Day of the Dead
I will send out some handy tips and useful exercises for adults learning to navigate and use the English language each week. Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues.
America is a nation of immigrants and as such, many holidays and cultural celebrations from other countries have morphed into American holidays. Halloween, celebrated on Oct. 31st is one of the biggest holidays in America. The following day, Nov. 1st is celebrated as Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead in Mexico and other Latin American countries. A similar celebration called “All Souls Day” is celebrated in European countries on Nov. 2nd. The day is an opportunity for family and friends to gather and pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died.
Listening Tip
Language Level – B2
Learn about the traditions of Dia de los Muertos with this video. Watch with the CC on to practice reading in English as well.
Reading Tip
Language Level – A2
National Kids Geographic is a great resource for anyone learning English. To practice your reading skills, read the article below that explains the traditions of Day of the Dead.
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/day-of-the-dead
Grammar Tip
Language Level – A2
Determiners – A determiner is a word placed in front of a noun to specify quantity (Examples – “one dog,” “many dogs”) or to clarify what the noun refers to (Examples -“my dog,” “that dog,” “the dog”). All determiners can be classified as one of the following:
- An article (a/an, the)
- A demonstrative (this, that, these, those)
- A possessive (my, your, his, her, its, our, their)
- A quantifier (common examples include many, much, more, most, some)
(1) The Definite Article (The)
“The” is called the definite article. It defines its noun as something specific (For example – something previously mentioned or known, something unique or something being identified by the speaker).
- This is the lake I mentioned earlier.
(This is a specific lake that was mentioned previously)
(2) The Indefinite Article (A, An)
“A” and “an” are called the indefinite articles. They define their noun as something unspecific (For example – something generic, something mentioned for the first time).
(This any lake in general)
Examples of Articles
- I’m not a troublemaker. I’m the troublemaker!
(This means “I’m not any old troublemaker. I’m the one you’ve all heard of.”)
- To the uneducated, an A is just three sticks. (Author AA Milne)
(“The uneducated” is a specific group of people. “An A” means any letter A.)
- The poets are only the interpreters of the gods. (Philosopher Socrates)
(“The poets” and “the interpreters” are being identified. “The gods” are something known.
A common mistake – We often remember that we use the article “a” in front of nouns that begin with a vowel and “an” in front of nouns that begin with a consonant. But then we see a sentence like this:
- Buy a house in an hour. 🤯
The reality is that “an” is used before a vowel sound, and “a” is used before a consonant sound.
This is one reason why listening and speaking are such important skills to practice.
Articles also help distinguish between a proper noun that needs to be capitalized and a common noun that does not. For example:
- The Prime Minister said: “Being a prime minister is a lonely job…you cannot lead from the crowd.” (Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher)
Let’s Practice!
Identify ALL of the determiners (including demonstrative, possessive and quantifiers) in each sentence below:
- The staff meeting was postponed until next Thursday.
- My manager has been out sick for a week.
- We are expected to gain 5% in profits this quarter.
- A meeting to discuss the proposal is needed for all parties involved.
- I’m excited to celebrate Dia de los Muertos this year.
- We need to travel to meet with the clients in person.
- The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
Vocabulary Tip
Language Level – B2
We continue to add to our vocabulary words from the Oxford 3000.
A list of 3000 words someone should know if they are taking the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) language tests.
- Desperate (adj)
- Detail (v)
- Detailed (adj)
- Detect (v)
- Dig (v)
- Disc (n)
- Discipline (n)
- Discount (v)
- Dishonest (adj)
- Dismiss (v)
Use this quizlet to study this vocabulary (it’s free!)
Each week new words are added to the same quizlet, so all of the B2 level words will be in one list for practice.
Weekly Challenge
Language Level – C1
Find the 8 errors in the paragraphs below and fix them.
One of the most sacred aspects of Day of the Dead are the altars, called ofrendas. These altars are builted in homes, schools, or other public places to honor the deceased.
Family members will top the altar with the large photo of an loved one, along with colorful papel picado, which translates to “perforated paper.” The tissue color papers represented air as the four elements are meant to be portrayed in the altars. Marigold petals are also featuring throughout the altars, which are meant to guide the spirits back home with their bright color and pungent scent. Candles, both to light the way and represent the deceased, is also commonly seen on the ofrendas, as well as pan de muerto, a traditional Mexican pan dulce rooted in Aztec customs. Skulls made of sugar, also commonly placed on ofrendas, are meant to allude to a ever-present nature of death.
Salt, often placed in the shape of a cross, is placed at or in the vicinity of the ofrenda as a means to purify the visiting souls. Families will also place a container of water, and sometimes tequila, on the altars, so souls can quench their thirst after their journey.
But these altars can also be personal. Some families will include the deceased’s favorite food or personal tokens from their lives, like a favorite book or a shirts. All of it serves both as a way of remembering the dead and honoring them in their return.
The full article can be found here: https://www.cnn.com/travel/day-of-the-dead-traditions-explained-cec/index.html
Questions?
