Unit Celebrations

Date : ………………………………….………..
Part : 1 VOCABULARY : Types of celebrations

Activity 1 • What’s the difference between “celebrations” & “holidays” ?

o Celebrations: ..................................................................................................................................................
o Holidays: ........................................................................................................................................................

• What types of celebrations do you know?

..................................... ..................................... ..................................... ..................................... .....................................

Activity 2 • Work in pairs to name the following celebrations, and then categorize them according to the table below.

..................................... ..................................... ..................................... ..................................... .....................................

..................................... ..................................... ..................................... ..................................... .....................................

..................................... ..................................... ..................................... ..................................... .....................................

Religious celebrations Local celebrations National celebrations International celebrations Foreign celebrations
..................................... ..................................... ..................................... ..................................... .....................................
..................................... ..................................... ..................................... ..................................... .....................................
..................................... ..................................... ..................................... ..................................... .....................................

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Activity 3 • Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the list:

flowers - traditional clothes - Mothers’ day - fireworks - candies - honour - family gathering - gifts

1. On ............................................, people in many countries ......................... their mothers. They give them ......................... to express their
love and gratitude.
2. Eid Al fitr is a day when Muslims wear ............................................ . They always have a ............................................ on this day.
3. On new year’s day, people usually go to the city centre to watch ............................................ .
4. Valentine’s Day is a day when lovers exchange love messages and ............................................ .
5. Children get lots of ......................... on Halloween.

Activity 4 • Complete the following sentences with your own words.

1. Ramadan is a holy month when ………………………………..……………………………….……………..……..………………………...…............................................

2. On the day of Eid Al Adha , ………………………………..……………………………….……………..……..………………………...…...................................................
3. International Women’s Day is a day when ………………………………..……………………………….……………..……..………………………...…...........................
4. The Imilchil Marriage Festival is a time when ………………………………..……………………………….……………..……..………………………...….......................
5. New Year’s Day is a day when ………………………………..……………………………….……………..……..………………………...…...............................................

Activity 5 • Ask your partner the following questions:

o Are celebrations important? Why?
o Which celebration you would like to attend? Why?

Date : ………………………………….………..
Part : 2 READING : Christmas!

Activity 1 • Before you read, what do the pictures below represent? Try to name each one.

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Activity 2 • Now, let’s read to answer the questions below.

Christmas which is celebrated on December 25th is an important Christian holiday.

The origin of the word "Christmas" comes from "Christ" and the "Holy Mass”. It is
believed that the day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ although a lot of
people doubt that the Day corresponds to the actual date of his birth. In spite of its
Christian origin, Christmas is also celebrated by a lot of non-Christian countries and
the celebration includes a lot of non-religious customs. People exchange gifts and
greeting cards. Homes are decorated with Christmas trees, light and garlands.
Dinners are planned with special food and all the families gather to have a lot of fun.
A central imaginary figure in Christmas is Father Christmas, also called Santa Claus. He is believed to fly on his sleigh
bringing gifts for children. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply "Santa",
is a figure which was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, a historical, legendary and mythological figure who
in many Western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight
hours of Christmas Eve, December 24 or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day).The legend is based on the
tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. Today Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump,
jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather
belt and boots (images of him rarely have a beard with no moustache). This image became popular in the United States
and Canada in the nineteenth century. Christmas is also an opportunity for economic growth. It has become an
important period for business activity. Shops make a lot of profit and a lot of countries realized this economic impact.

A. ARE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY.

1. Christmas is celebrated only in Christian countries.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. We are not sure about the exact date of the date of the birth of Christ.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Children believe that Santa Claus comes on foot?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

B. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.

1. Who is Santa Claus?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. What does Christmas celebrate?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. What does Santa Claus wear?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. What do people exchange in Christmas?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

C. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR PHRASES WHICH MEAN AS THE SAME AS:
1. Presents = ……………………………………………………………
2. Get together = ……………………………………………………
3. Benefit = ………………………………………………………………

Activity 3 • After you read complete the map below.

Activities Food and drinks

A Moroccan
celebration:
Gifts Other customs
.....................................

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 Date : ………………………………….………..
Part : 3 LISTENING : Las Fallas Festival

Activity 1 • Look at the pictures below and decide which celebrations are shown in each picture.
• If you don’t recognise the celebration, describe exactly what you see in each picture.

.................................................
.................................................................. .................................................

................................................
..................................................................... ......................................................
...............
o Answer the following questions out loud giving as much details as possible.

1. Do you celebrate any of the festivals shown above? Are they common in your country?
2. Are there any popular festivals in your country which aren’t shown above? Describe one in detail.

Activity 2 • Before listening to the description of a popular festival called "Las Fallas", I would like you to guess what the
festival is about by using the following words which have been taken from the extract:

March - Valencia - Fireworks - Noise - Party - One week - Alive - Lifelike statues - Fire – Firecrackers

Activity 3 • Now, listen to a journalist gives a detailed description of the festival. Is it how you imagined?
• Listen again to answer the following questions.

1. When and where does the festival take place?

.....................................................................................................................................
2. How long does it go for?
.....................................................................................................................................
3. How do people celebrate?
.....................................................................................................................................
4. Traditionally speaking, why did people celebrate Las Fallas?
.....................................................................................................................................
5. How does the festival end?
.....................................................................................................................................

Activity 4 • Would you like to experience this festival? Why?

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 Date : ………………………………….………..
Part : 4 FUNCTION : I do apologize!

Activity 1 • Look at the cartoon and discuss the questions.

1. Where are the people?
2. What do you think they are saying to each other?

• Listen to five conversations. Why does each person say sorry?

Match the conversations (1-5) with the following reasons (a-e).
Conversation 1 o a. He took another person’s things.
Conversation 2 o b. She was late.
Conversation 3 o c. He is busy.
Conversation 4 o d. He didn’t do something.
Conversation 5 o e. She needs that seat.

Activity 2 • Listen again to do the tasks below.

A. Complete the conversations with the words you hear. B. Which phrases in the conversations we use to apologize (say
sorry)? And which phrases give a reply (accept apology)?
1. A: Excuse me, can I sit here?
B: Sorry, my friend’s sitting here. o Add more expressions.
A: No ......................................... .
Apologising Accepting apology
2. A: I’m sorry I’m late. The bus didn’t come. - ..................................................... - .....................................................
B: No, ................................ . You’re here now. - ..................................................... - .....................................................
- ..................................................... - .....................................................
3. A: Excuse me, I think that’s my pen.
B: Oh, I’m ......................... . I thought it was mine. - ..................................................... - .....................................................
A: That’s Ok. - ..................................................... - .....................................................
- ..................................................... - .....................................................
4. A: I’m .................... that I didn’t do the homework. Sorry!
- ..................................................... - .....................................................
B: That’s fine. I know you were busy.
- ..................................................... - .....................................................
5. A: Dan, can you help me with this report?
B: I’m sorry, I .................... . I’ve got a meeting now. • Listen to four apologies.
A: That’s all right. Can you help me late? • Which are good apologies? Which are not? Why?
B: Yeah, sure! • Listen now to the same apologies. What’s the difference?

Activity 3 • Let’s practice!

A. Make conversations using the prompts. Then listen to B. Work in pairs. Read the information and plan what to say.
check your answers.

1. A: Let’s go for a coffee.

B: Sorry / can’t / busy (I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m busy.)
A: That’s OK.

2. A: Sorry / we late. / roads / busy .................................................

B: Problem. / you / always / on time ...........................................

3. A: Ouch. You hit me!

B: Really sorry. / not see you ......................................................

4. A: can / use / your pen? ..............................................................

B: Sorry. / need it .........................................................................
A: Worries. / can / use Amine’s ..................................................

5. A: Afraid / not finish / the report ................................................

B: Fine. / can / finish it tomorrow? ............................................. 61
 Date : ………………………………….………..
Part : 5 GRAMMAR: Who or Which?

Activity 1 • What’s wrong with these sentences? Try to re-write them correctly.

1. In the morning of every Eid El Fitr, I call my cousin. My cousin lives in China.
..................................................................................................................................

2. Next Halloween, I’m going to wear a costume. I bought the costume yesterday.
..................................................................................................................................

3. Sometimes we celebrate my birthday in this house. I was born in this house.

..................................................................................................................................

4. I will never forget this date. I got married on this date.

..................................................................................................................................

Activity 2 • Listen to the extracts and choose the correct word.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS
1. I’d like a job that’s/who’s completely different. Use relative pronouns to give more information about
people, things/animals, places and time.
2. I want a job which/that is interesting.
3. They want someone who/which enjoys writing. • Use who for ......................................................
• Use which for ...................................................
4. Well, they’re looking for someone that/who can work part-time.
• Use that for ......................................................
5. She needs to go to a city when/where she can relax. • Use where for ...................................................
6. Tom will visit us when/where he finishes his work. • Use when for .....................................................

Activity 3 • Let’s practice!

1. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate relative pronoun.

a. March 8th is a day ……..........................……. people in many countries honour mothers.
b. The girl ……..........................……. lives next door bled to death after she was gored at the Bull-running in Spain.
c. Students go to the library ……..........................……. they look for information on their studies.
d. The camel is one of the few animals ……..........................……. can live without water for a long time.
e. The boy ……..........................……. got married at Imlchil festival is from your hometown.
f. The book ……..........................……. is lying on that shelf is for Alex.
g. Thanks giving is a day ……..........................……. non-Muslims give thanks to their God.
h. May 1st a day ……..........................……. people in many countries show respect to workers.
i. The old man ……..........................……. lives in the flat near me has just died.
j. Students eat in the school cafeteria ……..........................……. they can choose from different meals.

2. Combine the following sentences using the correct Relative Pronoun.

a. I saw a girl. She was carrying a basket on her head. .........................................................................................................................
b. I have a sister. I like her very much. ..................................................................................................................................................
c. We met a traveller. He had a lot of luggage. ....................................................................................................................................
d. This is the house. Hassan lives in this house. ....................................................................................................................................
e. Give me the pen. You bought it yesterday. ......................................................................................................................................

3. Finish the following sentences using your own words.

a. I prefer to celebrate with people who .............................................................................................................................................
b. For my coming birthday party, I would like to have a cake which ...................................................................................................
c. For me, Ramadan is a holy month when .........................................................................................................................................
d. Sometimes, I love to visit places where ..........................................................................................................................................

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 Date : ………………………………….………..
Part : 6 WRITING: Personal letter

Activity 1 • Before you write, work in pairs to name the parts of this personal letter.

260, Lot Albasatine

Kelaa of Sraghna
28th April, 2024
Dear friend,

How are you doing my friend? I hope you’re doing well. It has been a long time since I
heard from you. I’m writing you this letter to ask for your help.

As you know, I write for a cultural-magazine, and next month we’ll focus on
celebrations around the world. That’s why I’m writing you this letter to help me shed
light on one of the Moroccan celebrations. I would be grateful if you answer my
questions:
1. What’s the name of the celebration and when do you celebrate it?
2. What are some of the customs and traditions of that celebration?
3. What are some food and drinks special to that celebration?
4. Do you like this celebration? Why?

I’ll be waiting for your reply. Thanks in advance.

See you,

Luke

Activity 2 • Answer the questions in the letter above. Use this chart to help you brainstorm your ideas.
Customs &
traditions

Name & date

of the celebration
Food &
drinks
Why do you
like it?

Activity 3 • Use the ideas you brainstormed in activity 2 to write a reply to your friend.
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