ESL WORKSHEET - A 13-month calendar?

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

13 MONTHS A YEAR

LinguaHouse
Dec. 13, 2023

Level: Mixed Levels (A2-B1 and B1-B2)
Type of English: General English
Tags: Controversial Issues; People and Places; Plans and Arrangements; Special Report; Seasons and Months of the Year; 13-15 Years Old; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old; Article Based; Vocabulary Lesson
Publication date: 12/13/2023

This lesson looks at the concept of the 13-month calendar. Students will read an article about the idea and listen to an interview where different types of calendars are discussed. Exercises focus on related vocabulary, listening and reading skills and offer students an opportunity to discuss questions on the topic. There is an optional writing activity at the end where students can further their ideas on the subject (by Joe Wilson).

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English (L3)
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English (L4)
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English (L3).
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English (L4).
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English (L3).
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English (L4).
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English (L3).
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English (L4).
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audios (Am/Br English).

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

John: So, I want to move on now before we run out of time, and time is what our next guest is all about. Professor Anna Dominguez is here today to talk to us about something I find really fascinating: calendars. Professor, welcome to the show!
Anna: Thank you, John, for having me! Great to be here.
John: So you heard us earlier talking about the idea of a 13-month calendar. What is your view on having 13 months in a year?
Anna: Oh, I can see the appeal for some people. It’s neat. No more having to remember how long each month is or waiting an extra three days for payday at the end of the month for some months. Plus, you get an extra payday! But I think the realities of introducing it would cause too many problems in the modern world. It would require such a major revision in computer data globally. Besides, my birthday is on the 30th of June. I don’t want to have to change that date. I like it!
John: That’s a good point! What other calendars are in use around the world?
Anna: Well, there are a variety of calendars. The Gregorian calendar, which is the adopted global standard, is a solar calendar, meaning that it is based on how long it takes for the Earth to circle around the sun. However, there are also calendars based on the cycle of the moon, called lunar calendars. In fact, the English word month comes from Old English which means ‘between one moon and the next’. There are a few languages where there’s a connection between the word month and moon, such as Malay where they use sebulan for a month which means one moon. The Islamic calendar is an example of a lunar calendar which has been around since the year 632 and is still used today for religious purposes.
John: So, can the year be different depending on which calendar you use?
Anna: Yes, it can. In Thailand, for example, they use both a solar and a lunar calendar. The solar calendar follows the Gregorian calendar exactly, but as it’s a version of a Buddhist calendar, it dates back to the Thai Buddhist Era which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian Calendar. So, it’s 2566 in Thailand. The Hebrew calendar which is used for Jewish observances is based on when the world was created according to their religious writings. So, it’s 5784 this year.
John: That’s so interesting. I never knew! We’re going to take a short break, but we’ll be back with more…

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/13-months-a-year. Accessed on December 15, 2023. © 2008–2023 LinguaHouse.com. All rights reserved.