Conversation Topic: Summer Festivals & Summer Vacation ☀️
Summer is a time of celebration in many countries. In this post, we’ll go over some summer festivals in some of our students’ countries and briefly mention what summer vacation is like for kids in school.
We’ll also cover questions you can ask and suggest words and phrases (bolded) that you can teach when discussing these topics.
Festivals and Events in Japan
July and August are when many summer festivals take place in Japan. The most famous ones are the Gion Festival in Kyoto and Tenjin Festival in Osaka, both known for huge parades. However, there are also many smaller, local festivals that take place at temples.
- Tell me about some summer festivals near you!
- What’s your favorite summer festival?
- Have you ever been to one of the biggest festivals in Japan? I’ve heard that the Gion Festival and Tenjin Festival are the most famous.
At festivals, many vendors set up stalls to sell street food.
There are also stalls for games and activities. Some classic summer festival activities are goldfish scooping, ring toss and yo-yo scooping. Not sure what those activities are like? Ask your students!
- What do you eat at festivals? Do you only eat these foods at summer festivals?
- Do you play any games? How do you play them and what's the prize if you win?
Fireworks are also a popular summer event, and people often show up many hours in advance to get a good spot.
- Do you watch fireworks in the summer? If so, where?
- Do you need to go early to get a spot? Are there any other ways to avoid the crowds?
For festivals and fireworks, many Japanese people, especially women, wear traditional clothing.
- Do you dress up for summer festivals?
- What are some differences between men and women's traditional clothing? Can you show me some pictures?
Besides temples, many neighborhoods also have their own festivals that often feature lots of dancing. Here’s one in Tokyo:
You can read more about this festival here.
- Have you ever danced or participated in a festival?
- Are there any festivals that are unique to your neighborhood? What does it celebrate and how?
Festivals and Events in Korea and Taiwan
There aren’t as many summer traditions in Taiwan or South Korea. However, Koreans have the Boryeong Mud Festival. The mud in the city of Boryeong is said to be good for the skin, so there's a whole festival dedicated to playing in it!
And in Taiwan, there's the Fulong International Sand Sculpture Arts Festival, which features beautiful sculptures made from sand.
- Have you ever been to the Boryeong Mud / Fulong Sand Sculpture Festival? If not, would you like to go?
- Are there any other summer festivals that visitors should know about?
Finally, let’s not forget why summer is such a special time for kids: summer vacation (also known as summer break or summer holidays). This is a great topic to discuss if you have students who are parents or are still students themselves.
- How long is your summer break?
- What do you plan to do during summer break?
In Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, summer vacation starts in July and ends in August or September. However, students usually get some summer homework and many even take classes at cram schools during the summer.
- Do you have any summer homework? If so, what kind?
There may also be certain days during the summer when students are required to go back to school. For example, in Taiwan, students must return to school to clean it up before the new semester starts.
- Do you have to go back to school during the summer?
That’s it for now! 👋
The events we've introduced here should give you plenty to discuss, but even aside from festivals, your students may have exciting trips or other plans to talk about. Either way, we hope you have some great conversations as the summertime approaches!
