Week 6: What would it be like to grow up in this culture? (Children’s stories and songs, holiday traditions, and superstitions)

1: Basic vocabulary

 How do you say the following words in your language? (Or, if target language is English, help your partner understand what these words mean).

-Childhood/youth ______-Even/odd ______

-Story/tale/fable/folklore -Responsibility ______

______-Gift/present ______-Fiction ______-To give ______

-Holiday ______-Superstition ______

-Tradition ______-Fear ______

-Luck ______-To believe ______-______-______

-______-______

-______-______-______-______

-______-______

-______-______

-______-______-______-______

-______-______

-______-______

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2: Children’s stories and songs

Your partner may have brought with them a favorite childhood story or well-known song. Read or listen to it with them.

 Were there some words or phrases that you had difficulty with?  Did you understand what happened in the story, or what the song was about?  Is it similar to a story or song from your own childhood? 3: Fictional holiday figures and traditions

Think about a holiday you celebrate in your culture. Is there a fictional figure associated with that holiday? What does he or she do? Is it similar to anyone from your partner’s culture?

 For example, on July 7th in Japan, people celebrate Tanabata (七夕). According to legend, Princess Orihime and Prince Hikoboshi were two lovers who lived on stars in space. After their relationship began, the two became very lazy, only spending time with each other, and not doing their jobs. The king was angry, and so he separated them to opposite sides of the Milky Way, allowing them only to meet on one day of the year, July 7th (sometimes August 7th). Very colourful celebrations of their reunion include writing wishes on paper, and hanging them on a specially erected bamboo tree, in hopes that they will come true.

Do you participate in any cultural traditions? What is your responsibility? When and why does this tradition occur?

 For example, during Chinese New Year, or “Spring Festival,” married couples give unmarried youth and the elderly red envelopes containing an even amount of money. (Odd-numbered amounts of money are given during funerals). This is thought to bring luck to the recipient.

4: Superstitions

 What symbols or actions are considered as good luck? (A rabbit’s foot, a black cat, knocking on wood, the colour red, etc.).  What is considered unlucky? (The number 4, opening an umbrella indoors, owls, etc.).  Do you know the origin of this superstition?  Is this superstition related to your culture’s dominant belief system? is common in many Arabic (شر العين) ”o For example, belief in the “evil eye cultures. When a person is envious, they are thought to have the evil eye, which can bring misfortune to the recipient. This is why when a person it is as God wills it), in) هللا شاء ما receives a compliment, they will respond with order to ward off envy and the evil eye.