A Festival of Romance

A FESTIVAL OF ROMANCE

Objectives:

Practical: to systematise students' knowledge of customs and traditions of St Valentine's Day; to activate their vocabulary on the topic of the lesson;

Educational: to deepen students' knowledge of celebrating the holiday; to cultivate students' taste and stimulate them to know more about cultures of English-speaking countries;

Developing: to improve students' language skills in oral and written speech using various games; to develop their thinking, imagination and creativity;

Upbringing: to develop students' respect for the English and American traditions and cultures.

Equipment: a tape recorder, a cassette with a song "The Best" and a text "St Valentine's Day", the symbols of St Valentine's Day, a newspaper clipping "Valentine's Greetings from the Stars", a tea break teaser and a lexical table.

PROCEDURE

I. INTRODUCTION

T: Good morning! I’m very glad to see you! Let's begin our les­son. Today we'll discuss the topic "St Valentine's Day".

II. WARMING-UP   

T: Now listen to the song ("The Best" performed by Tina Turner) and answer the questions:

-  Have you recognised the singer?

-  Do you know the song?

-  Have you ever heard it before?

-  Guess, why I've chosen Tina Turner's song for the beginning of the lesson. How can we connect it with its topic?

III. LISTENING

Pre-listening task

T: St Valentine's Day is a very romantic holiday. In a moment we'll be listening to the record about this holiday. There'll be some unknown words and expressions in it. Let's read and translate them.

While-listening task

T: Now listen to the text and be ready to answer the questions:

1.        When is St Valentine's Day celebrated?
2.        What do people usually do on this day?
3.        What question do almost all valentines ask?
4.        Is Valentine's Day a legal holiday?
5.        What colour and shape are Valentine's Day decora­tions?
6.        What are some of popular gifts given on this day?

7. What messages do many newspapers carry on this
day?

8. How is one very famous song of this day called?

9. What has become traditional for many couples?

10. Why is St Valentine's Day happy?

 11. What can you tell us about its origin?

ST VALENTINE'S DAY

St Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14, a festival of romance and affection. People send greeting cards called "valentines' to their sweethearts, friends, and .members of their families. Many valentines have romantic poems; others are humorous. But almost all valentines ask "Be My Valentine ‘. This may mean be my friend or be my love or be my companion. Valentines often show a cupid with an arrow. Cupid, also called Eros, was the ancient Roman god of love.

St Valentine's Day is not a legal holiday; schools and banks are open as usual. Merchants sell valentines and decorations for St Valentine's Day parties and dances. All the decorations are bright red, and the most popular ones are heart shaped.

Schoolchildren decorate their classrooms with bright red paper hearts and celebrate the day in their classroom! They also make valentine cards for their friends and parents.

Stores advertise heavily for this holiday since it is tradi­tional for sweethearts, spouses, and members of the family to exchange gifts on St Valentine's Day. Heart shaped boxes of candy, jewellery and flowers are some of the popular gifts given on this day.

Many newspapers carry advertisements or messages placed by people in love. Both men and women want to let their sweethearts know how much they love them. On St Valentine's Day, many radio stations play romantic music all day long. One very famous song is called "My Funny Valentine".

St Valentine's Day is a day to share loving feelings with friends and family

friends and family. It has become traditional for many couples to become engaged on this day. Also, famous couples are remembered. Some of them are Romeo and Juliet, Caesar and Cleopatra.

This is a happy day because it is specially dedicated to celebrating love, affection and friendship.

Origin

St Valentine's Day comes on the feast of two differ­ent Christian saints named Valentine. But the way that St Valentine's Day is celebrated has nothing to do with the lives of the saints.

This celebration comes from an ancient Roman festival called "Lupercalia" which took place every February 15. This festival honoured Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the. god of nature. It was also believed that birds choose their mates on this date. St Valentine's Day became very popular in the United States in the 1800s.

From American Holidays

Post-listening tasks             • Chain story

T: Each of you should name one St Valentine's Day custom using one sentence. We must make up a story putting these customs in the logical order. I give you the beginning of this story:             

"There is a great number of customs connected with a St Valentine's Day. Thus,..." 

SI: People end valentine cards and presents with red hearts on them to one another.

S2: They write short rhymes inside of their valentine cards.

S3: They can send roses, the flowers of love, or other flowers to their sweethearts.

S4: Many newspapers have a St Valentine's Day page for teenagers and adults.

S5: Anyone can send a message, for a small fee, of
course.

S6: Many newspapers carry advertisements or messages placed by people in love.

S7: They can also show their sweethearts that they care about them by singing a romantic song.

S8: Many radio stations play romantic music all day long.

S9: Many couples become engaged on this day.

S10: Children and youth have St Valentine's parties and dances.

Sll: Refreshments are always coloured red, like red candy arid punch.

S12: Sandwiches and cakes are often cut in the shape of hearts.

S13: They decorate the dancing halls with red paper hearts and chubby cupids.

S14: They choose the King arid Queen of Hearts during their Valentine's parties.

S15: They make boxes for "valentines" at schools.

S16: They have a competition "whose box is the best".

S17: They play different games, sing songs, recite poems of love, dance and play guessing games.

2. Guessing the riddle

T: As the continuation of the last game try to guess the riddle. Take one letter from each of the five-letter words below to leave five four-letter words. Then write each of the deleted letters into the relevant empty boxes on the right to form a new five-letter word reading down the right-hand column. Can you tell us what this new word is?

Clue: a famous lover.

Words: ride, pine, tier, rest, gran. Key: Romeo

3. Guessing game

T: Now explain to me, please, what these Valentine's symbols mean. (Teacher shows a fan, a ribbon, lace, rice, a ring, a coin, a red mitten.)

A fan means "open your heart".

A ribbon means "you are my boy (girl)”

Lace means "you have caught my heart in a net".

Rice means a wedding.

A ring means a wedding or an engagement.

A coin means that you'll marry someone wealthy.

A red mitten means than the girl doesn't love you. The expression "to get a mitten" (отримувати відмову) - comes from this old Valentine's symbol.

4. Game "Fortune-Teller*

T: There is such a custom in Great Britain as telling fortune on St Valentine's Day. Girls often cut an apple and count the seeds:  

"One I love, two I love, three I love, I say.

Four I love with all my heart.

Five I cast away.

Six he loves, seven she loves, eight they both love;

Nine he comes, ten he tarries,

Eleven he courts, twelve he marries."

Following this tradition let's play a game "Fortune-Teller". Work in groups of two. Write on a sheet of paper 3-4 sentences about what will happen to your classmate in the future. You Can write something realistic or fantastic. Then pass your prophecy to addressee. Read it.

Examples of prophecies:

1. Your future is terrific! You'll become ah outstanding artist. Your pictures will be known all over the world. All classmates will be proud that they were your mates.

2; Believe me! You'll become a space or computer scientist. You will have a good career and you'll marry the right girl. You'll have smart and healthy children: a daughter and two sons. You will be happy because you'll realise yourself.

3.      Your future is not seen clearly. May be you'll achieve a great success, may be not. But what is known exactly, that you'll be a good wife and mother.
4.      Your future is in your own hands. You will have what you want and be what you want if you work hard.
5.      Game "Interview"

T: Imagine that to commemorate St Valentine's Day you go into streets of London to ask people about this holiday. What questions will you put to them?

Work in pairs. The students on the right are interview­ers; the students on4he left are interviewees.

IV. SUMMING-UP

T: Our lesson is over. We have discussed the topic "Si Valentine's Day". You have listened to the tape and fulfilled various tasks on the topic of the lesson. I see you have learnt the customs, symbols and traditions of this holiday rather well. Most of you are excellent connoisseurs of them.

V. HOME ASSIGNMENT

T: Write a letter to your foreign friend about St Valentine's celebrations and traditions in your school and class.