Christmas special?

[Dajiang]

Just wondering if anyone had a good idea to do in class for Christmas?

I'm just looking for somekind of speaking/discussion activity that I can do with my senior high schoolers in groups. There is some stuff available online of course, but I figured you guys probably have got some good ideas as well.

At the moment I'm thinking about teaching a Christmas song, explain something about Christmas symbology, the origins of Christmas and relevance after that, and then I'd like somekind of communicative activity...

Hey!
This might be good: have groups think of a symbol they think is suitable for Christmas, and explain what it stands for and why.

Cool, thanks guys. You've been a great help!
;D

[The Canink]

There is only one symbol suitable for discussing Christmas as it is practiced by the majority today:

Or am I being too cynical?

[Decurso]

Amen.The only time I teach christmas is during my "holidays of the world" lesson,where it gets about 5 minutes worth of time.I never celebrated Christmas back home and I don't want to encourage the spread of it here.

But if you must...songs are always a sure thing.Chinese people young and old just eat that stuff up.

[Dajiang]

Well, personally, I'm not a Christian, and don't celebrate Christmas either, but it is a pretty big festival in our parts of the world. So I figure it's a good idea to at least try and explain what the big deal about Christmas is anyway, and to just make the kids a little bit wiser about the whole thing.

And indeed, it is definitely about money for many people here, which is also something to talk about, but basically telling the kids something about Christmas is a part of the whole cultural exchange thing inherent to my foreign language class. Obviously I'm not going to be evangelical about the whole thing and try to convert anyone though.

thanks for the idea of the money symbol btw The Canick. I know you were not actually answering my question, but, nonetheless, it's a great example and a powerful visual that most of them will understand straight away.

Merry Monday everyone!

[George61]

I've got Primary kids and they are keen on Christmas, so I've been getting them to draw, then they caption the pic with descriptions...."The gifts are under the tree"....The decorations are on the tree"....anything with prepositions and whatever other points you are trying to re-inforce...above...under...behind...etc. Here is one result, without the sentences, that I have been playing with on the computer.....with evil intent!!

[The Canink]

I wasn't joking, Dajiang. When I do my Christmas segment (as I'm practically required by law to do, it seems!) I'll be opening with the dollar sign. Then I'll explain that this is what Christmas means nowadays. Then I'll step backwards in time to show how we got there.

Kind of a Christmas lesson in reverse. With a cynical edge.

[Missi]

I've got a great article from the 21st century, its on the computer and I use it almost every year. It explains about Christmas and what the items of Christmas mean. Its a little on the hard side, but the kids enjoy learning why we have wreaths and why we use so much green. PM me your email address and I'll pass it along to you.

A song I like to use at Christmas if students finish the lessons early is Roger Millers, "Old Toy Trains". Most students get this song in about 8 to 10 minutes.

[Dajiang]

Cool, thanks missi, will do.
And Christmas in reverse sounds like a good way to go about it The Canick.

Most impressed with your drawing skills there George. It's kinda like the smurf village having christmas eh. Good stuff with the prepositions of place idea.

Keep em coming guys.

[The Canink]

I also use Christmas for a "compare and contrast" language lesson. First give them the dirt on Christmas. Then, the next class, ask them to compare and contrast how we celebrate Christmas with how they celebrate Spring Festival. For example "Christmas and Spring Festival are both times for family gathering". "Food is important in both Spring Festival and Christmas celebrations." "The main food of Christmas is the goose, but the main food of Spring Festival is the dumpling." And so on.

The commercialisation thing? A lot of students spot the commercialisation of Spring Festival and make that comparison....

[The Canink]

Another great Christmas image!

[Decurso]

When teaching Christmas my wife told her class Santa Claus isn't real.Apparently some of her students do celebrate Christmas and were horrified by this revelation.Ooops...

[Lotus Eater]

I taught my 2nd years Boney M's version of "Little Drummer Boy" and the Rolf Harris "6 White Boomers" last year. We also talked about the similarities of Spring Festival and Christmas - and definitely how both a 'secular' celebration with less and less other meaning for people.

But I still have to run the gauntlet of the competition to be the 1st to wish me Happy Christmas - and this is one time when I don't want to turn my mobile off, because family and friends also call me!

I did my bit for all other non-USAnian nationalities in my "Current Affairs" questions last week - having been wished by so many students "Happy Thanksgiving". They had to research how many countries actually celebrate thanksgiving and what dates.

They are beginning to reailse that all English native speakers do not have the same traditions etc!

[The Canink]

Don't get me started on the "Happy Thanksgiving" thing. Although I must confess I love the crushed look on their faces when my students get my "but Thanksgiving was last month" response.