As December approaches, classrooms across the world begin buzzing with excitement for the holiday season. This time of year provides TESOL teachers with a unique opportunity to introduce students to a variety of cultural traditions and celebrations from around the globe. Not only do these lessons foster cross-cultural understanding, but they also provide engaging, relevant content to develop students’ language skills.
By exploring holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, and New Year’s traditions from various cultures, teachers can create an enriching learning environment where students learn to appreciate diversity while practicing essential language skills.
1. Why Teach Holiday Traditions?
Learning about global holiday traditions helps students to:
- Develop cultural awareness: Students gain a deeper understanding of different customs and celebrations, which enhances their appreciation of diversity and inclusion.
- Practice language skills in context: Engaging with authentic, real-world content through holiday traditions provides ample opportunities to build vocabulary, improve listening and reading comprehension, and enhance speaking skills.
- Connect personally with learning: Many students celebrate holidays in their own countries or have specific traditions within their families. Integrating their own cultural practices into lessons helps make learning meaningful and personal.
2. Ideas for Teaching Global Holiday Celebrations
Here are some creative and engaging ways TESOL teachers can bring global December holiday traditions into the classroom:
A. Christmas Around the World
Christmas is celebrated differently across cultures. Use it as an opportunity to explore how various countries mark the occasion:
- United States & United Kingdom: Discuss typical traditions such as decorating trees, exchanging gifts, and enjoying family meals. Incorporate vocabulary lessons on holiday foods, decorations, and traditions.
- Mexico’s Las Posadas: Teach students about this nine-day celebration that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging before the birth of Jesus. Students can learn about piñatas, processions, and traditional songs.
- Germany’s St. Nicholas Day: Introduce students to St. Nicholas and the tradition of placing shoes outside the door to receive gifts.
Activity Idea: Have students create “holiday fact cards” about Christmas traditions in different countries. They can write a few sentences about each country and include key vocabulary.
B. Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated over eight days, commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Teach students about the lighting of the menorah, the meaning of dreidels, and traditional Hanukkah foods like latkes and sufganiyot.
Activity Idea: Incorporate a listening or reading comprehension activity where students learn about the story of Hanukkah, followed by a discussion of the importance of light in different holiday traditions.
C. Kwanzaa: Celebrating African Heritage
Kwanzaa, a holiday that honors African American culture and heritage, is celebrated from December 26 to January 1. Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the Seven Principles, such as unity and self-determination. Introduce students to Kwanzaa’s symbols, including the kinara (candleholder) and the significance of the seven candles.
Activity Idea: Have students create and present posters or PowerPoint slides highlighting the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, along with key Kwanzaa symbols.
D. Chinese New Year and Other Winter New Year Traditions
Although Chinese New Year falls after December, introducing the topic in December offers a preview of celebrations to come. Teach students about the Year of the Dragon (or whatever zodiac animal is current) and how the Chinese New Year is celebrated with fireworks, red envelopes, and lion dances. You can also explore how other countries mark the New Year with fireworks and festivities.
Activity Idea: Students can create a “New Year Traditions” collage that showcases how people in various countries (like Japan, Russia, or Brazil) celebrate the transition into the new year.
3. Incorporating Technology and Multimedia
Videos and Music: Use videos to show students how holiday traditions are practiced around the world. Christmas carols, Hanukkah songs, and other traditional holiday music offer excellent listening comprehension activities.
Virtual Tours: Explore museums, landmarks, or cultural sites online that relate to December holidays. For example, you could take a virtual tour of a Christmas market in Europe or explore the Great Wall of China during the New Year.
Digital Storytelling: Encourage students to create their own digital stories about their favorite holiday traditions or a holiday they’ve learned about. These can be presented through apps like Google Slides, Storybird, or Flipgrid.
4. Classroom Activities and Resources
Here are some hands-on activities to bring holiday lessons to life:
- Holiday Vocabulary Bingo: Create a Bingo game featuring vocabulary related to holiday traditions, foods, and symbols from around the world.
- Holiday Writing Prompts: Ask students to write about how they celebrate a particular holiday or how a newly learned tradition compares to their own cultural celebrations.
- Holiday Craft Projects: Make holiday-related crafts such as Hanukkah dreidels, Kwanzaa kinaras, or Christmas ornaments to explore the creative aspects of different cultures.
5. Encourage Students to Share Their Own Traditions
One of the best ways to make these lessons meaningful is to encourage students to share their own holiday traditions. Whether it’s a well-known celebration like Diwali or a local holiday unique to their region, giving students the chance to share their experiences fosters inclusivity and mutual respect.
Conclusion: Bringing Global Holiday Traditions into TESOL Classrooms
December is the perfect time for TESOL teachers to expand students’ worldviews by exploring diverse holiday traditions. These lessons not only help students build their language skills, but also promote cultural appreciation and understanding. By creating fun, engaging, and educational activities, teachers can celebrate the season while encouraging students to explore the world around them.
Incorporate global holiday celebrations into your classroom, and watch your students light up with excitement as they discover the richness of traditions from all over the world!
