Starting off

Discuss the questions below with a partner:

1. What are the most common Christmas presents in your country? Think about:

presents for men

presents for women

presents for boys

presents for girls

3. Is it important to spend a lot of money on a Christmas present? Can an inexpensive present be a good gift?

First reading

You are going to read some suggestions about Christmas presents you could give to your friends and family. Read

the text quickly and match the headings to the each text (1-10).

a. Homemade Christmas cake

b. A present from your garden

c. Help with a nasty job

d. Fruit for the Christmas tree

e. Books from your shelves

f. An invitation to dinner

g. Old Christmas presents

h. A homemade Christmas card

i. Handmade clothes

j. A calendar with your own photo

Second reading

Read the sentences below carefully.

1. The presents are all new.

2. All the presents are homemade.

3. The presents all cost very little or no money.

4. None of the presents need you to do any work.

Now read the text quickly and check which of the sentences above are true and which are false.

Third reading

Which of these presents would you like to receive? Read the text more carefully and put the presents in order from best to worst.

Compare your list with your partner's, explaining why you decided on your order.

Vocabulary 1

Find words in the texts to match the definitions below. The first one has been done for you as an example.

Part One (Introduction and texts 9-10) something that you need to have or need to do (adjective) necessary completely and in every way (adverb) part of a poem or a song, or a short poem on a Christmas or birthday card (noun) having a very nice taste or smell (adjective)

Part Two (Texts 5-8) another word for a sweater or pullover (noun) get rid of something that you do not want or need (verb) the part of a desk that you pull out and push in and use to keep things in (noun) another word for present (noun) (about food) clean and with nothing dangerous or unnatural (adjective) make someone remember something or somebody, or stop them from forgetting (verb) a thin flat piece of food cut from a bigger piece (noun) a metal heater which stands by a wall and keeps a room warm (noun)

Part Three (Texts 1-4) not nice (adjective) neatly arranged with everything in the right place (adjective) get pleasure from something (verb) ability to do something well, especially because you have learned and practised it (noun)

Vocabulary 2

Complete each sentence below with one of the words from Vocabulary 1 and then discuss the questions together.

1. What is the best …………………………………..………… you have ever received?

2. What was the last really ……………………………………. thing you ate?

3. If you want to be a success in your career, is it generally better to be nice or …………….…………………….?

4. Is your bedroom usually ……………………………….………………….?

5. What do you …………………………………………. about school?

Speaking

Is it important to spend money on Christmas presents? Would your friends and family be happy with an `economical' Christmas? Work in small groups and plan the most inexpensive Christmas you can for your families, using the ideas in the text and your own ideas. Be ready to present your ideas to the class when you finish.

A Monthly Newsletter for Teachers of English

December 2008

© Pearson Education Polska 2008 PHOTOCOPIABLE

A C T I V I T I E S S H E E T

December 2008

5. _______________

_______________

Thin slices of orange, lemon , lime or grapefruit, dried on the radiator, make beautiful decorations for anyone's Christmas tree.

6. _______________

_______________

A calendar is always useful, and what could be nicer than a calendar with a picture of your friends or family to remind you of them every time you check

the date?

10. _______________

_______________

Everyone sends and receives cards at Christmas so why not make your card your present as well? Make it yourself with a photo or a drawing and a verse you wrote yourself!

7. _______________

_______________

Natural, pure organic food, fresh from your garden. If you have fruit or nuts, or if you have a vegetable garden, something from your garden might just be the perfect gift.

4. _______________

_______________

The most practical present you can give is a promise to help with any nasty job they have: washing the car,

cleaning the windows, tidying the house...

3. _______________

_______________

Everyone enjoys going out to a nice restaurant so why not give them something even better: an invitation to a wonderful dinner evening at your house, with you as the waiter and the cook…

2. _______________

_______________

Not all presents have to be new! Take a look at what you have in your house and you may well find the perfect gift sitting right there on your bookshelf!

1. _______________

_______________

If you have the skill, this can be a wonderful present, especially for those who like to be original in how they dress. And, of course, it's very practical too!

8. _______________

_______________

A jumper which is too small or a picture we don't like - we all get presents which we never really wanted.

Instead of throwing them away or leaving them at the bottom of a drawer somewhere, why not give them to somebody who

would really want them?

9. _______________

_______________

Who could say no to a

delicious cake for their

Christmas table? Use a

traditional recipe and make a present which is both unusual and practical.

Christmas presents: to

buy or not to buy?

Christmas is coming and so

are all our presents! But is it really

important to spend money on very

expensive presents? Indeed, is it

really necessary

to spend money

at all? Here are

some ideas for

presents you can

give your family and friends which

cost absolutely nothing at all...

Błąd! Nieznany argument przełącznika.

---