Lesson 01 – Talking About Culture

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

/trəˈdɪʃ.ən/ : a custom or belief passed from generation to generation.

Every country has unique traditions.

▸ We follow the same tradition every New Year.
▸ Traditions help people feel connected to their culture.
▸ Some families create new traditions together.

/ˈkʌl.tʃər/ : the ideas, customs, and art of a group of people.

Learning about other cultures makes you open-minded.

▸ Food and language are important parts of culture.
▸ I love exploring different cultures when I travel.
▸ Music is a strong part of youth culture.

/ˈher.ɪ.tɪdʒ/ : history, art, and traditions passed down in a community.

The old town is part of our national heritage.

▸ People feel proud of their cultural heritage.
▸ Many festivals celebrate local heritage.

/ˈkʌs.təm/ : a usual way of behaving in a culture.

Shaking hands is a common custom.

▸ In some cultures, it is a custom to remove shoes indoors.
▸ Wedding customs are different in every country.

/ˈfes.tɪ.vəl/ : a special event with music, food, or activities.

The city holds a music festival every summer.

▸ We watched fireworks at the cultural festival.
▸ Street festivals are a fun way to see local life.

/ɑːrt/ : creative work such as painting, music, or sculpture.

Art reflects the values of a culture.

▸ Do you enjoy modern art?
▸ Street art can tell powerful stories.

/mjuˈziː.əm/ : a place where objects of art or history are shown.

We visited a history museum last weekend.

▸ Museums help people understand the past.
▸ Some museums are free on certain days.

/ˈɡæl.ər.i/ : a place that shows paintings or photos.

Language is a key part of identity.

▸ Learning a new language opens your mind.
▸ Some cultures use more than one language every day.

/ˈhæb.ɪt/ : something you do regularly.

Drinking tea in the evening is a cultural habit.

▸ Many habits come from family traditions.
▸ Living abroad can change your daily habits.

/rɪˈspekt/ : to admire or treat someone or something with care.

We should respect other cultures.

▸ He shows respect by listening carefully.
▸ People feel welcome when their culture is respected.

/daɪˈvɜː.sə.ti/ : a mix of different people, cultures, or ideas.

Cultural diversity makes cities more interesting.

▸ Our school celebrates diversity week.
▸ Diversity helps people learn from each other.

/bɪˈliːf/ : something people think is true or important.

Many traditions come from old beliefs.

▸ Everyone has the right to their own beliefs.
▸ Respecting beliefs avoids conflict.

/ˈsel.ɪ.breɪt/ : to do something special for an event.

We celebrate the New Year with family and friends.

▸ People celebrate success in different ways.
▸ Some cities celebrate culture with street parades.

/lɜːn/ : to get knowledge or a new skill.

You learn a lot by visiting new countries.

▸ Children learn customs from their parents.
▸ I like to learn about other cultures online.

/ʃeər/ : to give or tell something to others.

We share stories about our hometowns.

▸ Sharing culture helps people understand each other.
▸ He shared photos from a local festival.

/ˌəʊ.pənˈmaɪn.dɪd/ : ready to accept new ideas or differences.

Being open-minded helps you connect with people.

▸ Travel can make you more open-minded.
▸ She is very open-minded about other cultures.

/ˈloʊ.kəl/ : related to a specific place or community.

We tried local food at the market.

▸ Local music shows real culture.
▸ Talking to local people teaches you more than a guidebook.

/ˈɡloʊ.bəl/ : related to the whole world.

English is a global language.

▸ Social media spreads global culture.
▸ Many young people mix local and global influences.

/rɪˈspekt.fəl/ : showing respect in your words and actions.

We must be respectful in religious places.

▸ She asked her questions in a respectful way.
▸ A respectful attitude creates good conversations.

Exercise 2

Useful Expressions

  • Do you like visiting museums or galleries?
  • What traditions are important in your country?
  • I love learning about other cultures.
  • That’s a beautiful festival — what do people celebrate?
  • In my culture, we usually …
  • It’s interesting how customs change over time.
  • Speaking of art, have you ever tried painting?
  • Personally, I think culture connects people.
  • That reminds me of a tradition in my family.
  • Every culture has something special to share.
  • It’s important to stay open-minded.
  • I totally agree — diversity makes life richer.

Exercise 3

Dialogue Practice

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor.

Kelvin
That exhibition was amazing. I didn’t expect to enjoy it that much.
Jane
Same here. It showed how much culture can change through time.
Kelvin
Yeah, and it made me think about our own traditions.
Jane
True. In my country, people celebrate the New Year with music and dance.
Kelvin
That sounds fun. We usually spend it with family and food.
Jane
Food is such a big part of culture, right?
Kelvin
Definitely. Local dishes always tell a story.
Jane
Speaking of stories, did you see that photo gallery upstairs?
Kelvin
Yes, the one about global cities — I loved it.
Jane
Me too. It showed real diversity, not just tourist pictures.
Kelvin
Exactly. It’s cool when art feels close to everyday life.
Jane
I agree. Art is like a mirror of society.
Kelvin
That’s deep. Do you visit museums often?
Jane
Not as much as I’d like. But I try when I travel abroad.
Kelvin
Same. You learn so much about history and beliefs that way.
Jane
Totally. And people there are usually respectful and helpful.
Kelvin
Yeah, I met a local artist once — he explained the heritage behind each sculpture.
Jane
That must have been inspiring.
Kelvin
It was. I think learning about culture makes you more open-minded.
Jane
I couldn’t agree more. Understanding others makes the world smaller in a good way.
Kelvin
Well said. Culture really connects us all.
Jane
Exactly — global, but still personal.

Exercise 4

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks to complete the dialogue.

Two people are talking after visiting a museum. They discuss traditions, art, and what they learned about culture.

Luke
That (1) was incredible, so many beautiful paintings and stories.
Kim
Yes, and each one showed something from our national (2) .
Luke
I love how art connects people from different (3) .
Kim
Exactly. It shows how much (4) there is in the world.
Luke
Do you think our local (5) are changing with global influence?
Kim
A bit, yes. Young people mix (6) and global styles.
Luke
That’s true. It is good to stay (7) and respect differences.
Kim
Right. When we travel, we (8) a lot from other cultures.
Luke
And we can (9) our own culture too. That is the best part.
Kim
Exactly. Cultural (10) makes the world more colorful.
Luke
It is nice when people stay (11) and listen with interest.
Kim
Yes, a (12) attitude keeps every conversation positive.
Luke
Good point. Let us go to the (13) next week, they have a new exhibition about ancient beliefs.
Kim
Great idea. Maybe we will (14) something new again.

Choose answers from the options below that fit in blanks 1 to 14

Answer Pool (Questions 1-14)

Exercise 5

Role Play

Role-play the following situation with your tutor.

Situation

You and your partner are talking about culture and traditions.
Ask questions about festivals, art, or customs in each other’s country.
Share your opinions about what makes a culture unique.
Use at least three words from the vocabulary list.
Keep the tone curious, respectful, and open-minded.
Your teacher will play the other person.

Exercise 6

Discussion

  1. What kind of cultural events do you enjoy the most ?
  2. Do you think traditions should always stay the same ? Why ?
  3. How do people show respect for other cultures in your country ?
  4. Which culture would you like to learn more about ?
  5. Do you think global culture makes people more similar ?
  6. What is one tradition from your childhood that still matters to you ?
  7. How can art help people understand each other ?
Correction – Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks

(1) → exhibition
(2) → heritage
(3) → cultures
(4) → diversity
(5) → customs
(6) → local
(7) → respectful
(8) → learn
(9) → share
(10) → diversity
(11) → open-minded
(12) → positive
(13) → museum
(14) → discover

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