EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• illustrations: artworks that appear alongside a story
• symbolize: to represent an idea
• classic: a story that is loved by many people over a long period of time
• moral: a lesson that a story teaches
• faith: belief in something, even if it seems unlikely
• imagination: the ability to create interesting and even magical ideas
• animated: containing moving artwork instead of videos of real people

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04 — 1,003.2KB)

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Gapfill exercise

The Polar Express is a 1985 book written by Chris Van Allsburg, who also created the illustrations. The book tells the story of a magical train that children to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus. The main character is an unnamed young boy who chooses to believe in Santa even as he grows . To symbolize the boy’s trust in Christmas magic, Santa gives him a sleigh bell that only he, and other believers, can hear the of. The Polar Express quickly became a Christmas classic because of its beautiful images and moral of faith and imagination. In 2004, the book was adapted into an animated .

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. Chris Van Allsburg wrote the book known as The Polar Express and also
   a. helped write the movie script
   b. created the illustrations
   c. worked on the animation
   
2. The object that symbolizes the boy’s faith is
   a. a toy train
   b. a Christmas book
   c. a sleigh bell
   
3. In 2004, the book was adapted into
   a. a longer novel
   b. a TV show
   c. an animated movie

Discussion/essay questions

1. What is something you believed in as a child? Do you think it is possible to keep a childlike imagination as you grow older?

Transcript

The Polar Express is a 1985 children’s book written by Chris Van Allsburg, who also created the illustrations. The book tells the story of a magical train that transports children to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus. The main character is an unnamed young boy who chooses to believe in Santa even as he grows older. To symbolize the boy’s trust in Christmas magic, Santa gives him a sleigh bell that only he, and other believers, can hear the sound of. The Polar Express quickly became a Christmas classic because of its beautiful images and moral of faith and imagination. In 2004, the book was adapted into an animated movie.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2c 3c

Pre-listening vocabulary

• prank: a trick that someone plays on someone else for amusement
• astronaut: a person who travels to space
• spacecraft: a vehicle that travels in space
• UFO: an unidentified flying object, especially one thought to be piloted by aliens
• flight controller: a person who directs space missions from the ground
• harmonica: a small musical instrument played with the mouth

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08 — 1.0MB)

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Gapfill exercise

On December 16th, 1965, two NASA astronauts on board the Gemini 6 spacecraft were preparing to return to . The astronauts, Thomas Stafford and Wally Schirra, sent a radio to Earth, claiming they’d seen a UFO with a pilot wearing a red suit. They asked the flight controllers to listen for a signal from the other spacecraft. As agents on the became concerned, Schirra began to play “Jingle Bells” on the harmonica while Stafford rang sleigh bells in the background. It was the first song ever played in space. Today, the from the mission can be found in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. 

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”20751″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. What are some of your favourite holiday traditions?

Transcript

On December 16th, 1965, two NASA astronauts on board the Gemini 6 spacecraft were preparing to return to Earth. The astronauts, Thomas Stafford and Wally Schirra, sent a radio message to Earth, claiming they’d seen a UFO with a pilot wearing a red suit. They asked the flight controllers to listen for a signal from the other spacecraft. As agents on the ground became concerned, Schirra began to play “Jingle Bells” on the harmonica while Stafford rang sleigh bells in the background. It was the first song ever played live in space. Today, the bells from the mission can be found in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. 

Pre-listening vocabulary

• deliver: to bring something to someone
• legend: a story that is passed down through generations
• bishop: a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy
• fortune: a large amount of money
• tradition: a practice observed by a certain culture or family
• symbol: an object or image that represents an idea

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:11 — 1.1MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Children all around the world today know about Santa Claus, the man who delivers to every house on Christmas Eve. The of Santa has been around for a long time. The legend was based on a bishop named St. Nicholas, who was born in Turkey almost 2,000 years ago. St. Nicholas was a wealthy man who wanted to share his fortune with people who were poor or . Celebrating St. Nicholas was originally a Dutch tradition. Dutch people living in New York City in the 18th century made the legend in American culture, and the image of Santa became an important symbol of Christmas. Although “Santa Claus” is his most name in the United States and Canada, Santa has many different names in different parts of the world, such as Father Christmas, Saint Nick, and Kris Kringle.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”19999″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. People all around the world have different ways of celebrating the holidays. What holidays do you celebrate in the winter? What are some traditions that you have?

Transcript

Children all around the world today know about Santa Claus, the man who delivers gifts to every house on Christmas Eve. The story of Santa has been around for a long time. The legend was based on a bishop named St. Nicholas, who was born in Turkey almost 2,000 years ago. St. Nicholas was a wealthy man who wanted to share his fortune with people who were poor or hungry. Celebrating St. Nicholas was originally a Dutch tradition. Dutch people living in New York City in the 18th century made the legend popular in American culture, and the image of Santa became an important symbol of Christmas. Although “Santa Claus” is his most common name in the United States and Canada, Santa has many different names in different parts of the world, such as Father Christmas, Saint Nick, and Kris Kringle.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• protagonist: a story’s main character
• greedy: selfish, wanting more than you need
• charity: an organization that gives money to people who need it
• ominous: suggesting that something bad will happen
• vision: a type of dream caused by something supernatural
• Christmas spirit: feelings of happiness and generosity caused by the Christmas season

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:13 — 1.1MB)

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Gapfill exercise

A Christmas Carol is a classic Christmas story written by English author Charles Dickens. The book’s protagonist is a man named Scrooge, who is bitter and greedy, and cares only about . At the start of the story, Scrooge’s personality is evident in his . He insults the people around him, forces his assistant to work during the , and refuses to give to charity. It is also clear that Scrooge dislikes Christmas, because he rudely declines his nephew’s to a Christmas dinner. That night, when Scrooge is in bed, he is visited by three ghosts: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The ghosts show him ominous visions that make him the way he treats others. By the end of the story, he finds his Christmas spirit and lets go of his greed.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”19972″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. The main lesson to take from this story is to be generous rather than greedy. Why do you think the author wanted to express this theme in a Christmas story?

Transcript

A Christmas Carol is a classic Christmas story written by English author Charles Dickens. The book’s protagonist is a man named Scrooge, who is bitter and greedy, and cares only about money. At the start of the story, Scrooge’s personality is evident in his actions. He insults the people around him, forces his assistant to work during the holidays, and refuses to give to charity. It is also clear that Scrooge dislikes Christmas, because he rudely declines his nephew’s invitation to a Christmas dinner. That night, when Scrooge is in bed, he is visited by three ghosts: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.  The ghosts show him ominous visions that make him rethink the way he treats others. By the end of the story, he finds his Christmas spirit and lets go of his greed.

Image: Thanks to Andy Mabbett (adapted)

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

• culprit: someone who committed a particular crime
• therapy dog: a dog trained to comfort and support people
• recover: to take back something that was lost or stolen
• precaution: an action taken to prevent something bad from happening

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