In groups, discuss these questions.
1.Let’s talk about Kazakh customs and traditions. What can you tell about your favorite Kazakh holiday?
2. Are you proud of your national holidays and traditions?
3. What questions can you ask a friend about his/her last New Year celebration?
4. What national souvenirs will you recommend a tourist to buy in Kazakhstan?
5. Do you think it is important to follow your grandparents’ traditions? Why?
Reading Sri Lanka culture
1. True / false: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
| a. | The tattoo was of Buddha sitting on top of a lotus flower. | T / F |
| b. | The woman is waiting for a flight back to her last destination – India. | T / F |
| c. | Officials said the tattoo showed no respect for Sri Lankan culture. | T / F |
| d. | The woman practises Buddhism and thought the tattoo was OK. | T / F |
| e. | This is the first time Sri Lanka has deported someone over a tattoo. | T / F |
| f. | French tourists got prison sentences for kissing a statue of Buddha. | T / F |
| g. | The R&B star got a visa for Sri Lanka to shoot a video for a song. | T / F |
| h. | A British website said it's OK to pose for photos with a Buddha statue. | T / F |
Sri Lanka will deport a British tourist for having a tattoo on her arm of the Buddha seated on a lotus flower. Naomi Coleman, 37, was arrested at Sri Lanka's international airport on Monday. She is currently at a centre in the airport waiting for a flight back to the U.K. Airport officials told Ms Coleman that her tattoo was disrespectful to Sri Lankan culture. A police spokesman said she was arrested for "hurting others' religious feelings". Most Sri Lankans are Buddhist and have deep respect for images and statues of Buddha. They would think anyone with a Buddha tattoo is culturally insensitive. Coleman said she practised Buddhism and did not think her tattoo would upset anyone. This is not the first time that tourists have got in trouble for misunderstanding Sri Lankan culture.
Another Briton was deported last year because he spoke disrespectfully when passport officials asked him about a Buddha tattoo on his arm. According to the BBC, three French tourists got prison sentences for kissing a Buddha statue. Britain's Independent newspaper reports that in 2010, R&B star Akon was told he could not get a visa to visit Sri Lanka because of a video for his song Sexy Chick. The video showed a pool party in front of a statue of Buddha. A British government website warns people who visit Sri Lanka not to pose for photos in front of statues of the Buddha.
2. Synonym match: Match the following synonyms from the article.
| 1. | seated | a. | great |
| currently | b. | spend time in | |
| 3. | disrespectful | c. | anger |
| 4. | deep | d. | presently |
| 5. | upset | e. | questioned |
| 6. | trouble | f. | cautions |
| 7. | asked | g. | sitting |
| 8. | prison | h. | rude |
| 9. | visit | i. | jail |
| 10. | warns | j. | difficulty |
3. Phrase match: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
| 1. | seated on a | a. | to visit Sri Lanka |
| waiting for a flight | b. | statues of Buddha | |
| 3. | hurting others' | c. | got in trouble |
| 4. | images and | d. | lotus flower |
| 5. | culturally | e. | back to the U.K. |
| 6. | the first time that tourists have | f. | sentences |
| 7. | he spoke | g. | for photos |
| 8. | prison | h. | insensitive |
| 9. | he could not get a visa | i. | disrespectfully |
| 10. | pose | j. | religious feelings |
Writing Kazakh national games
Kokpar (tearing the goat into pieces), kyz kuu (catch the girl), altybakan (a swing with six poles),baige (horse race), kures (wrestling)
In the foreground… I think …
In the background… The atmosphere is …
On the right… It seems as if …
On the left … They look … happy
Tasks for self-study