Tasks: to Make a List of Christmas and New Year Traditions and Customs

Tasks: to make a list of Christmas and New Year traditions and customs

to complete a text about two holidays celebrated in America in December (Hanukka and Kwanza)

to match New Year traditions to the countries (China and Japan)

Preparation: make copies of the worksheet, one copy per student

Skills: speaking, reading

Language: vocabulary related to Christmas and New Year

prepositions

tastes and food (extension activity)

Sources: WIKIPEDIA (en.wikipedia.org) – the FREE encyclopaedia

Tiersky E. & M., The U.S.A. Customs and Institutions, Longman.

Task 1 – lead-in

(speaking, vocabulary)

■ Write the phrase WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON on the board and try to elicit its meaning. Establish that in the US this name is used to refer to the period of time in December when members of many distinct cultures and religions celebrate their holidays.

■ Explain that among many festivals, there are two that the Ss are well familiar with: Christmas and New Year.

■ Ask your Ss to think of some customs related to Christmas and New Year. Try to elicit some answers so that you have a list of some traditional activities.

· If your students cannot name the activities in English, or do not have any ideas, give them some prompts: either visual (simple drawings of activities) or spoken (e.g. Santa Claus).

Key

!

Key / [Suggested answers]
Christmas / New Year
Ø going to parties
Ø drinking champagne
Ø firework displays
Ø making resolutions
Ø writing to Santa Claus
Ø sending Christmas cards
Ø hanging stockings
Ø exchanging gifts / Ø kissing under the mistletoe
Ø singing carols
Ø going to church

Task 2

(reading, prepositions)

■ Explain that although there are a lot of Christians in the US, there are also many other religions. Their believers celebrate their own holidays. Explain that the two texts in this task shortly describe two holidays which are important to some Americans.

■ Ask Ss to read the texts and complete them with a suitable preposition. Then, check the answers with your group.

Key

!

Key / Hanukkah
Ø for 8 days
Ø in December
Ø in a menorah / Kwanza
Ø in Swahili
Ø in the US
Ø in 1966 / Ø on December 26th
Ø for 7 days
Ø in the US

Task 3

(reading, vocabulary)

■ Explain that for some people January 1st is an ordinary day, as their celebrate New Year on a different day. Even those who celebrate it on January 1st may have different customs and traditions. In this task Ss will learn some facts about New Year in two Asian countries.

■ First, ask Ss to look at the flags of the two countries on the worksheet and name them, as well as name the inhabitants of these countries.

■ Divide your class into pairs. Ask your pairs to read the traditions and customs described on the worksheet and try to match them to one of the countries. The clues at the bottom of the page will help them. Point out the box with some more difficult words and their definitions. Finally, check the answers.

Key

!

Key / Country: Japan
People: Japanese
Customs:
Ø 2 – the post office is very busy in December
Ø 4 – people eat food which has strong tastes
Ø 5 – children get some cash / Country: China
People: Chinese
Customs:
Ø 1 – people do not eat meat on one particular day
Ø 3 – people celebrate for many days
Ø 6 – there are monsters dancing in the streets

Task 3 – extension

(vocabulary)

■ If you still have some time, draw your Ss’ attention to two words in the box: sweet and sour. Elicit their Polish meaning.

■ Ask Ss to think of other objects that can be sweet or sour. Make two lists of them.

■ Then, add two more tastes – salty and spicy – and again compile two lists of things which are salty or spicy.

Key

!

Key / [Suggested answers]
SWEET / SOUR / SALTY / SPICY
Ø sugar
Ø cakes
Ø ice cream
Ø chocolate(s)
Ø jam, marmalade
Ø honey
Ø melon, bananas etc / Ø vinegar
Ø pickles
Ø lemons, grapefruits etc / Ø salt
Ø crisps, chips
Ø salt sticks, pretzels
Ø popcorn
Ø peanuts / Ø pepper
Ø chilly
Ø spices

Notes & Comments

■ If you want to make Task a bit more challenging and involving, you may decide to cut off the bottom part of the worksheet before the lesson starts. If you do so, ask the Ss to try to match the traditions to the countries without looking at the clues. Once they have made their choices, hold a short class discussion. Finally, distribute the clues and let your Ss compare their choices with the new facts. Check the answers.

Homework

■ [SPEAKING] Ask your Ss to watch TV on New Year’s Day and try to spot some interesting customs and traditions. When you meet again in January, ask them to report their observations to the class.

■ [VOCABULARY/SPEAKING] Ask your Ss to make their own list with names of things they ate during the Christmas break. When you meet again in January, ask them to compare their lists. Try to find the most popular Christmas and/or New Year dish.