Birthday celebrations

incl. materials

oral

30 min.

Objectives

The learner can consolidate vocabulary related to birthday celebrations.

Materials

• Paper garlands, a box wrapped in wrapping paper, elements that create a festive atmosphere
  
• A birthday card

Preparation

Decorate the room with paper garlands. Put the box on your desk. Draw and write birthday wishes on the blackboard. Create a festive atmosphere.

Instructions

• Welcome the learners in a festive way. Let them guess why.
  
• Have a group conversation about celebrating birthdays, e.g.
  Are birthdays celebrated in your country?
  Are birthdays important?
  Is there an obligation to register dates of birth?
  Do you celebrate your own birthday?
  How do you celebrate?
  Who do you invite?
  How do you invite your guests? By text message, with a written invitation…?
  What was the best birthday present you have ever received?
  What was the best birthday party ever?
  Would you like a surprise birthday party?
• Teach and write down standard sentences related to birthday celebrations, e.g.
  The happiest of birthdays to the [loveliest] of [daughters].
  Warmest wishes for a happy birthday.
  Hope today’s filled with all your favorite guilty pleasures.
  Hope you make your [25th] a birthday to remember!
• Have a fictional birthday party: appoint a birthday person, the other learners are the guests, who enter the room one by one or in little groups (parents, grandparents, children, a couple of friends…)

Closing up

Practice a birthday song (see the exercise ‘Happy Birthday’).

Tips for the instructor

Hang a birthday calendar in the room with the birthday of each learner. Every time someone is having his/her birthday, have a little party. Sing the birthday song. Let the earners write their birthday wishes on a card.