TALK ABOUT IMPORTANT DATES

 Important dates are significant events in our lives or in our cultures, such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or national celebrations. Talking about important dates helps us share personal experiences, cultural traditions, and plan future events.

In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about important dates in English, ask and answer questions about them, and describe why they matter to you. You will also practice grammar, vocabulary, and conversation related to special dates.

---

GRAMMAR

1. Using the Present Simple

• The present simple is used to talk about facts and traditions related to important dates.
  Examples:
  • "My birthday is on June 15th."
  • "We celebrate Christmas on December 25th."

2. Using Prepositions of Time

• On is used for specific dates or days:
  Example: "We celebrate Independence Day on July 4th."
• In is used for months, years, or parts of the day:
  Example: "My graduation was in 2022."
• At is used for specific times:
  Example: "The party starts at 6:00 PM."

3. Asking Questions about Dates

• Use when to ask about specific dates or times:
  Examples:
  • "When is your birthday?"
  • "When do you celebrate New Year’s Eve?"

4. Past Simple for Past Events

• Use the past simple to talk about important dates that have already happened:
  Examples:
  • "I graduated on June 10th, 2020."
  • "We had a party for my birthday last year."

---

VOCABULARY

1. Birthday: The anniversary of the day someone was born.
   Example: "My birthday is next week."

2. Anniversary: A date when an important event happened in the past.
   Example: "We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary."

3. Holiday: A special day of celebration or rest.
   Example: "Christmas is my favorite holiday."

4. Celebration: A joyful event or activity.
   Example: "We had a big celebration for New Year’s Eve."

5. Tradition: A custom or belief passed down through generations.
   Example: "Eating turkey is a Thanksgiving tradition."

6. Invitation: A request to attend an event.
   Example: "Did you get the invitation to the party?"

7. Festival: A public celebration or event.
   Example: "The music festival happens every July."

8. Memorable: Something worth remembering.
   Example: "The trip to Paris was a memorable experience."

9. Announce: To make something known publicly.
   Example: "They announced the wedding date last week."

10. Special: Something unique or important.
    Example: "Her birthday is a special day for the family."

---

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

1. "My birthday is on..."
2. "We celebrate [holiday] on..."
3. "When is your special day?"
4. "This date is important because..."
5. "It’s a tradition to..."
6. "We have a party to celebrate..."
7. "Our family always gets together on..."
8. "What do you usually do on [date]?"
9. "I remember that day clearly because..."
10. "It’s an unforgettable day for me."

---

SENTENCES

Positive Sentences

• "My birthday is on October 5th."
• "We celebrate Independence Day with fireworks."
• "Christmas is an important date in my country."

Negative Sentences

• "We don’t celebrate Halloween in my culture."
• "This year, we didn’t organize a big party."
• "I don’t usually do anything special on Valentine’s Day."

Questions

• "When is your birthday?"
• "What do you usually do on New Year’s Eve?"
• "Why is this date important to you?"

Answers

• "My birthday is on August 12th."
• "We usually have a family dinner."
• "It’s important because it’s my parents’ anniversary."

---

CONVERSATION

Scene: Two friends talking about important dates.

Emily: Hey, Alex! When is your birthday?
Alex: It’s on March 21st. What about you?
Emily: Mine is on September 15th. Do you usually celebrate your birthday?
Alex: Yes, I always have a small party with my family and friends. What about you?
Emily: I like to go out for dinner with my family. Do you celebrate any other important dates?
Alex: Yes, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are very special for us. We always get together with my grandparents.
Emily: That sounds lovely!

---

READING

"Important Dates Around the World"

Different countries celebrate important dates that are special to their culture. For example, in the United States, people celebrate Independence Day on July 4th with fireworks and parades. In Mexico, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a unique tradition to honor loved ones who have passed away.

In China, the Chinese New Year is a big celebration with dragon dances, lanterns, and delicious food. It usually happens in January or February, depending on the lunar calendar.

Personal important dates, like birthdays and anniversaries, are celebrated worldwide. Some families have unique traditions for these occasions, such as baking a special cake or giving meaningful gifts.

No matter where you live, important dates bring people together to create happy memories.

---

Questions and Answers

1. Q: What do people in the United States do on Independence Day?
   A: They celebrate with fireworks and parades.

2. Q: When does Chinese New Year usually happen?
   A: It happens in January or February.

3. Q: What is Día de los Muertos?
   A: It is a Mexican tradition to honor loved ones who have passed away.

4. Q: What are some personal important dates?
   A: Birthdays and anniversaries are personal important dates.

5. Q: Why are important dates special?
   A: They bring people together to create happy memories.