Update 137 - 6-7 and other trends - From Viral to Valuable: Using Trends to Spark Real English Learning
- Howie Gordon
- Jan 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 5
Viral trends aren’t just noise — they are ready-made language hooks. When teachers bring trends into the classroom, they tap into students’ emotions, curiosity, rhythm, and sense of belonging — all powerful drivers of language acquisition. Viral trends work because they are short, repeatable, emotional, rhythmic, and social — exactly what EFL learners need.
Welcome to 2026
"There’s been some changes in our life,
Oh I can feel the distance
Space and time, has made everything different
Day and night,
Oh Everything has changed and I don’t know why" - Charlie Puth
English teaching is changing. Students are surrounded by short videos, music, memes, and challenges. Instead of fighting this reality, we can teach through it.
Viral trends give us:
Authentic language
Built-in motivation
Repetition without boredom
A sense of belonging
Looking back to look forward
Since February 2019, we’ve shared over 137 broadcasts filled with music, movement, games, and tools aligned with the English Inspectorate.
Some tools have changed, some links no longer work — but the ideas are timeless. This year, I’ll be resurfacing highlights that still work beautifully in today’s classrooms.
Viral Trends that can be used for English Teaching
What Makes a Trend “Teach-able”?
A trend works in the EFL classroom when it: Is simple (low cognitive load) Encourages speaking or listening Allows repetition Can be adapted for different levels Feels playful, not “schooly”
1.What is 6-7?
Classroom Ideas Using Viral Trends
CEFR A1 – Beginner / Elementary | CEFR A2 – Elementary / Pre-Intermediate |
Learners can: Understand and use very basic words and phrases Respond to simple questions Repeat language with support Use rhythm and imitation to improve pronunciation | Learners can: Understand short, simple texts Describe things in simple sentences Ask and answer questions about familiar topics Participate in short exchanges |
Trend 1: What is 6–7?
Why it Works
Curiosity-based
Repetition of numbers
Encourages problem-solving language
Low anxiety — everyone can participate
Classroom Ideas
Elementary
Daily warm-up riddle
Number vocabulary review
Pair work: “Ask your partner a 6–7 riddle”
Upper Elementary / Junior High
Students create their own riddles
Use sentence frames:
I’m the number you get when…
If you flip my digits…
Extension
Guessing game
Speaking practice
Writing riddles for Padlet or posters
Digital Easter Egg: Searching “67” on Google = instant engagement starter
Suggestion - You could ask your pupils any riddle, sum, problem where the answer is 6-7
Easter Egg - Try and search for 67 in Google and see what happens.
Here are a few examples:
Riddle | Answer |
“I’m the number you get when you add 60 and the days in a week. What number am I?” | Answer: 67 |
I’m the number you get when you put six and seven side by side. What number am I? | Answer: 67 |
I’m a number. If you flip my digits, you get a number that’s nine more than me. What number am I? | Answer: 67 (flip → 76) |
I’m a two-digit number. My ten's digit is the same as the number of sides on a cube (count the faces!) and my ones digit is the number of days in a week. What am I? | Answer: 67 (cube has 6 faces, week has 7 days)
|
I’m a number. My digits are consecutive, and I start with the digit that comes after 5. What number am I? | Answer: 67 |
Tend 2 Word Beat Challenge
The viral word “beat” challenge people are talking about right now is called “Say the Word on Beat.” It’s a short-form social media game/trend where the goal is to say a word exactly in time with a beat as prompts (words or images) flash on the screen.
Here is an example
Say the Word on Beat
Why it Works
Rhythm supports pronunciation
Repetition without boredom
Immediate feedback
Perfect for mixed-level classes
Classroom Ideas
Vocabulary Practice
High-frequency words
Song lyrics
Word families (run, running, runner)
Pronunciation
Stress and syllables
Minimal pairs
Chunking phrases
Student-Created Content
Students choose the words
Record their own videos
Share on Padlet or class drive
Here are the instructions how to play. One can take any words and create your own version. Use word from songs to learn new words and vocabulary.
If you don't believe me - take a look at these school children attempting the challenge.
Trend 3: Songs in Real Life
Why it Works
Emotional connection
Authentic language
Encourages noticing English outside school
Classroom Challenge
Ask students to spot English songs in real life: In shops, On TV / Reels In ads, At home
Follow-up Tasks
“Where did you hear it?”
“Which word did you recognize?”
“How did it make you feel?”
Do you want to try something really enriching with your students. I am putting the challenge out there. Give it a go!
Here is an example:
Save the Date
You are invited to a National Webinar for Elementary Teachers where we will be presenting two National Projects. The Roots Writing Project and Voices UP - Mark it in your diary!
Smiles...
Guess the song 🎶🎤🎧📢
Each broadcast I will add a new Guess the Song picture. Some will be easy and some more difficult. Let’s see how well you do.
Click on the link to the Padlet below.
This last week was once again won by Jenni Handel The answer was "Homeward Bound by Simon and Garfunkel
Past Broadcasts
I want to urge you to take a look at past broadcasts - a lot of the content is not date specific and you can can get many ideas for your lessons. If you have some ideas that you would like to share please feel free.
Best Selling Music Artists from 1969 - 2025 Perhaps some of your students know the answer already.
My happy corner - Smile of the week
I like to find shorts / reels that make me smile and just feel good.
Adam's Family Rhythm
So grateful
Mr Bean the Genius
Goodbye 2025
Computer Tools of the Week
Word on Beat
I have created a how-to video to produce your own video.
Musical Joke of the Week
I was listening to Adele and my car started swerving and tossing. I was rolling in my jeep
Your voice matters
These broadcasts are admin-controlled, and I treasure your feedback. Drop ideas, needs, and requests here (topics, grade. bands, songs, tools):
Send me your clips or finds—let’s feature classrooms across Israel this year! This is your chance to be noticed.
The Final Note:
Looking forward to eventually meeting you all one day F2F - Wishing you all a well deserved holiday and keep warm.
PS. What do you call a cow during an earthquake? A milkshake.
P.P.S. If you know of a colleague, friend, relative or parent that is not part of
these broadcasts, invite them in via this link. They can thank you later.
You can access these broadcasts via the WhatsApp group
You can join the Email list by sending me an email to learnntune@gmail.com and I will add you to the mailing list.
You can access our site at http://bit.ly/learnintune and past broadcasts here https://learnntune.wixsite.com/my-site
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