Holiday Stories for ESL Reading
Many wonderful reading activities can be designed from holiday stories and used in reading classes for all levels of ESL students.
Designing language-learning reading activities around holiday stories is a great way to help ESL students build vocabulary, make cultural connections, and ask questions.
With so many holiday stories to choose from, it can be a challenge to choose the best story to satisfy the interest and needs of your ESL students, but keep in mind that if you create lively and useful language-learning activities, the text becomes secondary.
Select Excerpts - You certainly do not have to read an entire story or poem with your class. In fact, more might be gained from reading excerpts from a variety of stories, thereby encouraging individual students to choose stories they would like to spend more time with. Here's a brief excerpt from Moore's "The Night Before Christmas."
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; / The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, / In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; / The children were nestled all snug in their beds, / While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
There is a lot of material to work with in this brief passage, and I will use it to highlight some ways you might use holiday stories in your ESL classes.
Here are some ideas for in-class activities.
Build Vocabulary - Sugar-plums? Nestled? ‘Twas? Take the time to answer key vocabulary questions to keep the focus on learning English.
Ask Questions - What does the poet mean when he says “visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads”? And what connections does that have to the Christmas holiday?
Some of the images in this poem are very beautiful and carry significant meaning. Don’t overlook the opportunities to help your ESL students make special meaning out of the text by simply telling your class these kids are dreaming.
Make Cultural Connections - Ask your ESL students what children might dream about during special holiday times in their countries. Have them name the holiday, describe the images in dreams associated with the holiday, and explain the connection between these dreams and the significance of the holiday. The answers may not always be complex, but they will be meaningful.
Read Aloud - Have students practice speech rhythm and pronunciation by reading aloud. The quote above is perfect because it has a very specific pattern of poetic meter (i.e. stress):
‘Twas the NIGHT before CHRISTmas and ALL through the HOUSE / not a CREAture was STIRring not Even a MOUSE
You can read more about practicing speech rhythm in my article titled “ESL Students Need Speech Rhythm."
And don’t forget to continually encourage students to ask questions, too. Review my article “Asking Questions in ESL Lessons“ for ideas.
If you want to share some other ideas for using holiday stories in ESL classes, email me with your thoughts.
