Ethnic groups
in Viet Nam

Period 27 - Unit 4:
Customs and traditions
Lesson 1- Getting started

1.What can you see in these following
pictures ?
2. Which picture is tradition and which
one is custom?

Making “banh chung” and “banh giay” at Tet

Wearing “Ao dai” on the special occasion.

Eat betel

Singing “Bai Choi” - A tradition of the Kinh

2. What do you think the
teacher and the students are
talking about ?

*New words
- accept(v)
- pass down (v)
- sharp (adj)
- generation(n)
- table manners(n & prual)

• Listen to the tape and find out how many
peole are there in the dialogue.

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Listen and read.

A lesson on customs and traditions
Teacher: Today we're going to learn about customs and traditions. Do you think they're the
same?
Mi: I think they're different, but it's hard to explain how.
Nick: In my opinion, a custom is something that has become an accepted way of doing things.
And a tradition is something we do that is special and is passed down through the generations.
Teacher: Yes, spot on! Give me an example of a custom.
Mai: My family has this custom of eating dinner at 7 p.m. sharp.
Teacher: Really?
Mai: Yes, we have to be at the dinner table on time.
Teacher: That's interesting! How about a tradition, Phong?
Phong: We have a family tradition of visiting the pagoda on the first day of every lunar month.
Nick: You're kidding!
Phong: No, no. We've followed this tradition for generations.
Teacher: You've mentioned family, but what about social customs and traditions, Nick?
Nick: Well, in the UK there are lots of customs for table manners. For example, we have to use
a knife and fork at dinner. Then, there's a British tradition of having afternoon tea at 4 p.m.
Teacher: Sounds lovely! Now, for homework, you should find information about a custom or
tradition. You're doing mini presentations next week...

Ex 1:a. Find a word/phrase that means:
1. agreed
accepted
2.grandparent,parents,and children
generations
3.Totally correct
Spot on
4. Exactly on time
sharp
5. Relating to human society
Social
6. A polite way of eating at the dinner table
Table manners

b. TRUE OR FALSE
T
1. Nick's explanation of customs and traditions is
correct.




2.Only families have customs and traditions.
3. In the UK there's a tradition of having
afternoon tea.
4. In the UK there is no accepted way of
behaving at the dinner table.

F

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

C .Answer the following questions.
1. What is Mai's family custom?
It's eating dinner at 7 p.m . sharp
2. How does Nick feel When Phong talks about one of his family traditions?
He's surprised
3. What's the similarity between a custom and a tradition?
They both refer to do something that develops over time.
4. What is the different between them?
A custom is something accepted. A tradition is something special and is
passed down through the generations.
5. What should the students do for the home work?
They should find information about a custom or tradition.

d. Find the sentences in the conversation and fill in the
missing words.
have to
1. We …………………….be
at the dinner table on time.
2. You …………………find
information about a custom or
should
tradition.
What do you think these sentences mean?

Match the pictures with the customs and traditions in the box.
1. Smiling to accept a compliment
2. Worshipping ancestors
3. Wrapping gifts in colourful paper
4 .Having lunch together on the second day
of Tet
5 .Placing the chopsticks on top of the rice
bowl when finishing a meals
6 .Children in the family standing in a row to
greet guests
7 .Wearing ao dai on special ocassions
8 .Giving children lucky money at Tet

2.a. Match the pictures with the customs and traditions in
the box.
1.smiling to accept a compliment
2. worshipping ancestors
3. wrapping gifts in colourful papers
4. having lunch together on the second day of Tet
5. placing the chopsticks on top of the rice bowl when
finishing a meal
6. children in the family standing in a row to greet
guests
7. wearing ao dai on special occasions
8. giving children lucky money at Tet

2.a. Match the pictures with the customs and traditions in
the box.
1.smiling to accept a compliment + g
2. worshipping ancestors + c
3. wrapping gifts in colourful papers + f
4. having lunch together on the second day of Tet + h
5. placing the chopsticks on top of the rice bowl when
finishing a meal + e
6. children in the family standing in a row to greet
guests + a
7. wearing ao dai on special occasions + b
8. giving children lucky money at Tet+ d

2.b. Write C (customs) or T (tradition) under each
picture in a. In pairs, compare your answers.

• Suggested answers:
1+ C

5+ C

2+ C or T

6+ T

3+ C

7+ T

4+ T

8+ T or C

Hue

This is Thien Mu Pagoda at

And here is Truc Lam Yen Tu
Pagoda

The Third is Bai Dinh

And Hang Pagoda in Binh Dinh is

Homework
• Do exercises in workbook
• Do these exercises again
• Prepare new lesson: A closer look 1

Thanks !
Good bye !