Festivals Around the World

Handout Classy Tutoring

Festivals Around the World

Name: ______________________ Date: ____________

Reading

Every year, families celebrate their festivals in different ways, and no two families do it the same way.

My friend Yusuf celebrates the first warm day of spring with his family. His grandmother cooks a huge meal, and everyone gathers in the garden — it is a picnic in the middle of the city. This year, they are choosing the dishes. Yusuf doesn't cook, but he sets the table and hides the sweets from his little brother.

My neighbour Ana has a street festival every October. Her street closes for one evening, and every family brings a chair outside. The neighbours cook a big pot of rice and beans, and they play music until midnight. Right now, Ana's cousins are building a stage from old wood.

My cousin Dan lives in a cold city, and his family waits for the first snow. When it comes, they make a paper lantern and walk around the block with it. This year, Dan is making two lanterns — one for his new baby sister.

Here in my town, we don't have anything so big. But every August, we hold a small music festival. Right now, the organisers are setting up the stage. My band is practising every evening — we play there every year!

Comprehension

Answer in sentences.

  1. What do Yusuf's family do on the first warm day of spring?
  2. When does Ana's street festival happen, and what does every family bring?
  3. What is Dan's family waiting for, and what do they do with the lantern?
  4. What are the organisers doing right now?
  5. How often does the writer's band play at the festival?

Words to know

WordWhat it means
celebrateto do something special for a big day
gatherto come together
lanterna light inside a paper cover
organisersthe people who arrange an event
picnica meal you take outside
stagethe raised area for performers

Grammar: Present Simple vs Present Continuous

The rule: Present Simple is for what happens again and again; Present Continuous is for what is happening now. It always needs am / is / are.
Present SimplePresent Continuous
Does whatroutines, facts, habitshappening now, or around now
Signal wordsevery day, usually, always, neverright now, at the moment, today
FormI/You/We/They play, He/She/It playsI am playing, He/She/It is playing

Worked example: Right now, Ana's cousins are building a stage.

Why: Right now means the action is in progress, so we use Present Continuous — are + celebrating. If the sentence said Every year, it would be Present Simple: people celebrate.

Exercise 1

Choose the right form.

  1. Every spring, the town ____________ (hold) a flower festival.
  2. Shh! The ceremony ____________ (start) right now.
  3. My cousins ____________ (not celebrate) Halloween.
  4. I ____________ (learn) to swim this year.
  5. The festival ____________ (begin) at 9 AM every Sunday.
  6. Look! They ____________ (light) the bonfire.
  7. People ____________ (wear) traditional clothes during the parade every year.
  8. My sister ____________ (dance) in the parade today.

Exercise 2

Complete the sentences.

Scene A — last year's festival photo

Scene B — what happens every year at your school

Writing

Write 6 sentences about a celebration you know well: 3 in Present Simple, 3 in Present Continuous (right now).

Homework

Find a photograph of a festival, or remember one. Write a short paragraph:

  1. What do people do at this festival every year?
  2. What are the people in the photograph doing right now?

Bring it to the next lesson.