Holidays-Celebrations

&= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; =20

Holidays & = Celebrations:

Cora Chen=E2=80=99s Lesson=20 Plan for Two Films Produced = by=20 Nicolas Gromik=20 :=20

Yosakoi (A Japanese Dancing Festival) & = Toronagashi (Sending Returning Happy Souls Back to=20 Heaven)

Nicolas Gromik's=20 introduction to his films:

Yosakoi is a dancing festival which = originated=20 from the old Chikoku Oodori.

Yosakoi is the instrument itself, the clapping = noise making=20 thing.

Please click on this link to watch the=20 film: http://nag-production= s.blip.tv/file/88224/=20

(Play=20 video in alternate format: Select a format to watch the = film.)=20

Toronagashi means the return = of the=20 souls back to heaven, it is based on a Buddhist tradition where = the souls=20 come to earth to celebrate their death and console their family = members=20 and friends, and after this ceremony is conducted, the souls are = sent back=20 to heaven, and that's toronagashi.

Please=20 click on this link to watch the = film: http://blip.tv/file/88231=20

(Play=20 video in alternate format: Select a format to watch the = film.) = ; =20

Overview: This lesson shows = students how to=20 learn about other cultures through documentary films.

Target=20 Group:

For the=20 purpose of this lesson, the target group levels range from = beginning=20 (high), intermediate, and advanced.

Designed=20 for ESOL students such as immigrant students from around the = world or=20 foreign students in the International ESL Programs, this lesson = is also=20 suitable for high school students and adults.

Objectives: At the end of the = lesson,=20 students will learn about and appreciate other cultures and = understand=20 people from other=20 cultural backgrounds better.

Group work:

After=20 watching the films Yosakoi and = Toronagashi,=20 students work in groups and talk about the following questions:=20

Do you=20 have holidays or special occasions similar to these in your = country?=20
What=20 other special days do you have? When are they?
When is=20 New Year=E2=80=99s Day in your country?
What=E2=80=99s=20 your favorite holiday or festival? How do people celebrate it?=20
During=20 these special occasions, holidays or festivals, what do people = usually=20 do?
Are=20 there parades or street fairs? What kind of musical instruments = do=20 people play in the parades, such as drums, flutes, trumpets or = others?=20
What=20 kind of special food and drink do people have on these special=20 occasions?
What=20 kind of things do people give or receive as gifts?
What are=20 the lucky colors and lucky numbers in your culture? What kind of = colors=20 do people use for clothing and objects to celebrate these = special=20 occasions?
Are=20 there any flowers, fruit, plants or animals that are considered = lucky=20 symbols in your culture?
What=20 kind of special clothes or costumes do people wear for these = holidays,=20 festivals or special occasions?
Are=20 there any ceremonies for honoring the souls of your dead family = members=20 and friends in your country? How often and when are they held? = How long=20 do these ceremonies last? What do people usually do during these = ceremonies? Do they use the following objects to honor the = souls, such=20 as lanterns, candles, torches, bonfires, food, paper objects = (clothing=20 and houses that are made of paper) and other things? =
What did=20 you see in those films that you found extremely interesting? =
What did=20 you think of the films? Were they boring? Why? What would you = have liked=20 the films to provide more visual cues of?

Class=20 activity: Give a short talk about an = interesting=20 holiday, festival or special occasions in your native country. = Answer any=20 questions your classmates may have.

Individual or pair work: Search = the web to=20 locate your classmates=E2=80=99 native countries and learn more = about their=20 cultures.

Individual work: = visit=20 http://blip.tv/ (or any=20 safe online TV channel) and try to find other films which provides = a view=20 of your native country=E2=80=99s festivals. What are = the differences and=20 similarities between these films? (meaning = Toronagashi and=20 selected film)

Class activity: Bring to class = any of the=20 following visual items to show how people in your country = celebrate these special=20 = occasions: &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; =20

a=20 picture you took or from a magazine, or family=20 = photos &= nbsp; =20
images=20 you found on the Internet
a video=20 file you have created or produced by others=20