General English

Build up vocabulary for daily use (Topic 3): Christmas and New Year

Được viết bởi Set Education. Đăng ngày 20/12/2010. Đăng trong General English. Lượt xem : 16612

Sleigh

Ball

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Celebration - a special event that people organize in order to celebrate sth

Advent - the arrival of someone or something important

Calendar

Balloon

Christmas_vocabulary-4 Christmas_vocabulary-5

Festivities -  the activities that are organized to celebrate a special event

Invitation - a spoken or written request to sb to do sth or to go somewhere

Bell

Bow

Christmas_vocabulary-3 Christmas_vocabulary-6

Eve - the day or evening before an event, especially a religious festival or holiday: Christmas Eve(24 December), a New Year’s Eve party ( on 31 December)

Trimming the tree – decorating the tree

Candle

Candy cane

Christmas_vocabulary-11 Christmas_vocabulary-9

Turkey

Christmas ornaments - ornaments used to decorate the tree and placed around the house.

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Carol singer

Chimney

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Confetti - small pieces of coloured paper that people often throw at weddings over people who have just been married, or (in the US) at other special events 

Champagne

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Midnight - 12 o’clock at night

Bethlehem - the small town in the Middle East believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ

Angel 

Manger a long open box that horses and cows can eat from

Christmas_vocabulary-15 Christmas_vocabulary-16

Christianity - the religion that is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the belief that he was the son of God

Christian - a person who believes in Christianity

Holly

Reindeer

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Firecrackers

Firework

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Christmas_vocabulary-22

Shepherd - a person whose job is to take care of sheep 

Snowflake

Christmas_vocabulary-19 Christmas_vocabulary-20

Nativity - the birth of a person

The Nativity - the birth of Jesus Christ

Stocking

Snowman

Christmas_vocabulary-24 Christmas_vocabulary-23

Tuxedo

Fireplace

Christmas_vocabulary-27 Christmas_vocabulary-28

Auld lang syne - an old Scottish song expressing feelings of friendship, traditionally sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve

Countdown - the period of time just before sth important happens / the action of counting seconds backwards to zero

Wreath - an arrangement of flowers and/or leaves in the shape of a circle, traditionally hung on doors as a decoration at Christmas 

Carol - a Christian religious song sung at Christmas

 

Christmas_vocabulary-25 Christmas_vocabulary-26

Eggnog - an alcoholic drink made by mixing beer, wine, etc. with eggs and milk 

Chestnut

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Hourglass

Parade

Christmas_vocabulary-31 Christmas_vocabulary-32

Sparkler

Toast

Christmas_vocabulary-33 Christmas_vocabulary-34

Poinsettias

Tinsel

Christmas_vocabulary-45 Christmas_vocabulary-46

Xmas
This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect.

What do people often to on Christmas?

  • Triming the tree
  • family gatherings
  • going to church
  • thank Jesus
  • getting dinner
  • giving gifts
  • singing Christmas carols
  • playing in the snow
  • building a snowman
  • waiting for Santa

Christmas expression

 Merry Christmas!

 Happy Christmas

 Happy New Year!

 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 Wishing you a prosperous New Year 

All the best for the coming year 

Seasons Greetings!

New Year around the world

Australia

As soon as the bells ring at midnight the Australians make noises with trumpets, orns, and drums. Sydney is one of the first important cities to anter the New Year (due to time zones).  More than 80,000 fireworks are set off from Harbour Bridge. Sydney has been said to have one of the most spectacular in the world.

USA

On New Year's Eve people gather in Times Square. At 11.59 pm a cystal ball begins its descent from the top of a pole. Millions of voices count down the last seconds of the year in a tradition that goes back to 102 years. On New Year's day, in Pasadena (California), flower-covered carriages travel down Colorado Avenue along with bands and equestrian groups. It's called the 'Rose Parade' 

China

The Chinese calendar has been used for centuries, long before the International Calendar (base on the Gregorian calendar). The Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the moon. The Chinese year is the 2nd new moon after the beginning of winter. It is tradition that each family cleans its house to sweep away ill fortune. On the eve of Chinese New Year people have a great supper and they end the night with firecrackers to frighten evil spirits.

 

Related topic: Independence Day (topic 2)

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Build up vocabulary for daily use (Topic 2): Independence Day

Được viết bởi Set Education. Đăng ngày 01/09/2010. Đăng trong General English. Lượt xem : 14858

Nhân Quốc Khánh 2-9, hãy tranh thủ tăng thêm vốn từ vựng nào

Things associate with Independence Day

1

10

3

Verbs may be used to talk about history

4
6

Others 

7

Places to go 

 8
11

Things to do: 

1. Hang flag from your house roof, car, or your work building. Look for other places to display the flag, such as on your bike or scooter, a string of flags for a party in your yard or local park, or a large flag hanging from a window.

2. Get a copy of the Declaration of Independence and read it. Read it to your kids. It's only about a page or two. It's one of the all time greatest documents and that makes great reading. Remember what we fought for and why it's still worth fighting for

3. Dress up patriotically. Some citizens choose to wear clothes that have the national flag design on them, or choose to wear the same color with their national flag

4. Show your support by watching a local parade in your community or city.

5. Enjoy a dinner or picnic with family or friends. Get together early to spend more time for each other.

6. Get active by getting involve in activities. Both on the Independence Day and the days around it, there will be a number of festivities, fireworks displays, and other fun you can join in depending on where you live.

(source: wikihow)

An outline for describe a celebration

Time of the celebration:

It is celebrated on …/ It is held on …/ It falls on …/ it takes place on …/ It happens on …

Purpose of celebration:

It celebrates … / It is the time when …

Main activities of the day:

On this day, people often do/ go/ visit …


Common questions:

  1. What are some things you do to celebrate holidays? / How do you celebrate your Independence Day? / How is Independence Day celebrated in your country?
  2. What is the title of the National Anthem? What story does the song tell?
  3. Who is the current President of your country?
  4. Was your country ever a colony? If so, when did your country gain independence? If not, did your country have colonies?
  5. Who did they name this monument after? (Tượng đài được đặt theo tên của ai?)
  6. Who is the person in this statue? (Bức tượng này là hình tượng của ai?)
  7.  Would you call your self a patriotic?
  8. Are you a history buff? (Buff = a person who knows a lot about something because he/ she is interested in that subject, eg: car buff, sport buff)


Some common responses:

It’s Independence Day and I feel really nationalistic.

Independence Day has become just a Feel Good Day

It is a good day to remember our past, our history, and our roots.

Today is the day of celebration.


Notice: Make sure you capitalize each word of Independence Day.

 

Related topic: Build up vocabulary for daily use (p1): How to talk about weather

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Build up Vocabulary for daily use: Topic1 – How to talk about weather?

Được viết bởi Set Education. Đăng ngày 27/07/2010. Đăng trong General English. Lượt xem : 26317

Nhằm giúp các bạn có thêm được vốn từ vựng dùng trong giao tiếp hằng ngày, SET sẽ giới thiệu đến các bạn trong thời gian tới loạt bài Từ vựng tiếng Anh thông dụng – Build up your Vocabulary for daily use. Mỗi bài viết sẽ là những chủ đề thông dụng và gần gũi với các bạn trong sinh hoạt hằng ngày.

Thời tiết đang chuyển mùa rồi, sao không bắt đầu học từ vựng về thời tiết nhỉ.

English speakers love to talk about the weather. It is a way of breaking the ice (starting a conversation). People talk about the weather on the phone and in person; at the bus stop, in a shop, or with a neighbour over the garden fence. Learn the proper vocabulary and expressions, and you will find it easy to start a conversation anytime and anywhere with anyone you meet!

Some examples of conversation starters:

“Lovely day, isn’t it!”

“What strange weather we’re having!”

“It’s doesn’t look like it’s going to stop raining today”

Using verbs to describe the weather

verb_weather

Using adjectives to describe the weather

2

3


Other things associated with the weather

5

Weather in seasons:

7


Common questions and responses about Weather

What's it like out?

Bên ngoài trời thế nào?

It's miserable out.

Trông thật là buồn thảm.

How's the weather?

Thời tiết thế nào?

It's ten below. (-10 degrees)

Âm 10 độ

Do you have rain?

Chỗ bạn ở có bị mưa không?

We haven't had a drop of rain for weeks.

Không có lấy một hạt mưa suốt mấy tuần qua.

What's the temperature there?

Nhiệt độ ở đó bao nhiêu rồi?

It's 22 degrees Celsius.

22 độ C.

It's snowing here, what's it doing there?

Ở đây đang có tuyết. Ở đó thì sao?

It's pouring outside. (raining heavily)

Bên ngoài trời đang mưa lớn.

Beautiful day, huh?

Hôm nay trời đẹp ha

We couldn't ask for a better day than this.

Uhm, không thể đẹp hơn được nữa.

What's the weather forecast?

Dự báo thời tiết hôm nay thế nào?

They're calling for blue skies all week.

Họ báo là trời sẽ ảm đạm từ nay đến hết tuần.

Predicting the weather:

-          “I think it’ll clear up later.”

Tôi nghĩ là lát nữa trời sẽ quang đãng.

-          “It’s going to rain by the looks of it.”

Nhìn trời tôi đoán là sắp sửa mưa đó.

-          “They’re expecting snow in the North.”

Họ dự báo là sẽ có tuyết ở phía Bắc.

-          “I hear that showers are coming our way.”

Tôi nhận được tin là mưa đang đến gần rồi đấy.

(st)

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