Holidays - It's the cheesiest time of the year!

It’s the cheesiest time
of the year!

Let’s get started

with a warm-up

Audio Response

Complete the statement in the cheesiest way possible.

Christmas is all about…

• - cheesy: something that is overly; sentimental, clichéd or lacking; in originality

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Let’s talk!

Audio Response

Discuss the questions.

Is it subjective to claim that something is cheesy?

Think about things associated with Christmas that people often consider cheesy.

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Discuss the questions.

Does cheesy equal bad? Give examples for when it does and when it doesn’t.

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Discuss the questions.

Can you recall a moment when you embraced cheesiness and it
turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable or memorable?

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Audio Response

Discuss the questions.

Are there specific cheesy Christmas clichés that you enjoy despite
their predictability? Why/Why not?

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Let’s think!

Open Ended

Rate the Christmas activities from the most (6) to the least cheesy (1).

• - baking gingerbread cookies while listening to All I want for Christmas is you;

• - putting up decorations and wearing an ugly Xmas sweater;

• - ice skating wearing a Santa hat;

• - watching Christmas films while drinking eggnog or hot cocoa with marshmallows;

• - sending Christmas cards with family photos;

• - giving knitted mittens or socks as Christmas presents.

Audio Response

Think of a Christmas film for each of the comments.

I always find it heartwarming and hilarious.

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Audio Response

Think of a Christmas film for each of the comments.

Although it has the cheesiest and most predictable Christmas plot, you can't help but smile all the way through!

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Audio Response

Think of a Christmas film for each of the comments.

I love it but I would never admit it to my friends.

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Let’s learn some vocabulary!

Fill in the Blanks

Read the wishes again and complete them with the correct forms of the words in capitals.

1. Wishing you a  _________  and  _________  holiday! MAGIC; SNOW

2. (e.g. magic - snow)

Fill in the Blanks

Read the wishes again and complete them with the correct forms of the words in capitals.

1. Best wishes for Christmas and a 

    New Year! WONDER

Fill in the Blanks

Read the wishes again and complete them with the correct forms of the words in capitals.

1. We wish you 

     , love and harmony and may love fill your home with blessings too. PEACEFUL

Fill in the Blanks

Read the wishes again and complete them with the correct forms of the words in capitals.

1. We hope your holidays will be filled with joy and 

    through the New Year. Merry Xmas! LAUGH

Fill in the Blanks

Read the wishes again and complete them with the correct forms of the words in capitals.

1. Have yourself a merry little Christmas and an 

    awesome new year! AMAZING

Fill in the Blanks

Read the wishes again and complete them with the correct forms of the words in capitals.

1. Christmas won’t feel the same without you here, but we wish you a 

     holiday time with John’s family. Miss you already! BLISS

Fill in the Blanks

Read the wishes again and complete them with the correct forms of the words in capitals.

1.  holidays and all the best to you in the year to come! LOVE

Fill in the Blanks

Read the wishes again and complete them with the correct forms of the words in capitals.

1. May your family have a holiday season that is full of beautiful surprises, treats and

     . HAPPY

In a moment, you’ll watch a video titled:

Every Hallmark Christmas movie

But first...

ESL Brains

16

Choose a character, a setting and an incident. Create a plot for a Christmas
film with these things.

1

2

3

4

5

6

1

2

3

4

5

6

1

2

3

4

5

6

CHARACTER

SETTING

INCIDENT

Audio Response

Name three things that you think the video features.

Hallmark:

TV network known for producing and airing family-friendly and sentimental content

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Audio Response

Watch the video and check your ideas.

Were you right?

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Let’s talk!

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THANKS!

Audio Response

Finish the statements.

The video sums up/doesn’t sum up Christmas films accurately…

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Finish the statements.

What attracts people to such films is…

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Finish the statements.

The most hilarious cliché…

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Finish the statements.

The reason we should/shouldn’t criticize making such films...

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Finish the statements.

If we ask ChatGPT to write a plot for such a film…

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Audio Response

Finish the statements.

If we ask ChatGPT to write a plot for such a film…

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Audio Response

Imagine you want to have a Christmas film marathon with your friends or family.
Choose three films you are going to watch and explain your choice.

Die Hard ; Home Alone ; Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ; How the Grinch stole Christmas; Love Actually ; Frozen

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Audio Response

Read about other New Year traditions and discuss the questions.

• Which tradition is most surprising? Why?

• A. In Denmark people greet the New Year by smashing old plates against the doors of family and friends. It expresses love, affection and friendship and brings good luck in the coming year.

• B. Residents of the city of Talca in Chile celebrate New Year's Eve in the cemetery. They usually bring food and drinks, light candles and decorate their loved ones' graves.

• C. In Turkey, people sprinkle salt on their doorstep when the clock strikes midnight. It is supposed to bring peace and good luck throughout the coming year.

• D. To welcome the Lunar New Year, Filipinos wear polka dot patterned clothes because their round shape symbolizes prosperity and money.

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THANKS!