If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- When is Chinese New Year?
- What does the speaker say about the Year of the Snake?
- What events are planned in Auckland?
- What will take place in Wellington on 1 February? And on 16 February?
- When will events take place in Christchurch?
- Why does Dunedin have a special relationship with China?
- When are the two Dragon Parade events being held in Dunedin?
3. Which festival from your culture do you enjoy? Tell us a bit about your favourite festival in the comments below.
Text
This Wednesday, 29 January, is Chinese New Year. It’s also called Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. This year it is the Year of the Snake. The snake is the sixth of the twelve signs in the Chinese zodiac. People born in the Year of the Snake are considered to be intelligent, calm, thoughtful, and good at communication.
Chinese New Year is not only celebrated in China but also in many Asian countries such as Vietnam and Singapore. While it is not a public holiday in New Zealand, it has become a popular celebration in many cities and towns.
In Auckland there are events organised by different groups over several weeks. For example, on Saturday there was a Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day at the Showgrounds, next Saturday (1 February) there is a festival at the Auckland Art Gallery, and the following Saturday (8 February) there is a carnival at Grey Lynn Park from 9am to 8pm.
In Wellington there is a Lunar New Year Festival from 29 January to 16 February, including fireworks on Saturday 1 February, and an Asian Market with craft stalls and a food hall on Sunday 16. Most of these events are around the waterfront.
Christchurch has a Chinese New Year Festival at Victoria Square in the evening of Friday 7 and all day on Saturday 8 February. It will have firework displays, performances, and food stalls.
Dunedin has a special connection with China through its sister city relationship with Shanghai. Dunedin’s Chinese New Year Festival this year is expanding from one day to 15 days, from 26 January to 9 February. There is a Dragon Parade from Princes Street to the Dunedin Chinese Garden on Saturday 1 February from 7pm, followed by performances and fireworks. Then there’s another parade through George St on Sunday 2 February.
There are events and celebrations in other cities and towns around the country, so wherever you are, you can celebrate the Year of the Snake.
Vocabulary
lunar – relating to the moon
festival – a special occasion
Chinese zodiac – a 12-year cycle which has a different animal for each year
celebrate – to show that something is special
carnival – a public event with music, dance, activities, and sometimes people wearing special clothes
craft – things that people make by hand, or the activity of making things with your hands
stalls – tables where things are sold, especially at a market
fireworks display – (noun) a big fireworks show for the public
parade – a public celebration when groups walk or ride on decorated vehicles along a street, dancing or playing music
Answers
a. When is Chinese New Year?
Wednesday 29 January
b. What does the speaker say about the Year of the Snake?
The snake is the sixth of the twelve signs in the Chinese zodiac. People born in the Year of the Snake are thought to be intelligent, calm, thoughtful, and good at communication.
c. What events are planned in Auckland?
Saturday 1 February: festival at the Auckland Art Gallery; Saturday 8 February: carnival at Grey Lynn Park from 9am to 8pm.
d. What will take place in Wellington on 1 February? And on 16 February?
1 Feb: fireworks; 16 Feb: Asian market
e. When will events take place in Christchurch?
Friday 7 Feb (evening) and Saturday 8 Feb (all day)
f. Why does Dunedin have a special relationship with China?
It has a sister city relationship with Shanghai
g. When are the two Dragon Parade events being held in Dunedin?
Saturday 1 Feb from 7pm; Sunday 2 Feb