Celebrations
Learn how to talk about different types of celebrations, describe your experiences attending parties, and discuss your personal views on various cultural celebrations
Part 1
Warm-up
Answer the questions
Do you usually have a birthday party?
What do you do to celebrate your birthday?
Part 2
Vocabulary
Read the word, its’ meaning, and the examples
Then make up your own sentences using the word.
Student can skip the words they already know.
anniversary
/ˌænɪˈvɜːrsəri/
the day on which an important event happened in a previous year
We celebrate our wedding anniversary every June.
The town has an anniversary parade every year.
delicious
/dɪˈlɪʃəs/
having a very pleasant taste or smell
That chocolate cake looks delicious!
She cooked a delicious meal for the guests.
host
/həʊst/
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someone who has guests
John will host the next book club meeting.
Our aunt is the best host for family dinners
junk food
/ˈdʒʌŋk fuːd/
food that is unhealthy but is quick and easy to eat
I try to avoid eating too much junk food.
Kids love junk food like chips and candy
potluck dinner
/pɑːtˈlʌk ˈdɪnər/
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A meal where each guest contributes a dish to share
We're having a potluck dinner on Saturday night.
Please bring a dish to the potluck dinner at work.
Make up your own sentences using the words.
Part 3
Reading comprehension
Read the article and answer questions.
Teacher helps student correct their pronunciation.
The Celebrations of Sarah's graduation at Rock lake
We all came together at Rock Lake, close to the university in Thu Duc City, to celebrate Sarah’s big day: her graduation. Sarah was our kind host, inviting us to a potluck dinner where everyone shared delicious dishes. The food was great, with lots of different things to try, from tasty quiches to sweet pies, and a little bit of junk food for good solution – because what’s a party without chips?
The lake was the perfect place to enjoy our party and the company of good friends. We laughed, ate, and made memories. It was a joyful way to honor the anniversary of Sarah’s journey through university. With each bite of tasty food and every shared story, we marked the start of Sarah’s new chapter.
Check your understanding
Where did the celebration for Sarah’s graduation take place?
What kind of dinner did Sarah host?
What types of food were mentioned that people brought to the potluck dinner?
Sample answer
- The celebration for Sarah's graduation took place at Rock Lake
- Sarah hosted a potluck dinner.
- The types of food mentioned that people brought to the potluck dinner included quiches, sweet pies, and a little bit of junk food.
Part 4
Listening 1
People are talking at parties. Listen and number the pictures.
Click to play the Audio
Sample answer
A.4
B.6
C.1
D.5
E.3
F.2
Transcript
1.
A: Mmm, this is really delicious. Did you make it yourself?
B: Yes, I did.
A: What's it got in it?
B: Chocolate-and more chocolate.
2.
A: Do you play?
B: Yes, I do. Well, a little.
A: Why don't you play something for us?
B: Maybe in a while, after I've met a few more people.
3.
A: I really like this new game!
B: It's great! Thanks for bringing it to the party.
A: I could play it all day.
B: Oh yeah? But I guess we should give someone else a turn soon.
4.
A: Welcome! I'm glad you could come.
B: Thanks for inviting me. These are for you.
A: Thank you. They're lovely.
5.
A: Oh, I like this. Who did it?
B: I did.
A: Really? I didn't know you painted.
B: Yes, I do, but this isn't one of my best.
6.
A: He's cute. What's his name?
B: Well, it's a "she" really. Her name's Fluffy.
A: Can I hold her?
B: Of course.
A: Ouch! Why'd she do that?
Listening 2
What did the people do at each party? Listen and circle the correct answer.
Click to play the Audio
She_________
- played party games
- danced
- sang songs
He___________
- watched a home movie
- danced
- ate lots of food
She_________
- danced
- sang songs
- met old friends
He___________
- played games
- ate junk food
- listened to music
Sample answer
1. B
2. A
3. B
4. B
Transcript
1. Hey, what a great party that was! There were lots of interesting people there, and some really cute guys. I met one really nice guy named Tom-I think he's going to call me next week. Anyway, the best thing was the music. Everyone danced a lot. I'm really glad we didn't have to play party games or sing stupid songs. The food was good, too.
We ate outside-you know, barbecue style.
2. Sam's party was terrible. We had to play all sorts of stupid games, like memorizing everyone's name. Twenty questions I think.
Then we watched a home movie of Sam's vacation in Hawaii. Boring! Actually, I prefer parties where people just sit around and talk and eat, but we didn't eat till very late. The worst thing was when we finally did eat, there wasn't enough food. I was still feeling hungry when I left.
3. I went to this party on Saturday night.
When I arrived, I looked around and I didn't know anyone there, but everyone was really friendly, and soon I got to know a lot of people. I really enjoyed myself.
I thought it was going to be a dance party, but no one really felt like dancing. We listened to some nice music, though. There were some guys from Spain there. One of them had a guitar and could play it really well. The best thing was he taught us some neat Spanish songs.
4. I went to a school party on Friday. No one had really planned the party. That was the main problem. Also, I think we were all too tired after exams. The worst thing was no one brought any music. We just stood around talking and eating junk food. Someone said, "Let's play some party games," but no one wanted to play games.
Everyone went home before 10:30.
Part 5
Discussion
Let’s use the vocabulary you’ve learned during the lesson and talk about the following topics/questions freely!
Teacher helps student expand and correct the answers
Can you share a memorable celebration you attended and what made it special?
Why do you think people feel the need to celebrate achievements and milestones?
What is the most unusual celebration you have ever heard of or attended?
How do celebrations bring people together, and why is that important?
What are some ways to celebrate someone’s success without spending a lot of money?
How have celebrations changed with technology, like with virtual parties?
Do you think traditional celebrations are still important in modern society (use video call,…)?
Sample answer
- I remember attending a friend's surprise birthday party. What made it special was the secrecy and excitement of planning the surprise, which brought all of us closer together as we worked to make the day unforgettable for our friend.
- People celebrate achievements and milestones to recognize personal and collective successes. These celebrations mark important moments in life, reinforce social bonds, and provide an opportunity to reflect on past efforts and achievements.
- The most unusual celebration I've heard of is the "Tomatina Festival" in Spain where participants throw tomatoes at each other purely for fun. It's unique because it turns a simple food item into the centerpiece of a large, joyous public event.
- Celebrations bring people together by creating a shared experience and a sense of unity. This is important because it strengthens relationships, builds community, and fosters a sense of belonging among participants.
- We can celebrate someone's success on a budget by writing heartfelt letters, organizing a potluck dinner, or hosting a game night at home. These activities focus more on spending quality time together rather than spending money.
- Technology has allowed us to host virtual parties, where people can join celebrations from anywhere in the world. This includes sharing moments through video calls, playing online games together, and even watching movies in sync.
- Yes, traditional celebrations are still important because they connect us to our cultural roots and history. Even with modern technologies like video calls, these traditions provide a sense of continuity, identity, and belonging that is crucial for societal cohesion.
Review
Let’s review the lesson with teacher
5 words and phrases in the lesson
Talk about different types of celebrations, describe your experiences attending parties
See you next lesson
Homework
Do homework
Listening this video: https://youtu.be/m2B3GsTglpk
