English · Seconde bac pro · A2 towards B1

Session 3: The Sound of Christmas

Recap: what do you remember?
  1. many or much? There isn't ... time.
  2. What does « out of stock » mean?
  3. Give the British word for « truck ».
Answer key
  1. much (time is uncountable).
  2. There are none left in the shop.
  3. lorry
Key question: What did people do last Christmas?
What you need to say

In this session, you listen to Christmas songs, you practise the rhythm of English (word stress) and you tell a Christmas memory in the past simple.

Document 1 · traditional

We Wish You a Merry Christmas is a traditional English carol. Nobody knows who wrote it. Carol singers sang it at people's doors and asked for figgy pudding.

Document 2 · pop

Last Christmas by Wham! (1984), one of the most famous Christmas pop songs in Britain.

Watch the official video on YouTube

Building your vocabulary

WordMeaningExample
a carola traditional Christmas songWe sang carols in the street.
mistletoea plant with white berries; people kiss under itThere is mistletoe above the door.
figgy puddingan old English Christmas puddingThe singers asked for figgy pudding.
a memorysomething you remember from the pastMy best Christmas memory is the snow.
heartbreakgreat sadness when love endsLast Christmas is a song about heartbreak.
good tidingsgood news (old English)Good tidings we bring.
Point prof · the past simple
When?
For a finished action in the past: last year, last Christmas, yesterday, in 1984.
Regular verbs: + -ed
decorate, decorated · wish, wished · open, opened · ask, asked
Irregular verbs: learn them!
give, gave · buy, bought · make, made · sing, sang · bring, brought · come, came · get, got · go, went · eat, ate
Negative and question
I didn't buy a tree. Did you sing carols? After did / didn't, the verb is in the base form.

Quick check. Correct the mistake: Last year, I buyed a Christmas jumper.

Answer keyLast year, I bought a Christmas jumper. (buy, bought: irregular)

Exercises

1. Listen and complete the carolEntrylistening

Listen to We Wish You a Merry Christmas and complete with the verbs you hear: wish, bring, go, get.

We ...(1) you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Good tidings we ...(2)
To you and your kin,
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.

Now bring us some figgy pudding (three times)
And bring it right here.

We won't ...(3) until we ...(4) some (three times)
So bring some out here.

Answer key
  1. wish
  2. bring
  3. go
  4. get

2. One verb in Last ChristmasEntrylistening

Listen to the first line of the chorus of Last Christmas. After « Last Christmas, I… », which verb do you hear? Is it present or past? What is the base form?

Answer key

gave: past simple of give (irregular).

3. Tell the story of the carol singersCoreguided

Put the verbs in the past simple.

  1. Last Christmas, carol singers (come) to our door.
  2. They (sing) We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
  3. They (wish) us a happy New Year.
  4. They (ask) for figgy pudding.
  5. My mother (give) them mince pies.
  6. They (not / go) until they (get) some!
Answer key
  1. came
  2. sang
  3. wished
  4. asked
  5. gave
  6. didn't go, got

4. Word stress: clap the strong syllableCorephonology

Say the words and clap on the strong syllable. Then check.

Christmas · merry · pudding · mistletoe · memory · heartbreak · December · decoration

Answer key

Christmas · merry · pudding · mistletoe · memory · heartbreak · December · decoration

5. Group chorusCorespeaking

In groups, sing or chant the first verse of We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Exaggerate the strong syllables: we WISH you a MERry CHRISTmas.

Answer key

We wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year.

Stretch · B1

Write a short paragraph (60 words): My best Christmas or New Year memory. Use at least five verbs in the past simple, including gave, bought, made, sang.

Model paragraph

Two years ago, we celebrated New Year at my aunt's house. My cousins and I made a cake and we bought fireworks. At midnight, we sang and danced in the garden. My grandmother gave me a watch. It was cold, but it was the best night of the year.

Homework
  1. Learn the irregular verbs of the Point prof (base form and past).
  2. Write four sentences about last December: what did you do, buy, eat, give?