WELCOME
Student: HỒ VIỆT AN
Warm-up: Match each picture with its correct description
A
G
E
D
B
C
F
H
I
A
G
E
D
B
C
F
H
I
Observe the picture and answer the following questions
1. Is this an altar?
2. How do you know that?
3. Can you see the peach blossoms?
4. What is it laid on the altar?
UNIT7: CULTURAL DIVERSITY
LESSON 3: READING
(ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS?)
1. Before doing something important, I always choose a favourable time for it.
2. I never visit people’s homes on the first day of the New Year unless they invite me.
3. I never sweep the floor during the first three days of the New Year.
4. When I set out for an examination, I always try to avoid crossing the path of a woman.
5. On important days throughout the year I always lay food on the altar for my ancestors because I believe that they will enjoy the meal with my family.
Task 1: Are the following statements true for you?
Vocabulary
E.g. According to superstition, breaking a mirror brings bad luck.
Superstition (n) [,su:pə`sti∫n]
-> Superstitious (adj) [,su:pə`sti∫əs]
Sự tín ngưỡng, mê tín
mê tín
Mystery (n) [`mistəri]
-> Mysterious (adj) [mis`tiəriəs]
Sự huyền bí
bí ẩn
Explain:
Something that is difficult to understand or to explain.
Ritual (n) [`rit∫uəl]
Lễ nghi
a set of actions or words performed in a regular way, often as part of a religious ceremony
Prestigious (adj) [pre`stidʒəs]
Prestige (n) [presˈtiːʒ]
Có uy tín, có thanh thế
Explain: Respected and admired as very important or of very high quality.
Ancestor (n) [`ænsistə]

Tổ tiên
Synonym:
What is the synonym of forefather ?
Vocabulary
1. superstition (n) sự tín ngưỡng, mê tín
2. superstitious (adj) mê tín
3. favourable (adj) thuận lợi
4. occasion (n) dịp
5. funeral (n) đám tang
6. mystery (n) điều huyền bí, bí ẩn
7. legend (n) truyền thuyết, truyện cổ tích
8. originate (v) bắt nguồn
9. believe (v) tin tưởng => belief (n) đức tin, lòng tin
10. prestigious (adj) có uy tín, có danh thế
Vocabulary
11. ‘fortune (n) vận may
12. wealth (n) sự giàu có, giàu sang, của cải
13. business venture (n) dự án / công việc kinh doanh
14. ‘ancestor (n) ông bà tổ tiên
15. altar (n) bàn thờ
16. soul (n) linh hồn
17. society (n) xã hội
18. argue (v) lập luận
19. exist (v) tồn tại
20. situate (v) có vị trí (ở địa điểm nào ..)
Task 2: Read the text and choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D.
1. What is true about Vietnamese society?
A. Only few people in Vietnam are superstitious.
B. People used to be superstitious in the past, but not now.
C. Superstitions are part of life for the majority of Vietnamese people.
D. All people in Vietnam are superstitious.
2. How does the writer explain the origin of Vietnamese superstitions?
A. They are based on scientific research.
B. Vietnam is located in part of the world where many mysteries and legends exist.
C. Superstitions are beliefs about the supernatural.
D. These are government rules that everyone must follow.
3. Which of the following is mentioned as a superstitious belief?
A. People don`t care much about the first person who visits their home on the first day of the New Year.
B. People never choose the person who visits their house on the first day of the year.
C. People believe that they will bring good fortune to their family if they work hard during the Tet holiday.
D. People believe their first guest on the first day of the new year will affect the family prosperity for the whole year.
4. Why do people lay food on the altar?
A. They believe that their ancestors will enjoy the meal with them.
B. The altar can be used as a table to lay food.
C. They put the food there for later use.
D. They don`t know why they put it there.
Superstitions still play an important part of life for many people in Viet Nam. For example, a lot of people choose a favourable date for occasions such as weddings, funerals, or house moving days. Some people may argue that being superstitious has no place in today`s society. However, superstitions have existed in all human societies throughout history. As a country situated in Asia, where many mysteries, and legends originate, Viet Nam has also kept various superstitious beliefs about daily activities. There are numerous rituals related to daily activities. During the Vietnamese New Year, for example, many people believe that the first person who visits their home on the first day of the new year will affect their life. Thus, they try to choose this person very carefully. If this person is rich, prestigious or happy, then the family will have good fortune that year. People also believe that if you sweep the floor during the first three days of the festival, you might sweep out any wealth. For other things, such as setting out for an examination or starting up a business venture, people will try to avoid crossing the path of a woman as this may not bring good luck to them. As for traditional beliefs, Vietnamese people strongly believe in life after death. They think that their ancestors have gone to live in another world. So, the altar is believed to be the place where the ancestors` souls live in. That`s why on many days of the year, people not only lay the table for meals, but they also lay food on the altar so their ancestors will join them for the meal.
1. What is true about Vietnamese society?
A. Only few people in Vietnam are superstitious.
B. People used to be superstitious in the past, but not now.
C. Superstitions are part of life for the majority of Vietnamese people.
D. All people in Vietnam are superstitious.
2. How does the writer explain the origin of Vietnamese superstitions?
A. They are based on scientific research.
B. Vietnam is located in part of the world where many mysteries and legends exist.
C. Superstitions are beliefs about the supernatural.
D. These are government rules that everyone must follow.
Superstitions still play an important part of life for many people in Viet Nam. For example, a lot of people choose a favourable date for occasions such as weddings, funerals, or house moving days. Some people may argue that being superstitious has no place in today`s society. However, superstitions have existed in all human societies throughout history. As a country situated in Asia, where many mysteries, and legends originate, Viet Nam has also kept various superstitious beliefs about daily activities. There are numerous rituals related to daily activities. During the Vietnamese New Year, for example, many people believe that the first person who visits their home on the first day of the new year will affect their life. Thus, they try to choose this person very carefully. If this person is rich, prestigious or happy, then the family will have good fortune that year. People also believe that if you sweep the floor during the first three days of the festival, you might sweep out any wealth. For other things, such as setting out for an examination or starting up a business venture, people will try to avoid crossing the path of a woman as this may not bring good luck to them. As for traditional beliefs, Vietnamese people strongly believe in life after death. They think that their ancestors have gone to live in another world. So, the altar is believed to be the place where the ancestors` souls live in. That`s why on many days of the year, people not only lay the table for meals, but they also lay food on the altar so their ancestors will join them for the meal.
3. Which of the following is mentioned as a superstitious belief?
A. People don`t care much about the first person who visits their home on the first day of the New Year.
B. People never choose the person who visits their house on the first day of the year.
C. People believe that they will bring good fortune to their family if they work hard during the Tet holiday.
D. People believe their first guest on the first day of the new year will affect the family prosperity for the whole year.
4. Why do people lay food on the altar?
A. They believe that their ancestors will enjoy the meal with them.
B. The altar can be used as a table to lay food.
C. They put the food there for later use.
D. They don`t know why they put it there.
Task 3: Read and complete the following summary by using the given words on the box
The writer has described some (1)_________________ beliefs of Vietnamese people. Superstitions play an (2)_________________ role in their daily life. There is a variety of the (3)_________________ during Tet holiday. The first person coming to the host’s home on the first day of the lunar new year is chosen very (4)_________________ because they have an impact on the host’s (5)_________________ for the whole year. It is believed that sweeping the floor during the (6)_________________ three days of the Tet holiday can wipe out the wealth of the family. Trying not to meet women by chance is also another superstition when sitting an examination or starting a business due to the (7)_________________ luck they may bring. A (8)_________________ belief of Vietnamese people is afterlife. After their ancestors have passed away, their (9)_________________ is believed to live in the altar of each family. Therefore, Vietnamese people place food on the (10)_________________ to have their ancestors joined them for the meal.
superstitious
important
rituals
carefully
prosperity
first
bad
traditional
soul
altar
Discuss the following with a partner.

Are you a superstitious person?
Why / Why not?
Yes, I`m a superstitious person. During the first three days of Tet holiday, I don`t sweep the floor as I`m afraid that I might sweep any wealth. I also try to avoid breaking things as I think it may bring bad luck for the whole year. Besides, every day I avoid getting out of bed on the left foot, which I believe may cause bad luck for the day.
Suggested answer:
Core values of the lesson:
Superstitious beliefs and traditional beliefs are a part of our culture. We have to preserve them to pass down on the next generations.
- Do exercises in the workbook and prepare for the next lesson (Unit 7, Speaking)
Wrap-up:
Thanks!