Vocabulary

A. Read about a special New Year's celebration.

(Đọc về một lễ kỷ niệm năm mới đặc biệt)

New Year's Day is a holiday around the world, but people in Edinburgh, Scotland, celebrate it in an exciting way. They have a festival called Hogmanay. Hogmanay takes place all around the city from December 29th to January 1st. It starts with a parade on the night of December 29th. On December 30th, there are concerts and dancing. Finally, on New Year's Eve, there is a street party with fireworks, and people wear very colorful costumes. There is always a big crowd, even though it's very cold. One year, more than 100,000 people participated. The celebration in Edinburgh is very well-known, but the annual Hogmanay festivals in other cities in Scotland are popular, too.

Answer:

Ngày Tết Dương lịch là ngày nghỉ trên toàn thế giới, nhưng người dân ở Edinburgh, Scotland lại tổ chức một cách thú vị. Họ có lễ hội Hogmanay. Lễ hội này diễn ra trên toàn thành phố từ ngày 29 tháng 12 đến ngày 1 tháng 1. Nó bắt đầu bằng một cuộc diễu hành vào đêm ngày 29 tháng 12. Vào ngày 30 tháng 12, có các buổi hòa nhạc và khiêu vũ. Cuối cùng, đêm giao thừa, có một bữa tiệc đường phố với pháo hoa, và mọi người mặc những trang phục rất sặc sỡ. Dù thời tiết rất lạnh, luôn có đông đảo người tham gia. Một năm nào đó, có hơn 100.000 người tham dự. Lễ kỷ niệm ở Edinburgh rất nổi tiếng, nhưng các lễ hội Hogmanay hàng năm ở các thành phố khác của Scotland cũng rất phổ biến.

B. Write the words and phrases in blue next to the correct meanings.

(Viết các từ và cụm từ màu xanh lam bên cạnh nghĩa đúng)

1. takes place: happens

2. ___________: famous

3. ___________: a day when people don’t work

4. ___________: a large group of people

5. ___________: happening once each year

6. ___________: special clothes for a performance

7. ___________: do something enjoyable for a special day

8. ___________: took part in

Answer:

1. takes place: happens

2. well-known: famous

3. holiday: a day when people don’t work

4. crowd: a large group of people

5. annual: happening once each year

6. costumes: special clothes for a performance

7. celebrate: do something enjoyable for a special day

8. participated: took part in

C. Would you like to participate in Hogmanay in Edinburgh? Why? Discuss in pairs.

(Bạn có muốn tham gia Hogmanay ở Edinburgh không? Tại sao? Thảo luận theo cặp)

Answer:

Yes, I would like to participate in Hogmanay in Edinburgh.

Here are some reasons why I want to participate in Hogmanay in Edinburgh:

1. It is a unique cultural experience: Hogmanay is a Scottish tradition and participating in it provides an opportunity to immerse oneself in Scottish culture, music, food, and traditions.

2. Fireworks and street parties: Hogmanay is famous for its street parties, fireworks, and concerts, which make for a fun and exciting New Year's celebration.

3. Meeting new people: Hogmanay draws people from all over the world, so it provides an opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, and share experiences.

4. The historic city of Edinburgh: Edinburgh is a beautiful and historic city, and participating in Hogmanay provides an opportunity to explore the city and its landmarks.

No, I wouldn't like to participate in Hogmanay in Edinburgh.

Here are some reasons why I don't want to participate in Hogmanay in Edinburgh:

1. Crowds and cold weather: Edinburgh is known to be crowded during Hogmanay, and the weather can be very cold, which might not be enjoyable for some people.

2. Cost: Participating in Hogmanay can be expensive, especially if one needs to travel to Edinburgh and pay for accommodation, food, and tickets to events.

3. Safety concerns: With large crowds and alcohol being consumed, safety can be a concern, and some people may not feel comfortable in such an environment.

4. Personal preferences: Finally, it ultimately comes down to personal preferences. Some people may prefer a quieter or more intimate New Year's celebration with family and friends, while others may enjoy the excitement and energy of a large festival like Hogmanay.

D. Complete the paragraph with the words in blue from A.

(Hoàn thành đoạn văn với các từ màu xanh từ A)

Viet Nam also (1) _________________ New Year (Tet holiday) in an exciting way, but it is at a different time of year from Hogmanay. It always (2) ____________ in January or February. Tet is the most important Vietnamese (3) ______________, and most people don't have to work on these days. During the three days of Tet, people often spend time with their friends and relatives. Some dress up in ao dai and visit pagodas or temples. This (4) ______________ celebration also includes a big meal with family, a meeting to give children red envelopes with money inside, and a fireworks display.

Answer:

Viet Nam also (1) celebrates New Year (Tet holiday) in an exciting way, but it is at a different time of year from Hogmanay. It always (2) takes place in January or February. Tet is the most important Vietnamese (3) holiday, and most people don't have to work on these days. During the three days of Tet, people often spend time with their friends and relatives. Some dress up in ao dai and visit pagodas or temples. This (4) annual celebration also includes a big meal with family, a meeting to give children red envelopes with money inside, and a fireworks display.

E. MY WORLD. How do you celebrate New Year's Day? Do you think people in other Asian countries celebrate their New Year in the same way?

(Làm thế nào để bạn ăn mừng ngày đầu năm mới? Bạn có nghĩ rằng người dân ở các nước châu Á khác ăn mừng năm mới theo cách tương tự không?)

Answer:

I celebrate Tet by spending time with my family and friends, decorating our homes with flowers, and enjoying traditional foods such as banh chung (sticky rice cake), dua (coconut), and mut (candied fruit). I also visit temples and pagodas to pray for good fortune and pay respect to our ancestors.

The Tet holiday in Vietnam shares some similarities with the Lunar New Year celebrations in other Asian countries, such as China, Korea, and Japan. For example, these countries also place a strong emphasis on family gatherings, traditional foods, and decorating with symbolic items such as red lanterns or lucky charms. However, there are also unique differences in how each country celebrates their New Year based on their respective cultures, traditions, and beliefs.

F. Write sentences with (not) as … as to compare the two festivals.

(Viết câu với (not) as … as để so sánh hai lễ hội)

1. The Spring Festival is as old as the Harvest Fair.

2. The Spring Festival ____________________________.

3. _______________________________________________.

4. _______________________________________________.

5. _______________________________________________.

6. _______________________________________________.

Answer:

1. The Spring Festival is as old as the Harvest Fair.

2. The Spring Festival is not as long as the Harvest Fair (it lasts 2 days, while the Harvest Fair lasts 4 days).

3. The Spring Festival and the Harvest Fair are equally crowded (both have 5,000 people attending).

4. The Spring Festival is not as expensive as the Harvest Fair (tickets cost 15comparedto30 for the Harvest Fair).

5. The Spring Festival is not as big as the Harvest Fair (it has 10 concerts while the Harvest Fair has 23 concerts).

6. The Spring Festival is not as well-known as the Harvest Fair (it is only advertised on a few local TV shows, while the Harvest Fair is advertised on the Internet).

G. Choose two celebrations that you know. Compare them using as ... as.

(Chọn hai lễ kỷ niệm mà bạn biết. So sánh chúng bằng cách sử dụng as ... as)

Answer:

I will choose Halloween and Christmas as two celebrations to compare using as ... as.

1. Costumes: Halloween is as much about costumes as Christmas is about gifts.

2. Religious Significance: Halloween has no religious significance, whereas Christmas is a religious holiday for Christians.

3. Decorations: Both Halloween and Christmas are equally popular when it comes to decorating homes and streets.

4. Food: Christmas is more about traditional meals and desserts, while Halloween is more about sweets and candy.

5. Timing: Halloween is celebrated on October 31st every year, while Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.

6. Cultural Significance: Christmas is celebrated worldwide and has cultural significance in many countries, while Halloween is more popular in the United States and Canada.

7. Symbols: Halloween is associated with symbols such as witches, ghosts, and pumpkins, while Christmas is associated with symbols such as Santa Claus, reindeer, and Christmas trees.

8. Family Gatherings: Both Halloween and Christmas are times when families come together to celebrate and spend time with each other.

Goal check

1. What is your favorite celebration?

(Lễ kỷ niệm yêu thích của bạn là gì?)

2. Why is it your favorite celebration and how do you celebrate it? Complete the graphic organizer.

(Tại sao đó là lễ kỷ niệm yêu thích của bạn và bạn ăn mừng nó như thế nào? Hoàn thành công cụ tổ chức đồ họa)

3. Tell a partner about your favorite celebration.

(Nói với một đối tác về lễ kỷ niệm yêu thích của bạn)

Answer:

Favorite Celebration: Thanksgiving

Reasons why it's my favorite:

• Family Gathering: It's a time when my whole family gets together and spends quality time with each other.

• Food: The traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, is delicious.

• Gratitude: It's a time to reflect on what I am grateful for and to express gratitude to those around me.

How I celebrate it:

• Travel: I usually travel to my hometown to be with my family.

• Cooking: I help my mom prepare the Thanksgiving dinner.

• Activities: We usually watch football, play board games, and go for a walk after dinner.

• Gratitude: We go around the table and share what we are grateful for.