Celebrations

Two young women hugging each other

Listen to the speakers and do the exercises to practise and improve your listening skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise before you listen. Then do the other exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

Do this exercise before you listen.

Audio file

Transcript

A

It was Nicky's idea, but we all think it's going to be brilliant. As soon as the last exams have finished, we're going to decorate the main hall at school with paper streamers and Chinese lanterns and things. Steve had this idea of projecting photos of everyone onto a wall, like a slide show. And we've got Jo's brother, who's a professional DJ, coming along. Then there are three different bands lined up to play. Ours is the best, because we've been together longest and we've got a great bass player, (coughs) although I say so myself, so we're on last. It's going to be cool.

B

Every year there's a carnival in August in London. You've probably heard of it, the Notting Hill Carnival? So this year, me and my friends are going again. We went last year and we had such a fantastic time. It's all Afro-Caribbean, with people in amazing costumes and these brilliant steel bands. We don't go in costume, but we do dance a lot. It does get quite crowded, so you have to make sure you stick together. And you have to watch out for pick-pockets when there are so many people in the same place. But it's really good fun; it's like London becomes a different country. Even the police dance sometimes.

C

We're going to hire a boat for the day and take it up the river. It's my grandparents' golden wedding anniversary, so the whole family is getting together. I'm really looking forward to seeing my cousins again. I haven't seen them for ages. We've got this huge picnic planned, with loads of different types of sandwiches and salads and an enormous cake. My dad has borrowed an ancient gramophone player, you know, what they had before CD players, and some old records. So as we go up the river we're going to listen to music from the time my grandparents got married – the swinging sixties!

D

Two of my best friends have their birthday in the same week, so some of us have decided to have a surprise party for both of them. One of my friends, Sandra, has a big house, and her parents say we can use it. They're going away, luckily. It's at the end of October, so we're going to decorate the house with Halloween things, you know, spiders' webs and spooky things. We're going to make up an excuse to get the birthday girls to come round to the house – say we're going to help Sandra move some stuff, or something. Then, as soon as Sandra lets them in, we're going to turn the lights out and jump out at them! We just have to make sure nobody mentions anything on Facebook and gives away the surprise.

E

There's a Royal Wedding in June – one of our princes is getting married – so it's a public holiday. Lots of people are having parties in squares and parks and places, and the people in our street decided to have one too. Well, it's a good excuse to have a party, isn't it? We're all going to take out tables and chairs and put them together in the middle of the road. We're going to stop cars coming through, obviously. We're all going to bring different dishes and share them round. There are quite a lot of different nationalities living on our street – people from India, China and different African countries – so the food should be really interesting. It'll be good to get to know more of the neighbours too.

Discussion

Do you have any celebrations planned? What are you celebrating? What are you going to do?

Language level
Topics
Average: 4.3 (31 votes)
Personal online tutoring
EnglishScore Tutors is the British Council’s one-to-one tutoring platform for 13- to 17-year-olds.

Comments

Submitted by Ayanali on Mon, 10/07/2024 - 07:47

In October, we had our National Day last week and a lot of went to our capital city to celebrate this day. It was so crowded in here! Yesterday is my mom's birthday and we spent a hole day in Happy Valley. This Friday is the Double Ninth Festival, it is a festival for old people. Finally, my birthday is coming, I'm going to celebrate it with my family and my classmates. I'm so looking forward about it!

Submitted by Winnie0900 on Thu, 02/22/2024 - 18:38

I have a very special celebration next June: it's my anniversary of dating, so my boyfriend and I are going to bake a cake (last year we baked a red velvet cake) and spend time together. And maybe we're going to go to a restaurant or a museum. We haven't decided yet!

Submitted by ldema_01 on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 12:43

I don't have a lot of celebrations planned. I just have one, that is my best friend's birthday party! I don't really know what we are going to do, but I know its gonna be fun! We probably going out to a random restaurant.

Profile picture for user FlowerQueen

Submitted by FlowerQueen on Sun, 09/10/2023 - 18:34

Hi!
My mother's birthday is coming soon, and I'm planning to celebrate it!
FlowerQueen~♡

Submitted by pomelo on Mon, 02/27/2023 - 15:10

I don't have any celebrations planned

Submitted by lithSly on Sun, 11/13/2022 - 02:40

I don't really have any plans for this year, maybe my sister's graduation

Submitted by ahgima099 on Sat, 10/15/2022 - 11:48

I don't have any celebrating plan this year.

Submitted by aycauzz1 on Wed, 06/08/2022 - 05:50

I want to celebrate halloween. It must be so much fun

Submitted by Edaa on Wed, 06/08/2022 - 05:47

My friend's birthday is approaching, I'm getting ready to celebrate on June 15, I'm so excited.

Submitted by phamMay on Sat, 06/04/2022 - 04:28

yes, a festival in Hai Phong called Hoa Phuong Do(flamboyant red) festival. Having been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will return this year. It is always held on the occasion of the city's Liberation Day anniversary. This event includes a parade and art performances. The parade aims to celebrate the city's Liberation. Everything is very ceremonial during that time. Nonetheless, when art performances start, attendants become wild. Unfortunately, you have to make sure to stick together and watch out for pick-pocket when it is crowded.

Submitted by Fadikly on Thu, 06/02/2022 - 17:31

my birthday in august 26th. i am going to Cesme for my birthdayyy i am very excited!!!!!

Submitted by goksu on Thu, 06/02/2022 - 09:55

yes, my birthday is january 22nd and I'm thinking of having a little party with my family

Submitted by lucalvesilva on Sat, 05/14/2022 - 10:40

Yes, i'm about to get my paid time off, so i have plans to travel with a friend to Chile, one of my favourite countries in South America. We are going to ski as we've never seen the snow before. I am really excited about it.
Profile picture for user 120213197

Submitted by 120213197 on Sat, 04/02/2022 - 20:26

Yes, my parent's wedding anniversary, they will be celebrating their 18th year together. I plan to have a small party for them with my closest relatives at mealtime, I also plan to do different activities and at the end, I will play a small video with photos of them together.
Profile picture for user Valeria_

Submitted by Valeria_ on Sat, 10/30/2021 - 01:58

Yes, as it is almost November because the day of the dead but it will only be food and prepare the offering, it will also soon be my brother's birthday and mine there are only three days apart but they will still be different, we will eat different foods and not It will be a big party since I don't like it very much

Submitted by Carmamo on Tue, 10/26/2021 - 10:12

We are celebrating Halloween party on Sunday, it is a typical American party in wich people are suposed to wear scarry costumes. We are going to go to a party at Juanito´s house, because his parentr are away for the weekend. Mery is going to wear a pirate costume with a scar in the eyebrow, María is going to weare a witch costume with a big black hat and a broom, Mónica is going to wear a vampire costume with long fangs and a black cap. Carmen is going to weare a ghost costume with a white sheet. In the party there is goig to be typical Halloween candies, like dentures, eyes, and biscuits. The music will be typical Halloween songs, such as Thriller and ghost buster.

Submitted by Raijo on Mon, 10/25/2021 - 22:26

For Halloween we are celebrating a spooky night, where we will having a costum contest. After the winner is chosen there will be a terror movie night.

Submitted by Macarena123 on Mon, 10/25/2021 - 15:46

We're celebrating Halloween. And we are going to do our make up, put on our costumes, hace dinner, maybe pizza and then we are going to go to a party: after that we are going to have a pijama party and watch a film.

Submitted by mariposafeliz on Wed, 10/27/2021 - 15:22

Hi everyone! Our next celebration is a Halloween party. On saturday night we are going to dress up with some Halloween costumes and we are hanging out with our friends at a disco in Madrid, because it make a theme party.

In reply to by Macarena123

Submitted by Fancygirls on Mon, 10/25/2021 - 08:05

Hi! This long weekend I’m celebrating Halloween in Santander with my best friend and her friends. We are going to visit the sea and the center of Santander because we have never been there before. Also, we are have a party with a Halloween theme so we are going to wear special costumes.

Submitted by gemix on Mon, 10/25/2021 - 15:49

I'm celebrating a Halloween costume party in my town and a Halloween's appetizer. First at 1 pm we are going out in Cercedilla where we have the appetizer and we have a drink . Later we are going to our premises to dress our costumes of Coco's film. Then we return to the bar for the costume party.

In reply to by Fancygirls

Submitted by A01286794 on Mon, 10/11/2021 - 22:23

This fall my friends and I plan to have a small pandemic protocol meeting to celebrate the holiday of Halloween.

Submitted by Eliansantos54 on Sat, 10/09/2021 - 04:25

Hi, I'm Emilio and I've planned a hallowen celebration, I'm going to invite the whole tec and It's gonna be necesary wear a great costume.

Submitted by A01286829 on Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:19

this month I'm going to celebrate halloween and a friend's birthday

Submitted by A01286879 on Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:33

This year maybe I will celebrate Christmas with all my family who lives in Mexico and we are going to eat a mix of Mexican and Colombian food and we spend time together. The most probably is that on New Year we’re also do something like that.

Submitted by a012869588 on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 23:40

My aunt’s party is on Friday and I'm going to be in charge of making the list of the people that are going to assist. Since the pandemic problem happened, there's going to be only 50 people and it will be from 5:00pm to 12:00am.

Submitted by A01286709_ on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 23:15

I'm going to a surprise birthday celebration and will help with the decorations.

Submitted by aniloraca01286731 on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 19:49

Yess, this Saturday is my brother’s birthday, so my family is going to celebrate it having a meal with him, but something funny is that one of my friends also is his birthday, so in the morning I’m going to celebrate with my brother and in the night with my friend.

Submitted by 01286896 on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 19:39

Hello, I'm doing a big celebration for this Halloween, everybody will come dressed as many things, it will be nice to see you there. The date is the same as Halloween and it´s in Juanito´s House

Submitted by Eliansantos54 on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 19:29

Yeah, I'm planning my birthday party is in 2 months and I'm gonna invite around a hundred persons. I wanna a big party like project x.

Submitted by A01286939 on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 19:21

Yes! im trowing a big party in my house because my friends and i love Halloween

Submitted by A01286499 on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 19:14

Yes, my birthday and im going to celebrate with my friends and my familiy, Im gonna do a big party and all will be happy

Submitted by a01286609_ on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 00:03

I have some birthday celebrations, this October 27th one of my best friends birthday so I am planning to go and see her and give her a present. And maybe I'm also celebrating halloween with some friends or with my family.

Submitted by Mariferch12 on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 23:45

I am going to celebrate my aunt's birthday on October 9, so my family is going to organize a costume party with all my cousins, my mom and I will take care of the cake and decoration. Also, my aunt is a big fan of Halloween so at night we go to see horror movies. – Dany

Submitted by A01286877 on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 22:19

It I had to celebrate a birthday, what I would do is to go to a restaurant and order my favorite food and order a chocolate cake with some decorations of my favorite character and next is to invite some friends and also go bowling.

Submitted by 00573584 on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 20:13

Yeah, I have to celebrate christmas with my family, they want to eat pavo relleno. May be we will go to some restaurant or only we are going to the store to bought some drinks and ingredients for made our own food.

Submitted by A01178822 on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 19:38

This time I'm not celebrating anything special, but I'm going to celebrate a tradition soon. On the day of the dead together with my whole family, we are going to eat pan de muerto, tamales and many other things. There will also be an altar of the dead for all our relatives.

Submitted by A01286477diegozapata on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 19:37

In my country there are many celebrations for example : halloween , christmas , dia de muertos and my family´s birthdays .
Profile picture for user Vale_R

Submitted by Vale_R on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 19:37

I am going to celebrate Halloween because it is my favorite celebration, and what I usually do is go trick-or-treating with my friends and wear a costume, this year my best friend and I are going to get a costume in which we pair up. We're both going to dress up as the Harry Potter character, that's what people usually do on Halloween.

Submitted by A01286879 on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 19:37

Yes!! this month i am going to celebrate hallowen with my friends and my brothers. We wil use costumes , me and my friends are going to be zombies. We will do activities like trick or treating , watch scary movies and eat a lot of candys.

Submitted by A01199127 on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 19:36

In the month of October we have several celebrations such as the discovery of America and it is also the birthday of my middle brother who is 9 years old I think we will go to eat or something similar that my brother likes

Submitted by A01286746_AME on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 19:32

Yes, my birthday will be on October 19 and my parents and I have been planning a small party with my relatives who live in other cities and my friends, there will be cake, food, dancing, etc. it will be incredible and unforgettable.

Submitted by Mariferch12 on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 19:31

In oct. i am gonna celebrate halloween and i am so exciting because i like a lot the candys and in that celebration i eat a lot of candys , not a ot a lot but yes. I think i am not gonna do anything in that day , but eat candys yes :)

Submitted by paolasalas on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 19:31

I celebrate the New Year because I have always celebrated it with all my family, this time we will celebrate the New Year in Merida with all my paternal family where we will go to beaches and towns, when it is just New Year we will be in a hotel where we will count the seconds New Year's Eve with champagne.

Submitted by A01286877 on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 19:29

I will celebrate my birthday in a few weeks. I will celebrate my birthday and I will celebrate it by going to eat with some friends.

Submitted by A01286665 on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 19:29

Yes, this month I'm gonna celebrate Haloween whit my friends, in their houses but we are not going to do like a party, we are going to collect candy in all the houses that we can in different colonies that live rich people

Submitted by moonborn on Fri, 08/06/2021 - 16:39

I haven't any selebrations planned this month. In my country we usually celebrate New Year, birthday party and so on. My favorite one is a birthday party, actually. I like being on my own this day and reading some books as usual.
Profile picture for user Andrii

Submitted by Andrii on Thu, 05/06/2021 - 16:33

I don't have any celebrations planned. I usually celebrate my family's birthdays, new year and other holidays.

Submitted by Liuda on Sun, 04/18/2021 - 16:58

I hate to celebrate anything. When I am be a child I like to celebtaite all holidays. I loved my birthday. I invited my friends and we had fun and ate different sweets together. But now I am hating my brithday and I don't know why.

Submitted by DanysGE on Fri, 04/16/2021 - 05:39

Do you have any celebrations planned? What are you celebrating? What are you going to do? Yes, I have. This weekend is my brother's birthday and my mom and I are planning a surprise party. We are going to decorate de venue, my mom is going to bake a chocolate cake and I'm going to buy some gifs. It'll be fun.
English courses near you