Урок "Saint Valentine's Day"

Saint Valentine's Day

Suggested level – Pre-Intermediate

Tetiana Tabachna,

a teacher of English,

school #2,

Yahotyn, Kyiv region

By the end of the lesson students will be able to:
-   use proper prepositions in idioms;

-         -         compose poems devoted to Saint Valentine's Day;
     -    use topical phrases in speech. 

Procedure

I.                  GREETING

     T: Hello, my friends! How are you today? Are you in good mood? As for me, I’m looking forward to a special holiday. It is extremely popular in the English speaking countries and has become one of the most favourite celebrations of young people and all those who are in love in our country as well. As you have guessed, it is St Valentine’s Day. Our today’s lesson is dedicated to it. What do you know about this holiday?

II.               MAIN PART

1.     PRESENTATION OF MATERIAL. LISTENING.

     T: On the 14^th February sweethearts confess their sincere feelings to each other, try to show their love in special ways. People, not only lovers, exchange cards known as valentines and give presents. To get more interesting information, watch the short scene.

On the stage arrear students dressed in special costumes

     P1 (Saint Valentine):  Hello, my friends! Do you know who am I? Then listen to my story. I am a priest. I lived in Rome many years ago in the third century AD. When marriage for soldiers was banned I secretly performed marriage ceremonies, for which I was put to death on February 14^th.

     P2 (Cupid): I am a Cupid. I am the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. I am the most popular of love symbols. As you can see, I am a boy with a bow and arrows. I also have wings on my back.

     P3 (in a heart-shaped costume): I am a Loving Heart, another symbol for pure love. I am red and beautiful, stricken with an arrow. Most often you can find me on valentines.

     P4 (in a costume of a bouquet of red roses): I am the bouquet of red roses – the gift presented to the sweetest girl by her young man as the sign of passionate love. Who doesn’t wish to get me on St Valentine’s Day?

     P5 (a valentine): I am a love letter called valentine. I am sent to relatives, classmates, teachers, friends and especially to those who you fell in love with. I may contain love poems or may not – just a few words from anonymous writer “From your Valentine”.

     After listening

     T: I hope you enjoyed the presentation. Is everything clear to you? We’ll check it now. Make a short test, sometimes checking more than one answer.

TEST

1)    Saint Valentine was a …

 a - seller                        b – priest                c – soldier

2)    He lived in the … century.

a – fifth                          b – twentieth           c – third

3)    … was the son of Venus.

a – Cupid                    b – Saint Valentine     c - a soldier

4)    The symbols of pure love are:

a – arrows                  b – red roses              c – red hearts

5)    Valentines can be sent to …

A – beloved                b – friends                 c – relatives

2.     READING

     T: Do you know how and when valentines appeared? If you don’t, then you’ll find out. But first put the parts of the text in the right order and make a short summary.

Students read the text, order its parts and make a summary in their copy books.

THE FIRST PAPER VALENTINE

(1)   ….. Verses and other valentine greetings were popular even in the Middle Ages. At that time few people could read or write. Lovers usually said or sang their valentines to their sweethearts.

(2)   ….. Written valentines began to appear after 1400. The oldest one we know of was made in 1415. A Frenchman, Charles, Duke of Orleans, was captured by the English in a battle. He was put in prison in the Tower of London. There he wrote valentine poems. Many of them were saved and can be seen today in the British Museum.

(3)   ….. For a long time valentines were made by hand. The sender often wrote his own message in verse. Sometimes he used pretty coloured paper and even coloured ink.

(4)   ….. In the early 1800s, factories began to make valentines. Black and white pictures were printed on pretty paper. Some of them were painted by workers in the factory. But most people bought plain pictures and did their own painting. Some valentines had verses printed on them. Later love letters became fancier.

3.     TIME FOR POETRY

     T: A poem is the best means to tell about love. Thousands of poems, sonnets, verses are devoted to this human sense. Beautiful, lyrical, tender. They enrich our soul. Many valentines have romantic poems, some are humorous. Now it is high time for us to exercise our poetic skills and choose rhymes to some short verses.

     Students get unfinished verses and match the words from the box to make rhymes.

1)    Love me tender,

Love me sweet,

Never let me go.

You have made my life complete,

And…(I love you so.)

2)    Love is like flowers –

It needs the sun and rain

In all kinds of weather.

…(“Goodbye” don’t say.)

3)    I am like a cabbage,

Divided into two;

The leaves I give to others,

But…(the heart I give to you.)

4.     TIME FOR SONG

     T: We all know, the most melodious and beautiful songs are those about love. One of them is from the legendary film “Titanic” – “My Heart Will Go On”. Let’s sing it together.

Students sing a song.

MY HEART WILL GO ON

By Celine Dion

Every night in my dreams

I see you. I feel you.

That is how I know you go on.

Far across the distance

And spaces between us

You have come to show you go on.

Near, far, wherever you are

I believe that the heart does go on.

Once more you open the door

And you’re here in my heart,

And my heart will go on and on.

Love can touch us one time

And last for a life time,

And never let go till we’re gone.

Love was when I loved you,

One true time I hold to,

In my life we’ll always go on.

Near, far, wherever you are

I believe that the heart does go on.

Once more you open the door

And you’re here in my heart,

And my heart will go on and on.

You’re here, there’s nothing I fear,

And I know that my heart will go on.

We’ll stay forever this way.

You are safe in my heart,

And heart will go on and on.

5.     Grammar. Writing.

     T: When writing a message of love we must be correct. It is necessary to be rightfully understood. There are some phrases on your cards which will be of great help to you. Fill them with missing prepositions.

Admiration …smb       (for)

The object … smb’s affection     (of)

To be filled … love        (with)

Love … first sight         (at)

To fall … love          (in)

To look … love      (for)

To have  pleasure…      (in)

To marry … smb         (to)

III.           SUMMING-UP

     T: Our lesson is almost over. We learnt something new about Valentine’s Day, read poems and sang songs. I hope you had a great time, didn’t you? For the next lesson get ready with your own valentines for your parents, friends or someone else.

Teacher evaluates students’ answers.

References:

1.     English. – 2011. – January, Issue 2 (530).

2.     A S Hornby. Oxford Advances Learner’s Dictionary. - 7^th edition. - Oxford. University Press. – 2005.