Starting off

You might begin with a general discussion along the lines of `What makes a good Christmas?' would be a good way to start off, allowing you to introduce the topic in a personalized manner without highlighting differences in income, as would be the case with a `What presents did/will you get for Christmas?' discussion. This initial discussion will provide a good opportunity to introduce some relevant vocabulary, as needed.

After this initial general discussion you can move on to the questions in the Starting off section of the worksheet, which focus on typical presents for various groups. If this class has problems getting started then you can provide examples of possible presents for them to match to the age groups.

Before your read

a. 9

b. 7

c. 4

d. 5

e. 2

f. 3

g. 8

h. 10

i. 1

j. 6

Second reading

The students can try to do the task from memory initially, before reading the text a second time to check.

Key:

1. F 2. F 3. T 4. F

Third reading

Though nominally a reading task, this is really a speaking activity where the text acts as the prompt. As you monitor, encourage the students to justify their answers so the feedback can take on a discussion form. The feedback itself can be organised as a pyramid: first individuals try to agree on a ranking, then pairs work together to agree until you reach a broad whole-class consensus.

Vocabulary 1

Key:

2. absolutely

3. verse

4. delicious

5. jumper

6. throw STH away

7. drawer

8. pure

9. gift

10. remind SB of STH

11. slices

12. radiator

13. nasty

14. tidy

15. enjoy

16. skill

Vocabulary 1

Key:

1. gift 2. delicious 3. nasty 4. tidy 5. enjoy

Speaking

One way to lead into the topic would be to focus on the commercialization of Christmas, discussing with the students how far the traditional values and meaning of the season (religious and folk) have been replaced by shopping, spending and assorted kitsch. From this you can introduce the idea of a non-commercial Christmas and challenge the class to come up with ideas.

Provide a shape for their presentations with some prompts on the board (places to go, presents to give, things to eat etc.) and be sure to tell the students that each member of the groups should present a part of their ideas. As the students give their presentations you should take notes of any interesting errors or good expressions to use as the basis of post-presentation feedback.

Extension

The topic provides plenty of opportunity for thinking about Christmas traditions in different ways. In the text the focus is on presents, but it would make an interesting project, leading to further (improved) presentations, for the students to investigate Christmas traditions and customs in other countries. You could brainstorm a list of countries with the students and then ask them to choose one each (or one per group) which they would like to investigate, using the internet, school library, encyclopedias etc. If the list of countries includes countries from different continents, with different cultural and religious traditions, then it should be an interesting project for the students.

Further information on Christmas traditions in different countries can be found in the December 2007 edition of Around English.

Contact

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas for future editions of Around English.

Peter Moran [e-mail]

TEACHER'S NOTES AND KEY

December 2008

© Pearson Education Polska 2008

8. Old Christmas

presents

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. Homemade

Christmas cake

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 is 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...

6. A calendar with

your own photo

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. A homemade

Christmas card

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!

5. Fruit for the

Christmas tree

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

7. A present from

your garden

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.

3. An invitation to

dinner

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. Books from

your shelves

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. Handmade

clothes

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!

4. Help with a

nasty job

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...

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