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Caroling

Date: Dec 21 2009

Themes: Holidays

Grammar: Third Conditional Progressive

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Intro

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Go Super to Listen

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Go Super to Listen

Drunken singing in the streets is usually frowned upon, unless it’s Christmastime and you’ve been drinking eggnog. Then it’s caroling.

Of course, you don’t have to get drunk to go caroling. You just have to have a whole lot of Christmas spirit. But a few sips of spiked eggnog might help you get over the embarrassment of singing in front of complete strangers.

Caroling is an old-fashioned tradition that used to be much more common about 100 years ago. These days, it’s pretty unusual to see carolers going door to door. Listen to Marni tell Dale why she’s bringing caroling back.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Dale

Marni

Dale: So, where were you last night?

Marni: Well, I would have been caroling if the weather hadn’t been so bad.

Dale: Um, caroling?

Marni: Yeah, I love to go caroling.

Dale: Like door to door Christmas cheer?

Marni: Spreading Christmas cheer door to door, singing my heart out. Absolutely.

Dale: Wow. I didn’t know people still do that.

Marni: You know, I think there’s kind of a resurgence. But I got together with a group of friends and we did it a few years ago, and now it’s become this tradition.

Dale: How long do you do this for?

Marni: We usually start after the Thanksgiving holiday, so usually early December we’ll start, and we usually do it on weekend nights. Friday nights are a really good night to do it.

Dale: Do you take money? Do they give you money?

Marni: Oh no, we just go and we sing a song, and if they’re really responsive we’ll sing another song, but if we go and people are like “Oh that was great,” we’ll just go on to the next door. We really want people to get into the spirit, so if they’re feeling it we’ll stay a while, but part of it is just roaming around the streets singing.

Dale: Wow.

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Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Dale is surprised to hear that Marni goes caroling. He didn’t think people went caroling anymore. But Marni says she loves to do it.

Marni and a group of her friends go door to door and sing Christmas songs for people every year, from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Some of the people they sing for love it, so Marni and her friends sing more songs for them. But if they get a less positive reaction, they move on to the next house.

Carolers don’t sing for money. They just do it out of love for the holidays.

Have you ever gone caroling? Have you ever seen carolers? What is your favorite part of the holidays?

Comments

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alex sparks

Uganda

want you to be my friend

flaviacarrico

Brazil

I have certain I really do have to get drunk to go caroling…

Marcelolic

Brazil

Here in Brazil we have some christmas presentations,but nothing as a "caroling",people going door to door and sing christmas songs…Here in Brasilia (where I live) I have ever seen groups as amerincan carolers singing,it is nice to see them :)

The better part of holidays is when we stay at home resting or making our stuff hehe :P

sveta1209

Taiwan

I had met some carolers who were sining around streets. But all of them were children. They looked like little angels.

kukuka

Ukraine

Hello to everyone and happy holidays!

And regarding the topic, I've never gone caroling and I've never seen carolers. Here it isn't common. As for getting into the spirit, I've remebered a joke.

It's like Cristmas Eve somewhere far away in Africa, Santa gets out of a limo. He is wearing his red suit and he has a big sackful of presents in his hands. He's approaching the US Embassy to congratulate the coworkers on the Cristmas, and there are a few African children near the embassy, they are asking for presents and santa answeres that he gives presents just those who used to eat well.

leidypalacios

Colombia

good!

tonydang3120

Viet Nam

In my country, they don't go caroling, they just go around the city and take pictures

laura, baby!

Uruguay

I have never go caroling or see someone doing it, just in movies. It´s not a tradition in my county, and I would feel very rare if I did haha

Mariah_

Greece

In my country a lot of people do this. I love caroling it's fun :D

I often go with my friends we go door to door and just sing x-mas songs and we often become sweets or fruits or even money :D

mintovj

Australia

hi what your name i'm MINT na

another kid

Romania

I love caroling it's so fun …this is an old tradition in my country and nowadays kids usually do this . They go door to door , sing christmas songs and sometimes the people who were caroled give them sweets and sometimes even money. I used to do this since this year..i was so busy this year and I had no time to caroling …maybe next year :)

rykinlong

Hong Kong

sounds like somthing going on in the chapel

Anwer

Pakistan

hi to all and love to all

91patii

Poland

I know it… When I was child I used to do it.. :) I go from door to door and sing carols…but our neighbours gave us some sweets :) ofc we didn't want them…but they gave it to us… :) now I think it isn't as popularin my country as some years ago :)

Dreamer-screamer

Kazakhstan

It's good tradition, we have the same, but at night before Christmas which we celebrate on 7 th of Jenuary. I went caroling only one time in my childhood. It was great. My favourite part of holidays…mmm…. well, I adore the morning after New Year's night when I get up late, smile, look at the snow out the window, feel the NEW period of my life and…. go to eat sweets!!!!!

steven_1985

China

Wow , it is so funny ,this is my first time to hear of it !

fitria.risa

Indonesia

I'm living in US now, but I've never seen or heard any carolers around my neighborhood :-(.

ala4fadeel

Sudan

I remebered when I was a child some carolers used to pass by my home and continue to go door to door; they were singing Chritmas songs but they didn't looks as drunk folks.

Yola

Peru

I like it, and feel that I study with you is more easy. Thanks

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

i have never heard about carolers before. its interesting, though. my favorite part of holidays is get together with family and the ones i love, so i enjoy the peace and love at this special time.