Tag: festivals

VOCABULARY: FESTIVALS

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festival vocabulary brainstormWhat words can you think of when you hear the word FESTIVAL? You have one minute to write as many words as possible. Go……….

Now, connect the nouns to verbs. You should have more words.

Look at a photograph depicting a festival, can you think of any more words? Or, think of a festival you have been to recently. Have you thought of any more words?

Remember: improve your vocabulary by connected words to SITUATIONS. Lists of words are easy to write, but very difficult to remember. Are you using the Vocabulary Bank handout to keep your SITUATIONS up to date?  If not, download some copies and get into a good routine.

SPEAKING: DESCRIBE FANCY DRESS FESTIVAL

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Fancy Dress PartyCan you talk about this photo for more than a minute?

Use the questions below to help you. Describing photographs is an effective exercise to improve your vocabulary and oral skills.

  1. What is the general idea?
  2. What is the specific situation?
  3. What is there in the background and the foreground of the picture?
  4. What are the people wearing, how old are they, what are they doing?
  5. How might the people be feeling? Why?
  6. What’s the weather like?
  7. Does the photograph remind you of anything?

SPEAKING: DESCRIBE STREET FESTIVAL

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Can you talk about this photo for more than a minute?

Use the questions below to help you. Describing photographs is an effective exercise to improve your vocabulary and oral skills.

  1. What is the general idea?
  2. What is the specific situation?
  3. What is there in the background and the foreground of the picture?
  4. What are the people wearing, how old are they, what are they doing?
  5. How might the people be feeling? Why?
  6. What’s the weather like?
  7. Does the photograph remind you of anything?

READING: FESTIVALS – DAY OF THE DEAD

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Festival: Day of the Dead in Mexico

Mexico Day of the DeadThe Day of the Dead, celebrated between October 31st and November 2nd, is a celebration in which Mexicans remember and honour their deceased loved ones. Though it may sound gloomy or morbid, it’s not. It’s a festive and colourful holiday. Mexicans visit cemeteries, decorate the graves and spend time there – in the presence of their deceased friends and family members. They also make elaborately decorated altars in their homes to welcome the spirits.

Ian Wright, a journalist and globe trotter, starts his journey at the unique Day of the Dead festival in Pazcuaro and goes to the old colonial town of Guanajuato.Learn more about this amazing festival here.

LISTENING: LA TOMATINA FESTIVAL

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VIDEO: La Tomatina Festival:

La tomatoThis has to be one of the most insane things I have ever heard about. And, although I understand that there are millions of starving people in the world, the fun loving part of my personality says, ‘bring on the tomatoes and let the battle begin’. Take a look at the largest food fight in the world.

LISTENING: CHEESE ROLLING FESTIVAL

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VIDEO: Gloucester Cheese Rolling Festival:

Chasing cheese

The Gloucester cheese rolling festival happens every year. And every year, 100s of people run down a steep hill chasing a big cheese. And, every year 100’s of people go to hospital with broken bones and dislocated shoulders. I mean, how stupid is that?!

Check them out

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot

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On Saturday night it was Guy Fawkes Night, or  Bonfire Night, as it is more commonly known.

Guy Fawkes was a Catholic who led a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and bring down England’s Protestant monarchy. He was caught, imprisoned in the Tower of London, and tortured for four days under personal orders from King James I.

Interestingly over time, Guy Fawkes has become a symbol of equality and social justice.  In recent history, a lot of people have worn masks of him during social, economic or political protests.

If you want to know the origin of this British custom please click here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

Tomorrow I’ll let you know what my family used to do to celebrate this festival.