8th grade. Unit 1. Lesson 1. 1st school day

👉Communicative area: speaking and writing about the first school day

👉Active vocabulary: to be held, to get to know, to get used to, to mark (the occasion), to receive, ceremony, welcoming speech, necessary, the same as, special, typical, various

Read the two sayings about the first school day and explain their meanings. Do you agree with them? 

“You’re off to Great Places. Today is your first day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!” 

Dr. Seuss 

“I’ve always loved the first day of school better than the last day of school. Firsts are best because they are beginnings.” 

Jenny Han 

Read Kate’s blog about her first school day and the comments written by her international pen pals. What students have the longest / shortest school year? 

Hi, all school students! Today was my first school day after a month-and-a-half summer break. The school year starts in the 1st week of September each year and finishes at the beginning or in the middle of July. To be honest, there are no real celebrations for the beginning of the school year (only end) in England. On the very first day at school, we are always just thrown straight into routine and classes – nothing exciting. I guess teachers want us to get focused straight away. But I was happy to see my friends and some teachers. Is the beginning of the school year celebrated in your country? When? How do you mark the occasion? When does school end? I am looking forward to your comments!

Yayoi: It is a pity that you don’t have any special celebration on the fi rst day, Kate. In Japan, schools have special ceremonies for new students in early April when the school year starts. The ceremony is usually held in the school gym. In a typical ceremony, the headteacher makes a welcoming speech for the new students. The ceremony usually ends with a school song sung by the older students. Afterwards, the new students go to their classroom and their teacher explains what they can expect in the year to come. In fact, we have summer holidays on the same dates as the British students do, but formally the end of the academic year falls at the end of March. 

Nawaf: In Saudi Arabia school starts at the end of August and ends at the end of April. When you go to school for the first time, you get a big celebration that lasts for three days. During those days you get to know other students and begin new friendships. Students receive flowers and food from teachers. There is no school, just various activities for three days to get used to everything.

June: I would like to have the same traditions as Saudi Arabian students do! The school year in India, which typically runs from June to March, traditionally opens with Admission Day. It’s similar to the ceremony in Japan. To celebrate, students are often given gifts from their families including an umbrella that is a very necessary item because the new school year starts at the same time as the monsoon (rainy) season does!

 

Read the Internet article about the first school day in Belarus. Match the paragraphs with the pictures, and give them titles. Compare your ideas with your classmates.

Do you have similar activities on the first school day? 

What other activities do you have in your school / gymnasium? 

Which of them do you like? Why? 

What topic did you discuss in your first lesson this year? 

What did you talk about?

Write your blog comment on the first school day.

Describe activities, feelings, what you like / dislike.