Tonight’s song asks a simple question: if you want the world to change, where should you start?
Learn from Songs · Unit 1: Present time · A2–B1
Man in the Mirror
A song about changing the world by changing yourself: the present simple for habits and facts, the present continuous for now and for changing situations (I’m starting, things are getting better), adverbs of frequency, and reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, ourselves), with Marcos and the children on the harbour steps.
SOPHIA
MARCOS
With the government?
SOPHIA
With the person you see in the mirror every morning.
DEMETRIA
Oh. That’s harder.
Before you listen: the song
Los Angeles, 1987–1988
“Man in the Mirror” was written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett, and recorded by Michael Jackson for his album Bad (1987), produced by Quincy Jones. A gospel choir sings with him in the last part of the song. In 1988 it went to number one in the USA.
In the song, the singer sees the problems of the world every day: children who don’t have enough to eat, people who are lonely and forgotten. At first he pretends not to see. But now he is starting to change: he is going to begin with himself, the man in the mirror.
The video shows famous images of people working for peace and justice, and of the poverty and violence they fought against.
If you want to change the world, start with yourself.
Listen: what does he see?
PHILO
Listen once. What does the singer see around him? What does he decide to do?
SOPHIA
Then listen for I’m starting and myself. Answer Section A.
🪞 Listen to the song: “Man in the Mirror” (Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett, 1987), sung by Michael Jackson.Watch the official video →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “Man in the Mirror”, Michael Jackson.Read the lyrics →
Present simple or continuous?
DEMETRIA
Every morning he passes the children. Today he is stopping.
SOPHIA
Present simple for habits, routines and facts: He walks to work every day. Water boils at 100°. Present continuous for now and temporary situations: He’s talking to them now. And for changes in progress: I’m starting to understand. Things are getting better.
Adverbs of frequency
MARCOS
He always walks past. He never stops. He sometimes gives a coin.
SOPHIA
always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never go before the main verb (He always walks) but after be (He is always late).
Reflexive pronouns
PHILO
I’ll start with myself. Look at yourself. We can help ourselves.
SOPHIA
myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves: when the subject and object are the same person (I cut myself), or for emphasis (I did it myself).
Sophia’s comparison: know yourself
SOPHIA
Over the temple of Apollo at Delphi are written two words: know yourself. Socrates said it was where all wisdom begins.
PHILO
And our teacher Hillel says: if I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?
MARCOS
So: start with yourself, but don’t stop there.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| present simple | habits, routines, facts | He passes the harbour every day. |
| present continuous | now, and changes in progress | I’m starting to change. |
| always, often, sometimes, never | adverbs of frequency | He never stops. |
| myself, yourself, ourselves… | reflexive pronouns | I’ll start with myself. |
| things are getting better | get + comparative, in progress | The world is getting better slowly. |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. What does the singer see around him?
2. What did he do at first?
3. Where does he decide to start?
4. Who sings with him at the end?
5. Which album is it from?
6. What is the message?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. He the harbour every morning. (pass)
8. Look! The children on the steps. (sit)
9. I’m going to start with .
10. Things are better slowly. (get)
11. He stops. (never)
12. Help , children! (plural)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “He walks always to school.”
14. “I’m starting to understand.”
15. “She cut herself on the glass.”
16. “Look! It rains.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
One small change. Each student says one small thing they could change in their own life to make their school, street or family better: I usually…, but I’m starting to…
Discuss. 1. Can one person change the world? 2. Why do people look away from problems? 3. Who is someone who changed the world by starting with themselves?
Write (80–100 words). The person in my mirror. Describe your habits now (present simple), something you are changing (present continuous), and what you want to change next.
Now play the gamebook: Marcos and the children on the harbour steps.Play the gamebook →