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The Superstitions

The superstitions - Conversation Classes

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Parley Olivera Fernandez
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28 views

The Superstitions

The superstitions - Conversation Classes

Uploaded by

Parley Olivera Fernandez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Topic: Common (But Silly) Superstitions

 Before we get started let’s take a look at some related vocabulary words.

Word Definition

superstition (noun) a belief or way of behaving that is based on the fear of the unknown

unlucky (adj) having bad luck

belief (noun) something that a person accepts as true or right

fact (noun) something that truly exists or happens

fear (noun) an unpleasant emotion caused by being aware of danger

ritual (noun) a formal ceremony that is always performed in the same way

evil (adj) morally bad

Superstition Meaning

Baseball Bat Spit on a new bat when using it for the first time to make it lucky.

Bed It’s bad luck to put a hat on a bed.

Bell When a bell rings, an angel has received its wings.

Cats If a black cat crosses your path, you will have bad luck.

Knives If a friend gives you a knife, you should give him/her a coin.
Ladder It’s bad luck to walk under a ladder.

Mirror If you break a mirror, it’s seven years of bad luck.

Salt If you spill salt you must throw some over your left shoulder

Umbrella It’s bad luck to open an umbrella in the house.

Wood Knock on wood anytime you mention good fortune.

Yawn Cover your mouth so your soul doesn’t go out of your body.

Itchy Ear Someone is talking about you.

Friday the 13th This day is traditionally unlucky unless you were born on it.

 Ok, so how about you? Are you superstitious? What are your superstitions? Let’s take a
look at some common superstitions. The table below shows some common ones:
 The most common superstitions.

1. Friday the 13th: Bad Luck


Many of us can’t help feeling a bit of trepidation when we realize another Friday the 13th is coming
up.
2. Itchy Palm: Good Luck
There are many variations of this superstition. But the idea of having an itchy palm generally refers
to someone who is greedy or has an insatiable desire for money.
3. Walking Under a Ladder: Bad Luck
It’s common sense to avoid walking under an open ladder for fear of something falling on you, but
there are superstitious reasons for avoiding ladders too.
4. Breaking a Mirror: Bad Luck
Many superstitious people say breaking a mirror sets you up for 7 years of bad luck. That may be
because 7 years is the time it takes to replace all the cells in your physical body.
5. Finding a Horseshoe: Good Luck
In many cultures, a horseshoe is the luckiest of all symbols, especially if you find one with an open
end pointing toward you.
6. Opening an Umbrella Inside: Bad Luck
It seems like a no-brainer that opening an umbrella inside brings bad luck since it presents a risk of
breaking valuable items and poking someone in the eye.
7. Black Cats: Bad Luck
This superstition is a tough one for cat lovers to swallow, but in the Middle Ages, it was thought that
witches kept black cats as companions.
8. Saying “God Bless You”: Good Luck
For some, it’s good manners, pure and simple; but blessing someone after he or she sneezes is
actually a common superstition.
9. 6. 66 Three sixes in a row give some people the chills. It's a superstition that harks back to the Bible.
In the Book of Revelation, 666 is given as the number of the "beast," and is often interpreted as the
mark of Satan and a sign of the end times.
10. Cross your fingers Those wishing for luck will often cross one finger over another, a gesture that's
said to date back to early Christianity
 Now, acted out into a conversation talking about the superstitions.

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS

1. What comes to mind when you hear the word ’superstition’?


2. What superstitions do you know?
3. Which ones do you believe?
4. Do you believe that some numbers, days or dates are lucky or unlucky?
5. Do any animals or insects bring good or bad luck?
6. Are any colors lucky or unlucky?
7. What can you do to prevent bad things from happening?
8. Would you change your phone number or home address to avoid ‘bad numbers'?
9. Do you believe that some materials are lucky/unlucky (such as gold, silk, etc.)?
10. Would you change your name if you heard your name was unlucky?

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS


1. What do you think about superstition?
2. How do you think some superstitions started?
3. What is your opinion of superstitious people?
4. Are there any actions that can bring bad luck (such as walking under a ladder, breaking a
mirror, spilling salt, etc.)?
5. What symbols in your culture bring good luck? Why is that?
6. What happens when someone talks about you in your absence?
7. What will happen if one of your hands or feet is itchy?
8. Where does the expression “Bless you” or “God bless you” (when someone sneezes) come
from?
9. Do you have any objects that are said to bring good luck, such as a rabbit’s foot, a lucky coin,
etc.?
10. Can the location of a house or the position of furniture bring good or bad luck?

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