☐ Luxury lifestyle (Estilo de vida de luxo)
☐ Travel (viagem)
☐ Friendship (amizade)
Who is the speaker in the song? (Quem é o narrador da música?)

4. LISTENING TASK 2 – DETAIL FOCUS

Listen again and complete:

5. LISTENING TASK 3 – CHUNK RECOGNITION

Underline the expressions you hear:

I got you
I just wanna hold you
That’s what I like
All night

6. LANGUAGE FOCUS – EVERYDAY ENGLISH CHUNKS

From the song:

1. “I got…”

Used to express possession or availability
Example: I got time / I got money / I got plans

2. “I just wanna…”

Used to express desire simply and directly
Example: I just wanna relax / I just wanna eat

3. “That’s what I like”

Used to express preference
Example: That’s what I like about this place

7. CONTROLLED PRACTICE

A. Complete the sentences:

I just wanna __________ today.
I got __________ in my bag.
That’s what I like about __________.
I like __________ in the morning.

B. Match the halves:

I just wanna…
That’s what I like…
I got…
I like…

a. in this situation
b. relax
c. a lot of energy
d. this song

8. SPEAKING PRODUCTION

Task 1 – Personal version

Complete and share:

That’s what I like in my life: ______________________
I just wanna: ______________________
I got: ______________________ today

Task 2 – Pair work

Ask and answer:

What do you like most in your routine?
What do you just wanna do right now?
What do you “got” today (time, energy, plans)

9. CREATIVE TASK

Create 4 lines inspired by the song:

Example structure:

I got ______
I just wanna ______
That’s what I like ______
I like ______ all night

Write your version:

10. FAST CHALLENGE (Optional)

Can you sing or read 6 lines without looking at the text?

☐ Yes
☐ Almost
☐ Not yet

11. TEACHER SCRIPT (OPTIONAL GUIDANCE)

Encourage repetition of key chunks
Focus on rhythm, not perfection
Allow students to personalize answers
Use pair work before whole-class correction
Prioritize fluency over accuracy in speaking tasks

12. ANSWER KEY

Listening Task 2 (possible answers based on lyrics patterns):

money / cash
have fun / hold you / feel good
simple things / food / life
the table

FAQs

What is “That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars about?

The song is about enjoying life, romance, and simple pleasures. Bruno Mars describes luxury, love, and fun moments in a playful and catchy way, making it one of his most iconic feel-good songs.

Why is “That’s What I Like” so popular?

It became popular because of its catchy rhythm, smooth R&B style, and relatable themes of enjoyment and lifestyle. The song also won major awards and became a global hit.

What style of music is “That’s What I Like”?

The song blends R&B, funk, and pop influences, which is a signature style of Bruno Mars. It has a relaxed groove designed for dancing and easy listening.

What makes Bruno Mars’ songs good for learning English?

Bruno Mars uses clear pronunciation, repetitive hooks, and everyday expressions. This makes his songs ideal for learning natural American English in a fun and memorable way.

How does music help learning English?

Music helps learners improve listening skills, pronunciation, vocabulary retention, and fluency by exposing them to real, natural spoken English in a memorable context.