12 December
Ancestors
1. Where were you born?
2. Where are your parents originally from?
3. Tell us about your mother’s/father’s hometown.
4. Do you like your parents’ hometown? Why/why not?
5. Where did your ancestors come from?
6. Tell us about your grandparents
7. Tell us about your great-grandparents
Related Words: grandparents, grand grandparents, parents, my mother’s parents, my father’s parents, grandchildren, originally from, immigrant, migrate, settle, was born and raised in, when I was a child, root, talkative, funny, friendly, helpful, sociable, cute, moody, serious, give pocket money
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Ancestors
1. I was born in Akhisar. Akhisar is a town in Manisa
2. My father is originally from Akhisar, too. My mother is from Karabük. My father’s parents are originally from Thessaloniki, Greece
3. Akhisar is a big and populated town in Manisa. It is usually calm, and the people of Akhisar are friendly. Karabüt is a province in the Western Black Sea. It is green and beautiful.
4. I like both cities. Istanbul is usually crowded and stressful. When I go there, I feel relieved.
5. My ancestors came from Greece. They are Turkish immigrants. They came to Bursa about 100 years ago.
6. My grandparents are all dead. They were very friendly and funny.
7. I don’t know my great-grandparents. They came to Bursa and settled there, and after that, they moved to Akhisar
The Olympic Flag and Its Meaning
The Olympic flag was designed by Baron de Coubertin, a French aristocrat, in the early 1900s. The flag has a white background with five colourful rings in the centre. The colours of the rings are blue, yellow, black, green, and red.
Baron de Coubertin explained the meaning of the flag in 1931. He said that the five rings represent the five continents of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. What’s special about the Olympic flag is that at least one of the colours on it can be found on the flag of every country that participates in the Olympics. The Olympic flag is a symbol of unity and togetherness among nations from all around the world.
READ/SPEAK
Do you know any famous Olympic athletes? What do you know about those people?
What is your favourite Olympic sport?
Have you ever played any Olympic sport?
What is the most exciting Olympic event you’ve watched?
If you could go to the Olympics, which event would you watch?
Feeling or showing sadness:
“He’s been a bit blue since she left him.”
LEARN THE IDIOM AND SPEAK
How do you feel today? Happy or sad? Why do you feel so
222
12 December
Honesty
Are you an honest person?
Do you sometimes lie? And why do you do that?
Do you think white lies are sometimes necessary?
Do you think honesty is always the best policy? Why or why not?
Have you ever been caught lying? What was the situation?
Do you think people lie more on social media than in real life?
Can a small lie ever become a big problem?
Have you ever lied to a friend or family member? Why?
Do you trust people easily, or do you need time to believe them?
The Meaning Behind the Olympic Flag
The Olympic flag, designed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, has a rich symbolism that reflects the unity and global nature of the event. Created in the early 1900s, Coubertin carefully chose each element of the design with a deep meaning in mind.
The flag features five interlocking rings—blue, yellow, black, green, and red—on a white background. These five rings are meant to represent the five continents of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. According to Coubertin, the rings symbolise the unity of these continents, brought together under the banner of Olympism.
Interestingly, Coubertin’s design was highly intentional. He explained in 1931 that these five ring colours, along with the white background, were carefully chosen because they are the six colours that appear on all the national flags of the world at that time. This meant that, regardless of a nation’s flag, at least one of the Olympic flag’s colours was present, creating a sense of inclusivity and global harmony.
The flag, with its simple yet profound design, continues to be a unifying symbol of the Olympic Games, bringing together athletes from all corners of the world in a celebration of sports, peace, and international unity.
READ/SPEAK
Do you like the Olympic Games? When did you watch the Olympics, and what do you remember about that year?
Who is your favourite Olympic athlete and why do you like him/her?
What is your favourite Olympic sport?
Have you ever played a sport in a competition?
If you could compete in the Olympics, which sport would you choose?
Have you ever been to a big sports event?
Feeling or showing sadness:
“He’s been a bit blue since she left him.”
LEARN THE IDIOM AND SPEAK
When was the last time you felt blue, and why did you feel so?
333
12 December
Childhood and Youth
What is different now from the old days?
What did you do when you were a child and when you were a teenager?
What were your favourite hobbies?
What are the good and bad things about being young?
Tell us your favourite cartoons when you were a child and your favourite TV programs when you were young.
What is your happiest childhood memory?
What games did you love playing as a child?
Did you have a best friend in childhood? Are you still in touch?
What was your favourite toy as a child?
What was your favourite subject at school?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
How did you spend your summer holidays as a child?
What is a funny memory from your childhood?
What do you miss the most about being a child?
Do you think children today have better or worse childhoods than in the past?
How did technology affect your childhood compared to today’s youth?
What are the biggest differences between today’s teenagers and your generation?
The Meaning Behind the Olympic Flag
The Olympic flag, designed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, has a rich symbolism that reflects the unity and global nature of the event. Created in the early 1900s, Coubertin carefully chose each element of the design with a deep meaning in mind.
The flag features five interlocking rings—blue, yellow, black, green, and red—on a white background. These five rings are meant to represent the five continents of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. According to Coubertin, the rings symbolise the unity of these continents, brought together under the banner of Olympism.
Interestingly, Coubertin’s design was highly intentional. He explained in 1931 that these five ring colours, along with the white background, were carefully chosen because they are the six colours that appear on all the national flags of the world at that time. This meant that, regardless of a nation’s flag, at least one of the Olympic flag’s colours was present, creating a sense of inclusivity and global harmony.
The flag, with its simple yet profound design, continues to be a unifying symbol of the Olympic Games, bringing together athletes from all corners of the world in a celebration of sports, peace, and international unity.
READ/SPEAK
Would you like to be an Olympic athlete? What would you like to be and why would you choose to be in that branch?
Have you ever watched the Olympic Games? What do you enjoy about them?
What is the most memorable Olympic moment you have seen?
The Olympic motto is “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.” What does this mean to you?
Feeling or showing sadness:
“He’s been a bit blue since she left him.”
LEARN THE IDIOM AND SPEAK
What are the things you do when you feel blue? Do you think people are too sentimental and life is not that complicated, or do you think people need to be sorry for some reasons?