First lesson after New Year: lesson ideas

Winter holidays have come and gone. Most of us had short breaks during this time trying to relax and have some fun. But it is high time to come back to our lessons. It is often difficult to get students motivated and get them back to their English classes. Hence, it is of great importance to start the first lesson after the New Year holidays with a positive and inspiring mood.

Here are several ideas that you can use with your Pre-Intermediate learners. In this lesson, students will discuss New Year resolutions, wishes, winter activities, and how they celebrated New Year.

Task 1: Warm-up

Look at the pictures. Which one depicts best how you celebrated your New Year? If none of them suits you, google a proper picture and speak one minute about it.

Task 2

Let’s do the quiz to find out how well you know New Year traditions. Which of the facts surprised you the most? Why?

Discuss the questions:

1. Are any of the things mentioned in the quiz similar to New Year’s celebrations in your country?
2. Did you eat 12 grapes like in Spain when the clock struck midnight?
3. What traditional ways of welcoming the New Year do you have in your family or in your city?
4. Where and with whom did you spend New Year’s Eve?
5. What TV shows or movies did you watch on New Year’s Eve?
6. What time did you get up on New Year’s day?
7. Have you ever made New Year’s resolutions? If so, what resolutions? Did they keep them or break?

Task 3

Watch the video about Friends’ New Year’s resolutions. Tick the ones that are mentioned in it.

— Drink less alcohol.
— Try a new healthy diet plan.
— Plan a vacation.
— No divorces.
— To be happy.
— Sanitize your phone daily.
— Donate old clothes.
— Every day to do one thing you have never done before.
— To pilot a commercial jet.
— Learn how to play the guitar.
— Volunteer.
— Gossip less.
— Take more walks.
— Not make fun of friends.
— Give up smoking.

Which of the resolutions from the previous list would you like to make this year? Explain your choice.

Keys:

— No divorces
— To be happy
— Every day to do one thing you have never done before.
— To pilot a commercial jet.
— Learn how to play the guitar.
— Gossip less.
— Not make fun of friends.

Task 4

Watch an episode from “Home alone 2”. What wish does Kevin make? Does it come true?

Keys:

Kevin wishes to see his mother even for a couple of minutes. His wish comes true because his mother finds him.

Discuss the questions:

1. What wishes did you have as a child? Did they come true?
2. Have your New Year’s wishes changed since your childhood?
3. What wishes did you make this year?
4. If you could have three wishes that would come true, what would they be?

Task 5

Watch the trailer of the film A Christmas Prince (till 00:53) and tick the winter activities that you see in it.

— Skiing
— Sledding
— Reading a book
— Snowball fight
— Snowboarding
— Building a snowman
— Ice skating
— Horse riding
— Winter camping

Keys:

— Sledding
— Snowball fight
— Horse riding

Which of the activities from the previous list have you already done this year? How well did you do it? What activity would you never do? Why?

Task 6

Choose a suitable topic to talk about.

— If I had a magic wand this year, I would…
— My only wish is …
— My favorite New Year’s memory is …

Hopefully, the lesson ideas introduced in the article will help you bring the New Year mood into the classroom and get your students motivated for their English lessons.

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