WHAT’S A LEPRECHAUN?

Speaking Activity

Use the illustrations to talk about Leprechauns and St. Patrick’s Day.

Word Bank

grant | fix | legend | fairy | rainbow | tricky

silly | symbol | to get into something
let someone go | popular | beard

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Warm Up Questions

Ask your teacher or classmates the following questions.

1 Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? How?

2 How would you describe a leprechaun?

3 If you had three wishes, what would they be?

4 Are you interested in legends and fairytales?

5 What superheroes were you into when you were growing up?

6 Do you believe in luck?

Watch the following YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/5EJ5C-coJ3w

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Listening Questions

Watch the YouTube video and answer the following questions.

1 What is Chuntao surprised by?

2 According to Bob, what is the most popular symbol of St. Patrick’s Day?

3 What are leprechauns?

4 What do leprechauns look like?

5 What do leprechauns usually wear?

6 What do leprechauns do for a living?

7 According to legend, where do leprechauns keep huge pots of gold?

8 What must a leprechaun do if you catch it?

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MATCHING

Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right.

1 tricky (adj) A something that can’t be taken seriously

2 legend (n) B to be very interested in and participate in something

3 silly (adj) C likely to do dishonest things

4 symbol (n) D to repair

5 to get into (phr) E believe; believe in the truth of

6 trust (v) F a very old story that is not always true

7 fix (v) G agree to give or allow

8 grant (v) H something used to represent something

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 In Your Own Words

Write a sentence with each of the expressions below.

1. Fat chance

Meaning: very little or no possibility

Example: A: Maybe you’ll get a promotion. B: There’s a fat chance of that ever happening.

2. To luck out

Meaning: to be very lucky – American English - (NOTE: This expression has the opposite
meaning in some countries)

Example: I lucked out and found an incredible apartment right downtown.

Discussion Questions

Discuss the following questions with your teacher or classmates.

1. What three things would you wish for?

2. Do you believe in UFOs or aliens?

3. Do you consider yourself a lucky or unlucky person?

4. Have you ever found money, or anything valuable?

5. Have you ever eaten traditional Irish food?

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Words in Context

Explain what the word or phrase in bold means and give an example.

Example: She was exhausted because she worked until midnight.

Meaning: very tired - I’m exhausted because I stayed up and studied all night.

1. I can’t believe how much everyone gets into St. Patrick’s Day.

Meaning /

2. They are fairies based on Irish legend.

Meaning /

3. According to legend, they also have a big pot of gold.

Meaning /

4. Remember they cannot be trusted.

Meaning /

5. Leprechauns are very tricky.

Meaning /

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MISSING WORDS

Watch the video again and complete the sentences.

Chuntao: I can’t believe how much everyone gets into St. Patrick’s Day. It’s really crazy!
This may be a …………………….1 question, but what exactly is a leprechaun?

Bob: Hmm… Good question.

Well, as you know, leprechauns …………………………2 St. Patrick’s Day.
Actually, they are probably the most popular symbol of the day.

Of course, they aren’t real.

They are ………………………….3 based on Irish legend.
They are usually short, old men with red beards.

They wear green pants, a green coat, and a big green hat.

They are shoemakers. They make and also ………………….4 shoes.

According to ………………………..5, they also have a big pot of gold.

They keep the gold in huge pots at the end of rainbows.

If you can catch one you are pretty lucky!

If you catch a leprechaun, the leprechaun must grant you three wishes.
After they ……………………………6 you three wishes, you have to let them go.

But be careful!
Leprechauns are very tricky, so if you ever meet one, remember they cannot be
……………………………7

They will make problems for you if you let them.

Chuntao: That’s interesting! I need to catch one so I can have three wishes.

Bob: If you ……………………..8 a leprechaun Chuntao, what would you wish for?

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Transcripts

Chuntao: I can’t believe how much everyone gets into St. Patrick’s Day. It’s really crazy!
This may be a silly question, but what exactly is a leprechaun?

Bob: Hmm… Good question.

Well, as you know, leprechauns relate to St. Patrick’s Day.
Actually, they are probably the most popular symbol of the day.

Of course, they aren’t real.

They are fairies based on Irish legend.
They are usually short, old men with red beards.

They wear green pants, a green coat, and a big green hat.

They are shoemakers. They make and also fix shoes.

According to legend, they also have a big pot of gold.

They keep the gold in huge pots at the end of rainbows.

If you can catch one you are pretty lucky!

If you catch a leprechaun, the leprechaun must grant you 3 wishes.
After they grant you three wishes, you have to let them go.

But be careful!
Leprechauns are very tricky, so if you ever meet one, remember they cannot be trusted.
They will make problems for you if you let them.

Chuntao: That’s interesting! I need to catch one so I can have three wishes.

Bob: If you caught a leprechaun Chuntao, what would you wish for?

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Answer Key

Listening
1. She’s surprised how much people get into St. Patrick’s Day.

2. Leprechauns

3. They are fairies based on Irish legend.

4. They are usually short, old men with red beards.

5. They wear green pants, a green coat, and a big green hat.

6. They are shoemakers.

7. At the end of rainbows.

8. It must grant you 3 wishes.

Matching
1. C 2. F 3. A 4. H 5. B 6. E 7. D 8. G

Missing Words
1. silly 2. relate to 3. fairies 4. fix 5. legend 6. grant 7. trusted 8. caught

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