Celebrations

6.1 Listen and write the correct dialogue numbers under the photos. Two are extra.

Dialogue 1

(Bell rings)

**Teacher:** Hey children, there is a celebration of National Sovereignty and Children's Day. We are parading together with the other schools. Let's talk about our preparations. First, you need to wear red and white clothes. Second, you should wear comfortable shoes. Is it okay?

**Student 1:** Okay, Mrs. Akgul. It's great. I am very excited. What are the other preparations?

**Teacher:** You should get Turkish flags.

**Student 2:** How many flags do we need?

**Teacher:** We need a lot of flags. Each of you should get some flags.

**Student 1:** Of course, Mrs. Akgul.

Dialogue 2

**Boy 1:** Let's do something different this weekend, friends. How about organizing a karaoke party?

**Girl 1:** That's a good idea. I like singing songs. What do we need for it?

**Girl 2:** We need a smart TV, a speaker, and a microphone. I have a big smart TV and a speaker at home. Could you bring your microphone, Jasper?

**Boy 1:** Certainly. Shall we buy some snacks?

**Girl 2:** Of course. We should take some snacks. But I don't want any ice cream. The weather is not warm enough. You can take it if you want. Hey Matt, would you like to join us?

**Boy 2:** I am sorry. I can't. I'm busy this weekend.

6.3. Listen to the audio and find out the celebration types. Then write the correct number under the photos. Two are extra.

One.

I am Harper. My graduation party will be tomorrow. I am very excited. I want to keep my memories alive, so I need a camera. I will do the shopping with my mother today, because I need a new dress and a pair of shoes. I want to be very elegant on my graduation day.

Two.

I am Liam. We are celebrating our grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary. We need a lot of balloons because we want to decorate the room with balloons. They like colorful celebrations, so we need to buy some confetti and some fireworks. They will be very happy.

Three.

I am Abigail. I am throwing a birthday party for my little girl. She loves chocolate, so I need to make a chocolate cake. Also, I should make some cold lemonade because the weather is too hot these days. I think three jugs of lemonade are enough. My daughter wants to see her close friends at the party, and I need to prepare a guest list quickly.

Four.

I am Elijah. Nick is one of my oldest and beloved friends, and he will marry two days later. I need to take all the invitation cards to send them to their guests. Many guests will come to the wedding hall, so we need a lot of chairs, but we don't need any tables. I have many things to do, but I don't forget to shop for myself. I need to buy a new black suit for myself.

Do you like parties? 🔊

1. Personally, I like parties because I can spend time with my friends. I enjoy listening to music and dancing, even if I’m not a very good dancer. I also like trying different snacks and drinks. However, I don’t like it when the music is too loud, because then it is hard to talk to people. I also feel uncomfortable if there are too many people in a small place.

2. I sometimes like parties, but it depends on the situation. I like birthday parties with games and activities, because everyone is happy and relaxed. I enjoy talking to people I know well and taking photos together. On the other hand, I don’t like parties where I don’t know many people. I feel a bit shy, and I don’t know what to say. I also don’t enjoy parties that finish very late, because I get tired.

3. To be honest, I don’t really like parties very much. I prefer small meetings with two or three friends. At big parties, I feel nervous and I don’t like being the center of attention. I also don’t like loud music or crowded rooms. But there are some things I enjoy: I like the decorations, the special food, and watching other people have fun. Sometimes, if the party is calm and with people I know well, I can enjoy it.

Arranging Celebrations and Having Parties  

1. Useful Vocabulary for Parties

Types of celebrations

- a birthday party  

- a surprise party  

- a wedding reception  

- an anniversary celebration  

- a graduation party  

- a farewell party / a goodbye party  

- a housewarming party (for a new home)  

- a holiday party (Christmas, New Year’s Eve, etc.)

Match the type of celebration to the correct description.  

Write a–e.

a) birthday party  

b) farewell party  

c) housewarming party  

d) wedding reception  

e) graduation party  

1) ____ a party when someone finishes university or school  

2) ____ a party when someone moves to a new home  

3) ____ a party for someone who is leaving (a job, a city, etc.)  

4) ____ a party after a couple gets married  

5) ____ a party to celebrate someone’s birth date

Party words

- guests  

- host / hostess (the person who gives the party)  

- invitation / invite  

- decorations  

- balloons, banners, lights  

- snacks, drinks, dessert, cake  

- music, playlist  

- games, activities

Choose the correct word.

a) The person who gives the party is the __________.  

   1) guest 2) host 3) waiter  

b) We put up balloons and lights as __________.  

   1) invitations 2) decorations 3) activities  

c) Chips, nuts, and cookies are __________.  

   1) snacks 2) desserts 3) games  

d) People we invite to a party are __________.  

   1) hosts 2) guests 3) teachers  

2. Making Suggestions

Use these patterns to suggest ideas:

a) “Let’s …”

Very common, friendly, and direct.

- Let’s have a party this weekend.  

- Let’s invite our classmates.  

- Let’s make a chocolate cake.

You can answer:

- Sounds good! / Great idea!  

- I’m not sure. / I don’t think that’s a good idea.

b) “Why don’t we … ?”

A polite suggestion.

- Why don’t we celebrate at my house?  

- Why don’t we order some pizza?  

- Why don’t we play some games?

You can answer:

- That’s a great idea.  

- Good idea, but it might be expensive.  

c) “We could …”

Use this for possible ideas.

- We could have a barbecue in the garden.  

- We could decorate the room with balloons.  

- We could make a playlist for the party.

You can answer:

- Yes, we could do that.  

- Or we could go to a restaurant instead.

d) “How about … ? / What about … ?”

Use with a noun or -ing verb.

With a noun:

- How about a picnic in the park?  

- What about a movie night?

With -ing:

- How about inviting our English teacher?  

- What about making some sandwiches?

You can answer:

- Yes, how about Saturday evening?  

- I’m not sure about that.

Complete the sentences with:  

Let’s / Why don’t we / We could / How about

a) _________ invite our classmates.  

b) _________ have a barbecue in the garden.  

c) _________ making a playlist for the party?  

d) _________ celebrate at my house?

Choose the best reply.

a) A: Let’s have the party on Monday morning.  

   B:  

   1) Sounds great!  

   2) I don’t think that’s a good idea. People have to work.  

b) A: Why don’t we order some pizza?  

   B:  

   1) That’s a great idea.  

   2) I’m really sorry, but I can’t.  

c) A: We could decorate the room with balloons.  

   B:  

   1) Yes, we could do that.  

   2) Maybe next time. I’m busy.  

3. Accepting and Rejecting Suggestions

Accepting

- That’s a good idea.  

- Sounds great!  

- I love that idea.  

- Yes, let’s do that.

Rejecting (politely)

- I’m not sure about that.  

- I don’t think that’s a good idea.  

- Maybe we could do something else.  

- I’d prefer to (do something else).

Example:

- A: Let’s have the party on Monday morning.  

- B: I don’t think that’s a good idea. People have to work.

Are these sentences ACCEPTING (A) or REJECTING (R) a suggestion?  

a) That’s a good idea. ____  

b) Maybe we could do something else. ____  

c) Sounds great! ____  

d) I’m not sure about that. ____  

e) Yes, let’s do that. ____  

4. Inviting People to a Party

You can invite people:

- face to face  

- by phone  

- by message / email  

- with an invitation card

a) Simple invitations

- I’m having a party on Saturday. Would you like to come?  

- I’m throwing a small party next Friday. Do you want to come?  

- I’m having a few friends over this weekend. Would you like to join us?

b) Giving details

Include:

- what  

- when  

- where  

- why (optional)  

Example:

- I’m having a birthday party on June 15th at 7 p.m. at my house.  

- We’re having a barbecue on Sunday afternoon in the park near the school.  

You can add:

- There will be music and games.  

- We’ll have snacks and drinks.  

- You can bring a friend if you like.

Choose the correct option to complete the invitation.

“I’m __________ a small party on Friday. Would you like to come?”  

a) doing  

b) throwing  

c) going  

Rewrite the invitation to include more details.  

Use this information:  

• what: a birthday party  

• when: June 15th at 7 p.m.  

• where: my house  

Example start:  

“I’m having a birthday party …”

Write 1 complete sentence:

___________________________________________________________

5. Accepting an Invitation

Be friendly and clear.

Short answers

- Yes, I’d love to.  

- That sounds great, thanks!  

- I’d love to come. What time does it start?  

- Thanks for inviting me. I’ll be there.

Longer example

- A: I’m having a party on Friday night. Would you like to come?  

- B: I’d love to, thanks! What time should I arrive?

6. Refusing an Invitation (Politely)

Give a reason if possible and say something kind.

Useful phrases:

- I’m really sorry, but I can’t.  

- I’d love to, but I have other plans.  

- Thanks for inviting me, but I’m busy that day.  

- Maybe next time.

Example:

- A: We’re having a small party on Saturday. Do you want to come?  

- B: I’d love to, but I’m working on Saturday. Maybe next time.

Circle the best answer.

a) Your friend invites you to a party and you want to go.  

   You say:  

   1) I’m really sorry, but I can’t.  

   2) Yes, I’d love to.  

b) You are busy on Saturday and cannot go.  

   You say:  

   1) Thanks for inviting me, but I’m busy that day.  

   2) That sounds great, thanks!  

c) You refuse but want to be kind.  

   You say:  

   1) Maybe next time.  

   2) I don’t like parties.  

7. Asking for and Giving Party Details

Asking questions

- What time does the party start?  

- Where is the party?  

- When does it finish?  

- Can I bring anything?  

- Who else is coming?  

- Is there a dress code?

Giving information

- It starts at 7 p.m. and finishes around 11.  

- It’s at my house, 25 Green Street.  

- You can bring a drink if you like.  

- Just wear something casual.

Write a suitable question for each answer.

a) Answer: “It starts at 7 p.m.”  

   Question: __________________________________________?

b) Answer: “It’s at my house, 25 Green Street.”  

   Question: __________________________________________?

c) Answer: “You can bring a drink if you like.”  

   Question: __________________________________________?

8. Planning a Party – Useful Phrases

Talking with a friend about plans

1) Decide the type of party:

- Let’s have a small birthday party for Anna.  

- We could throw a surprise party.

2) Choose the date and time:

- How about next Saturday evening?  

- Why don’t we start at 6 p.m.?

3) Choose the place:

- We could have it at my place.  

- What about the café near the station?

4) Food and drinks:

- Let’s order some pizza.  

- We could make some snacks.  

- How about making a fruit salad?

5) Music and activities:

- Let’s create a playlist.  

- We could play some games.  

- What about watching a movie later?

Put the conversation in the correct order (1–5).

  

___ Good idea. How about next Saturday evening?  

___ And we could create a playlist and play some games.

___ Yes, that works. We could have it at my place.  

___ Let’s have a small birthday party for Anna.

___ Great. Let’s order some pizza.  

9. On the Day of the Party: Useful Expressions

Welcoming guests

- Hi! Come in!  

- I’m glad you could come.  

- Thanks for coming.  

- Make yourself at home.

Offering food and drinks

- Would you like something to drink?  

- Can I get you a drink?  

- Help yourself to some snacks.  

- There’s pizza in the kitchen.

During the party

- Are you having a good time?  

- Do you want to play a game?  

- Let’s take some photos.

Saying goodbye

- Thanks for coming!  

- It was great to see you.  

- I hope you had a good time.  

- See you soon!

Choose the best phrase for each situation.

a) A guest arrives at your house. You say:  

   1) Make yourself at home.  

   2) Maybe next time.  

b) You want to offer a drink. You say:  

   1) Can I get you a drink?  

   2) I’d love to, but I’m busy.  

c) The party is finishing. You say:  

   1) See you soon!  

   2) What time does it start?  

10. Short Sample Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Making suggestions

A: Anna’s birthday is next week.  

B: Let’s have a party for her.  

A: Good idea! How about Saturday afternoon?  

B: Sounds good. We could meet at my place.

Dialogue 2: Inviting someone

A: I’m having a small party on Friday evening at my house. Would you like to come?  

B: I’d love to, thanks! What time does it start?  

A: At 7 p.m.  

B: Great, I’ll be there.

Dialogue 3: Refusing politely

A: We’re having a barbecue on Sunday. Do you want to come?  

B: I’m really sorry, but I can’t. I’m visiting my grandparents.  

A: That’s okay. Maybe next time.  

B: Yes, thanks for inviting me.

Complete the dialogue with suitable phrases from the tutorial.

A: I’m having a party on Saturday. ________________________?  

B: ________________________, thanks! What time does it start?  

A: It starts at 8 p.m.  

B: Great, ________________________.

Conversation Questions 

### 1. General questions about celebrations

1. What celebrations are important in your country?  

2. Which celebration is your favorite? Why?  

3. Do you like big celebrations or small ones?  

4. How do you usually celebrate special days?  

5. Who do you like to celebrate with?  

6. Do you like planning celebrations? Why or why not?  

7. What time do celebrations usually start and finish in your country?  

8. Do you prefer to celebrate at home or in a restaurant?  

9. How do you feel after a big celebration?  

10. Which month has the most celebrations for you?

---

### 2. Birthdays

1. When is your birthday?  

2. How do you usually celebrate your birthday?  

3. Do you like birthday parties? Why or why not?  

4. What do people eat and drink at birthday parties in your country?  

5. What kind of birthday cake do you like?  

6. Do you like getting presents on your birthday?  

7. What was your best birthday? Why was it special?  

8. Do you give presents to your friends on their birthdays? What do you give?  

9. Do you like surprise parties?  

10. How did you celebrate your last birthday?

---

### 3. Festivals and national holidays

1. What is a famous festival in your country?  

2. When is it?  

3. What do people do during this festival?  

4. What special food do people eat?  

5. What clothes do people wear?  

6. Do people use decorations? What kind?  

7. Do you travel during national holidays? Where do you go?  

8. Which holiday is the most exciting for children? Why?  

9. Do you watch parades or fireworks? When?  

10. Are there any traditional dances or songs for this festival?

---

### 4. Family celebrations

1. What celebrations do you have with your family?  

2. Who usually organizes family celebrations?  

3. What do you usually eat at family celebrations?  

4. Do you take photos or videos? Who takes them?  

5. Do you play games with your family at celebrations? Which games?