Derik Nelson

Learning Materials

Wordplay is brought to you by the Office of English Language Programs, American Music Abroad, and American Voices.

Artist: Derik Nelson

(Click to view Snapshots)

We have created lesson plans and a video series to use in the classroom. Scroll down to see all lesson materials or download the full package here.

Featured Song: Exchange Our World by Derik Nelson

Download ‘Exchange Our World’

Download Exchange Our World by Derik Nelson

Music Video

Lyric Video

Video Activities

Program Materials

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Below is an incredible collection from American English to provide fun new ways of teaching and learning English.

Use these files in conjunction with the song in this language package for an integrated teaching experience.

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

Exchange Our World by Derik Nelson

Alone here
We dusted my front door
What a year
Nothing’s like it was before
We don’t have to be in the
Same room to be together
Whoa
Physically apart, but
It won’t last forever
Whoa
Even though we don’t share daylight
Look up at night
It’s the same moon shining bright
We don’t have to be in the
same room
To exchange our world
Exchange our world
Exchange our world
Exchange our world
I know that we seem so far away
Remember though we’ll meet again someday
We don’t have to be in the
Same room to be together
Whoa
Physically apart, but
It won’t last forever
Whoa
Even though we don’t share daylight
Look up at night
It’s the same moon shining bright
We don’t have to be in the
same room
To exchange our world
Exchange our world
Exchange our world
Exchange our world
Together we are stronger
No barrier no more
No barrier no more
We don’t have to be in the
Same room to be together
Break down the walls
The life is so much better
(So much better)
We don’t have to be in the
Same room to be together
Whoa
Physically apart, but
It won’t last forever
Whoa
Even though we don’t share daylight (daylight)
Look up at night
It’s the same moon shining bright
We don’t have to be in the
Same room
To exchange our world
Exchange our world
Exchange our world
Exchange our world

A2 Level Words

alone
adjective
without other people

away
adverb
distance from a place

bright
adjective
full of light, shining

far
adverb
to or from a great distance

moon
noun
the round object (seen at night) which moves around the Earth

nothing
pronoun
not anything

share
verb
to divide something between two or more people

so
adverb
very; used to emphasize the amount of something

B1 Level Words

apart
adverb
separated by a space, distance, or period of time

break down
phrasal verb
to destroy or make fall down

exchange
noun
when you give something to someone and you receive something else

forever
adverb
for all time in the future; never ending

front
adjective
forward; the first side you see of something

look up
phrasal verb
to raise your eyes to see something

seem
verb
to appear to be a particular thing or to have a particular quality

shine
verb
to produce bright light

stronger
adjective
difficult to break; having great power

though
conjunction
despite the fact that

B2 Level Words

barrier
noun
something that prevents people from doing what they are trying to do

daylight
noun
the natural light from the sun

even
adverb
although

physically
adverb
in a way that is connected to the body

though
conjunction
although

For each heading in the materials, we have identified an icon to help instructors quickly find and identify information. Please use them when creating any new materials or adapting previous materials. The icon should be left justified and appear below the section heading. Any text should appear to the right of the icon.

ICON	MEANING
	Activity Summary
	Additional Resources
	Associated Audio
	Associated Video
	Less Challenging (for beginners)
	Lesson Plan
	Listening
	More Challenging (for advanced learners)
	Online Tip
	Reading
	Speaking
	Writing

Snapshots

Click Image to View Snapshots!

Short question videos to use in the classroom to start new conversations in a modern “Stories” format. Break the ice in new groups or shake up the routine. Teachers can also pair these videos with games below.

ACTIVITIES

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

About The Artist

Derik Nelson

Genre: Singer, Songwriter

Location: USA

Group Size: 1 member

Artist Homepage: http://www.deriknelson.com/

BIOGRAPHY

Derik Nelson is a singer, songwriter, producer, and educator from Olympia, Washington. He’s garnered over 4 million views on YouTube, performed in 150+ cities across the USA, and reached over 100,000 students of all ages with educational music workshops, outreach programming, and fundraising assemblies. He appeared regularly as the lead guitarist on television’s “Glee,” his original songs can be heard on TV and in movies, and his singing voice has been featured on ABC’s “Modern Family,” FOX’s “Raising Hope” and “New Girl,” CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother,” and NBC’s “Go On” and “The Voice.”

Derik holds a B.S. in Music Industry from the University of Southern California, where he helped shape the Popular Music Degree program—a program that only 3% of applying singer-songwriters are accepted into—which honored him with a department award recognizing his contributions. Other awards received include the Brian Wilson Music Scholarship for songwriting, Best Male Artist in the 12th Annual International Acoustic Music Awards, and first place in the Indie International Songwriting Competition. Derik was invited by the USC President’s Office to write the USC commencement anthem “Take Chances,” which inspired his first independent tour across 40 locations on the West Coast to raise money for high school arts & music programs.

Prior to the halt of live entertainment in 2020, he sang with his brother and sister as the sibling trio Derik Nelson & Family. They performed the National Anthem at Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders, and Portland Trailblazers sporting events, and toured extensively nationwide with their own headlining concert. Derik Nelson & Family was selected to represent the United States as Cultural Ambassadors through the U.S. Dept. of State traveling to Moldova, Albania, and Ukraine, with open invitations to Turkmenistan, Egypt, and Eritrea. In December 2020, Derik partnered with the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland & Liechtenstein to lead a virtual songwriting workshop using his own original curriculum to teach expression and creativity through music, facilitating a unique opportunity for collaboration to promote positive cultural exchange and strengthen international relations. Each participant in the program wrote their own song in English from start to finish, and worked together as a group to write “Exchange Our World,” a unifying message of global connection.

Derik is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA, the American Federation of Musicians, and the USC AlumniAssociation. He is also an Arts Envoy alumnus and American Music Abroad alumnus.

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About the Office of English Language Programs

More great information for teachers to use in the English classroom can be found at: https://americanenglish.state.gov/

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.

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Wordplay is brought to you by the Office of English Language Programs, American Music Abroad, and American Voices.

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