So Long (w/ sign language)

"So Long" was actually written with younger kids in mind, but we thought it might also be a good way for any class to discuss the many different ways there are to say goodbye. Ask your students how many ways they can think of. (Here are a few colloquialisms they might know: "See you later, alligator," "After 'while, crocodile," "I'm outta here," "Later, man" "Bon voyage," or "I'm makin' tracks.") No doubt they will have their own unique expressions to add to the list.

On the P/A cassette, everyone sings the main melody only the first time through. On the repeat, the kids are divided into two groups, and the response or "echo" part is added. (It came very easily in the recording session, and the "echo" singers sang out with confidence the very first time they tried it!)

One way to use this song is with sign language. We have added illustrations below to demonstrate the signs you could use. You don't have to use them all, of course, but the option is there if you need it.

Another great activity is to explore the words in other languages that mean "so long" or "goodbye." We've compiled a list to get you started.

• French adieu
• Italian arrivederci
• Spanish adios
• Japanese sayonara
• Portugese adeus
• German auf Wiedersehen
• Dutch goedendag
• Russian dosvidanya
• Swedish adjö
• Danish farvel
• Norwegian adjø
• Polish dowidzenia
• Turkish allaha ismarladik
• Arabic fî amâni 'llâh
• Hungarian viszont látásra
• Albanian lamtumirë
• Hawaiian aloha