Education Focus: Winter Break

Most American students are on Christmas break. This year, most students’ Christmas vacation (here in Illinois) is from 12/19 through 1/2. This means that their last day of school before Christmas was 12/16, and their first day back to school will be 1/3.
Having fun on Christmas break
Schools generally give about two weeks’ vacation around Christmas time. So most students get two weeks off to relax, get together with friends, and maybe go on a family vacation. Some families go to Florida or someplace warm for a Christmas vacation. Other families like spend their winter vacation skiing or doing some other outdoor winter activity. This year, because of the poor economy, most families probably stayed home and enjoyed time with one another and with friends.

College and university students usually have a longer Christmas break. Their semester ends around the second week of December. After they finish their final exams, they head home. It is very convenient to have the finals prior to winter break. Then students don’t have to study on their vacation. Some college students might take the opportunity to earn some money by working on their Christmas break. But many college students spend their winter vacation sleeping late (“sleeping in”), enjoying Mom’s home cooking, meeting with friends who are attending other colleges or universities, and relaxing.

Christmas vacation is a good time for students to relax and have some fun before they go back to school and work hard in the spring semester.

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Christmas Crossword I (Solution)

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Christmas Crossword I

crossword puzzle

Here is a crossword puzzle with some Christmas vocabulary. Give it a try and have fun!

Across

1. the name of Christ, the central figure of Christianity

8. the star that announced the birth of Jesus and guided the wise men to find Him

11. the wise men from the East who brought gifts for the baby Jesus

12. a yellow precious metal, one of the gifts that the three wise men gave to Jesus

16. a bird like a large chicken, traditionally eaten at Christmas

17. a person who looks after sheep

18. a spiritual being acting as a messenger of God (usually shown as a human being with wings)

20. abbreviation or informal term for Christmas

21. a thing given to somebody as a gift

22. a gum used for perfume or incense, one of the gifts that the three wise men gave to Jesus

23. an object that adds beauty to something; a decoration

Down

1. the husband of Mary (the mother of Jesus)

2. a bright point in the night sky which is a large, distant incandescent body like the sun

3. water vapor from the sky that falls as white flakes and covers the ground

4. a sledge or light cart on runners pulled by horses or reindeer over snow and ice

5. an evergreen plant with prickly dark green leaves and red berries

6. a gift or present given at Christmas

7. December 25, the birthday of Jesus Christ

9. the mother of Jesus

10. a greetings card that people send to friends and family at Christmas

11. a trough for food for horses or cattle (used by Mary as a cradle or bed for Jesus)

13. the small town in the Middle East believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ

14. the coming (or second coming) of Jesus Christ; the month leading up to Christmas

15. a vertical pipe in a house that allows smoke and gases to escape from a fireplace (Father Christmas traditionally enters a house through its chimney)

19. a traditional Christmas drink made of alcohol with beaten eggs and milk

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A Visit from Saint Nicholas

by Clement Clarke Moore

(This poem is a well-known Christmas poem, beloved by many. It was first published in 1823, and it is considered to be the inspiration for our modern-day Santa Claus: fat, jolly, dressed in red, coming down the chimney, riding a sleigh with eight reindeer – who are first named here, as well. Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, was a much later invention, and dates from the late 1930s.)

He looked like a peddler just opening his pack’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap;

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

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Idiom Focus: Animal Idioms 1

Every Saturday I’ll give you a couple of idioms to learn. An idiom is a saying or phrase whose meaning cannot be taken from the literal meanings of the words. I thought I’d start off with some animal idioms.

badger someone: A badger is a animal that digs holes in the ground, but to badger someone is to annoy them by constantly asking them for something or by harassing them.

Example:
The children badgered their mother for some cookies.

 

bark up the wrong tree: To bark up the wrong tree is to follow a wrong solution to a problem.

Example:
You think Jim took your history book? You’re barking up the wrong tree – Jim hates history!

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Writing Assignment: At the Post Office (Solution)

1. In what place are these two people?at the post office
They are in the post office.

2. Where is the man standing?
He is standing behind the counter (behind the window).

3. What is he doing?
He is handing the woman a small packet.

4. Where is the woman standing?
The woman is standing at the counter (at the window).

5. What is the woman doing?
She is taking the packet from the man.

6. Why might the woman have gone to the post office?
She may have gone to the post office to buy some stamps.

7. What kinds of things may be bought at the post office?
At the post office, a person can buy stamps, envelopes, boxes, padded envelopes, tape, and other mailing supplies.

8. What can people do at the post office besides buy stamps and other mailing supplies?
People can pick up their mail from the post office. They can mail a letter or parcel. They can have letters and packages weighed. They can get official government forms, like passport applications and tax forms.

9. Are there other people also at the post office?
We don’t see any other people at this post office.

10. What do you do if there are other people waiting in line?
If there are other people waiting in line, you have to wait for your turn.

11. What can the man behind the window do if he has to do something in back?
If he has some task to do in the back of the post office, he can put a sign at his window.

12. What would the sign say?
The sign would say “Next Window Please” or “Will Be Back Soon.”

13. On what days is the post office open?
The post office is open from Mondays through Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.

14. When does the post office open?
The post office usually opens at 8 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.

15. When does the post office close?
The post office usually closes at 5 p.m. On Saturdays, it usually closes at 12 noon, or 12:30 p.m.

16. On what holidays does the post office close?
In the US, the post office is closed on federal holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday (President’s Day), Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

17. What is the name of the person who delivers the mail?
The person who delivers the mail is called a mailman, a postman, a mail lady, or a mail carrier. Other people who work for the post office can be called postal workers. The head of the local post office is called a postmaster.

18. What happens to the mail of a person who has moved to a new house or apartment?
If a person has moved, his mail will be forwarded if he has filled out a “change of address” form. If he has not filled out a change of address form, it will be marked “undeliverable” and returned to sender.

19. What happens to the mail of a person who is on vacation?
If a person goes on vacation, he can request that his mail be held until he returns from vacation. He can then go to the post office and pick it up. To have his mail held, he must fill out an “authorization to hold mail” form.

20. How is international mail usually sent?
International mail is usually sent via airmail.

21. What kind of hobby do some people have with stamps?
Some people collect stamps for a hobby.

Paragraph: At the Post Office

Write a brief paragraph about the last time you had to go to the post office for something. What did you do there? Were there other people there too? What are some other reasons why you usually go to the post office?

Just before Christmas, I had to go to the post office to buy some stamps. I had to mail my Christmas cards, and I wanted to get the special Christmas stamps available at the post office. The Christmas stamps came out in October, and came in two sets. One design had Madonna and Child (the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus). The other set had four different designs: a reindeer, a snowman, a gingerbread man, and a nutcracker. Each set comes in a booklet containing 20 stamps. The stamps have self-sticking adhesive on the back, so they do not need to be licked.

There were a few people already waiting in line at the post office. Some people had Christmas cards and Christmas packages that they wanted to mail. The packages had to be weighed before the proper postage could be put on the package. People mailing packages had to tell the postal worker if there was anything breakable, perishable, or hazardous. They also had to fill out a form if they wanted to have the package insured.

Some people came to the post office to pick up their mail from their post office box. Some people came to the post office to buy some boxes or other mailing supplies for their Christmas packages. Some people were planning on going somewhere for Christmas vacation, so they filled out a form to have their mail held until they came back.

In the lobby of the post office, there is also a bulletin board with some “wanted posters” on it. If there are dangerous fugitives that are wanted by the FBI, the local post office will have their pictures put up on a wanted poster. The people on the wanted poster do not look like they are very nice people. I hope that I never seen them walking down the street somewhere.

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A Visit from Saint Nicholas – Audio

Here is the audio for a well-known Christmas poem, A Visit from Saint Nicholas.  You can practice your listening comprehension.  I’ll post the text tomorrow.

Enjoy!

A Visit from Saint Nicholas

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Writing Assignment: At the Post Office

at the post office

 

Vocabulary

Post office
Teller
Clerk
Window
Counter
Stamp
Envelope
Post card
Postmark
Bulletin board
Form
Waiting line
Postmaster
Mail box
Post office box
Address
Return address
Parcel
Mailing supplies
Package
Packing
Tape
Label
Padded envelope
Wanted poster
Ahead (in line)
Take a number
Next window
Mailman
Mail lady
Postman
Postal worker
Mail carrier
(vacation) hold on mail
Forward the mail
Return to sender
Postage paid
Postage due
Special delivery
Book of stamps
Sheet of stamps
Air mail
Stamp collecting

  1. In what place are these two people?
  2. Where is the man standing?
  3. What is he doing?
  4. Where is the woman standing?
  5. What is the woman doing?
  6. Why might the woman have gone to the post office?
  7. What kinds of things may be bought at the post office?
  8. What can people do at the post office besides buy stamps and other mailing supplies?
  9. Are there other people also at the post office?
  10. What do you do if there are other people waiting in line?
  11. What can the man behind the window do if he has to do something in back?
  12. What would the sign say?
  13. On what days is the post office open?
  14. When does the post office open?
  15. When does the post office close?
  16. On what holidays does the post office close?
  17. What is the name of the person who delivers the mail?
  18. What happens to the mail of a person who has moved to a new house or apartment?
  19. What happens to the mail of a person who is on vacation?
  20. How is international mail usually sent?
  21. What kind of hobby do some people have with stamps?

Paragraph: At the Post Office

Write a brief paragraph about the last time you had to go to the post office for something. What did you do there? Were there other people there too? What are some other reasons why you usually go to the post office?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 2 – The Verb “Be” – Questions (Solution)

Exercises: Write questions, using the proper form of the verb “be.”

1. Is the homework difficult?
2. Is John sick?
3. Is the baby hungry?
4. Are you cold?
5. Am I sleepy?
6. Is she a doctor?
7. Are we late?
8. Are they married?
9. Where are my keys?
10. What is the temperature?
11. Who is that man?
12. How are you?
13. Why are you sick?
14. How old is he?
15. Where is the dog?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 2 – The Verb “Be” – Questions

To form questions with the verb “be,” the verb and subject are inverted (switch places in the sentence):

1st person singular:
Positive – I am
Question – am I?

2nd person singular:
Positive – you are
Question – are you?

3rd person singular:
Positive – he / she / it is
Question – is he / she / it?

1st person plural:
Positive – we are
Question – are we?

2nd person plural:
Positive – you are
Question – are you?

3rd person plural:
Positive – they are
Question – are they?

The answer to these “be” questions should be either Yes or No.

Examples:

  • Am I late?
    • Yes (you are).
    • Yes (, the show started ten minutes ago).
  • Are you hungry?
    • Yes (I am).
    • Yes (, I haven’t eaten since breakfast).
  • Is it raining?
    • No (, it’s sunny).
  • Is he crazy?
    • No (, but he sure acts like it sometimes).
  • Are we leaving now?
    • No (, we still have a half hour before the train comes in).
  • Are you ready?
    • Yes (we are).
    • Yes (, let’s take the test now).
  • Are they home?
    • No (, the lights are off).

Short negative answers may be contracted, but positive ones may not be:

  • Am I late?
    • No / No, you aren’t / No, you’re not.
  • Are you hungry?
    • No / No, I’m not.
  • Is it raining?
    • No / No, it isn’t / No, it’s not.
  • Is he crazy?
    • No / No, he isn’t / No, he’s not.
  • Are we leaving now?
    • No / No, we aren’t / No, we’re not.
  • Are you ready?
    • No / No, we aren’t / No, we’re not.
  • Are they home?
    • No / No, they aren’t / No, they’re not.

Wh-questions use the verb “be,” but cannot use Yes/No for an answer:

  • Where is / Where’s the restaurant?
    • It’s next to the bank.
  • What is / What’s the time?
    • It’s two o’clock.
  • Who is / Who’s coming to the party?
    • John and Sally are.
  • How tall is Sam?
    • He’s six feet tall.
  • Why are you crying?
    • I lost my puppy.

Exercises: Write questions, using the proper form of the verb “be.”

Solutions tomorrow.

1. the homework / difficult?

2. John / sick?

3. baby / hungry?

4. you / cold?

5. I / sleepy?

6. she / a doctor?

7. we / late?

8. they / married?

9. where / my keys?

10. what / the temperature?

11. who / that man?

12. how / you?

13. why / you / sick?

14. how / old / he?

15. where / the dog?

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