Topic: New Year



In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: New Year. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

get together gather or assemble socially or to cooperate
e.g. Every year, we all get together at my parents’ home to celebrate the new year starting at midnight!
someone’s place someone’s home
e.g. The entire family goes over to grandpa’s place to have a huge meal together, it’s usually a lot of fun.
pay respect to honor someone after their death, usually, by going to the person’s funeral
e.g. We have the traditional ceremony to pay respect to our ancestors in the morning of the New Year’s Day.
family-style designating a style of preparation or serving of food in which diners help themselves from plates of food that have been put on the table
e.g. We always share a large meal family-style, then sit in the living-room and have a good time together.
someone’s signature dish a recipe that identifies an individual chef
e.g. ‘New Year’s’  wouldn’t be complete without grandma’s signature dumplings with gravy!
glutinous rice sticky rice
e.g. We usually eat traditional Korean glutinous rice cakes, I think they’re absolutely delicious!
all-time-favorite favorite of all choices, at all times
e.g. Traditional Korean rice cake are one of my all-time-favorite holiday dishes, I really love ‘New Year’s’!
holiday dish special dish prepared for holidays such as turkey and cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving in the US and Yule log for Christmas
e.g. I’m a foodie – a lover of food – and the holiday season is my favorite time of year, mainly due to the holiday dishes.
freshly minted money newly printed money
e.g. Instead of the Chinese red envelopes, Koreans get freshly minted money from their parents.
pep talks a talk intended to make someone feel more courageous or enthusiastic
e.g. Koreans also get pep talks from their grandparents to wish them a good year.



  1. What did you do on New Year’s Day?
  2. How do you normally celebrate New Year’s Day in your country?
  3. Do you (or your family) have a unique way of celebrating it?
  4. What are you looking forward to this year? If you aren’t looking forward to this year, why aren’t you?
  5. What are you and your family planning to do this year?
  6. Did you celebrate New Year’s Eve? What did you do?
  7. Did you have a special meal during the holidays? What did you eat?
  8. Was last year a good year for you? In what way or why not?
  9. What’s your new year’s resolution?
  10. Someone said, “He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; he who makes one is a fool.” What do you think? Happy New year everyone!


Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.


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