Michelle's independent resources for ESL Students at Vancouver Community College

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Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts

Monday, December 19, 2016

ESL: Charlie Brown Christmas Listening Speaking Activities

50 years after it was created, the animated cartoon  "A Charlie Brown Christmas continues to be one of the most beloved Christmas holiday TV specials.  

Why is it so special? According to Robert Loyd, film critic for the Los Angeles Times, " it isn't about any invented crisis in the life of an imaginary  creature. There are no elves, no reindeer, no Santa. It's just about us. 

The Spirit of Christmas 
 Charles Schulz, the creator of "Peanuts"  wrote a little fable  about how a meaningful  holiday such as Christmas has become so commercialized that it has  lost any meaning. 

The only magic Christmas now allows is the kind we create ourselves when we pay attention to someone besides ourselves.  

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" remains true to both the spirit of Christmas and to the spirit of "Peanuts."

Although it t emphasizes the need for hope and love, it still reminds us that  the Christmas season can bring anxiety and a feeling of being alone and unloved for many people

 "I know nobody likes me," sighs Charlie Brown in the animated special.  "Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?"

The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree 
The sad little Christmas tree Charlie buys for the school play represents all the world's underfed, unseen, unloved, ( trees, animals, people...) .However, it can still be rescued. 

In fact, with a little love, care and attention, it can truly become something special and even magic. 

Watch the special and learn about one of the most popular idioms about Christmas that comes from the story: "A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. " 

Can you figure out what it means?



How Well did you Understand? 

Watch the film as many times as you need to. Then see how  many questions you can answer in the quiz below. 




Now, can you answer the question: What is a Charlie Brown Christmas tree?
O



VIDEOS: New

The Making of a Charlie Brown Christmas  a 15 minute documentary on the story behind the making of A Charlie Brown Christmas featuring interviews with the people involved in the special.  
       
Celebrating 50 Years Canadian jazz musician Jerry Granelli opens up about recording the now-iconic score to the beloved TV special

It's Your 50th Birthday Charlie Brown  In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the beloved tale, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Kristen Bell will hosts a 30 minute TV special. which includes live performances, from the memorable music of Vince Guaraldi, to Kristen Chenoweth singing “Happiness” from the “Peanuts” Broadway hit, and a performance from Matthew Morrison of an original song, “Just Like Me.” Other guests are Sarah McLachlan, Boyz II Men, Pentatonix, David Benoit and The All-American Boys Chorus. D

ABC Celebrates 50th anniversary of Charlie Brown Christmas radio
National Public Radio ( NPR) explores what makes this ageless special endure in interviews with experts. 

READING: NEW 
Find out more about the history and little known facts about Charlie Brown's Christmas. Read opinions for its success as well as about recent controversies surrounding its "religious" tone. 

Discussion Questions

   1    What did you enjoy most about the special?

   2.    Why is it that Charlie Brown as well as ourselves feel like we should have a certain 
          type of feeling at Christmas? 

   3.   Why  is there more pressure on us to feel happy during the Christmas season than 
        at other time of year? Why is it we feel that there is something wrong  with us if we 
        don't  feel this way? 

  4.    Studies show that a lot of people get depressed during or just after holidays like

          Christmas ? Why do you think this happens?  

  5.  What should depressed people do about this " depression" or sadness?

  6.  According to Charlie Browns' friend Linus, what is Christmas all about? 

   7.  Do you think Christmas has become too commercial? Explain. How could they make

         it more  meaningful? 

   8.  Charlie Brown refused to "go along  with" ( agree with what everyone else thought
        was  normal when he was sure there was something better or more meaningful 
        available. When is it good to go "along"  with everyone  around you and when is it
        better to make your own way? 






Friday, December 18, 2015

ESL Charlie Brown Christmas Activities


50 years after it was created, one of the most beloved Christmas holiday TV specials continues to be the animated cartoon  "A Charlie Brown Christmas"  

Why is it so special? According to Robert Loyd, film critic for the Los Angeles Times, " it isn't about any invented crisis in the life of an imaginary  creature. There are no elves, no reindeer, no Santa. It's just about us. 

The Spirit of Christmas 
 Charles Schulz, the creator of "Peanuts"  wrote a little fable  about how a meaningful  holiday such as Christmas has become so commercialized that it has  lost any meaning. The only magic Christmas now allows  is the kind we create ourselves when we pay attention to someone besides ourselves.  

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" remains true to both the spirit of Christmas and to the spirit of "Peanuts."

Although it t emphasizes the need for hope and love, it still reminds us that for many people around the world the Christmas season can bring anxiety and a feeling of being alone and unloved. 

 "I know nobody likes me," sighs Charlie Brown in the animated special.  "Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?"

Sunday, December 13, 2015

ESL Christmas Vocabulary and Reading Activities


Understanding some of the most common vocabulary will help you enjoy the Christmas carols you listen to and sing along to during the holidays.

Here are a few vocabulary flashcards, quizzes, games and activities to help you learn and remember some of the important Christmas words you should know. 

This first item is actually a reading, but it is an interesting one that I hope you will enjoy. 

Mistletoe, the kiss of Christmas"It;s a vintage year for the legendary mistletoe berries." In Britain's mistletoe-growing regions, a branch would be brought in to protect the house.any woman walking underneath could not refuse to be kissed, or she would remain an old maid." (telegraph.co.uk) continue reading





Advent Calendars 



Advent Calendar ( Interactive)  with questions about Christmas from around the world (\Project Britain./com)


December Advent Calendar  with pictures and poems
 ( Smile- a-day.com)


Easy Vocabulary Quizzes 

Christmas vocabulary  (learningchocolate.com)


More Difficult Vocabulary and Quizzes 

( by learningenglishwithmichelle)






MORE DIFFICULT VOCABULARY 
 

Christmas and New Year's Vocabulary Vocabulary ( BBC) A  lot of Christmas vocabulary can be used with or without the word ‘Christmas’ in front of it. For example we can talk about ‘Christmas crackers’ or just ‘crackers’:   lot of Christmas vocabulary can be used with or without the word ‘Christmas’ in front of it. For example we can talk about ‘Christmas crackers’ or just ‘crackers’: 
- with a QUIZ


Christmas Expressions 
INTERACTIVE games : 
 Christmas Crossword #1 
"Click here to download a PDF version with solution, and here for an interactive web version which should work on smartphones and tablets. Have fun!"(englishblog.com)

A Christmas Crossword interactive or printable (englishblog.com)
Christmas hangman - "Explore the picture and play the hangman game..."Created by Renée Maufroid. (Ac. Lille)
Presents for Xmas (and the rest of the year!)

Matching - Flashcards (Java / non-Java) - Concentration - Word Search- with a list of terms used in these activities (with pictures)Activities created by: Renée Maufroid


    Holidays from Different  Cultures  at Christmas Time 

    Christmas Around the World (New)
    Christmas in Italy                            Christmas in Ireland
    Christmas in Japan                         Mexican Christmas  
    Christmas in  Netherlands             Christmas in Poland                     
    Christmas in Russia                     Christmas ion Scotland
    Christrmas in Spain                      Christmas in Sweden 

    Christmas in Ukraine                   Christmas in the U.S.

    Christmas in the U.K.                   Christmas in Wales




    Christmas Short Stories  New
    Story Nory is a website where actors read famous stories and myths  You can rerad and listen to the story at the same time or download the story to listen to as an mp3 file.