We asked the ESL teachers within our circles what they are planning to do this year with their students for Christmas. Since we’re under COVID, and some of us in lockdown, many in-person activities cannot be done. We need to be creative in finding new ways. Here is what some of them said:
- Latin American students are quite familiar with “Christmas songs.” I found that they really enjoyed singing them as an addition to English lessons. They were able to learn new vocabulary and maybe even some grammar through songs that contained “older English”.
- I’ve also found that listening to a modern version of a Christmas song online can be a gateway into a conversation about what Christmas means in different countries (preferably in small groups). For example, here are some starter questions: 1. Have you heard this song before? 2. Is this song popular in your country at Christmas-time? 3. How is Christmas celebrated in your country? 4. What does Christmas mean to you?
- We will do a Christmasy Lesson. In person I usually do Christmas cards for them to discuss (symbols) as part of the lesson. Too bad I can’t do that this year.
- Learn English Make Friends are going to send e-cards to the students who join from other countries/provinces and we will deliver baskets to students in our area with small gifts, pre-packaged treats and potentially a recipe and the ingredients for them to make a traditional Christmas style treat.
- Take students to an outdoor skating rink
- Christmas trivia on Zoom (perhaps use ‘poll’)
- Video lessons – e.g. Jesus Film; Nativity Story. Lessons at https://eslministries.org/resources/teaching-materials/seasonal-resources/
- Organize a trip to drive-through festivals of lights like the one in Uxbridge (https://www.todocanada.ca/city/toronto/event/uxbridge-optimist-fantasy-lights/); students and teachers can greet one another in the car
- Introduce students to online Christmas concerts (search <Christmas concerts online 2020>). Agree to watch one together (separately in our own homes) and then discuss it.
- Introduce students to your church’s livestream Christmas services and encourage them to join.
- For lower level students, show different Christmas objects through the computer and introduce their significance. For example, can show a nativity set to tell the Christmas story.
- Show a Christmas children’s book with lots of pictures and tell the story together
- Mail out Christmas cards and/or deliver Christmas gifts to the students’ homes
Perhaps you have other ideas. Might you send them to us at eslministries@gmail.com? If we collect many, we can further distribute them.