SPEAKING CLUB

Christmas

@englishnataly
 Here is an extract from the authentic
magazine “Reader’s Digest” (December
2022). There are four stories combined
under the heading “The True Meaning of
Christmas”. Please, read the first story,
which is called “Reinventing Christmas”
(p.32-35). Write down 5-7 vocabulary items
that you find interesting and that you
would like to use in your speech.

Make a list of top-5 Christmas traditions.

You may use the ideas from the story as
well as ideas of your own.

The link to "Reader's Digest"

@englishnataly
You may have a look at this Christmas
bucket list of holiday activities to get
an extra dose of inspiration:
https://bucketlistjourney.net/christm
as-bucket-list-things-to-do-this-
holiday-season/

And here is a video of Benedict

Cumberbatch teaching us to receive
the gifts we don’t like:
https://youtu.be/9vp3tDKfu5Q

@englishnataly
Answer the following questions:
1. What do you associate with
Christmas? (e.g. red-nosed reindeer,
Christmas lights, etc.)
2. What are your favourite Christmas
traditions? (e.g. cooking herring
salad, wrapping gifts, adorning the
hearth).

@englishnataly
Fill in the gaps, using the words from the box in
the suitable form.

from scratch, make the cut, catch glimpses,

laden, aghast, perk up, radiate warmth, wane

1. Other kids — and parents — were politely _______ at our

tree.
2. And our tree _________ as much true ______ as
anyone’s.
3. Years later, as I grew up and ________ _________ of
my friends’ traditions, I came to realize that we weren’t the
only household with holiday quirks.
4. In moments like Christmas, so _______ with tradition,
it’s nearly impossible to rewrite the script.
5. The other thing we didn’t acknowledge was that those
holiday joys were ________ fast.
6. She ______ __ as soon as I mentioned that Charles was
coming to dinner.
7. Once we got back to Peterborough, I vowed to blow
Christmas up and rebuild it _____ ________.
8. The herring salad _____ ___ ____; I’ve come to enjoy it.

@englishnataly
Match the words and their definitions.

from scratch, make the cut, glimpse, laden,

aghast, perk up, radiate, wane

1. to produce heat and/or light

2. to become weaker
3. to become or cause someone to become
happier
4. a brief look at someone or something
5. to be finally selected
6. from the very beginning
7. suddenly filled with strong feelings of
shock and worry
8. carrying or holding a lot of something

@englishnataly
Answer the following questions, using the
new words.
from scratch, make the cut, catch glimpses,
laden, aghast, perk up, radiate warmth, wane

1. Do you believe that Christmas is so laden with

tradition and expectation that it prevents us from
actually enjoying this holiday?
2. Would you like to rebuild any Christmas tradition
from scratch? What makes the cut? What doesn't
make the cut?
3. Have you ever noticed that holiday joys wane pretty
fast? Why does it happen?
4. What's the main purpose of decorating a Christmas
tree?
5. Do you put up a Christmas tree every year? Is it an
artificial or a real tree?
6. What do you usually adorn your Chritsmas tree with?
7. Does catching glimpses of Christmas lights create a
festive mood for you?
8. Have you ever seen any Christmas decorations that
made you aghast? or Have you heard of any traditions
that made you aghast?

@englishnataly
Read the following extract from the story
and answer the questions.

* vow
/vaʊ/
to make a determined decision or promise to
do something

Do you agree with this view?

What's the true meaning of Christmas?

@englishnataly
 Read the following extract from the story
and answer the questions.

1. Have you ever got a Christmas gift that was so bad you
didn't know what to do and how to react?
2. Do you think it is right to divide gifts into "good ones"
and "bad ones"? Can you give any examples of "good"
and "bad" presents?
3. How would you react if you received a present that
you don't like? Would you pretend to be delighted?
4. Doesn't pretending that you're happy with your
present make things more complicated for your nearest
and dearest?

@englishnataly
Discuss the following You-Tube comments.

@englishnataly
Read the following information about Advent
calendars and answer the questions.

What is an Advent Calendar?

For most of Christianity, Advent is the time of preparation for the arrival of Christmas,
commemorating the Birth of Christ, and anticipating His Second Coming. An Advent
calendar is a special calendar used to count down to December 25: The celebration of
the Birth of Jesus. The Advent calendar tradition evidently dates back to the 1850s and
typically includes 24 doors or boxes to open, one for every day in December leading up
to Christmas Day.

Advent calendars now come in many forms, but the tradition began simply enough when
German families in the mid-nineteenth century started counting the days until
Christmas by tallying chalk marks on a door or wall.

Some Advent calendars are simple, revealing a picture of a portion of the nativity story
behind each tiny door. Some calendars feature a piece of chocolate for each day of the
countdown. Some are more elaborate and expensive and include toys or gifts. The
Advent calendar has become a bit of a craze or “megatrend” of late.

1. Would you like to have an Advent calendar? (to be

given one/to make one yourself?)
2. What would you like your Advent calendar to be
stuffed with (chocolates, toys, etc.)?

@englishnataly
1. Make a list of top 7 fun holiday activities & festive
things to do.
2. Why have you singled out (=chosen) these particular
activities?

@englishnataly
Watching Christmas films and reading Christmas books is
a popular thing to do over the festive period. What are
your absolute favourites and why?

@englishnataly
 The Keys
1. Other kids — and parents — were politely aghast at our tree.
2. And our tree radiated as much true warmth as anyone’s.
3. Years later, as I grew up and caught glimpses of my friends’
traditions, I came to realize that we weren’t the only
household with holiday quirks.
4. In moments like Christmas, so laden with tradition, it’s
nearly impossible to rewrite the script.
5. The other thing we didn’t acknowledge was that those
holiday joys were waning fast.
6. She _perked up as soon as I mentioned that Charles was
coming to dinner.
7. Once we got back to Peterborough, I vowed to blow
Christmas up and rebuild it from scratch.
8. The herring salad made the cut; I’ve come to enjoy it.

to produce heat and/or light - to radiate

to become weaker - to wane
to become or cause someone to become happier - to perk up
a brief look at someone or something - a glimpse
to be finally selected - to make the cut
from the very beginning - from scratch
suddenly filled with strong feelings of shock and worry -
aghast
carrying or holding a lot of something - laden

@englishnataly