Vol. 12, Issue 2, January 2012



Teaching American Holidays  
Jennifer E. Scully
Consultant

Jennifer Scully started teaching ESL in 1992 and has worked with students from kindergarten to college. She works with New York City Teaching Fellows, graduate students in TESOL, and mainstream teachers to improve their practice with ELLs. She provides professional development in various settings but still works with elementary school ELLs to stay current.

 Don't Be Afraid to Teach Holidays

There is no reason why teachers cannot present American holidays in a way that balances school policy, teacher perspective and historical fact.

For ESL teachers in particular, the numerous holidays in the United States offer built-in history lessons with a special focus on language and culture. Think about the upcoming holidays and month-long celebrations such as Martin Luther King Day, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, African American History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Women's History Month. You can investigate your school’s guidelines on teaching holidays and also consult more experienced teachers for guidance.

If you are teaching in a public school, think about adopting a sociological stance in your instruction, rather than a religious perspective.

After determining your school’s guidelines and your own stance on teaching a particular holiday, look for texts at your school or local library and the Internet. The following are some good
ESL-friendly sources:

Tips for Teaching Holidays

Lundren and Luncy-Ponce (2007) advise all teachers to create a culturally accepting and responsive classroom in order to promote cross-cultural understanding and respect. The authors suggest the following:

  • Add classroom visuals reflecting the racial and ethnic diversity of the classroom.
  • Incorporate books with multicultural themes and different perspectives into classroom readings.
  • Explore themes that are common to all cultures.
  • Take interest in students' lives outside of school and ask questions about community events and traditions.
  • Integrate ethnic art, music, and games into classroom activities.
  • Support English language learners and their families with materials in their first language.

Activity for Older Students

For this project, students can work independently or with a group. Provide students with a list American holidays to research online or from texts. Next, tell them to interview parents or relatives about a traditional holiday from their home culture. Then, have students compare and contrast the holiday from their home culture with the American holiday they researched. Finally, have them present their findings to the class.

I hope these tips and resources will be of use to you, Neophyte. Send me your own lesson ideas, websites and resources when you have a free moment!