Watch Ehiopian Students Sing Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” For Dave Grohl’s Birthday

Last year, an education volunteer with Peace Corps, Matt Westerberg used Pearl Jam 1991’s song “Even Flow” in helping a whole school full of Ethiopian kids learn English. Westerberg, who’s teaching English at a small town in Northern Ethiopia takes a few minutes each day to teach the lyrics to arguably the most influential song of the 90’s. Recently, Westerberg used Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is sung daily by over 150 screaming Ethiopian students. Yechila Secondary School paying homage to Nirvana and also containing a very special birthday message to the band’s legendary drummer, Dave Grohl, who celebrates his birthday on Wednesday. Watch below.

Watch 100 Ethiopian Kids Sing Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow” In Learning English

Pearl Jam 1991’s hit song “Even Flow” is now apparently helping a whole school full of Ethiopian kids learning English. Matt Westerberg, a Peace Corps member who’s teaching English at a small town in Northern Ethiopia. He writes about how he’s been using ’90s rock, and “Even Flow” in particular, as a teaching tool:

“I am a huge fan of Pearl Jam, and 90’s rock in general (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Rage Against The Machine, etc). After class one day I jokingly wrote the chorus line to Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow” on the chalkboard. I thought it would be funny to have the kids try and learn it. They laughed their way through it. The next day, they demanded to try it again. After a while we went through most of the song day by day as a motivational tool. At first it was all just a joke, but after awhile, the students began to really build confidence through learning the song. Kids that were shy and quiet all year were suddenly more confident speaking up in class and loved participating in the song.”

Watch they sing in the video below.