Holidays: Talking about Christmas in English

This engaging lesson is designed to help English language learners explore the festive topic of Christmas! This lesson introduces key vocabulary, useful phrases, and example conversations to build confidence in speaking and understanding English in a holiday context.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or are curious about its traditions, this lesson offers a fun way to practice language skills. Through visuals, dialogues, and interactive activities, learners will master essential words like “gift,” “Santa Claus,” and “carols,” while practicing simple sentences to describe traditions and share experiences. Let’s dive into the joy of Christmas and enhance your English skills along the way.

Basic vocabulary

Start with essential words related to the Christmas holiday. These should be simple, commonly used terms that learners can easily understand and apply.

Vocabulary list

• Christmas: The holiday celebrated on December 25th, honoring the birth of Jesus and widely observed with festive traditions.
• Tree: A decorated evergreen or artificial tree used as a Christmas symbol.
• Gift/present: Something given to someone during Christmas.
• Santa Claus: A legendary figure who brings gifts to children.
• Ornament: A decoration hung on a Christmas tree (e.g., baubles, stars).
• Lights: Bright decorations used on trees, houses, or streets.
• Stocking: A sock or bag hung for Santa to fill with small gifts.
• Carols: Traditional Christmas songs (e.g., “Jingle Bells”).
• Family: People you celebrate with, often gathering for Christmas.
• Dinner: A special meal on Christmas Day (e.g., turkey, ham).
• Snow: Frozen precipitation associated with Christmas in some places.
• Reindeer: Animals that pull Santa’s sleigh.
• Celebrate: To observe or enjoy the holiday.
• Church: A place where some attend Christmas services.
• Joy: A feeling of happiness during the holiday season.

Vocabulary words for extension

• Star: A decoration often placed on top of a Christmas tree.
• Wreath: A circular decoration made of leaves or branches, hung on doors.
• Tinsel: Shiny, metallic strips used to decorate a Christmas tree.
• Sleigh: A vehicle Santa uses, pulled by reindeer.
• Chimney: Where Santa is said to enter homes to deliver gifts.
• Elf: A mythical helper of Santa who makes toys.
• Mistletoe: A plant hung for people to kiss under during Christmas.
• Nativity: A scene or display showing the birth of Jesus.
• Angel: A figure often used in decorations or atop a Christmas tree.
• Candle: A light source used in some Christmas traditions.
• Feast: A large, festive meal, like a Christmas dinner.
• Tradition: A custom or activity repeated every Christmas.
• Winter: The season when Christmas occurs in many places.
• Bell: A ringing decoration or sound associated with Christmas.
• Cookie: A sweet treat often baked for Christmas (e.g., gingerbread).
• Advent: The period before Christmas, often marked with calendars.
• Holly: A plant with red berries used in Christmas decorations.
• Fireplace: A place where stockings are hung in some homes.
• Merry: A word meaning happy, used in greetings (e.g., “Merry Christmas”).
• Parade: A festive public event, sometimes held during Christmas.

Teaching tips

• Use visuals like pictures of a Christmas tree, Santa Claus, or a festive dinner to connect vocabulary to the holiday context.
• Practice pronunciation of terms like “carols” (KAIR-uls) or “reindeer” (RAIN-deer).
• Create flashcards with words on one side and images or definitions on the other for quick recall.

Useful phrases

Teach simple sentence structures for discussing Christmas. These phrases should be versatile, polite, and adaptable to different perspectives on the holiday.

Key phrases

1. Talking about Christmas
   • “I celebrate Christmas with my [family/friends].”
   • “Christmas is on December 25th.”
   • “My favorite part of Christmas is [activity/tradition].”
   • “We decorate a Christmas tree.”
2. Describing traditions
   • “We give [gifts/presents] to each other.”
   • “We sing Christmas carols like [song].”
   • “I go to church for a Christmas service.”
   • “We have a big dinner with [food].”
3. Expressing feelings or opinions
   • “Christmas is [fun/joyful/special] because [reason].”
   • “I love Christmas because [reason].”
   • “My favorite tradition is [activity].”
   • “I don’t celebrate Christmas, but I enjoy [holiday activity].”
4. Asking questions
   • “Do you celebrate Christmas?”
   • “What do you do for Christmas?”
   • “What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?”
   • “Do you give gifts at Christmas?”

Teaching tips

• Write phrases on a board or handout and model their use (e.g., “I celebrate Christmas with my family. We decorate a tree.”).
• Have learners substitute their own traditions or preferences into the phrases (e.g., foods, activities).
• Practice question forms to encourage interactive dialogue while respecting learners who may not celebrate Christmas.

Example conversations

Provide short, realistic dialogues to model how to talk about Christmas. These examples progress from basic to more detailed, keeping the tone inclusive and focused on language practice.

Conversation 1: Basic exchange

Anna: Do you celebrate Christmas, Tom?
Tom: Yes, I do! I celebrate with my family.
Anna: Nice! What do you do?
Tom: We decorate a Christmas tree and give gifts.
Anna: That sounds fun! Do you sing carols?
Tom: Yes, we sing “Silent Night.”

Conversation 2: Adding details

Sara: Hey, Juan, what’s Christmas like for you?
Juan: It’s great! We have a big dinner with turkey and put up lights.
Sara: Cool! Do you get gifts from Santa?
Juan: Yes, my kids love finding presents in their stockings.
Sara: That’s sweet! My family goes to church on Christmas.
Juan: Nice! Do you have a favorite carol?

Conversation 3: More advanced

Mark: Hi, Lisa! Do you celebrate Christmas?
Lisa: Yes, I love it! We decorate a tree and have a big family dinner.
Mark: What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?
Lisa: I enjoy singing carols and giving gifts. It feels so joyful.
Mark: That sounds wonderful! I don’t celebrate Christmas, but I like the lights and snow.
Lisa: Oh, the lights are so pretty! Where do you see them?

Teaching tips

• Role-play these dialogues with the learner, switching roles to practice asking and answering.
• Encourage learners to adapt the dialogues using their own holiday experiences or observations, respecting those who may not celebrate.
• In group settings, pair students to practice, prompting them to ask at least one follow-up question.

Teaching strategy

Here’s a step-by-step lesson plan to teach this topic effectively (approximately 45 minutes):

Step 1: Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Ask: “What do you know about Christmas?” or “What’s one word you think of for Christmas?” to spark interest, allowing for diverse responses.
• Show a picture or short video clip of Christmas celebrations (e.g., a decorated tree, Santa, or carolers) to introduce the topic.

Step 2: Vocabulary introduction (10 minutes)

• Present the vocabulary list using visuals or a slideshow of Christmas-related images.
• Practice pronunciation, especially for terms like “ornament” or “stocking.”
• Play a quick game: Say a word (e.g., “gift”), and learners describe it or name a related word (e.g., “Santa”).

Step 3: Phrase practice (10 minutes)

• Display key phrases and model them with your own example (e.g., “I celebrate Christmas with my family. My favorite part is the dinner.”).
• Have learners practice by filling in the blanks (e.g., “My favorite part of Christmas is ____.”).
• Correct pronunciation and grammar gently, ensuring clarity and respect for diverse perspectives.

Step 4: Conversation practice (15 minutes)

• Read one example conversation aloud, emphasizing natural tone and inclusive language.
• Pair learners (or role-play with them) to practice the dialogues, encouraging personalization with their own experiences or observations.
• Ask learners to create their own short dialogue about Christmas or holiday traditions.

Step 5: Wrap-up and personalization (5 minutes)

• Have each learner share one or two sentences about Christmas (e.g., “I like Christmas lights. They are beautiful.”).
• Provide feedback on their use of vocabulary and phrases, keeping the tone positive.
• Assign homework: Write 3-5 sentences about a Christmas tradition or a holiday they enjoy.

Additional tips

• Cultural sensitivity: Be aware that not all learners celebrate Christmas due to religious, cultural, or personal reasons. Allow flexibility for learners to discuss other holidays or general festive activities (e.g., winter decorations) if preferred.
• Visual aids: Use images, videos, or real objects (e.g., a small ornament or a picture of a Christmas tree) to make the lesson engaging.
• Listening practice: Play a short audio or video clip (e.g., a Christmas carol or a description of Christmas traditions from an ESL resource) to expose learners to different accents.
• Adapt for level: For beginners, focus on simple phrases (e.g., “I like Christmas gifts.”). For intermediate learners, encourage details (e.g., “We sing carols because it brings joy.”).
• Incorporate technology: If teaching online, share a screen with Christmas-related images or use a virtual whiteboard to highlight vocabulary.

Common mistakes to address

• Grammar: Learners may say “I celebrate Christmas with family” instead of “with my family.” Emphasize possessive pronouns.
• Pronunciation: Words like “carols” or “reindeer” may be mispronounced. Practice these explicitly.
• Word choice: Clarify terms like “gift” vs. “present” (similar meaning) or “tree” (specific to Christmas decorations).

Example activity: “Christmas tradition match”

For group classes, try this interactive activity.

• Create cards with Christmas vocabulary (e.g., “tree,” “carols”) and descriptions (e.g., “something you decorate,” “songs you sing”).
• Learners match the word to its description or example.
• Alternatively, play a “Find Someone Who” game (e.g., “Find someone who likes Christmas lights”).

Homework or follow-up

• Writing: Write a short paragraph (5 sentences) about how you celebrate Christmas or another holiday you enjoy.
• Speaking: Record a 30-second audio or video describing a favorite Christmas tradition or holiday activity.
• Research: Find a picture or video about Christmas (e.g., a tree or carolers) and describe it in 2-3 sentences in English.