What is he thinking about?
I. Before you listen
* Work in pairs. Ask and answer the following questions.
When do you like to organize your birthday party, during the day or in the evening?
What foods and drinks are often served at your birthday party?
What activities do you often have at your birthday party?
I. Before you listen
* Listen and repeat
gathering restaurant prizes birthday cake
decorated icing slices clapped
finishing at about 6
II. While you listen
Task 1. Listen and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).
Mai’s birthday party was held at home in the evening.
Over twenty guests were at the birthday party.
The birthday cake was cut at the beginning of the party.
The birthday party lasted about three hours.
All the friends stayed after the party to tidy up the mess.
T F
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at about three in the afternoon
at about 4:30 (p.m.)
only the speaker
about twenty
of us
II. While you listen
Task 2. Listen again and answer the following questions.
How old was Mai?

2. Why didn’t she like having her party at a restaurant?

3. What did Mai’s mother serve the guests at the beginning of the party?

4. What time was the birthday cake brought out?

5. What was the birthday cake like?

6. What did all the guests do while Mai was cutting the cake?

7. What time did the birthday party finish?
She was 16 years old.
Because it is noisy and expensive.
She served them soft drinks and biscuits at the beginning of the party.
It was brought out at about four thirty.
It was beautifully decorated with pink and white icing.
They clapped their hands eagerly and sang “Happy birthday”.
It finished at about six in the evening.
III. After you listen
Work in groups. Take turns to talk about Mai’s birthday party.
Place where the party was held and the reason for her choice
When the party began.
Who came.
What Mai did.
When the party finished.
Who stayed after the party to help Mai clean up the mess.

Homework
Write a paragraph (about 150 words) about your own birthday party, following these guidelines.
* Where was your party held?
* When did the party begin and finish?
* Who came there?
* What activities took place at your birthday party?
* Who helped you tidy up the mess after the party ?
2. Review from Unit 1 to Unit 3 to prepare for 45-minute test.
* Read the text and answer the questions that follow
How did the tradition of birthday parties start?
Birthday parties are always among the highlights of a child’s year, but did you ever wonder how the tradition of birthday parties started.
The tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago. It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family would come to be with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began.
At first it was only kings who were recognized as important enough to have a birthday celebration (maybe this is how the tradition of birthday crowns began). As time went by, children became included in birthday celebrations. The first children’s birthday parties occurred in Germany and were called kinderfeste.
When did the tradition of birthday parties start in Europe?

2. According to traditions, why would friends and family come to be with people on their birthday parties?

3. Originally, why did people give birthday gifts?

4. At first, who could give birthday parties?

5. Where did the first children’s birthday parties take place?

They started in Europe along time ago

To protect them from evil spirits.
Because giving gifts even brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits.
Only kings
In Germany.