Adult ESL Lessons: American Holidays (Intermediate)

This is Lesson 1, “American Federal Holidays,” from our collection of intermediate-level adult ESL lessons. The lesson features a reading passage about American holidays, followed by comprehension questions and discussion questions. This content-packed lesson is written with relatively simple English to help students transition to a more advanced level of English understanding and fluency. This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many other adult ESL lessons like this one in our book ESL Pathways: Bridges.

ADULT ESL LESSONS: American Holidays (Text-Only Version)

• Do you celebrate Christmas?  What do you do?  
• When is New Year’s Day?  How is it celebrated?
• What is your favorite holiday?
• How many days off do you have in one year?
• What do you like to do on your days off?
• Do you think you have enough holidays?
• What American holidays do you know about?

Read about some American federal holidays.

American holidays are spread throughout the year.  There are holidays and important dates in almost every month.  A holiday is a day of remembrance for a person or an event.  On some holidays you may have a day off from work but not on all of them.  Having a day off and taking a vacation always mean that you do not have to go to work or school but a holiday, in the American sense, is generally a special day with historical significance.  

The following is a list of federal holidays.  The government recognizes these days as official days of significance.  Work schedules may or may not be affected by these holidays. In the United States, there are 10 federal holidays set by law.  The following four holidays are set by date.  

If any of the above holidays fall on a Saturday, then Friday may be observed as a holiday. Similarly, if one falls on a Sunday, then Monday may be observed as a holiday.

The other six federal holidays are set by a day of the week and month.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is a holiday?
2. Is a holiday a day off from work?
3. How is a holiday different from a vacation?
4. How many holidays does law in the United States set?
5. How many holidays are set by date?
6. How many are set by day of the week and month?
7. When is Independence Day?
8. What holiday is on November 11^th?
9. What holiday is on December 25^th?
10. What happens if a holiday falls on a Saturday?
11. What holiday is the third Monday in February?
12. When is Martin Luther King’s birthday?
13. When is Washington’s Birthday celebrated?
14. What holiday is the second Monday in October?
15. When is Thanksgiving?
16. When is Labor Day?
17. When is Memorial Day?
18. Which is first:  Columbus Day or Martin Luther King’s birthday?

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some important holidays in your country?
2. What is your favorite holiday?  Why?
3. What special things do you do on different holidays?
4. What special things do you eat or drink on different holidays?

5. If you have a day off from work or school, what do you usually do?
6. Would you rather have time off on a rainy day or a sunny day?  Why?
7. How many hours do you work or study in one week?
8. Do you feel that you have enough free time?  Why or why not?
9. Would you rather go to work or stay home?  Why?

10. Do you think people work too much?  Why or why not?
11. Do you think there are enough holidays in your country?  Why?
12. If the government decided to make a new holiday, what would be your suggestion?  What would be the name of your holiday?  What would be the date?

13. How long is a normal working day in your country?
14. What is the difference between full-time and part-time jobs?
15. Why do some people have two jobs?
16. Would you like to have two jobs?  Why?
17. Have you ever had a part-time job?  If so, what was it?  Why did you decide to get

        this job?  Did you enjoy the work?  Why?

18. Do you think men should work more than women?  Why?
19. Should men and women get equal pay?  Why?
20. Can men and women do the same kinds of jobs?  Why?