26 Mar St Patrick’s Day and Ireland
Ireland
The English English Podcast S01E16
Glossary (in chronological order)
Missionaries- a person sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country
Monk- a member of a religious group living on vows of poverty, chastity, and
obedience
Mass- the ceremony held at church, usually on Sundays
Lent- the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter observed by Roman Catholics
Shamrock- a small clover-like plant with three leaves, the symbol of Ireland
Starving- to be extremely hungry
Bagpipes- a wind instrument typical of Celtic culture
Culture shock- the feeling you get when experiencing a place or culture very
different than your own
Showers- referring to rain that comes and goes in small intervals
The Gift of the Gab- the art of speaking well or being a good speaker
Cliff- a steep rock face, usually near the sea
Listen and put the words above into the sentences below.
1) The pope sent ________________ to Ireland to bring everyone together.
2) St. Patrick was a British _________ sent to Ireland to do that.
3) People would go to ___________, or church.
4) Because often St. Patrick ’s Day is part of ___________, which is the 40 days
before Easter, the church gave a dispensation from the restrictions….
5) We only celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by wearing something green or a
______________.
6) If you have it (a meal) at 6, by the time you go to bed at 11 or 12, you are
___________.
7) Even Celtic culture, Celtic music isn’t that different from here…. And the
Irish have ___________ and cider.
8) Perhaps not such a big ______________.
9) It rains 10 times every day. It stops again and starts again…. It does, there
are lots of _______________.
10) Another stereotype about Irish people is that they have the
__________________, so they can talk forever.
11)The ___________ of Moher, 300 metres high, are worth visiting.
What do the teachers say about these things?
• St. Patrick
• Celebrating St.
Patrick’s Day
• Irish timetables
• Climate
• Drinking
alcohol
• Drinking tea
• Suggestions for
tourists
Conversation Questions
• Have you ever been to Ireland? If not, would you like to visit it?
• What are some Irish stereotypes that you have heard? What are some
stereotypes of people from your country?
• Do you have any holidays like St. Patrick’s Day that are unique to your
country?