师：Good morning, everyone. Welcome to my class. Today we'll focus on Book 2, Unit 2. Let's explore vocabulary, listening, and speaking. First, I'll show you the learning objectives. By the end of the class, you should be able to describe a festival celebration based on a mind map, listen for key information in a festival invitation through listening practice, master useful expressions to politely extend and accept an invitation, and develop an open mind towards different customs and festivals. Let's start by watching a video.
The Lantern Festival, the earliest existing carnival in China, falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Its arrival marks the end of Spring Festival celebrations. It's customary to appreciate the beauty of lanterns at night. During the Lantern Festival, large - scale lantern exhibitions are held across the country, like the Zigong Lantern Show in Sichuan Province in southwest China and the Yu Yuan Lantern Show in Shanghai in east China. These are representative lantern shows with traditional local characteristics.
What festival is mentioned in the video? Yes, the Lantern Festival. How do people celebrate it? People can appreciate the beauty of lanterns on that day. Besides, large - scale exhibitions are held throughout the country. Here's a passage about celebrations during the Lantern Festival.
Now please read and underline the words and expressions related to the Lantern Festival. You've found many expressions about it. Could you please categorize them now? Complete the mind map and add any more you can think of. What things do we usually give or receive? Yes, flowers, a red envelope, and a scarf. What's the food? We usually eat tangyuan. When it comes to decorations, what are they? Great, balloons and posters. As for activities, what can people do?
生：People can hold a lantern - riddles competition and hold a lantern fair.
师：Can you think of any more words to celebrate the festival?
生：Yes, we can put up banners. We can also set off fireworks to celebrate the Lantern Festival.
师：Now, let's summarize. When describing festivals, we can talk about food, things we give or receive, activities, and decorations. Now let's have a try. Please describe another festival celebration based on the mind map. You can start like this. I'm impressed with your brilliant descriptions of these festivals. Now here's a task for you. Since the Double Ninth Festival is approaching, our school will host some activities related to it. Could you please send an oral invitation to a foreign teacher?
I see most of you nodded. Then we're going to learn how to make a festival invitation. Please read the short passage and try to get some information from it. For the first question, what's your answer?
生：Written invitations are usually for formal events and spoken invitations are usually for informal events.
师：What advice is given on arrival time for an invitation?
生：Remember to arrive on time, which means don't arrive too early. And it may be acceptable to be 15 to 30 minutes late.
师：Here's a conversation about a festival invitation. Now listen for the first time and complete the sentences with the correct ending. Unit 2, page 19, Activity 6. Listen to the conversation and complete the sentences with the correct ending.
Hi, Hugo. Are you free next Thursday evening?
生：Yes, Tony. Why?
师：Would you like to come over to my apartment? We're celebrating Thanksgiving.
生：I'd love to. It'll be the fourth Thursday in November, right? That's Thanksgiving.
师：Right. It's the time to give thanks to our family and friends. We'll get together to celebrate with a traditional dinner.
生：What's a traditional dinner like?
师：There'll be a big turkey with all the side dishes, potatoes, vegetables, some fruit, and homemade apple pie. My dad is known for his special apple pie. He learned how to make it from my grandma.
生：Wow, sounds great. What else will we do? Will we go out and watch the parade?
师：My home is a bit far from the city center, so unfortunately we won't be able to do that. But there's a football game in the evening. We can watch it on TV after dinner.
生：American football. It sounds great. Alright.
师：Come to my apartment at 5:30.
生：Okay. Should I bring anything with me?