Unit 7: Cultural Diversity
Lesson: Listening
Warm-up: Suggested questions
1. When is the wedding season? (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter)
2. How many stages are there in a wedding? (one, two or three)
3. Do people choose their own partner or are do they get recommended?
4. Where is the wedding ceremony held?
5. Do the bride and groom receive gifts from their parents / guests?
6. Where will the couple stay after the wedding ceremony?
7. Do you know any taboos/ superstitious beliefs in the wedding? (For eg: It’s a must that the bride passes a bridge)


New words
newly-wed (n):
a couple who have just married.
New words
2. To signify /ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪ/:

Eg: The stars on the American flag signify the fifty states.
to be a sign of something
New words
3. approval /əˈpruːvl/(n) the feeling that somebody/something is good or acceptable
=> approve (of) /əˈpruːv/ (v) = agree
Activity 1: Textbook on page 21
1. What are you going to listen?

We are going to listen to a talk about the wedding traditions of the Amish community living in Pennysylvania, the USA.
Activity 1: Textbook on page 21
2. Underline the key words


1. _____Amish weddings take place in the spring.
2. _____Amish parents choose life partners for their children.
3. ______The wedding service is held at the bride’s parents’ home.
4. ______The couple spends the first night at the bride’s home.
5. _______After getting married, a man begins to grow his beard.
Activity 1: Textbook on page 21


3. Make your own predictions


1. _____Amish weddings take place in the spring.
2. _____Amish parents choose life partners for their children.
3. ______The wedding service is held at the bride’s parents’ home.
4. ______The couple spends the first night at the bride’s home.
5. _______After getting married, a man begins to grow his beard.
Activity 2: Textbook on page 21
4. Listen to the talk and decide whether these statements are True(T) or False (F)
Activity 2: LET’S CHECK YOUR ANSWER
1. _____Amish weddings take place in the spring.
2. _____Amish parents choose life partners for their children.
3. ______The wedding service is held at the bride’s parents’ home.
4. ______The couple spends the first night at the bride’s home.
5. _______After getting married, a man begins to grow his beard.
F
F
T
T
T
take place from late October through December
Amish parents do not select who their children will marry.
Activity 3 (textbook page 21): Gap filling
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.
1. Underline the key words/ terms


Activity 3 (textbook page 21): Gap filling


2. 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.
Activity 3 (textbook page 21): Gap filling


3. Let’s check your answers
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
Activity 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.
CONSOLIDATION
1. Knowledge: Wedding customs/ traditions in the Amish community.
2. New words: newly-wed(n), signify (v), approval (n) and approve(v)
3. Skills/ Tips: Making predictions before listening is important.