Listening
1. Look at the picture. What tradition do you think this is? Share your ideas with a partner.
2. Listen to Mai’s presentation and complete the table with no more than three words from the recording.
| What is the tradition? | The xoe dance |
| What does the dance express? | Working life and wishes for a (1) _________ life |
| Where do people perform xoe? | Public and (2) _________ |
| How many xoe dance forms are there? | More than (3) _________ |
| What is the most popular form? | (4) _________ |
| Why is it the most popular? | It expresses (5) _________ unity |
| How do people perform it? | Make a circle around the (6) _________ and dance to (7) _________ |
| Why should they continue this tradition? | It reflects Thai (8) _________ |
3. Listen again and tick (✔) true (T) or false (F).
| T | F | |
| 1. The xoe dance is a spiritual tradition of Thai ethnic people. 2. There are 16 ancient forms of xoe. 3. Only young people perform the circle dance. 4. Dances with conical hats, paper fans or scarves are some forms of xoe. 5. The importance of xoe is expressed in an old Thai song. |
Writing
4. Work in pairs. Read about a traditional Japanese dance. Make complete sentences, using the information given.
Example:
The Obon dance is a traditional Japanese dance.
| What’s the tradition? | The Obon dance |
| What does the dance express? | People honouring their ancestors |
| When do people perform the Obon dance? | Obon festival, in mid-August in many regions of Japan and in mid-July in other regions |
| How many Obon dance forms are there? | Different forms in different regions |
| What is the most typical form? | Circle dance |
| How do people perform it? | Make a circle around a yahura, a high wooden stage; some dancers move clockwise, and some counter-clockwise |
| Why should they continue this tradition? | One of the most important traditions; lots of people come back to reunite with their family during the Obon festival |
5. Imagine that you are joining a writing contest about customs and traditions and have chosen to write about the Obon dance. Now write a description of this dance. Begin with the following sentence.
There is a tradition in Japan that people perform the Obon dance during the Obon festival. ___________________________________________________________
