The letter to Santa

It's Christmas time at the post office, and a letter from a poor little boy really touches the workers... Listen to the story, read between the lines to understand why the ending is so funny, work on If I had, I wish and used to, then tell the joke yourself!

Final task: you will have to film yourself telling the joke in one shot, without reading any notes. Don't learn it by heart: tell it in your own words, give Tommy a voice when you tell his letters, and keep the punchline for the very end! Check the assessment grid (Step 4) to see how you will be marked.

These activities are designed to support teachers, who can include them in their own lesson sequences.

Step 1: discover the story (B1)

A poor little boy, a letter to Santa, and some very kind post office workers.

• General comprehension Listen to the story. What does Tommy ask for, and who answers his letter?
• Detailed comprehension Listen again and catch the exact words: sorting, embarrassed, firewood, losers…
• Tommy's wishes A coat, a hat, gloves, a video game… why does Tommy want each present?
• The vocabulary list Post office, wool hat, firewood, loser… all the words of the story, with ▶ to listen.
• Listen and match Listen to the words and find their translation: can you remember them all?
• The story: drag the words Listen and put the missing words back in the story.

Step 2: understand the joke (B1)

The story doesn't say everything… so why is the ending so funny?

• Read between the lines Who really sent the presents? Where are the gloves? What Tommy doesn't know…
• Talking about a joke The punchline, to blame, ungrateful, the irony… the words you need to explain a joke.
• Why is it funny? Put the missing words back in the explanation of the joke.
• Explain the joke to a friend Your friend Sam didn't get the joke. Answer Sam's questions and explain it!

Step 3: grammar in context (B1)

If I had a warm coat… I wish I had gloves… I used to be so embarrassed…

• The lesson Imagining, wishing, comparing before and now: Tommy's sentences side by side.
• Tommy's two letters Had, would, wish, used to… listen and put the missing words back in the letters.
• Choose the right form Had or have? Use to or used to? Choose the right form and read why.
• Wishes, conditions and memories Match the beginnings and the ends of Tommy's sentences.
• Say it in English! Ten French sentences: say them in English with if I had, I wish or used to, then click to check.

Step 4: tell the joke yourself (B1)

Now it's your turn to make your classmates laugh!

• Listen and repeat The whole story, sentence by sentence: listen, repeat and give Tommy a voice!
• Tell the whole joke Six steps and a few key words: now tell the joke your way.
• Assessment grid How will your joke be marked? Read the grid before you film yourself.