Holidays are a bridge into students’ cultures, local cultures, and global cultures. So, if the ultimate goal for teaching a World Language is to increase empathy and cultural competency, and to reduce bias, then exposing our students to a wide variety of holidays may invite their curiosity, appreciation, and respect.
All the presentations shared below have either been authored or proofread/reviewed by people who belong to the various cultures presented. Please make your own copy if you wish to edit them. I hope you and your students find these helpful!
Useful reminders:
- We are not necessarily experts, but we are open, respectful, and curious.
- We do not put students on the spot as representatives of their cultures unless they have specifically provided consent to lead or co-present.
If you see any typo or if you know of trusted presentations for more holidays or for a different level, please contact me to have them added to this list.
| NOVICE LEARNERS | INTERMEDIATE LEARNERS |
|---|---|
| Diwali | Diwali (credit: Pav from fleavecmmed) |
| Hanukkah | |
| Holi and Hola Mohalla (credit: Natasha Faroogh, Shah Singh Family, Veronique Sumbu, and Roopali Chaudhary) | |
| Kwanzaa (in progress) | |
| Lunar New Year | |
| Norooz (credit: Khorshid Gharaee-Kermani Natasha Faroogh) | |
| Ramadan |