Song #1
Philosophy (first 27 seconds)

LAINE:
Hello you’re listening to 93.3 Cartables FM.  Welcome to ENGLISH ON THE SPOT.  This week we’re going to talk about Christmas, read a traditional holiday story, and learn a typical Christmas song.  But first, let’s introduce ourselves.  Hi, I’m Laine.
…..
LAINE: Today, let’s get to know Jess and Laura some more!

RICARDO: Jess, what is your nationality?

JESS:  I’m British.  I come from Leicester.

RICARDO: How old are you, Jess?

JESS: I’m 22 years old.

RICARDO:  What are your hobbies?

JESS:  I like painting and cycling!

RICARDO:  Do you have any brothers or sisters?

JESS:  Yes, I have two younger brothers.  They are 21 and 17 years old.

RICARDO:  Thanks, Jess. It was great getting to know you!

JANE: Now, let’s get to know Laura! Laura, what is your nationality?

LAURA: I’m American.  I come from Seattle.

JANE:  How old are you?

LAURA: I’m 23 years old.

JANE:  What are your hobbies? 

LAURA:  I like running and knitting.

JANE: Do you have any brothers or sisters?

LAURA:  Yes, I have three older brothers and one younger sister.

JANE:  Wow, you have a big family!  Kids, do you have any brothers or sisters?

4 SECOND PAUSE
JANE:  Great! Thanks for sharing! Laura, what’s your favorite holiday song?

LAURA:  My family and I like to sing “Deck the Halls.”  Let’s listen to it!

Song 2: DECK THE HALLS
Lyrics:
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
Tis the season to be jolly, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

Don we now our gay apparel, 
Fa la la, la la la, la la la. 
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

See the blazing Yule before us, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
Strike the harp and join the chorus. 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

Follow me in merry measure, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
While I tell of Yule tide treasure, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

Fast away the old year passes, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

Sing we joyous, all together, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
Heedless of the wind and weather, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

LAINE:  Kids, do you want to try singing the beginning together?  [pause for a few seconds] Listen to us once!

EVERYONE:
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
Tis the season to be jolly, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

LAINE:  Kids, now it’s your turn to sing with us!  Here we go!
EVERYONE:
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
Tis the season to be jolly, 
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

LAURA: That was beautiful!  

RICARDO: Sounds like it’s time for a story!

Song 3: Story time

JESS:  Now we’re going to read “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore.

Twas the Night before Christmas 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! 
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Song 4: Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

JESS:  Ricardo, do you want to tell us about some of your Christmas traditions?
 
RICARDO: Sure. Christmas in Jamaica is not much different from other countries that celebrate Christmas, except the fact that it has its own flavour based on the Jamaican culture. It is the most festive time of the year with lots of celebrations, special treats, festivals and happy gatherings of friends and families. The Christmas season starts with families decorating their houses, putting up Christmas trees, and playing those melodic Christmas carols in Jamaican reggae style.
 
JESS: Ricardo, sing us a Jamaican Christmas carol!  ( optional)
 
JESS: So what do you do on Christmas Eve in Jamaica?
 
RICARDO: On Christmas Eve, we have our traditional Christmas market called Grand Market. At the Grand Market , families buy toys, firecrackers, balloons, sweets of all kinds, including pinda cakes (an African word for peanut) and peppermint sticks. Every year children look forward to going to the market because there are special treats put on for them. They also receive toys from men dressed up as Santa Claus. Jankanoo ( John Canoe) is also another Christmas celebration, dancers and musicians parade through the streets dressed in colourful costumes. This tradition was brought to Jamaica by African slaves and is mostly celebrated in the rural areas.
 
JESS: How is Christmas day celebrated ?
 
RICARDO: On Christmas day, we go to church, which is very important to us. After church, we go home and have our  special Christmas dinner- the feast of all feasts. We eat rice and gungo peas, beef, pork, fish, ham, curried goat, potato salad and fried plantain. We also have a special drink called -sorrel ( made from sorrel sepal, a meadow plant), ginger, pimento seed and rum. We end our Christmas dinner with our delicious dessert, our Christmas cake made from fruits marinated in wine for months.
 
JESS: Is Santa Claus a part of the Christmas tradition in Jamaica?
 
RICARDO: Yes, pretty much so. Although we have never seen snow or have houses with chimneys, Santa Claus and his gifts are very much a part of our Christmas tradition. Children wake up on Christmas day very happy to see their gifts under the nicely decorated Christmas trees.
 
JESS: Christmas is indeed a fun time in Jamaica, especially with all that delicious food..Mmmm. I'd love to come to Jamaica and celebrate Christmas with you one day.
 
RICARDO: Sure, why not. You will have great time! You will definitely have to drink some sorrel and eat some Christmas pudding!

Song 5: Jingle Bell Rock

JANE:  Now it’s time for the word of the day.  Today’s word is Santa.  Santa is our Père Noel.

EVERTONE: San-ta

LAURA:  Now it’s time for a game.  Let’s play Santa Says.  This game has the same rules as Jacques a dit, but in this game it’s Santa Says.  So, if you hear “Santa Says,” then you follow the action, but if you don’t hear it, do not do anything.

LAURA: Santa says, touch your nose.

Pause

JANE: Stand up!

JESS: Santa says touch your head.

RICARDO: Santa says touch your toes.

LAURA: Turn around.

JANE: Santa says open your book!

LAURA:  Jump!

RICARDO: Santa says say Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas is what we say on Christmas day.  

JESS:  Guess it’s time for us to go!  Thanks for tuning into 93.3 Cartables FM English On The Spot!

JANE:  That was fun. That English really hit the spot!  See you next time!
JESS: Bye
RICARDO: See you next time!
LAURA: See you later!
LAINE: Goodbye!

EVERYONE: And Merry Christmas!!

Song 6: Au Revoir