Manuals > General English > Rosetta Stone Advantage > Elementary - Book 2 > Lesson 20
< Previous Lesson | Next Lesson >
This lesson presents a problem that the student needs to solve. Read the situation, then use the content from the three sections (Reading, Listening, and Interview) to complete the final task.
By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to plan a Christmas vacation by taking into account information from various sources.
Communication strategies:
The student should be able to plan an event using the strategy below:
1) state what you usually do for Christmas
2) state why you would like to celebrate Christmas overseas.
3) discuss the pros and cons of the different suggested destinations
4) make a plan
e.g.
In my family we love Christmas. Every year we put up a Christmas tree and exchange presents. But this year we would like to do something different.
I want to go on somewhere for Christmas this year. Japan is really cold in December and I don’t really like the cold so I would love to go somewhere warm. I talked to my friends and America seems like it's going to be really cold as well. Plus, it seems a little dangerous with those tornadoes. Phuket sounds wonderful. I would love to relax on the beach. But, I'm a little worried about the language, and the food. My kids don't like spicy food. I really like my friend's idea of going to New Zealand.
Yeah. I think New Zealand is the best idea.
OK. Here's the plan. I'm going to New Zealand for a week. I’m going to bring my whole family. We can spend the whole time camping and exploring NZ. When I was a kid I loved camping. I think my kids will like it too.
Words and rules:
- The student should be able to talk about habits and traditions e.g. We usually have Christmas with our family
- The student should be able to talk about experiences e.g. I have never celebrated Christmas overseas
- The student should be able to describe important cultural days e.g. what they do on Christmas
- The student should be able to talk about what the weather is like in December e.g. It usually snows a lot
Appropriateness:
Non-verbal behaviour: NA
Register: When we are making plans with a friend we usually use a casual register.
Social rules: NA
Cultural references: NA
Track #52
What do I do for Christmas? I travel! I’ve had Christmas in 10
different countries. But I didn’t really enjoy our trip last year. We went to Texas to see my parents, and while we were there we saw the biggest storm we had ever seen! There was even a tornado! It was really scary! This year, I want to go somewhere less stressful, so I’m planning to take my family to Thailand for Christmas. Phuket should be lovely and warm around Christmas time. And best of all - no
tornadoes!
The following vocabulary is included in the lesson:
1) to go back somewhere (v)
2) a white Christmas (n)
3) a snowman (n)
4) eggnog (n)
5) parents-in-law (n)
6) to catch up (v)
7) a tradition (n)
8) over (prep)
9) to look forward to doing something (v)
10) outside (adv)
Option 1:
Difficulty ★
Type: Warm up
Purpose: To steer the student into the lesson
Method: Before you start the lesson, discuss what you usually do for Christmas.
Option 2:
Difficulty ★★
Type: Reading - Vocabulary search
Purpose: To introduce vocabulary / check comprehension
Method: After the student has read the reading activity and completed the questions, have them find the following words in the reading by listening to their definitions. The teacher reads the definition and the student needs to find the correct word. After the student has found all the words, ask the student to give you a summary of the reading. Hopefully, the student will use some of the new words in their summary.
1) to go back somewhere (v) - to return somewhere
2) a white Christmas (n) - a Christmas with snow
3) a snowman (n) - a figure made of snow that is shaped to look like a person
4) eggnog (n) - drink made of eggs beaten with sugar, milk or cream, and often alcoholic liquor
5) parents-in-law (n) - your husband's or wife's parents
6) to catch up (v) - to learn about recent events
7) a tradition (n) - a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc., for a long time
8) over (prep) - during
9) to look forward to doing something (v) - to be excited about something in the future
10) outside (adv) - in or to a place that is in the area around or near a building and not inside it
Option 3:
Difficulty ★★
Type: Task - Role-play
Purpose: To increase fluency and confidence
Method: After you have completed the task role-play one time. Give the student some feedback and
then do it again. Time permitting, you are welcome to do this multiple times.
Reading
1) Where do Simon and his family go every year for Christmas?
Every year for Christmas they go back to America and visit Simon’s parents in law.
2) What was the weather like?
It was cold.
3) Did his kids have fun playing in the snow?
Yes, they did.
4) What’s Simon’s favorite Christmas tradition?
His favorite Christmas tradition is watching Die hard.
Listening
1) How many different countries has he had Christmas in?
He has had Christmas in 10 different countries.
2) Where did he go last year?
Last year he went to Texas.
3) Did he enjoy the trip? Why? Why not?
No, he didn’t. There was a big storm. There was even a tornado
4) Where is he planning to take his family for Christmas this year? Why?
He is planning to take his family to Thailand because he wants to go somewhere less stressful.
Interview
A) Can I ask you about what you usually do for Christmas?
B) Sure. What would you like to know?
A) What do you usually do for Christmas? Do you go anywhere special?
B) Yeah, I usually go back to my country and celebrate Christmas with my family.
A) I see. What’s the weather like there?
B) Well, in Australia December is the middle of summer, so it’s quite hot on Christmas day. It’s not uncommon for it to be over 30 degrees on Christmas.
A) Wow! That is hot? So, do you have any family traditions?
B) Yeah, we usually have a big family lunch. The whole family usually comes over, so it gets pretty crowded, but it’s lots of fun.
A) How would you like to spend your Christmas this year?
B) This year, because my son is still very young, I don’t think it’s a good idea to fly. So I’d like to have Christmas with my family and friends in Japan. Maybe, my parents and my brother would like to come over to Japan this year.
A) Yeah. That sounds fun.
Task
Japan is really cold in December and I don’t really like the cold so I would love to go somewhere warm for Christmas. Because I got a big bonus this year I’m planning on going to New Zealand for a week. I’m going to bring my whole family. We don’t really have any Christmas traditions, so we can spend the whole time exploring NZ and having fun. I would like to take my kids to the set of the Lord of the Rings. They are really big fans. I think they will really enjoy it. And we can do some hiking through the national parks there. My wife will love that. She loves hiking.