Welcome to my class!

方婧雯 安庆市杨桥中学

Topic Composition

•Festivals

•Describing an event

Spring Festival/ Chinese New Year

Mid-Autumn Festival

Father’s Day

Teacher’s Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

Listen

&

Guess

Think it over:

• What would you like to talk when you are describing a festival?

Elements

Elements

Time/ Date

Special food

Typical

activitiesSpecial meaning

...

Reading

Read the three short passages of Unit3 Lesson1 Festivals carefully.

Fill in the blanks.

As is known to us, the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is a special 1._________ for every family, is celebrated 2._____the Chinese throughout the world. On this day, people usually enjoy the beautiful full moon, which is said to be its biggest and 3. ____________.

The lantern Festival 4. ________on the fifteenth day of the first 5._______month. It 6.________ the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. People make many kinds of lanterns and enjoy the sweet dumplings.

The Dragon Boat Festival is another great festival, which marks the 7.___________ of the hottest season of the year and for which the special 8.________ is called zongzi. The festival has a history 9.____ more than 2,000 years. People enjoy the dragon boat 10.________ every year.

As is known to us, the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is a special 1._________ for every family, is celebrated 2._____the Chinese throughout the world. On this day, people usually enjoy the beautiful full moon, which is said to be its biggest and 3. ____________.

occasionby

brightest

The lantern Festival 4. _______on the fifteenth day of the first 5._______month. It 6.________ the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. People make many kinds of lanterns and enjoy the sweet dumplings.

falls

lunar

marks

The Dragon Boat Festival is another great festival, which marks the 7.___________ of the hottest season of the year and for which the special 8.________ is called zongzi. The festival has a history 9.____ more than 2,000 years. People enjoy the dragon boat 10.________ every year.

beginningfood

of

races

Writing

Free talk:• Have you ever been to a celebration or

a festival party?

• If you are invited to share your experience of taking part in a party, what would you like to talk?

Analysis of the outline:

Part 1: Introduction to the situation

Why

When

Where

Who

• Part 2. The beginning

Describe the preparations

&

How the party started

• Part 3. Development

Describe what happened during the party

In Part 2&3, we’d better use some linking words to describe the development of the story.

1.________ my cousin and I put out the welco

me mat. I made 3 litres of orange juice. 2. _______ the people started coming and we served drinks.

3. ______________ I started frying some food and my cousin started serving the food. Unfortunately, 4. ________ I was talking to a friend I burnt the sausages!

Complete the gaps with these words:

while, first, then, after that.

First

Then

After that

while

• Part 4. Conclusion

What happened in the end?

&

Was it good?

Time for writing (8ms)

Write a short compositionof your experience of

taking part in a festival party

Linking (Sequence)

• before, when/ as soon as, firstly/first of all, after that, during, later, suddenly, then/next, finally/ in the end

Useful vocabulary• Nouns: barbecue, burgers, fancy dress, present, r

eception, speech• Adjectives: brilliant, crowded, excited, formal, fu

nny, nervous• Verbs: to celebrate, to dance, to introduce, to inv

ite, to meet, to organise, to wear, to have fun, to enjoy

Checking:

Exchange your composition with that of another student and try to improve others’ writing.

Tips:

• Adjectives: Can you add any adjectives to make your description more interesting?

• Past tenses: Have you checked irregular past tenses?

• Linking words: Have you included some linking words?

Share the story which impresses you most.

An unforgettable Christmas

Christmas is the most important festival in the western world. It falls on December 25th. I remember clearly that, last year on Christmas Eve, Mary and I were invited by one of my friends Catherine to have Christmas party in her house.

Part.1 Introduction to the situation

Why/ When/ Where/ Who

As a traditional custom, she prepared different kinds of gifts for us, such as Christmas candles, cakes, little toys and so on. A Christmas tree, which was decorated with colorful lights, was placed in the corner of the brilliant hall. How beautiful it was! We were both deeply impressed by the beautiful scenery. When everything was ready, the party started.

Part. 2 The beginning

Describe the preparations&

How the party started

During the party, we had a big meal together and sent our best wishes to each other. After that, Catherine told us some interesting stories about Christmas. It is said that Christmas has something to do with God. Besides, we learned that from December 24th to next January 6th is Christmas feast. Exchanging gifts and sending Christmas cards are traditional ways to celebrate the festival.

Part.3 Development

Describe what happened during the party.Remember to use the linking words.

We went to bed at midnight. Though we knew the Santa Claus was not true, we were still waiting for the Santa Claus with white beard to bring us presents. Guess what! We received many beautiful presents the next morning. This Christmas was really unforgettable. Not only did I have a good time, but also I knew something about foreign culture.

Part. 4Conclusion

What happened in the end?&

Was it good?

Homework:Choose one festival and make a festival card.Write a brief introduction of the festival.

• Festival:

• Date/Time:

• Special• meaning:

• Activities:

• Special food:

Basic writing

• Work in groups: Choose one festival (Spring Festival/ Christmas Day)

and make a festival card to describe it.

• Festival:

• Date/Time:

• Special• meaning:

• Activities:

• Special food:

• Use the key words and phrases and sentence patterns to describe your festival card.

• The festival falls on ...

• be celebrated by 被…庆祝 in celebration of ＝ to celebrate 为了庆祝…

• be decorated with 由…装饰

• A special food for the festival is…

• A special occasion for sth. … 的特殊场合 / 时机

• It marks/ symbolizes/ stands for/… 它标志着 / 象征着 / 代表着。。。

• Sb./sth. is said to be/do = It is said that 据说。。。

• Festival:

• Date/Time:

• Special• meaning:

• Activities:

• Special food:

Spring Festival

The first day of the first lunar month

Special occasions for family reunion

Watch the Spring Festival Gala/ Bai nian –pay new year’s visit/ play the firework/ give and receive red envelopes filled with new notes.

Spring roll/ dumplings/ fish

• Festival:

• Date/Time:

• Special• meaning:

• Activities:

• Special food:

Christmas Day

December, 25th

A Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ

Christmas party/

Christmas coral

turkey/ Christmas pudding/ apple

Linking (Sequence)

• before, when/ as soon as, firstly/first of all, after that, during, later, suddenly, then/next, finally/ in the end

Useful vocabulary• Nouns: barbecue, burgers, fancy dress, present, r

eception, speech• Adjectives: brilliant, crowded, excited, formal, fu

nny, nervous• Verbs: to celebrate, to dance, to introduce, to inv

ite, to meet, to organise, to wear, to have fun, to enjoy

Linking (Sequence)

• before, when/ as soon as, firstly/first of all, after that, during, later, suddenly, then/next, finally/ in the end

Tips:

• Part 1

• Part 2

• Part 3

• Part 4

Introduction to the situation

The beginning

Development

Conclusion

Look through the passage quickly and underline the key words and phrases or important sentence patterns used to describe festivals.

• The festival falls on ...

• be celebrated by 被…庆祝 in celebration of ＝ to celebrate 为了庆祝…

• be decorated with 由…装饰

• A special food for the festival is…

• A special occasion for sth. … 的特殊场合 / 时机

• It marks/ symbolizes/ stands for/… 它标志着 / 象征着 / 代表着。。。

• sb./sth. is said to be/do = It is said that 据说。。。

Elements

Time/ Date Special food

Typical

activitiesSpecial meaning

...

Listen to the passages about three festivals.

Try to find out the elements used to describe a festival.