ESL Christmas Song Activities

Christmas is a time when we show people that we love them, but it can also be a time of heartbreak and loneliness. Many Christmas songs have been written about both the happiness and sadness that the holiday season can bring.

Here are a few songs to keep you in the mood, whether you are happy or sad. Listen, play the game. Then sing along. There's lots of Christmas vocabulary here.  Try some.


But first, let's try some some vocabulary review 

All I Want for Christmas is You:
Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey

Before you watch:

1.   When you stand under this, you have to kiss someone   
2.   Underneath means ________________ 
2.   This is made out of snow and often has eyes, a nose and stick arms 
3.   We roast these type of nuts on the fire.  
4.   What do people put under the Christmas tree and open on Christmas 
       morning? 
   

Winter Wonderland by Rod Stewart and Michael Buble

Before you watch: 

1`.  A meadow is a place ___________________
2.  What kind of person is a "parson"?  (clue) he can legally 
      marry you with someone
3.   What does Santa ride in the sky with reindeer pulling?

Mistetoe by Justin Bieber

Before you listen to the song: 

1.  Justin Bieber uses the word  "Imma" several times during the song. This is slang for  
      "I'm going to be" 

2.  Cheer is another word for joy. 

3.  What is this below?

4.  If you spend time "chilling" with someone, you ___  

5.  shawti is slang for ______________________________'

6. When you "stare" at someone, you ______

ESL Christmas More Christmas Songs and Quizzes

A lot of people like singing Christmas carols at this time of year. It is a wonderful thing to do in groups an d can be a lot of fun. Why don't you try a few after you watch some of these videos and do some of the quizzes.

Try to  decide if this first video is a surprise, or a planned event. Whatever it is, it should make you smile
Happy Holidays | Carlson School of Management

This second link will connect you to National Public Radio's Jingle Jam Christmas: Music for the Rest of Us.

In their introduction to their special  Jingle Jam Christmas  the people at NPR said,"Around the holidays, we like our traditions. We go home. We listen to the music that accompanies memories of childhood holiday celebrations, sitting fireside with family and enjoying the freedom of winter break. 

Occasionally, we take it too far and end up blasting songs that cross the fine line between cozy comfort and sickly sweetness. It's called schmaltz, people, and EverReady's got their limit. 

Sometimes on Christmas, people get dumped or lose their jobs, or spend the night in jail. So here's a mix of off-the-beaten-path holiday songs for those people, and for the rest of us."

I am including I5 Christmas song video quizzes from the wonderful ESL Video.Com site. Make sure you visit this site for other great video quizzes.

Jingle Bells Frank Sinatra    This is probably the single, most popular Christmas song ever, although it was originally written for Thanksgiving.

Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer  Burl Ives    Who can name all of Santa's reindeer? Few probably can, but there’s one name that stands out among young and old: Rudolph, the reindeer that was at first ridiculed for his big, red nose, but later saves the day as he  leads Santa's sleigh through the fog.

Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms  
 Rockin Around the Christmas Tree    These were two of the first modern rock and roll Christmas songs ever written. They came out in the 1950's and are still played today.           All I Want For Christmas is You   One of the most recent additions to the list of holiday classics, this song was released in 1994 in Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas album

White Christmas by Shania Twain and Michael Buble    The original song White Christmas sung by Bin g Crosby is not only one of the most popular Christmas songs ever, it is the best selling song of all time.
Silent Night Sarah Mclaughlin    This classic carol was actually originally written in German, but is now sung in over 44 languages



 Nine More Song Quizzes. Enjoy 
Baby It's Cold Outside

Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley

O Holy Night Celine Dion  

Happy Christmas War is Over John Lennon   

Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Please Come Home for Christmas

Singalong We Wish You a Merry Christmas

The Little Drummer Boy 

Christmas Lights Cold Play



Some Christmas Laughter? .

If you want a good laugh, go to the listening page and watch Mr. Bean's Christmas.
Go to the Music Page for more Christmas songs and a Christmas carol songbook with lyrics to many Christmas songs.

ESL Christmas Songs, Stories and Videos

I know that many of you have started your holidays, but that doesn't mean you should stop
practicing your English. In  fact, this is the perfect time to practice as much as you can out of class.
 We have now officially entered the Christmas season, so I am compiling a list of fun Christmas readings, listening, videos and music. I hope you will enjoy these activities and share them with your families. I am even including some games and vocabulary for children, so this can be a family affair.

Reading and vocabulary activities will be in the Reading Page.Listening activities and children and adult games will go into the Listening Pages. Songs will go into the Music Page. Children's gamesWatch for different items during the next few weeks.

 Some specific things to look for: 

• Charlie's Brown's Christmas - a famous Christmas video 
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas - another famous video of the Dr. Seuss Story.  
• Videos about many aspects of Christmas , Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
• Listening/reading activities about the day before Christmas, Christmas, Boxing
  Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, the 6th of January  and Kwanzaa. 
• Christmas vocabulary
• Christmas around the world 
• The Gift of the Magi and more.                                           
• Start with this wonderful advent  calendar. Make sure that you only open one window each day as you count down to Christmas. Don't peek!  December Advent Calendar

Feel free to answer questions from the calendar as comments on the postings. If If you have any suggestions about things I should add, please let me know in the comment box below.  

Michelle