Speaking Part 1 – Student A

Did you believe in Santa Claus when you were a child?

Do you ever feel stressed during Christmas season?
Do you usually buy presents at Christmas? If you do, who for?
How did you spend last New Year’s Eve?

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Speaking Part 1 – Student B

What does Christmas mean to you?
What do you usually do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
What do you dislike about Christmas?
Do you have any New Year’s Eve traditions? If not, are you aware of any in your country?

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Speaking Part 1 – Student A

Did you believe in Santa Claus when you were a child?
Do you ever feel stressed during Christmas season?
Do you usually buy presents at Christmas? If you do, who for?
How did you spend last New Year’s Eve?

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Speaking Part 1 – Student B

What does Christmas mean to you?
What do you usually do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
What do you dislike about Christmas?
Do you have any New Year’s Eve traditions? If not, are you aware of any in your country?

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Speaking Part 1 – Student A

Did you believe in Santa Claus when you were a child?
Do you ever feel stressed during Christmas season?
Do you usually buy presents at Christmas? If you do, who for?
How did you spend last New Year’s Eve?

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Speaking Part 1 – Student B

What does Christmas mean to you?
What do you usually do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
What do you dislike about Christmas?
Do you have any New Year’s Eve traditions? If not, are you aware of any in your country?
Speaking Part 2

Student A: These pictures show different ways of spending December 25 th, Christmas day. I’d
like you to compare and contrast the pictures and say how you think the people in the
photos are feeling and why.

Student B: How do you usually spend the Christmas day?

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Speaking Part 2

Student B: These pictures show different ways of spending New Year’s Eve. I’d like you to
compare and contrast the pictures and say how you like to spend New Year’s Eve.

Student A: How do you spend New Year’s Eve?

Speaking Part 3

You and your partner have decided to buy a Christmas present for your English teacher, since
you both have enjoyed your classes so much. :) I'm going to give you some pictures with
possible presents, and I would like you to speak for about 3 minutes and compare the various
options and decide on the most appropriate one.

Speaking Part 4

What is the purpose of exchanging gifts during Christmas?

Do you think that it is a good idea to teach children about Santa Claus, and then later in life
tell them that he isn't real?

What is you opinion on making New Year's Eve resolutions?

Is it important to be with your family during the holidays? Why / why not?

Do you think Christmas is becoming too commercialized?

Does it matter to you if it's a “white Christmas”? What are the benefits and disadvantages of
snow during the holiday season?
Reading Part 2

Saint Nicholas

St Nicholas was a real person who was born to a wealthy family in Lycia, Asia Minor (now
known as Turkey) sometime between 270 and 280 AD. 1___He travelled to Palestine and
Egypt before returning to Lycia to become Bishop of Myra.
2
___He was known for his charity and wisdom, who gave away his wealth to those in need.
He would often go out at night, disguised in a hooded cloak, to leave gifts of money, clothing
or food for the poor and underprivileged.

He died on 6 December 340 and was buried in the church in Myra. After his death he was
canonised, becoming the patron saint of Greece, Russia, children, scholars, merchants,
sailors and travellers.

In 1087 religious soldiers from Italy took the remains of St Nicholas back to Bari in southern
Italy where they built a church in honour of him - the Basilica of San Nicola. 3___ Each of
them took his legend back to their native countries where, as his fame spread, it took on the
characteristics of each country. 4___

There are many legends surrounding St Nicholas, the most famous of which tells how he gave
bags of gold to three poor sisters for their dowries, throwing them down the chimney where
they landed in some stockings which had been hung up by the fire to dry. 5___ Children from
this country leave their shoes out on St Nicholas Eve and hope that they will be filled with
sweets and gifts the next morning. Elsewhere this has been incorporated into Christmas due
to his identification with Santa Claus - a corruption of his Dutch name of 'Sinter Klaas'.

A. This greatly increased his popularity in Europe, with pilgrims from all over the world
coming to visit his shrine.

B. This gave rise to the custom of giving gifts on his feast day (6th December), a practice
which is still followed in Germany.

C. Christmas Markets in Germany began to sell shaped gingerbreads and wax ornaments
which people bought as souvenirs of the fair and took home to hang on their tree.

D. Nicholas was a very generous man.

E. One thing remained common to all however, and that was the traditional image of the
Bishop's mitre, long flowing robes, red cape and white beard.

F. He was orphaned at an early age and grew up in a monastery becoming one of the
youngest priests ever at the age of 17.
Use of English – Part 2

The First Christmas Cards

The first recognised commercial Christmas card ______ produced in England in 1843 ______
Henry Cole, the founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was a hand coloured print
showing a family scene flanked by scenes of Christmas charity. This was inscribed ______ the
words: "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You" with space at the top to put the
name of the recipient _____ at the bottom for the name of the sender.
___________, it was not until the 1860's that the Christmas card as we know it came into
being. Initially these were small cards with a simple greeting set within an embossed border.
However, as the demand _____ Christmas cards grew, the cards became larger and ______
elaborate. Folded sheets of white paper were ornamented with borders of overlapping lace
that lifted to form a raised framework for a central picture and turkeys, fireside scenes, plum
puddings etc. became popular themes.
The founder of the American Christmas card is said to _____ Louis Prang of Boston who
printed a wide variety of album cards and visiting cards. In 1875 he issued seasonal greeting
cards ______ were an immediate success.
By 1880 the popularity of Christmas cards was such that many prominent artists of the time
_____ their work reproduced in this form. It was also the year that the familiar 'Post early for
Christmas' plea as issued for the first time.

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Writing Part 1

Since you've been so well behaved this year, you've decided to write a
letter to Santa Claus this Christmas and ask him for that present that you
really want. Make sure to tell him what the present that you want is,
why you deserve it, and don't forget to apologize for that one bad thing
that you did this year. Also you might want to ask how Old Saint Nick is,
as it's a busy time of the year for him...

Don't forget to underline the four tasks that you must complete in your letter. Also, before
you begin your writing, first take some notes below about linking words/set phrases that
could be of use, for example to ask for something politely, to apologize, inquire about
someone's health, etc...
 TEACHERS ONLY

Saint Nicholas

St Nicholas was a real person who was born to a wealthy family in Lycia, Asia
Minor (now known as Turkey) sometime between 270 and 280 AD. He was
orphaned at an early age and grew up in a monastery becoming one of the
youngest priests ever at the age of 17. He travelled to Palestine and Egypt
before returning to Lycia to become Bishop of Myra.

Nicholas was a very generous man. He was known for his charity and wisdom,
who gave away his wealth to those in need. He would often go out at night,
disguised in a hooded cloak, to leave gifts of money, clothing or food for the
poor and underprivileged.

He died on 6 December 340 and was buried in the church in Myra. After his
death he was canonised, becoming the patron saint of Greece, Russia, children,
scholars, merchants, sailors and travellers.

In 1087 religious soldiers from Italy took the remains of St Nicholas back to Bari
in southern Italy where they built a church in honour of him - the Basilica of San
Nicola. This greatly increased his popularity in Europe, with pilgrims from all
over the world coming to visit his shrine. Each of them took his legend back to
their native countries where, as his fame spread, it took on the characteristics
of each country. One thing remained common to all however, and that was the
traditional image of the Bishop's mitre, long flowing robes, red cape and white
beard.

There are many legends surrounding St Nicholas, the most famous of which
tells how he gave bags of gold to three poor sisters for their dowries, throwing
them down the chimney where they landed in some stockings which had been
hung up by the fire to dry. This gave rise to the custom of giving gifts on his
feast day (6 December), a practice which is still followed in Germany. Children
from this country leave their shoes out on St Nicholas Eve and hope that they
will be filled with sweets and gifts the next morning. Elsewhere this has been
incorporated into Christmas due to his identification with Santa Claus - a
corruption of his Dutch name of 'Sinter Klaas'.

The First Christmas Cards

The first recognised commercial Christmas card was produced in England in
1843 by Henry Cole, the founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was a
hand coloured print showing a family scene flanked by scenes of Christmas
charity. This was inscribed with the words: "A Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year to You" with space at the top to put the name of the recipient and at
the bottom for the name of the sender.

However, it was not until the 1860's that the Christmas card as we know it came
into being. Initially these were small cards with a simple greeting set within an
embossed border. However, as the demand for Christmas cards grew, the cards
became larger and more elaborate. Folded sheets of white paper were
ornamented with borders of overlapping lace that lifted to form a raised
framework for a central picture and turkeys, fireside scenes, plum puddings etc.
became popular themes.

The founder of the American Christmas card is said to be Louis Prang of Boston
who printed a wide variety of album cards and visiting cards. In 1875 he issued
seasonal greeting cards which were an immediate success.

By 1880 the popularity of Christmas cards was such that many prominent artists
of the time had their work reproduced in this form. It was also the year that the
familiar 'Post early for Christmas' plea as issued for the first time.