Real or Fake?

In December, many people put up their Christmas trees.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• artificial - not natural or real
• the real deal - something that is real, not fake
• price-wise - with regard to the price; as far as the price is concerned
• reusable - able to be used again
• assembly - the act of putting the parts of something together
• to chop down - to cut (a tree, bush, etc.) at the bottom so that it falls to the ground
• memorable - very good or special and worth remembering
• environment - the natural world (the air, water, and land in or on which people, animals, and plants live)
• mulch - straw, leaves, or small pieces of wood that are spread over the ground in a garden to protect the plants
• downside - the aspect of something which is not so positive, pleasant, or useful

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. Are there more artificial or real Christmas trees in American homes?


2. Which Christmas trees are more expensive: the real ones or the artificial ones?


3. Which Christmas tree is easier to set up?


4. Is cutting down a tree at a farm bad for the planet? Explain your answer.


5. After how many years is using an artifical tree less bad for the environment?

What a Waste!

The holidays are coming up: getting together with family and eating. Lots of eating.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• to get wasted - to get thrown away even when something is still okay to use or consume
• yams - sweet potatoes
• turkey - a large bird grown for its meat on farms
• to discard - to throw away
• to overdo it - to do too much of something or to do it in an extreme way
• leftovers - food that has not been finished at a meal and that is often served at another meal
• inevitably - sure to happen
• landfill - an area where waste is buried under the ground
• shelter - a place that provides food and protection for people that need help, for example homeless people

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. What happens with lots of the food that make up our Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners?


2. What happens when people don’t plan their meals properly?


3. What makes up the largest component in landfills?


4. What can you do with leftovers instead of throwing them in the garbage?


5. What can you do to prevent having (lots of) leftovers?

Monkey Business

Iceland is a British supermarket chain. Many supermarkets make special Christmas TV ads. This year, Iceland wanted to show a special animation for Christmas. But they are not allowed to show their animation on TV. The reason given: it is “too political”.
Now the animation is becoming a big hit anyway, thanks to social media. Watch it and judge for yourself.
The animation is about a girl and a young orangutan. The orangutan is called Rang-tan.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• to ban - to forbid something
• orangutan - a large ape that has very long arms and reddish-brown hair
• teddy - short for: teddy bear; a soft toy bear
• to borrow - to take and use something that belongs to someone else
• to howl - to make a long, loud cry that sounds sad
• naughty - behaving badly
• forest - a large area of land covered with trees and plants
• palmoil - an oil from the nuts of some types of palm tree, used in some foods and to make soap
• to feel blue - to feel sad or unhappy

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. The orangutan is doing all sorts of things in the girl’s house. Name at least two things.


2. Is the girl happy with her uninvited guest?


3. Why is the orangutan in the girl’s house?


4. What is the girl going to do with the orangutan’s story?


5. Finish the last sentence the girl says: “The future’s not yet written but .....”
   Explain in your own words what this means.

Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth

December is gifts month. When you don't know what to give, you can always give a gift voucher.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• gift voucher - cadeaubon
• cheese junkie - kaasgek
• awesome - supergoed

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. What do you learn about Cat?


2. What do you learn about Mouse?


3. In the video, who makes money? 


4. And who saves money?

It Was Christmas Eve and Everyone in the Thomas Family Was Dreaming Sweet Dreams

Het is bijna kerst, daarom een filmpje met een kerstverhaal.

Lees eerst de opdrachten. Bekijk dan het filmpje.

1. Waarover dromen Nicky en Debbie?
   “Nicky and Debbie were dreaming about ......................”


2. Wat voor een droom heeft Mog, de kat?
   “Mog was having ...................”


3. Leg uit wat de onderstreepte uitdrukking betekent.
   “Mog had saved the day.”


4. De oude vrouw vindt dat Mog een medaille heeft verdiend. Wat zou Mog liever krijgen?
   “I think she’d rather have ......”


5. Wat dacht iedereen toen ze begrepen dat het gezin Thomas en Mog niets over hadden om kerst te vieren?
   “But everyone else thought that if the Thomas’ and Mog can’t have a Christmas, ..........”

Christmas Break

How are you going to spend your Christmas break? Sleep in for forever? Check out this post from last year for some other ideas.

Almost Christmas

Christmas is coming up. Check out this post for a Christmassy video and assignment.

Robolights

Kerst is in aantocht en overal hangt kerstverlichting. In het filmpje zie je een alternatieve lichtjesversiering.

Lees eerst de opdrachten. Bekijk dan het filmpje. Maak aantekeningen tijdens het kijken om daarna de vragen te kunnen beantwoorden.



Beantwoord de vragen in het Engels. Doe dat schriftelijk of mondeling in een gesprek met een groepje of de hele klas.

1. Waar zijn de robolights te zien?


2. In het filmpje wordt gezegd dat de kunstenaar "put a unique spin on the annual holiday tradition". Wat betekent dat? Bedenk ook een nieuwe zin waarin je de onderstreepte uitdrukking gebruikt.


3. Waar zijn de robolights van gemaakt?


4. Hoe reageren de mensen op de robolights?


5. Wat wil de kunstenaar met de robolights vieren?


6. Hoelang zijn de robolights te zien?

What to do over your Christmas Break ...

Are you looking forward to winter break, spending time with your family, friends and your favourite technology devices? Indoors?
James Hamblin visits San Francisco to learn more about spending time indoors. Or not.

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.



Answer the following questions in English, either in writing or in a group discussion.

1. What is "Nature Deficit Disorder"? Explain in your own words.


2. What does "bogus" mean? Explain it first. Then use it in a sentence.


3. Focus on the usage of "resiliency". Who says it? Explain what it means. Next use it in a sentence.


4. What are the main points of ecotherapy?

Extra speaking assiment

1. You are going to have a short debate about ecotheraphy in class.


2. Appoint a debating leader.


3. With the rest of the students, form two groups. One side will argue that ecotherapy works, the other will argue against it.


4. First discuss with your group which arguments you can use to make your point. Make notes to help you in the debate.


5. Next one spokesperson for each side makes an opening statement.


6. Have the debate. The debating leader has to make sure both sides get equal time to make their point.

How to Have a British Christmas

Kerst wordt in veel landen gevierd, maar elk land heeft zijn eigen kersttradities.

Lees eerst de vragen. Bekijk dan het filmpje.

1. Met welk land worden de Britse kersttradities vergeleken?


2. Wat zit er zoal in een Britse Christmas cracker?


3. Over Christmas hats wordt gezegd dat ze 'absolutely mandatory to wear' zijn. Wat betekent mandatory?


4. a. Wat is Boxing Day?
   b. Waarom heet Boxing Day zo?

Extra schrijfopdracht

Bekijk het filmpje nog eens.
Noteer de 10 kenmerken die genoemd worden.