When Pussy meets Pushy

Using nursery rhymes to teach can really help when teaching pronunciation or just speaking English in general. In fact, if you get nursery rhymes that are lyrically melodious, students find it so interesting because almost all of them have never heard of classics such as:

Twinkle twinkle little star. (OK, this one is more popular...)

London Bridge (Not the Fergilicious version)

Little Jack Horner

Two Little Blue Birds

Ride a Cock Horse to Banburry Cross

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Once I Caught a Fish Alive.


Sing a Song of Sixpence


... and many more.


This one particular nursery rhyme that I was teaching was interesting, good for introducing some form of WH-Questions and tenses.



Pussycat, Pussycat.

"I did, I did taw a puddy tat!"

For those who aren't familiar with this nursery rhyme; it goes:

Pussycat, pussycat where have you been?
I've been up to London to look at the queen.
Pussycat, pussycat what did you dare?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.


So... what seemed like a harmless nursery rhyme turned out to be one of the FUNNIEST shit I've ever done in class before. What's even more endearing is the innocence of it all.

It all started when the kids started to say pooshycat (pu'ʃɪkæt) instead of the appropriate pussycat (pu'sɪkæt).

So, as their teacher... it's important to correct them right?

Me      :Class!!! Remember... it's not Pooshycat. It's PussYcat,

Class  :Pussy ah sir?
Me      : Eh.... yeah... 'C'; not 'SHI'
Class  : *talking to each other: Pussy la... pussy. Bukan pooshy. Pussy la. Sir kata pussy.
Me      : *Giggle
Class  : Sir, Pussy right? Pussy kan?
Me      : Yes... it's 'C'. not 'SHI'.
Class  : Oh.. OKOK.
Me      : Say Pussycat for me to hear. 
Class  : PUSSYCAT!
Me      : Good. Say it again.
Class  : *some kids. Pooshycat! 
Me      : NO!!! not... NOT... 'Shi'. It's PUSSYcat.
Class  : Pussy!
Me      : *burst a slight chuckle. Yes. One more time, please.
Class  : PUSSY!
Me      : *index finger signaling for one more. ONE MORE!
Class  : PUSSY!
Me     : Very good. Class dismissed.