Manuals > General English > Rosetta Stone Advantage > Elementary - Book 2 > Lesson 18
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By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to describe an important cultural day.
Communication strategies:
The student should be able to describe an important cultural day using the following strategy:
1) state what the day is called
2) state where and when it is celebrated
3) state why it's important
4) state how it is usually celebrated
e.g.
Australia day is celebrated in Australia on July 26th. It commemorates the arrival of the first fleet. On this day it’s common for people to have a BBQ with friends, watch fireworks displays, and attend sporting events. Also, the government holds citizenship ceremonies on this day.
Words and rules:
- The student should be able to use present tense to describe traditions and habits e.g. On this day people usually exchange presents.
- The student should be able to use past tense e.g. Last year, we didn't do anything.
- The student should be able to use ordinal numbers e.g. It's on the 10th.
Appropriateness:
Non-verbal behaviour: NA
Register: When describing an important day, you can use a casual or formal register depending on who you are talking to.
Social rules: NA
Cultural references: NA
Track #45
My favorite national holiday is Christmas. It is celebrated
every year on the 25th of December. It’s a religious holiday. It commemorates the birth of Jesus. People usually give each other presents. They buy a Christmas tree and put up decorations. Many people have roast turkey on Christmas day - it’s traditional!
Track #46
I love Halloween. It is on October 31st. It is very popular in America. Halloween was originally a Celtic festival called “Samhain,” but now it’s more about eating candy and dressing up in costumes. Last year, I dressed up as a ghost. This year, I will dress up as a vampire! I
already have my costume.
Track #47
St Patrick’s Day is kind of the national day of Ireland. It commemorates
the death of St. Patrick. Many countries have a national day, but I think this is the best one. On St. Patrick’s Day, we dress up in green clothes, we drink Irish beer, and eat Irish snacks. A lot of people
in the USA have Irish families, so it is very popular here in Boston.
Because the lesson touches on the topic of holidays / important days, you are welcome to introduce some of the following vocabulary if you like.
1) National Foundation Day - Feb 11
2) Vernal Equinox Day - March 21
3) Showa Day - April 29
4) Constitutional Memorial Day - May 3
5) Marine Day - July 18
6) Respect-for-the-aged Day - Sep 19
7) Autumnal Equinox Day - Sep 22
8) Culture Day - Nov 03
9) Labor Thanksgiving day - Nov 23
10) The Emperor's Birthday - Dec 23
Option 1:
Difficulty ★★
Type:
Let's start - Warm-up discussion
Purpose: Steering the student into the goal of the lesson before opening the book.
Method:
Before you open the book, take turns naming some important cultural days in your country.
Option 2:
Difficulty ★★
Type:
Let's practice - Controlled practice
Purpose: Testing the student's listening skills
Method:
Describe an important day from a predecided list of days. Then have the student guess which one you are describing. You can switch roles if you like.
Extra questions you might like to ask in the lesson
- What are some important days in your country?
- What's your favorite day of the year?
- Does your country get many public holidays?
A speaking hint you might like to use
AAA (Answer > Add > Ask)
> Feel free to use this speaking hint in the “Let’s Practice” / “Let’s Speak” sections of the lesson
e.g. Who did you celebrate with?
ANSWER: My family.
ADD:
My daughter really loves it. It's her favorite day of the year.
ASK: How about you?
Let’s start
Match the holidays to the correct month.
USA
Valentine’s Day = February
Halloween = October
Thanksgiving = November
Christmas Day = December
Japan
The Emperor’s Birthday = December
Coming-of-age Day = January
Respect for the Aged Day = September
What other national holidays or important days do you know either in Japan or abroad?
Japan
http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/japan/
USA
http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/usa/
UK
http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/united_kingdom/
Canada
http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/canada/
Australia
http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/australia/
Let’s try
Track #45
Her favorite national holiday is Christmas. It is celebrated every year on the 25th of December. It’s a religious holiday. It commemorates the birth of Jesus. People usually give each other presents. They buy a Christmas tree and put up decorations. Many people have roast turkey on Christmas day - it’s traditional!
Track #46
He loves Halloween. It is on October 31st. It is very popular in America. Halloween was originally a Celtic festival called “Samhain,” but now it’s more about eating candy and dressing up in costumes. Last year, he dressed up as a ghost. This year, he will dress up as a vampire! He already has his costume.
Track #47
St Patrick’s Day is kind of the national day of Ireland. It commemorates the death of St. Patrick. Many countries have a national day, but she think this is the best one. On St. Patrick’s Day, they dress up in
green clothes, they drink Irish beer, and eat Irish snacks. A lot of people in the USA have Irish families, so it is very popular in Boston.
Let’s practice
Australia day / Australia January 26th the arrival of the First Fleet
have a BBQ with friends, watch fireworks displays, attend sporting events, hold citizenship ceremonies
Expected outcome
Australia day is celebrated in Australia on July 26th. It commemorates the arrival of the first fleet. On this day it’s common for people to have a BBQ with friends, watch fireworks displays, and attend sporting events. Also, the government holds, hold citizenship ceremonies on this day.
Bastille Day / France July 14 beginning of the French Revolution
watch military and civilian parades, attend musical performances, have dinner with family
Expected outcome
Bastille Day is a special day in France. It falls on July 14th every year. It marks the beginning of the French revolution. On this day people usually watch military and civilian parades, attend musical performances, and have dinner with family
Let’s speak
A) What are some important cultural days in Japan?
B) White day, Setsubun, Marine day, Culture day etc.
A) Which is your favorite?
B) Setsubun.
A) Why is it celebrated?
B) Around the 13th century, it became a custom to drive away evil spirits by the strong smell of burning dried sardine heads, the smoke of burning wood and the noise of drums.
A) When did you last celebrate it?
B) Last year.
A) How long did it last?
B) Probably only about 10 minutes.
A) Who did you celebrate with?
B) My family. My daughter really loves it.
A) Are there any special traditions for this day?
B) In modern days, the most commonly performed setsubun ritual is the throwing of roasted beans around one's house and at temples and shrines across the country. When throwing the beans, you are supposed to shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" ("Devils out, happiness in").
A) What did you eat or drink?
B) Beans.
A) What did you wear or bring?
B) Sometimes my dad wears a devil mask. And he puts in on and tries to scare us. But we throw beans at him
A) What else did you do?
B) Afterwards you should pick up and eat the number of beans, which is the same as your age.