【Level 3】【Note】Unit 4

Unit 4 Holidays and celebrations

Unit overview

https://app.yinxiang.com/shard/s12/nl/2591669/6d6d1cba-0e08-48ad-a2cb-920f51fcd004

Inviting someone to a party

【Vocabulary】Parties

games

an activity or a sport with rules in which people or teams compete against each other
e.g. We're going to the ball game(=baseball game).

cake

a sweet food made from a mixture of flour, eggs, butter, sugar, etc. that is baked in an oven. Cakes are made in various shapes and sizes and are often decorated, for example with cream or icing
e.g. a piece/slice of cake

gifts

gifts of toys for the children
e.g. gifts of toys for the children

soda

a sweet fizzy drink (= a drink with bubbles) made with soda water, fruit flavour and sometimes ice cream
e.g. He had an ice-cream soda.

snacks

a small meal or amount of food, usually eaten in a hurry
e.g. a snack lunch

beer

an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavoured with hops. There are many types of beer
e.g. a barrel/bottle/glass of beer

dancing

moving your body to music
e.g. dancing classes

music

sounds that are arranged in a way that is pleasant or exciting to listen to. People sing music or play it on instruments
e.g. pop/dance/classical/church music

wine

an alcoholic drink made from the juice of grapes that has been left to ferment. There are many different kinds of wine
e.g. a bottle of wine

【Grammar】Future with present continuous

To talk about something you are planning to do, you can use present continuous (be + verb + -ing) with a future time expression.
e.g.
What are you doing tomorrow?
We're having my parents over to dinner next weekend.
I'm meeting some friends on Wednesday night.
dialog
e.g.

GREG: Hi, Mona. What are you doing tonight?
MONA: Umm, I'm going to the gym in an hour . Why?
GREG: I'm having people over for a little birthday party at seven .
MONA: Happy birthday! I'd love to come. And I know the perfect gift for you.
GREG: Thanks! Paul's making a big chocolate cake later .
MONA: Ooh, cake! I can bring some snacks, or wine and sodas.

【Expressions】Making and responding to invitations

Use expressions like these to make an invitation:
e.g.
What are you doing this weekend?
Are you free on Sunday?
Would you like to come to a party?
Use expressions like these to accept or discuss an invitation:
e.g.
Yes! Can I bring anything?
Sure! What time should I come?
Yes. Thanks for the invitation!
When is the party?
Use expressions like these to decline an invitation:
e.g.
I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm busy.
I can't, but thanks for the invitation.

video：https://app.yinxiang.com/shard/s12/nl/2591669/65c10b8f-8cc1-477f-876b-1b7f7525c807

【Final Task】Inviting someone to a party

You're having a cup of coffee with a friend. Accept her invitation to dinner on Sunday. Listen and record the correct response.

video：https://app.yinxiang.com/shard/s12/nl/2591669/77baf14c-0a8d-41ca-aabf-f222c1895d26

Talking with people at aparty

【Expressions】Opening a conversation

video：https://app.yinxiang.com/shard/s12/nl/2591669/190b5b37-9ae3-49ba-be30-d55148958e63

Use expressions like these to begin an informal conversation at a party or suggest a new topic:
e.g.
Hey, thanks for coming to the party.
Hey, thanks for having this party.
Anything new?
So, what's happening with you?
What's up?
You can also mention something about the party.
e.g.
Love the music. What is it?
Great snacks. Do you enjoy cooking?
You can say How are you? to greet a person or ask about a person's general well-being. If the person has been ill or injured, you can ask How are you feeling?
e.g.
How are you?
How are you feeling?

【Expressions】Listener responses

Use expressions like these to respond empathetically to someone:
e.g.
Wow! That sounds incredible.
That's awful!
You can also repeat what the person said and add an expression of support.
e.g.
A: My grandmother's 87.
B: Eighty-seven! That's amazing.
You can say I understand or poor + person's name to show sympathy. Say give my best to send good wishes to someone.
e.g.
A: Angela is sick. I should go.
B: I understand. Poor Angela. Give her my best.
A: Thanks. I will.
dialog
e.g.

【Expressions】Closing a conversation

Use a smile and expressions like these to close an informal conversation at a party:
e.g.
Nice talking with you.
Good to see you again.
Use Say hello to + name to ask a person to give your regards to someone who didn't attend the party.
e.g.
Say hello to Bella.
Use expressions like the following to let the host know you're ready to leave. Also note the host's responses.
e.g.
A: Well, it's late. I should go.
B: Thanks for coming.
A: Thanks again for the wonderful party.
B: You're welcome! Thanks for the wine.
Both host and guest can use expressions like these to say goodbye:
e.g.
A: Bye! Have a good evening.
B: See you soon.

Discussing vacation plans

【Vocabulary】Festivals

video：https://app.yinxiang.com/shard/s12/nl/2591669/bbb1e475-7431-441c-8ff6-4ac33a079d43

Use words like these to talk about festivals:
e.g.
festival
program
ticket
event
Use words like these to talk about things you often find at festivals:
e.g.
film
fireworks
costume
parade
Use words like these to describe festivals:
e.g.
entertaining
crowded
dialog
e.g.

DONALD: I'm going to the Fresh Film Festival this summer.
LIZA: Sounds like fun. What films are you seeing?
DONALD: Lots. Look – there are hundreds in the program .
LIZA: Are the tickets expensive?
DONALD: Fifty dollars. But there are so many different events .
LIZA: Sounds very entertaining .
DONALD: Yeah. There's a big parade on the first night. It has about a thousand people.

【Expressions】More listener responses

Use words like these to respond positively to someone's news:
e.g.
Great!
Nice.
Fantastic!
Wow!
A: I'm going to a film festival.
B: Fantastic!
Use words like these to express surprise:
e.g.
Really?
What?
A: The festival tickets are $500.
B: Really? That's expensive.
Use words like these to express agreement:
e.g.
I know.
Definitely.
Exactly.
A: Those costumes are beautiful.
B: I know. I really like them.

【Grammar】Future with 'be' + 'going to'

To talk about an event that will happen in the future, use be + going to + verb. Use this to express certainty about the future, based on current evidence. Example:
e.g.
I have tickets for the festival. I am going to see three films.
You can also use be + going to + verb to express something you firmly intend to do. Example:
e.g.
A: What are you going to do at the festival?
B: We are going to dance in the parade.

【Expressions】Taking time to think

Use expressions like these to take time to gather your thoughts when you start speaking:
e.g.
Let me think.
Let me see ...
Let's see ...
Well ...
A: Which costume are you going to wear?
B: Let me see … The red one, I think.
You can also use sounds like these:
e.g.
Hmm ...
Umm ...
A: Is the festival going to be crowded?
B: Hmm ... I don't know.

Writing about a holiday or celebration

【Expressions】Expression duration

video：https://app.yinxiang.com/shard/s12/nl/2591669/dc757b89-a59e-4b83-abb6-3fc27c6799c3

Use the verb last to talk about the duration of something from beginning to end.
e.g.
A: How long does Carnaval last?
B: The big events last a few days.
Use the verb take to talk about how much time is needed for something to be completed.
e.g.
A: How long does it take to walk from the hotel to the parade?
B: It takes a half-hour.
Use the preposition for to indicate how long something lasts.
e.g.
We celebrate for a week.
Use the preposition during to say that something happens inside a period of time.
e.g.
I party a lot during the summer.
What do you do during Carnaval?
dialog
e.g.

LEAH: How long does the Sun Festival last ?
JASON: It lasts, um, six days.
LEAH: What do you do during the festival?
JASON: Let's see ... We eat and dance for a week. We celebrate the sun ...
LEAH: Sounds fantastic .
JASON: Definitely. I'm going to make my own costume this year.
LEAH: Wow! How long does it take to make a costume?
JASON: I'm slow. It takes me about three weeks.

【Expressions】Asking about a holiday or celebration

Use questions like these to ask about a holiday or celebration. Use usually to talk about how people usually celebrate.
e.g.
A: How do you celebrate New Year's?
B: We usually watch the big fireworks show.
A: What do people usually do?
B: They usually have a big meal.
A: How long does the holiday last?
B: People usually celebrate for six nights.
Use people, or pronouns such as we and they, to talk about what people generally do to celebrate.
e.g.
A: What do people do during the festival?
B: They dance and sing songs.
dialog
e.g.

【Writing】Using adjective to spice up writing

Good writing contains a variety of adjectives. Relying on the same adjectives in your writing may produce dull results that misrepresent your thoughts.

Example: Instead of always describing something as interesting or boring, use adjectives and their opposites like the following to say precisely what you mean and to spark the imagination:
e.g.
entertaining - dull
special - ordinary
different - the same
funny - serious
scary - not scary
Instead of always using beautiful or ugly, you can use adjectives like these:
e.g.
colorful - colorless
gorgeous - hideous
Here are additional adjectives and their opposites useful for describing holidays and celebrations:
e.g.
popular - unpopular
noisy - quiet
crowded - empty

Language note: Some adjectives, such as ugly and hideous, are strongly negative. Be careful how you use them.

Choose the adjectives that best match the writer's description of the Hana Matsuri Festival. Select the correct answer.

The Hana Matsuri Flower Festival in Japan is gorgeous. 
People celebrate Buddha's birthday with a special tea (ama-cha). 
They walk in colorful parades. 
Children go through the crowded streets with flowers in their arms. 
Some festivals are quite noisy. 
This popular festival is different. 
It's very quiet but not dull.

【Final Task】Writing about a holiday or celebration

Write a paragraph about your favorite holiday or celebration. Remember to use adjectives to spice up your writing. As you write, consider these questions: What's the name of the holiday or celebration? How long does it last? How do people usually celebrate it? How do you celebrate it? Write 40-60 words.