This activity is suitable for English language learners of elementary to intermediate level. Give each student a sheet of paper on which you have written seven questions using the superlative and relating to the past year. For example, “What was you happiest day of the last year?” “What was your saddest day?” and “What was your most successful moment?” Ask students to add three more questions of their own and circulate around the classroom, with you giving help where necessary. Divide students into pairs to ask and answer the questions. After 20 minutes or when everyone has finished, invite students to tell you about their partner. For example, “Chris' happiest day was on Dec. 1 because it was his birthday and he went to the beach with friends for the day.”
This activity is suitable for English language learners of a lower-intermediate to intermediate level. Explain the concept of New Year's resolutions to your class and write an appropriate example on the board, for example, “I'm going to drink less beer.” Ask each student in the class to write down three resolutions of her own while you circulate around the classroom giving help where necessary. Divide the class into pairs to ask and answer questions about their resolutions, using the “going to” structure. For example, “Are you going to give up smoking?” or “Are you going to do more homework?” After five minutes, ask the students to swap partners and repeat the activity. After another five minutes, ask the students to change partners one more time before reporting their findings to the class. For example, “Alan isn't going to do more homework, but he is going to get up earlier.”
This activity is suitable for English language learners of a elementary to lower-intermediate level. Divide the class into groups of three and give each group a dictionary and five pieces of vocabulary relating to New Year's Day such as "mistletoe," "resolutions," "eve,” "Auld Lang Syne" and "celebration." Students write definitions for these words, for example, "It's a plant you kiss under," using the dictionary if they are unsure of the word. When each group has finished, ask them to take turns reading their definitions. Award the other groups a point if they can correctly tell you the word.
This activity is suitable for English language learners of a lower-intermediate to intermediate level. Write on the board the phrase “This time next year.” Ask students to individually write down, on a slip of paper, three predictions about themselves starting with this phrase. For example, “This time next year I'll be married” or “This time next year I'll be speaking fluent English.” Circulate as the students work, helping where necessary. Ask the students to write their names on the slips of paper and collect them. Read the sentences one by one and ask the students to guess to whom they belong.