Free-Talk Ideas for the May Holiday Season
Did you know we're in the midst of a holiday season? In most of our students' countries, some big holidays (and long weekends) are either happening right now or are just around the corner!
This means you'll have plenty of conversation topics to choose from. To get you started, we've prepared some basic information on the holidays along with some discussion questions.
Golden Week in Japan
Golden Week, or “GW” for short, is like Japan's spring break. It's actually made up of a several separate holidays that occur very close to each other on the calendar.
Compared to other big holidays, which are more traditional and family-oriented, GW is a lot more focused on fun and travel. In 2025, Golden Week spans from April 29 to May 5.
- How many days off do you get for Golden Week this year? Are you planning to take any extra time off?
- What are your plans for Golden Week?
- What individual holidays make up Golden Week?
- What’s your favorite Golden Week memory?
- Where have you traveled during past Golden Weeks? (Related: 4 Things to Do During Japan's 'Golden Week')
Children’s Day in South Korea
In Korea, Children's Day is a public holiday. Parents usually do something special for their kids, like taking them on picnics, dressing them in traditional clothes, and bringing them to fun places like amusement parks, zoos and movie theaters.
In 2025, Children's Day is celebrated on May 5.
- What are some of your memories of Children's Day growing up?
- Is Children's Day celebrated differently today than it was when you were a child?
- Is your town or city hosting any events to celebrate Children's Day?
- How do parents normally prepare for Children's Day?
Some students might be interested in discussing more serious aspects of the holiday.
- Many holidays are seen as too "commercialized" these days. Do you think this is the case with Children's Day? Why or why not?
- Why do you think there's a holiday that specifically honors children?
- Do you think children in Korea are happier now than they were in the past? Why or why not?
Vesak in Thailand
Vesak (also known as Visakha Bucha) is a holiday that honors the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Since Thailand is a Buddhist country, this is a big day for many of our Thai students! In 2025, it's celebrated on May 11 and 12.
- What do people usually do for Vesak? How does your family celebrate it?
- I hear Vesak honors Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. Can you tell me about these events?
- I've heard that Vesak and the Thai New Year are both big holidays in your country. What are some similarities and differences between them?
- What do people do at temples on Vesak?
- If I were to visit Thailand, which Buddhist temples should I visit? Why?
- What are some famous Buddhist temples in your area? What are some differences between Buddhist temples in your area and those in the rest of Thailand?
- How should one behave when visiting a Buddhist temple? For example, are there any rules or dress codes?
Labor Day in Taiwan
May 1 is Labor Day in many countries around the world. In Taiwan, Labor Day is a day off for people who work in the private sector. (Civil servants, unfortunately, need to keep working.)
- What are your plans for Labor Day? Do people do anything special to celebrate it?
- What do you think about the fact that civil servants don’t get the day off?
- Do you think most people ever stop to think about the origins and meaning of the day?
👋 That’s it for now
We hope you have a good time talking to students about their holidays in the next couple of weeks. Remember: if you're ever at a loss for free-talk topics, be sure to keep an eye on the calendar; interesting holidays and celebrations are never too far away!
