Unit 7
Listening
Cultural diversity
1. You are going to listen to a talk about the wedding traditions of the Amish community living in Pennsylvania, the USA. Make your own predictions about them by deciding whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. F …take place from late October through December.
2. F …Amish parents do not select who their children will marry.
3. T
4. T
5. T
2. Listen to the talk and check your answers in 1.
Today, I will talk about the Amish weddings. Most Pennsylvania Amish weddings take place from late October through December. Traditionally, they are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so there is time in between to get ready for and clean up after each. Even so , it can get pretty busy during the ‘wedding season’, with some Amish going to two or three weddings in one day!
While parents do not select who their children will marry, approval must be given. The couple planning to marry are announced at a church service . The wedding service itself, held in the home of the bride’s parents. After the service, the benches are put together to form tables for the wedding meal for about 200-300 guests. In the afternoon, the young people enjoy singing, and after that those who have stayed through the day join the evening meal.
After spending the night at the bride’s home, the next day the newly-weds help with the clean-up from the day before. The couple then spends upcoming weekends visiting relatives, sometimes stopping at five or six houses between a Friday and Sunday night. Wedding gifts are usually given to them at this time. By the next spring, the couple is usually ready to move into a home of their own, and the groom will begin growing his beard. This is an Amish tradition that signifies a man is married.
3. Listen to the talk again and complete the missing information, using no more than three words.
Most Pennsylvania Amish weddings take place from late October through (1)………………. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. During the ‘wedding season’, some Amish going to (2) ………………… weddings in one day!
Amish parents don’t select who their children will marry, but (3)…………… must be given. After the wedding service at the house of the bride’s parents, benches are put together to form tables for (4) …………………. for about 200-300 guests. After spending the night at the bride’s home, the newly-weds help with the clean-up from the day before. The couple then spends the following weekends (5) …………………………, sometimes stopping at five or six houses between Friday and Sunday night. Wedding gifts are usually given to them at this time.
December
two or three
approval
wedding meal
visiting relatives
4. Work in pairs. Name three things you have learnt about the Amish wedding customs. Did you find anything unusual or interesting? Tell your partner.