What is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States? When is it celebrated, and why?

As one of the most important holidays in the United States, Martin Luther King Day (also called MLK Day) celebrates the birthday and life of Martin Luther King, Jr.—a slain civil rights leader and a strong voice in nonviolent social movements.

Find out more about this great U.S. historical figure and the holiday which seeks to commemorate him.

1. Why Should You Know About Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?

Learning about United States holidays is one of the first steps in understanding its culture and the history that made the country what it is. Each country has people and historical figures it celebrates, and the United States is no exception.

Why do we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?

Martin Luther King, Jr. is considered one of the most important historical figures in the United States, and for good reason. Not only did he dedicate his life to social reform in the country, but he did so in a peaceful and respectful manner, serving as an example of how a quiet voice can create a loud echo.

He fought to end discriminatory laws, especially against people of color; he gained followers, and ultimately served as one of the greatest voices in the civil rights movement against discrimination. In particular, he sought to provide African Americans with rights they hadn’t known before.

The United States truly wouldn’t be as free and open a land as it is today without this man, and so we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday each year.

2. What is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?

Martin Luther King Day is the celebration of this great figure’s birthday, as well as the commemoration of all he accomplished for the rights of colored people in the United States.

But is MLK Day a national holiday?

This is a federal holiday, meaning that most schools and places of business are closed. It’s a day to observe the sacrifices made and the example set forth by Martin Luther King, Jr.

3. When is MLK Day?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day takes place on the third Monday of January as this is close to his January 15 birthday.

For your convenience, here’s a list of MLK Day’s date for the next ten years:

• 2019: January 21
• 2020: January 20
• 2021: January 18
• 2022: January 17
• 2023: January 16
• 2024: January 15
• 2025: January 20
• 2026: January 19
• 2027: January 18
• 2028: January 17

4. How is MLK Day Celebrated?

1- Is MLK Day a National Holiday?

While not a national holiday, MLK Day is observed in a variety of ways throughout the country, and its observation can vary from person to person.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States, which means that the majority of schools are closed as well as some places of business. However, some schools see this as an opportunity to better inform students about Martin Luther King, Jr. and what he stood for, and decide to remain open with classes centered on this topic.

2- Martin Luther King Day of Service

In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a document (the King Holiday and Service Act) which essentially asks United States citizens to use MLK Day as a day of charity and service.

In order to reflect the heart of service that King possessed, many people on this day choose to perform acts of service for others. This is often volunteer work, though it can take many forms.

One notable example of this is the Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service, where thousands are known to volunteer their time, energy, money, and goods for causes or charities they’re most passionate about.

3- Japan, Canada, Jerusalem, and The Netherlands

While Martin Luther King Junior day originated in the United States and is most widely celebrated here, there are a few other countries and cities which also choose to commemorate this day in some way.

• Hiroshima, Japan: This city celebrates MLK Day and seeks to point out similarities between its desire for peace and the life that King lived—what he stood for. The celebration is put on by its mayor, Tadatoshi Akiba.
• Toronto, Canada: In Toronto, Canada, this day is celebrated on a more personal level and businesses still remain open.
• Jerusalem: Jerusalem is a city which can relate to King and his ideals through the Bible; those who celebrate MLK Day in Jerusalem see a correlation between King’s assassination and the attempted murder of “the dreamer” Joseph in the Old Testament.
• Wassenaar, The Netherlands: The celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, is unique. Music is a large component of this day and the song “We Shall Overcome” is sung.

5. Must-Know Vocab for MLK Day

In order to celebrate Martin Luther King Day, here are some vocabulary words and phrases you should know:

• Martin Luther King, Jr.: The man behind the holiday.
• Activist: Someone who acts strongly for a particular cause.
• Freedom: Release from captivity; ability to live unhindered.
• Boycott: To completely stop using a certain product or buying from a certain company, usually because their beliefs or values differ greatly from one’s own.
• African American: Black citizens of the United States; peacefully Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for their rights.
• Human rights: The basic rights that it’s believed each person has, no matter who they are.
• Racial equality: People being treated equally, despite their race.
• Pastor: A church leader who usually gives sermons to the congregation and is in charge of various aspects of the church.
• Freedom Riders: People who rode on interstate buses in areas of the U.S. which were still segregated, as an act of opposition to these places’ failure to enforce non-segregation. They rode in groups of various races.
• Civil rights: Similar to human rights, though implementing a greater focus on ensuring that the government can’t take these rights away.
• I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech in 1963, called “I Have a Dream.” This is considered one of the most powerful speeches ever given; it focused on ending racism and allowing African Americans civil rights.
• The Sit-In Movement: Following in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s footsteps, many African American students used sit-ins as a nonviolent form of opposition and as a way of getting attention from the press. Essentially, they would go to a segregated location, ask for service, be denied, and refuse to leave after being denied.
• Racial segregation: Racial segregation involves people of different races being separated in daily life (e.g. in the United States, it used to be that white people rode on one part of the bus, and black people the other).
• Nonviolent resistance: Nonviolent resistance is a peaceful form of opposition, in which the opposing party or parties make a statement in a way that doesn’t harm anyone.
• Orator: An orator is a highly skilled public speaker, such as Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Nobel Peace Prize: The Nobel Peace Prize is a greatly commendable award given to someone who has established themself as a successful fighter for peace. King won this prize in 1964.
• The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom: This march took place in Washington, as a way of demanding more rights for African Americans; this is where King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.
• Letter from a Birmingham Jail: This letter, written by King, is essentially an argument for nonviolent resistance.
• Civil disobedience: Noncompliance with laws, such as taxes, in order to peacefully resist.
• Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.: A holiday to celebrate the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. each January.

To hear the pronunciation of each word, be sure to check out the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day vocab list on our website where you can listen to audio files with each word.

Conclusion

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day really is one of the most quintessential holidays in the United States as it marks a significant time for African Americans—a time when their voice was finally able to be heard and change began to take place for the better.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is honored for good reason; his involvement in progressing the civil rights movements for African Americans and his peaceful guidance towards racial equality continue to unravel today as the United States seeks equality in more ways than ever before.

To learn even more about U.S. culture, be sure to visit us at EnglishClass101.com! You’ll find an array of helpful blog posts, cultural information, and vocabulary lists. Also be sure to check out our MyTeacher app for a one-on-one language-learning experience!

We hope this article was helpful for you, and wish you the best of luck on your English-learning journey!

Any international student who wished to attend an English-speaking institution probably knows just how important the TOEFL test can be for their acceptance. If you’re interested in taking this test in order to start or continue your studies outside of your own country, you should know that there are some things you will definitely need to do if you wish to pass the test.

Studying and preparing for this exam doesn’t have to be as difficult as you imagine it. There are quite a few tips and tricks you can follow in order to make your preparation a lot more fun and interesting. In order to help you succeed, here are some steps you should definitely follow in order to pass the test with ease.

1. Knowing the format of the TOEFL test

The very first thing you should do when preparing for your exam is to make sure that you start out with seeing how the format of the test is. This is the only way for you to have an essential idea of what you are preparing for. By knowing the format of the test you will be able to know what to expect and you will also be able to pick the best test format for you.

First and foremost you should know that no matter which format you chose, there is always the same amount of content included in the test. This content is divided into three parts and those are reading, listening and writing. You can find more specified information and examples about each part on the official TOEFL website.

There are currently two different formats of the TOEFL test which you can choose from. The first one is the Internet-based test and the second one is the Paper-delivered test. Here is some important information on both.

2. Internet-based test

The Internet based test or otherwise known as TOEFL iBT, consists of the following sections:

• Reading: 60-80 minutes for 36-56 questions
• Listening: 60-90 minutes for 34-51 questions
• Break: 10 minutes
• Speaking: 20 minutes for 6 tasks
• Writing: 50 minutes for 2 tasks

This format is a better choice for you if you feel more comfortable with taking your test on the internet. It will require a total of 4 ½ to complete and could possibly save you from having to go out of your way in order to complete your test. As James Daily, a linguist for FlashEssay has said, “As a recommendation, I suggest that students set their expectations early so they have a clear goal in mind and pick the best type of test for their abilities”.

3. Paper-delivered test

The paper-delivered testing method is pretty new and has only started running since October 2017. This version of the test is more aligned to the iBT test and it came to completely replace the paper-based test which was used until this format came along. This format includes the following sections:

• Reading: 60 minutes for 42 multiple-choice questions
• Listening: approximately 60 minutes for 34 multiple-choice questions
• Writing: 50 minutes for 2 constructed-response questions

While the other format is online, this one is administered in a paper format. The problem is that you will have to find a test center near you in order to take the test during particular dates and that can be tough because not all test centers are always open for every test date. This test formal has a total duration of 20 hours 50 minutes.

4. Practicing your writing skills

After figuring out the format you wish to choose, you will need to start learning a few things about each section of the test in order to start preparing for them properly. While you can find plenty of practice tests which will include examples and keys for the reading, listening and even the speaking part, you will probably have a hard time with practicing when it comes to the writing part.

If you’re not someone who writes on the regular, you might find that you have some trouble with generating ideas on various subjects and expressing your thoughts easily. If you aren’t certain whether your writing is free of mistakes, you can always use the help of online forums such as the Word Reference “English Only” one, and even the very helpful EnglishLearning subreddit.

The good thing about online communities like these is that there will always be native speakers who will be able to help you out. On top of that, on platforms such as GetGoodGrade, you can even find professional linguists who you can ask for advice, as well as help on correcting your grammar and spelling issues. You can always make simple mistakes in a foreign language and a native speaker will truly help you spot them and get a better understanding of how to fix them.

On the other hand, if you feel a little awkward about asking for advice from strangers online, you can always try fixing your grammar mistakes by yourself. Probably the best tool for this job is Grammar, which not only offers a free online grammar checker but it can also help you practice the language more through various eBooks, tutorials and vocabulary games which are offered for free on this platform.

Improving your grammar isn’t the only thing that is important when it comes to acing your TOEFL exam. There are also some great, tools such as ProWritingAid, which can help you not only improve your grammar and spelling mistakes but also teach you new ways to express yourself in English and write in a way which will truly help you show that you know the language well.

5. Know what score you are aiming for

Last but not least, depending on which university you are aiming for, you should know how low the minimum score they accept is. This score should be your goal for this test which you should reach no matter what. On top of that though, you should keep in mind that the higher your grade is, the better it will be perceived by your preferred institution. As Amanda Sparks, professional editor for EssaySupply has advised, “It’s a good idea to get in touch with your future university and ask them for the minimal passing score they accept for the exam so you know how to gauge your expectations”.

On top of this, you should also make sure that your goal score is achievable and realistic. While it’s not bad to shot for the starts, you will need to make sure that you will be able to actually achieve your goal as otherwise you might end up disappointed and without any will to try harder.

6. Good preparation is the key to success

Once you have understood how the different formats work and which sections are included in each one of the two, you will be able to start actually practicing and preparing for your upcoming test. The TOEFL test is very important to the beginning or the continuation of your studies and you should make sure that you give it your all in order to get accepted to the institution of your choice.

As long as you have a clear goal in mind regarding your preferred score and you study consistently, you will have nothing to worry about. As Jessica Fender, content creator for OnlineWritersRating has said, “Its good practice to start preparing for your exam, even before you apply for it; that way you will only have to fill in the blanks once you’re clear on your goal”. Use this advice to your advantage and you will be able to get the result you are hoping for.

It’s a double benefit - get to entertain yourself and train your ear to the English language! From the previous century, here are some of the greatest US movies ever made. Working through this American movie list will keep you busy for hours and hours, polishing and integrating the English you learn at EnglishClass101!

1. Citizen Kane

The famous US movie Citizen Kane was an American drama released in 1941. The movie starts with the death scene of Charles Foster Kane, an extremely wealthy media mogul. In his last moments, Kane is heard mysteriously whispering only one word: “Rosebud”.

Kane’s death is national news, and sets off an epic tale of a man’s rising from rags to riches, through the abuse of power and, of course, love. In the end, the mystery of Rosebud is solved, but rather watch this evergreen classic to learn Kane’s secret yourself. The most famous quote from the film is obviously Kane’s deathbed utterance, but another unforgettable one is directed at Mr Bernstein, a bespeckled Jew who loves Kane unconditionally. Kane says: “You know, Mr. Bernstein, if I hadn’t been very rich, I might have been a really great man.”

2. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

The Eighties brought an unforgettable US movie blockbuster, this time in the science fiction genre. Heartwarming E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was directed by Oscar-winner Steven Spielberg, regales with the story of a cross-specie friendship between a wrinkled, knee-high alien and Elliot, a lonely 10-year-old boy. Elliot rescues E.T from a government search party, but soon E.T falls ill because Earth is not his home.

All ends well, though, with E.T. saying just before he leaves for his home planet while tapping on Elliot’s chest with a glowing forefinger: “I’ll be right here.”

3. Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind is a 1939 US movie that depicts the southern US state of Georgia during the Civil War and the Reconstruction period. It was adopted from Pulitzer-winner Margaret Mitchell’s novel of the same name.

The movie’s storyline gives us some insight into how the southern aristocracy viewed the Civil War and the ensuing political Reconstruction. Its storyline centers on Scarlett O’Hara and her struggles to find true love while maintaining her way of life and her beloved plantation. It is also the tale of true love lost, with its most famous quote coming from the lips of Rhett, the betrayed lover. Scarlett asks Rhett what she will do without him, and where she will go when he leaves, to which Rhett famously replies, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

4. Jaws

Another Spielberg success, super-scary Jaws topped nearly every US movie list in 1975, and was based on a novel by Peter Benchley. It tells the riveting story of an enormous killer shark with a taste for human blood, and, of course, the human hunt to kill it. The shark becomes a truly menacing entity in the film, appearing to target those who hunt it, and also eliciting one of cinema’s greatest understatements ever. Sheriff Brody, after ogling the monster for the first time, tells fellow shark-hunter Quint with wide eyes: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat”. If you like scary, this is one of the top US movies to watch in the thriller genre.

5. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

In 1937, Walt Disney animated the famous fairy tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, for which he received an honorary Oscar. The story itself needs no introduction, as most Westerners probably know it from childhood. One of its most famous quotes comes from the lips of Grumpy, the surly, pessimistic dwarf, as he grumbles about Snow White joining the Seven Dwarf family: “Pretty soon she’ll be tying your beards up in pink ribbons and spraying you down with that stuff called, uh, perfoom”.

6. Star Wars (A New Hope)

Star Wars (A New Hope) is one of six films released in the 1977 Star Wars saga, brainchild of screenwriter and director George Lucas. This US movie is part of a series that still proves of the most enduring hits of all time in the sci-fi genre. Basically, the film tells the tale of rebel freedom fighters in a civil war against the repressive Galactic Empire, and it even succeeded to land its own commemoration day - Star Wars Day. The date was derived from the movie’s most famous quote: “May the Force be with you”. These words were soon reworked to the mildly funny pun “May the Fourth be with you”.

7. The Godfather

The Godfather was an epic 1972 story about the rise of a mafia crime family, the Corleones, and specifically about the rise of Michael Corleone, who takes over from his aging father, Don Vito Corleone. It’s brutal, bloody and was a fantastic box office hit that led to another two Godfather movies. This one is replete with quotable quotes, but a lesser known, excellent quote came from the character Calo, who said: “In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns”. True, that.

8. The Sound of Music

Few people don’t know The Sound of Music, and its wonderful score. This American musical film was released in 1965, and tells the story of the Von Trapp family and, Maria, beautiful singer-nun-turned-nanny. The Von Trapps are a family of seven children, and a sad, austere father who is a Captain in the army against Hitler’s forces. He’d lost his wife and the mother of his children too soon.

Obviously, Maria excels not only in her duties as a loving caretaker of the children, but also succeeds to win Captain von Trapp’s heart. Another evergreen, this US movie continues to regale all generations with its gentle love story and engaging tunes. One of the memorable quotes were uttered by Captain Von Trapp, addressing Maria: “You brought music back into the house. I had forgotten”.

9. The Wizard of Oz

Another film that still enchants children and adults alike hails from 1939. Who doesn’t know The Wizard of Oz, with its adventurous tale of tornadoes and witches and lions and scarecrows, and, of course, a Kansas farm girl called Dorothy. Dorothy lands by chance in an enchanted land on an adventure that both scares and challenges her, and teaches her, above all, that there’s no place like home.

The movie is filled with homegrown truths and quant sayings to quote at most any occasion. A lesser known one comes from the Cowardly Lion, who says: “What makes a King out of a slave? Courage!”

10. Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur (or Benhur) is a 1959 epic film directed by William Wyler, the third film version of writer Lew Wallace’s 1880 fictional novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The story is about a Jewish prince who is battling the Roman empire in the time of Christ. The film went on to win a record of eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture - a feat equaled only by Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

One of the wiser quotes from the film comes from Messala, who tells his friend Ben-Hur: “It’s an insane world, but in it there’s one sanity, the loyalty of old friends”.

11. Casablanca

US movie Casablanca was made in 1942 and directed by Michael Curtiz. It’s a classic World War II movie with a story that centers on the life of a cynical nightclub owner, Rick Blaine, in the city of Casablanca in Morocco. The film relates the difficult, self-sacrificing choices Blaine must make for love when he has to choose between his love for an old flame, Ilsa, and helping her and her husband escape the Nazis and certain death.

Probably the most famous quote from this US movie was a quintessentially American toast, originating from an 1884 novel written by an anonymous author. In Casablanca, Blaine uses it when he toasts Ilsa with: “Here’s looking at you, kid”.

12. Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is an award-winning 1994 American comedy-drama film based on a novel of the same name by Winston Groom. Anyone who doesn’t know Forrest Gump’s famous saying: “My momma always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get’”, has probably been living on a different planet all this time.

The film, directed by Robert Zemeckis, stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright Penn, and Gary Sinise. The story centres around Forrest Gump, a simple man from Alabama, and his journey through life meeting historical figures, influencing popular culture, and experiencing firsthand historic events of the late 20th century.

13. The Matrix

Ah, The Matrix, a US movie that managed to gain a cult following, and inspired many copycats with its novel special effects. This 1999 film from the science fiction action genre, firmly placed actors Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne in the international Hollywood stars firmament. The Matrix shows a future with an alternate reality controlled by machines, and attempts by humans to escape into actual reality. The film was the basis for a series of Matrix movies, video games, and other paraphernalia

Zen-like soundbites abound, like this one from the deep-voiced Morpheus talking to Neo, the main character: “…you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else you were born into bondage. Into a prison that you cannot taste or see or touch. A prison for your mind.”

14. Rebel Without a Cause

Rebel Without a Cause was directed by Nicholas Ray in 1955, and tells the story of a rebellious teenager played by James Dean, who comes to a town, meets a girl, disobeys his parents, and defies the local high school bullies. It was an attempt to portray the moral decay of American youth, critique parental style, and exploit the differences between generations.

The main star, James Dean, died tragically in a car accident a month before the movie premiered. Prophetically, his troubled teenage character Jim Stark says about his situation with his parents: “I don’t know what to do anymore. Except maybe die”.

15. Singin’ in the Rain

The famous 1952 musical comedy movie Singing in the Rain, starred Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. The film depicted the early Hollywood movie business with its transition from silent movies to “talkies.” Says Cosmo Brown in a bleak comment about “talkies”: “Talking pictures, that means I’m out of a job. At last I can start suffering and write that symphony”.

Gene Kelly’s rendition of the song, “Singing in the Rain”, is still considered one of the best dance scenes in movie history.

16. The Shawshank Redemption

The inspiring and emotionally moving American drama, The Shawshank Redemption, was released in 1994 and is based on a Stephen King novella called “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.” The US blockbuster stars Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman as inmates at the fictional Shawshank State Prison in Maine, United States, and follows the story of mostly Robbins’ character, Andy Dufresne, who was imprisoned for a murder he didn’t commit.

Andy overcomes many obstacles in prison, famously deciding that: “I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying”. The type of move you’d want to watch more than once.

17. Psycho

Psycho is a yet another Alfred Hitchcock thriller, this time starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins. The film, which was released in 1960, follows a female motel guest and the motel manager who turns out to be a deeply disturbed killer. The movie’s shower scene is one of Hitchcock’s most famous scenes.

Norman bates, the infamous killer, chillingly says: “We all go a little mad sometimes”. Watch what is considered to be one of Hitchcock’s best films to see just how mad Bates got.

Why Learning English through EnglishClass101 Will Help You Enjoy Movies More!

Any avid movie fan will miss out hugely if they don’t explore English films too. However, what’s the use if you can’t understand half of what’s being said! At EnglishClass101, you learn English in fun, easy ways. The lessons are interesting and culturally-relevant, and guarantees success if followed closely! Sign up now and get access to over 1,630 audio and video lessons, state-of-the-art vocabulary learning tools, and lots of free learning material. Learn this world-language now, and who knows, maybe you could become the screenwriter of the next top US movie!

Most everyone is familiar with this day, as it is celebrated nearly everywhere the world. Yet, when exactly is April Fools’ Day? And where did April Fools come from? April Fools’ Day is observed on April 1st every year. This day of jokes and pranks is believed to have stemmed from the 16th-century calendar change in France, when New Year’s Day was moved from April 1 to January 1. This action was taken due to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.

However, a few people were resistant to the calendar change, so they continued to observe New Year’s Day on April 1st, rather than the new date. They were referred to as the “April Fools”, and others started playing mocking tricks on them. This custom endured, and is practiced to this day around the world!

Table of Contents

1. Top One Million Words You Need to Know for April Fools’ Day
2. English Phrases You Can Use on April Fools’ Day
3. Some of the Coolest April Fools’ Pranks To Play on Anybody
4. How Can EnglishClass101 Make Your April Fools’ Day Special?
5. Top 1000 Most Useful Phrases in English - Testing New Technology

1. Top One Million Words You Need to Know for April Fools’ Day

Do you want to know how to say April Fools’ Day in English? Well, there are millions of ways and words, but here are the top one million English words you really need to know! Simply click this link. Here are some of them you will find useful:

1. joke
2. sneaky
3. funny
4. lie
5. deceptive
6. surprise
7. prankster
8. play a joke
9. prank
10. humor
11. fool
12. April 1st

2. English Phrases You Can Use on April Fools’ Day

Don’t limit yourself to practical jokes - use these April Fools’ phrases in English to prank your favorite English speaking friend or colleague!

1. All classes for today got canceled.
2. I’m sorry, but I’ve just broken your favorite pair of glasses.
3. Someone has just hit your car.
4. I’m getting married.
5. You won a free ticket.
6. I saw your car being towed.
7. They’re giving away free gift cards in front of the building.
8. A handsome guy is waiting for you outside.
9. A beautiful lady asked me to give this phone number to you.
10. Can you come downstairs? I have something special for you.
11. Thank you for your love letter this morning. I never could have guessed your feelings.
12. I learned English in 1 month.

Choose your victims carefully, though; the idea is to get them to laugh with you, not to hurt their feelings or humiliate them in front of others. Be extra careful if you choose to play a prank on your boss - you don’t want to antagonize them with an inappropriate joke.

3. Some of the Coolest April Fools’ Pranks To Play on Anybody

Right, now that you know the top million April Fools’ words in English, let’s look at some super pranks and tricks to play on friends, colleagues and family. Some April Fools ideas never grow old, while new ones are born every year.

Never joke in such a way that it hurts anyone, or humiliates them badly in front of others - the idea is for everybody to laugh and enjoy the fun! Respect is still key, no matter what day of the year it is.

1- Infestation

This trick is so simple, yet so creepy, it’s almost unbelievable. Take black paper, cut out the silhouette of a giant cockroach, a spider or another insect, and stick it inside the lampshade of a table lamp. When the lamp is switched on, it will look like a monstrous insect is sitting inside the lampshade. Or, get a whole lot of realistic-looking plastic insects, and spread them over a colleague’s desk and chair, or, at home, over the kids’ beds etc. Creep-factor: stellar.

2- Which One Doesn’t Fit?

Put the photo of a celebrity or a notorious politician in a frame, and take it to work on April Fools’ Day. Hang the photo on the staff picture wall, and wait. You’ll be surprised how long it can take for people to notice that one picture doesn’t fit.

3- Something Weird in the Restroom

At work, replace the air freshener in the restroom with something noxious like insect killer, oven cleaner or your own odious mixture in a spray bottle. Be sure to cover the bottle’s body so no one suspects a swap.

Or paint a bar of soap with clear nail polish, and leave it at the hand wash basin. It will not lather.

Or, if your workplace’s restroom has partitioned toilets with short doors, arrange jeans or trousers and shoes on all but one of the toilet covers, so it looks like every stall is occupied. Now wait for complaints, and see how long it takes for someone to figure out the April Fools’ Day prank. You’ll probably wish you had a camera inside the restroom. But, unless you don’t mind getting fired, don’t put your own recording device in there!

4- Call Me Funny

Prepare and print out a few posters with the following instructions: Lion Roar Challenge! Call this number - 123-456-7890 - and leave your best lion’s roar as voicemail! Best roarer will be announced April 10 in the cafeteria. Prize: $100. (Lion’s roar is just an example; you can use any animal call, or even a movie character’s unique sound, such as Chewbacca from Star Wars. The weirder, the funnier. Obviously!) Put the posters up in the office where most of the staff is likely to see them. Now wait for the owner of the number to visit you with murderous intent. Have a conciliatory gift ready that’s not a prank.

5- Minty Cookies

This is another simple but hugely effective prank - simply separate iced cookies, scrape off the icing, and replace it with toothpaste. Serve during lunch or tea break at work, or put in your family’s lunch boxes. Be sure to take photos of your victim’s faces when they first bite into your April Fools’ cookies.

6- Wild Shopping

At your local grocer, place a realistic-looking plastic snake or spider among the fresh vegetables. Now wait around the corner for the first yell.

7- The Oldest Trick in the Book

Don’t forget probably the oldest, yet very effective April Fools’ joke in the book - smearing hand cream or Vaseline on a door handle that most staff, family or friends are likely to use. Yuck to the max!

8- Sneeze On Me

Another golden oldie is also gross, yet harmless and utterly satisfying as a prank. Fill a small spray bottle that you can easily conceal with water. Walk past a friend, colleague or one of your kids, and fake a sneeze while simultaneously spraying them with a bit of water. Expect to be called a totally disgusting person. Add a drop of lovely smelling essential oil to the water for extra confusion.

9- Word Play Repairs

Put a fresh leek in the hand wash basin at home or work, and then tell your housemates or colleagues this: “There’s a huge leak in the restroom/bathroom basin, it’s really serious. Please can someone go have a look?!” Expect exasperation and smiles all around. Note that this prank is only likely to work where people understand English well.

10- Scary Face

Print out a very scary face on an A4 sheet of paper, and place it in a colleague’s, or one of your kid’s drawers, so it’s the first thing they see when they open the drawer. You may not be very popular for a while.

11- Wake Up To Madness

Put foamy shaving cream, or real whipped cream on your hand, and wake your kid up by tickling their nose with it. As long as they get the joke, this could be a wonderful and fun way to start April Fools’ Day.

12- Computer Prank

This one’s fabulous, if you have a bit of time to fiddle with a colleague, friend or your kid’s computer. It is most effective on a computer where most of the icons they use are on the desktop background itself (as opposed to on the bottom task bar).

Take and save a screenshot of their desktop with the icons. Set this screenshot as their background image. Now delete all the working icons. When they return to their computer, wait for the curses when no amount of clicking on the icons works.

13- Monster Under the Cup

This one will also work well anywhere people meet. Take a paper cup, and write the following on it in black pen: “Danger! Don’t lift, big spider underneath.” Place it upside-down on prominent flat surface, such as a kitchen counter, a colleague’s desk or a restaurant table. Expect some truly interesting responses.

14- Prank Door

Write in large letters on a large and noticeable piece of paper: PUSH. Tape this notice on a door that should be pulled to open, and watch the hilarious struggle of those clever souls who actually read signs.

4. How Can EnglishClass101 Make Your April Fools’ Day Special?

If you happen to visit English speaking countries like English speaking country, or if you work for any English speaking company, knowing the above English prankster phrases can really lighten up your day. Showing you have a sense of humor can go a long way to cement good relationships in any situation. These phrases are at your disposal for free, as well as are these 100 core English words, which you will learn how to pronounce perfectly.

Also, don’t stop at learning April Fools’ phrases in English - bone up your English language skills with these FREE key phrases. Yes, EnglishClass101 doesn’t joke when it comes to effective, fun and easy learning.

Now, as a bonus, test our super-learning technology, and learn the Top 1000 most useful phrases in English below! But that’s not all. Read on to learn how you can be eligible for large enrollment discounts at EnglishClass101.

5. Top 1000 Most Useful Phrases in English - testing new technology

Help us by being a language guinea pig! Listen to this video above with embedded cutting-edge, frequency-based learning technology that enables you to learn large amounts of data in record time.

• Note: This technology is in beta-phase of development, and we invite your input for fine-tuning.
• To participate: Watch the video for instructions, and leave a comment to rate it. Your comment will make you eligible for large enrollment-fee discounts. To watch the video, please click the play button.

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Learn all the English New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join EnglishClass101 for a special English New Year celebration!

Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March - December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated.

So, how do you say Happy New Year in English? Let a native teach you! At EnglishClass101, you will learn how to correctly greet your friends over New Year, and wish them well with these English New Year wishes!

Table of Contents

1. How to Celebrate New Year in English speaking country
2. Must-Know English Words & Phrases for the New Year!
3. Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions in English
4. Inspirational New Year Quotes
5. Inspirational Language Learning Quotes
6. How To Say Happy New Year in 31 Languages
7. How EnglishClass101 Can Help You Learn English

But let’s start with some vocabulary for English New Year celebrations, very handy for conversations.

1. How to Celebrate New Year in English speaking country

New Year’s Day is on January 1st in the US. It’s almost universally a day off from work, and in the US closed stores, gas stations, and other businesses are common sights come January 1st. It’s preceded by some of the largest celebrations in the nation and, weary from being up all night enjoying the parties, Americans tend to take it easy on this day!

The song “Auld Lang Syne” is associated with the New Year celebration in the US. Do you know what this song’s title means?

If you don’t already know, you’ll find out a bit later, so keep reading!

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in the United States are both regarded as holidays, though only New Year’s Day is an official one. The holiday kicks off late on New Year’s Eve when people go out to celebrate in style. This holiday is marked by fancy parties and plenty of parades and other events.

Celebrating the New Year across the different time zones that cross the US is a popular tradition with those who like to stay at home. In Times Square in New York, one of the biggest celebrations in the nation is held and this is typically regarded as the “official” New Year party for the entire country, though each time zone “rings” in the New Year with its own celebration.

New Year’s resolutions are popular in the United States, though oftentimes in a tongue-in-cheek way. Most of the time, people will resolve to give up a bad habit or adopt a healthy new habit over the course of the new year. It’s almost accepted as a matter of course that people will not follow through on these resolutions, however, and it fits well with the American tradition of sarcastic humor.

New Year’s Day isn’t celebrated on January 1st on all calendars. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, New Year’s is usually in February. Depending on the culture and tradition, it can be celebrated on other dates, as well.

Popular resolutions include quitting smoking, losing weight, becoming more ambitious with goals, and getting a better job.

And now here’s the answer to the quiz.

Do you know what the song title “Auld Lang Syne” means?

Auld Lang Syne means “the good old days” or “days gone by,” depending on the translation. The song is a very old tradition, dating back hundreds of years. The New Year’s Day celebrations in the US can easily extend from before midnight on January 1st to well into the afternoon.

Happy New Year!

2. Must-Know English Words & Phrases for the New Year!

1- Year

This is pretty self-explanatory. Most countries follow a Gregorian calendar, which has approximately 365 days in a year, while in some cultures, other year designations are also honored. Therefore, New Year’s day in English speaking country could fall on a different day than in your country. When do you celebrate New Year?

2- Midnight

The point in time when a day ends and a new one starts. Many New Year celebrants prefer to stay awake till midnight, and greet the new annum as it breaks with fanfare and fireworks!

3- New Year’s Day

In most countries, the new year is celebrated for one whole day. On the Gregorian calendar, this falls on January 1st. On this day, different cultures engage in festive activities, like parties, parades, big meals with families and many more.

4- Party

A party is most people’s favorite way to end the old year, and charge festively into the new one! We celebrate all we accomplished in the old year, and joyfully anticipate what lies ahead.

5- Dancing

Usually, when the clock strikes midnight and the New Year officially begins, people break out in dance! It is a jolly way to express a celebratory mood with good expectations for the year ahead. Also, perhaps, that the old year with its problems has finally passed! Dance parties are also a popular way to spend New Year’s Eve in many places.

6- Champagne

Originating in France, champagne is a bubbly, alcoholic drink that is often used to toast something or someone during celebrations.

7- Fireworks

These are explosives that cause spectacular effects when ignited. They are popular for announcing the start of the new year with loud noises and colorful displays! In some countries, fireworks are set off to scare away evil spirits. In others, the use of fireworks is forbidden in urban areas due to their harmful effect on pets. Most animals’ hearing is much more sensitive than humans’, so this noisy display can be very frightful and traumatising to them.

8- Countdown

This countdown refers to New Year celebrants counting the seconds, usually backward, till midnight, when New Year starts - a great group activity that doesn’t scare animals, and involves a lot of joyful shouting when the clock strikes midnight!

9- New Year’s Holiday

In many countries, New Year’s Day is a public holiday - to recuperate from the party the previous night, perhaps! Families also like to meet on this day to enjoy a meal and spend time together.

10- Confetti

In most Western countries, confetti is traditionally associated with weddings, but often it is used as a party decoration. Some prefer to throw it in the air at the strike of midnight on New Year’s Eve.

11- New Year’s Eve

This is the evening before New Year breaks at midnight! Often, friends and family meet for a party or meal the evening before, sometimes engaging in year-end rituals. How are you planning to give your New Year greetings in 2018?

12- Toast

A toast is a type of group-salutation that involves raising your glass to drink with others in honor of something or someone. A toast to the new year is definitely in order!

13- Resolution

Those goals or intentions you hope to, but seldom keep in the new year! Many people consider the start of a new year to be the opportune time for making changes or plans. Resolutions are those intentions to change, or the plans. It’s best to keep your resolutions realistic so as not to disappoint yourself!

14- Parade

New Year celebrations are a huge deal in some countries! Parades are held in the streets, often to celebratory music, with colorful costumes and lots of dancing. Parades are like marches, only less formal and way more fun. At EnglishClass101, you can engage in forums with natives who can tell you what English New Year celebrations are like!

3. Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions

So, you learned the English word for ‘resolution’. Fabulous! Resolutions are those goals and intentions that we hope to manifest in the year that lies ahead. The beginning of a new year serves as a good marker in time to formalise these. Some like to do it in writing, others only hold these resolutions in their hearts. Here are our Top 10 New Year’s resolutions at EnglishClass101 - what are yours?

Learn these phrases and impress your English friends with your vocabulary.

1- Read more

Reading is a fantastic skill that everyone can benefit from. You’re a business person? Apparently, successful business men and women read up to 60 books a year. This probably excludes fiction, so better scan your library or Amazon for the top business reads if you plan to follow in the footsteps of the successful! Otherwise, why not make it your resolution to read more English in the new year? You will be surprised by how much this will improve your English language skills!

2- Spend more time with family

Former US President George Bush’s wife, Barbara Bush, was quoted as having said this: “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, a parent.” This is very true! Relationships are often what gives life meaning, so this is a worthy resolution for any year.

3- Lose weight

Hands up, how many of you made this new year’s resolution last year too…?! This is a notoriously difficult goal to keep, as it takes a lot of self discipline not to eat unhealthily. Good luck with this one, and avoid unhealthy fad diets!

4- Save money

Another common and difficult resolution! However, no one has ever been sorry when they saved towards reaching a goal. Make it your resolution to save money to upgrade your subscription to EnglishClass101’s Premium PLUS option in the new year - it will be money well spent!

5- Quit smoking

This is a resolution that you should definitely keep, or your body could punish you severely later! Smoking is a harmful habit with many hazardous effects on your health. Do everything in your power to make this resolution come true in the new year, as your health is your most precious asset.

6- Learn something new

Science has proven that learning new skills can help keep brain diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s at bay! It can even slow down the progression of the disease. So, keep your brain healthy by learning to speak a new language, studying towards a qualification, learning how to sew, or how to play chess - no matter how old you are, the possibilities are infinite!

7- Drink less

This is another health resolution that is good to heed any time of the year. Excessive drinking is associated with many diseases, and its effect can be very detrimental to good relationships too. Alcohol is a poison and harmful for the body in large quantities!

8- Exercise regularly

This resolution goes hand-in-hand with ‘Lose weight’! An inactive body is an unhealthy and often overweight one, so give this resolution priority in the new year.

9- Eat healthy

If you stick with this resolution, you will lose weight and feel better in general. It is a very worthy goal to have!

10- Study English with EnglishClass101

Of course! You can only benefit from learning English, especially with us! Learning how to speak English can keep your brain healthy, it can widen your circle of friends, and improve your chances to land a dream job anywhere in the world. EnglishClass101 makes it easy and enjoyable for you to stick to this resolution.

4. Inspirational New Year Quotes

Everyone knows that it is sometimes very hard to stick to resolutions, and not only over New Year. The reasons for this vary from person to person, but all of us need inspiration every now and then! A good way to remain motivated is to keep inspirational quotes near as reminders that it’s up to us to reach our goals.

Click here for quotes that will also work well in a card for a special English new year greeting!

Make decorative notes of these in English, and keep them close! Perhaps you could stick them above your bathroom mirror, or on your study’s wall. This way you not only get to read English incidentally, but also remain inspired to reach your goals! Imagine feeling like giving up on a goal, but reading this quote when you go to the bathroom: “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” What a positive affirmation!

5. Inspirational Language Learning Quotes

Still undecided whether you should enroll with EnglishClass101 to learn a new language? There’s no time like the present to decide! Let the following Language Learning Quotes inspire you with their wisdom.

Click here to read the most inspirational Language Learning Quotes!

As legendary President Nelson Mandela once said: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” So, learning how to say Happy New Year in English could well be a way into someone special’s heart for you! Let this year be the one where you to learn how to say Happy New Year, and much more, in English - it could open many and unexpected doors for you.

6. How To Say Happy New Year in 31 Languages

Here’s a lovely bonus for you! Why stop with English - learn how to say Happy New Year in 31 other languages too! Watch this video and learn how to pronounce these New Year’s wishes like a native in under two minutes.

7. Why Enrolling with EnglishClass101 Would Be the Perfect New Year’s Gift to Yourself!

If you are unsure how to celebrate the New Year, why not give yourself a huge gift, and enroll to learn English! With more than 12 years of experience behind us, we know that EnglishClass101 would be the perfect fit for you. There are so many reasons for this!

• Custom-tailored Learning Paths: Start learning English at the level that you are. We have numerous Learning Pathways, and we tailor them just for you based on your goals and interests! What a boon!
• Marked Progress and Fresh Learning Material Every Week: We make new lessons available every week, with an option to track your progress. Topics are culturally appropriate and useful, such as “Learning how to deliver negative answers politely to a business partner.” Our aim is to equip you with English that makes sense!
• Multiple Learning Tools: Learn in fun, easy ways with resources such 1,000+ video and audio lessons, flashcards, detailed PDF downloads, and mobile apps suitable for multiple devices!
• Fast Track Learning Option: If you’re serious about fast-tracking your learning, Premium Plus would be the perfect way to go! Enjoy perks such as personalised lessons with ongoing guidance from your own, native-speaking teacher, and one-on-one learning on your mobile app! You will not be alone in your learning. Weekly assignments with non-stop feedback, answers and corrections will ensure speedy progress.
• Fun and Easy: Keeping the lessons fun and easy-to-learn is our aim, so you will stay motivated by your progress!

There’s no reason not to go big in 2018 by learning English with EnglishClass101. Just imagine how the world can open up for you!

Do you know any ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in English? EnglishClass101 brings you easy-to-learn translations and the correct pronunciation of English Christmas phrases!

Christmas is the annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western Christian Church. It takes place on December 25th and is usually celebrated with much food and fanfare! However, not all cultures celebrate Christmas. In some countries, Christmas is not even a public holiday! However, many countries have adapted Christmas and its religious meaning to tally with their own beliefs, or simply in acknowledgment of the festival’s importance to other cultures. If you want to impress native English speakers with culturally-appropriate Christmas phrases and vocabulary, EnglishClass101 will teach you the most important ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in English!

Table of Contents

1. How to Celebrate Christmas in an English speaking country
2. Holiday Greetings and Wishes
3. Must-Know Christmas Day Vocabulary
4. Twelve Days of Christmas
5. Top 10 Christmas Characters
6. How EnglishClass101 Can Help You

1. How to Celebrate Christmas in an English speaking country

It’s five o’clock Christmas morning. I am six years old, and my brother is three. We are whispering back and forth to each other about what might be waiting out in the family room for us, and we are trying desperately to stay in bed for at least another hour.

We have already been to our parents’ room once.

“Go back to sleep,” my mother whispered.

“Listen to your mother,” my father said.

My brother is sure that he heard Santa’s reindeer land on the roof. In my memory, this is Christmas. The anticipation of children waiting to be set free from their beds by sleepy parents so they can see what Santa brought them. My brother sneaking in and out of our bedroom, getting closer and closer to his goal each time.

“He ate the cookies!” he reports.

Making cookies for Santa was part of the build up, and every year there was a question as to whether or not he had actually been down our chimney. It wasn’t the extra presents that sealed the deal. It was the cookie crumbs left on the plate by the fireplace and the empty glass of milk. Once we had determined that the cookies were gone, there was no turning back.

There is a soft knock at the door. My brother flings it open and flies past my mother who is standing in the hallway in her blue terrycloth robe. I hug my mom and follow him. The tree lights glow red, green, and blue.

The angel made from my mother’s wedding dress material looks down on us from her perch on the top of the tree.I can smell coffee brewing as I separate the presents.My brother plays with a plastic robot.

It is Christmas morning.

What is your family’s special tradition?

2. Holiday Greetings and Wishes for the Holiday Season

1- Merry Christmas!

Do you know how to say ‘Merry Christmas’ in English? Learn here how to pronounce it perfectly! ‘Merry’ means to be joyful, to celebrate and generally be in good spirits. So, with this phrase you are wishing someone a joyful, celebratory remembrance of Christ’s birth!

2- Happy Kwanzaa!

Surprise your African-American, or West African native friends with this phrase over the Christmas holidays! Kwanzaa is a seven-day, non-religious celebration, starting on Dec 26th each year. It has its roots in African American modern history, and many people celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas!

3- Have a happy New Year!

In countries where Christmas is not officially celebrated, but a Gregorian calendar is observed, this would be a friendly festive-season wish over New Year.

4- Happy Hanukkah!

Hanukkah is the beautiful Hebrew festival over November or December each year. It is also called the ‘Festival of Lights’ and is celebrated to commemorate the Jewish freedom of religion.

5- Have a great winter vacation!

This is a good phrase to keep handy if someone doesn’t observe any religious festival over the Christmas holidays! However, this will only be applicable in the Northern hemisphere, where it is winter over Christmas.

6- See you next year!

Going away on holiday over Christmas season, or saying goodbye to someone about to leave on vacation? This would be a good way to say goodbye to your friends and family.

7- Warm wishes!

An informal, friendly phrase to write in English Christmas cards, especially for secular friends who prefer to observe Christmas celebrations without the religious symbolism. It conveys the warmth of friendship and friendly wishes associated with this time of year.

8- Happy holidays!

If you forget how to say ‘Merry Christmas!’ in English, this is a safe, generic phrase to use instead.

9- Enjoy the holidays!

After saying ‘Merry Christmas’ in English, this would be a good phrase with which to wish Christmas holiday-goers well! It is also good to use for secular friends who don’t celebrate Christmas but take a holiday at this time of the year.

10- Best wishes for the New Year!

This is another way of wishing someone well in the New Year if they observe a Gregorian calendar. New Year’s day would then fall on January 1st.

3. Must-Know Christmas Day Vocabulary

Christmas is associated with many traditions and religious symbols in multiple countries across the world. It originated centuries ago in the West with the birth of Christianity, and the celebrations are often embedded with rich cultural significance. So, by now you know how to say Merry Christmas in English! Next, learn pertinent vocabulary and phrases pertaining to Christmas, as well as how to pronounce them correctly. At EnglishClass101, we make sure you sound like a native speaker!

1- Christmas

This is the English word for ‘Christmas’. Most happy Christmas wishes in English will include this word!

2- Snow

In most Northern-hemisphere countries, Christmas is synonymous with snow, and for Christmas, the snowman is often dressed as Santa Claus.

3- Snowflake

Snowflakes collectively make up snow. A single snowflake is small, white, light like a feather and icy cold! When put under a microscope, the snowflake reveals itself to have the most beautiful, symmetrical patterns. These patterns have become popular Christmas decorations, especially in Western countries.

4- Snowman

As you guessed - a snowman is only possible to build if it is snowing! What a fun way to spend Christmas day outside.

5- Turkey

Roast turkey is the traditional main dish on thousands of lunch tables on Christmas day, mainly in Western countries. What is your favorite Christmas dish?

6- Wreath

Another traditional Western decoration for Christmas, the wreath is an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring. Many families like to hang a Christmas wreath outside on their houses’ front doors.

7- Reindeer

Reindeer are the animals commonly fabled to pull Santa Claus’ sled across the sky! Western Christmas folklore tells of Father Christmas or Santa Claus doing the rounds with his sled, carrying Christmas presents for children, and dropping them into houses through the chimney. But who is Santa Claus?

8- Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a legendary and jolly figure originating in the Western Christian culture. He is known by many names, but is traditionally depicted as a rotund man wearing a red costume with a pointy hat, and sporting a long, snow-white beard!

9- Elf

An elf is a supernatural creature of folklore with pointy ears, a dainty, humanoid body and a capricious nature. Elves are said to help Santa Claus distribute presents to children over Christmas!

10- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is a Christmas song based on an American children’s story book with the same name. Rudolph is one of Santa’s reindeer. The song became more famous than the book, and can still be heard playing in many shopping malls over Christmas time across the globe!

11- North Pole

The cold North Pole is where Santa Claus is reputed to live with his reindeer!

12- Sled

A sled is a non-motorised land vehicle used to travel over snow in countries where it snows a lot, and is usually pulled by animals such as horses, dogs or reindeer. This one obviously refers to Santa’s sled! Another word for sled is sleigh or sledge.

13- Present

Gift or present giving is synonymous with Christmas Eve and the greatest source of joy for children over this festive time! This tradition signifies that Christ’s birth was a gift to mankind, but not all people who hand out presents over Christmas observe the religious meaning.

14- Bell

On Christmas Day, or Christmas Eve, many religious celebrants enjoy going to church for a special sermon and Christmas rituals. The start of the sermon is often announced with bells or a bell, if the church has one. For this reason, the sound of ringing bells is often associated with Christmas Day.

15- Chimney

The chimney is the entrance Santa Claus uses to deliver children’s presents on Christmas Day, according to folklore! Wonder how the chubby man and his elves stay clean…?!

16- Fireplace

In most countries where it snows, Christmas is synonymous with a fire or burning embers in houses’ fireplaces. Families huddle around its warmth while opening Christmas presents. Also, this is where Santa Claus is reputed to pop out after his journey down the chimney!

17- Christmas Day

This is the official day of commemorative celebration of Christ’s birth, and falls each year on December 25.

18- Decoration

Decorations are the colourful trinkets and posters that make their appearance in shops and homes during the Christmas holiday season in many countries! They give the places a celebratory atmosphere in anticipation of the big Christmas celebration. Typical Christmas decorations include colorful photographs and posters, strings of lights, figurines of Santa Claus and the nativity scene, poinsettia flowers, snowflakes and many more.

19- Stocking

According to legend, Santa Claus places children’s presents in a red stocking hanging over the fireplace. This has also become a popular decoration, signifying Christmas.

20- Holly

Holly is a shrub native to the UK, and parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. It is characterised by glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries. Ironically, its significance for Christmas relates to Christ’s crucifixion and suffering rather than his birth. However, the leaves’ distinctive shape and image have become popular Christmas decorations.

21- Gingerbread house

According to legend, the gingerbread house synonymous with Christmas is related to Christ’s birth place, Bethlehem. Bethlehem literally means ‘House of Bread’. Over centuries, it has become a popular treat over Christmas time in many non-religious households as well.

22- Candy cane

According to folklore, Christmas candy canes made their appearance first in Germany in the 16th century. A choir master gave children the candy canes to suck on in church in order to keep them quiet during the Christmas sermon! Apparently, the candy is shaped like a cane in remembrance of the shepherds who were the first to visit the baby Jesus. Today, like gingerbread houses, they are still a popular sweet over the festive season!

23- Mistletoe

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on certain trees. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that the mistletoe has magical powers, and could protect a household from evil if hung above a door during December. The belief didn’t last but the habit did, and the mistletoe is another popular Christmas decoration!

4. Twelve Days of Christmas

Wow, you’re doing extremely well! You know how to wish someone a Merry Christmas in English, and you learned pertinent vocabulary too! The Twelve Days of Christmas is not very well known in modern times, so, you’re on your way to becoming an expert in Christmas traditions and rituals. Well done!

The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, is a traditional festive period of 12 days dedicated to celebrate the nativity of Christ. Christmas Day is, for many who observe Twelvetide, the first day of this period.

‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ is also a popular Christmas song about a series of gifts given on each day of Twelvetide. According to experts, these gifts were created as a coded reference to important symbols in the Christian church. Here is a list of those gifts mentioned in the song! Do you recognise them?

5. Top 10 Christmas Characters in American Culture

This is fantastic, you know how to explain almost everything about Christmas in English! However, do you know the most popular Christmas characters in American culture? Your knowledge will not be complete without this list.

6. EnglishClass101 Is One Of The Best Online Language Schools Available!

We don’t just say this - we can prove it! Geared to your personal needs and goals, we have several learning paths from which to choose. From English for Absolute Beginners to Advanced English, lessons are designed to meet you where you are, and increase your language abilities in fun, easy and interactive lessons! Mastering a new language has never been this easy or enjoyable.

We have over a decade of experience and research behind us, and it shows! With thousands of audio and video lessons, detailed PDF lessons and notes, as well as friendly, knowledgeable hosts, EnglishClass101 is simply unbeatable when it comes to learning correct English. Plenty of tools and resources are available when you study with us. New lessons are added every week so material remains fresh and relevant. You also have the option to upgrade and enjoy even more personalised guidance and services. This is a sure way to fast-track your learning!

So, this Christmas, why don’t you give yourself a present and enroll in EnglishClass101? Or give an enrollment as a present to a loved one. It will be a gift with benefits for a whole lifetime, not just over Christmas!

In most cultures, it is custom to express gratitude in some way or another. The dictionary defines gratitude as follows: it is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Giving a sincere, thankful response to someone’s actions or words is often the ‘glue’ that keeps relationships together. This is true in most societies! Doing so in a foreign country also shows your respect and appreciation for the culture. Words have great power - use these ones sincerely and often!

Table of Contents

1. 12 Ways to say ‘Thank you’ in English
2. Video Lesson: Learn to Say ‘Thank You’ in 3 Minutes
3. Infographic & Audio Lesson: Survival Phrases - Thank You
4. Video Lesson: ‘Thank You’ in 31 Languages
5. How EnglishClass101 Can Help You

So, how do you say ‘Thank you’ in English? You can learn easily! Below, EnglishClass101 brings you perfect translations and pronunciation as you learn the most common ways English speakers say ‘Thanks’ in various situations.

1. 12 Ways to say ‘Thank you’ in English

1- Thank you.

The magical words that can bring a smile to any face. For one day, truly mean it whenever you say these words, and see how this lifts your spirit too!

2- That’s very kind of you.

This phrase is appropriate when someone clearly goes out of their way to give good service, or to offer you a kindness.

3- Thanks for your kind words!

Someone paid you a compliment and made you feel good? That is kind of him/her, so express your gratitude!

4- Thank you for coming today.

This welcoming phrase should be part of your arsenal if you’re conducting more formal meetings with English speakers. If you’re hosting a party, this is also a good phrase when you greet your English guests!

5- Thank you for your consideration.

This is a more formal, almost solemn way to thank someone for their thoughtfulness and sensitivity towards you. It is also suitable to use when a native speaker has to consider something you submit, like a job application, a project or a proposal. You are thanking them, in essence, for time and effort they are about to, or have spent on your submission.

6- Thanks a lot!

This means the same as ‘Thank you’, but with energy and enthusiasm added! It means almost the same as ‘thank you so much’ in English. Use this in an informal setting with your English friends or teachers.

7- Teachers like you are not easy to find.

Some phrases are compliments, which express gratitude by inference. This is one of them. If you’re particularly impressed with your EnglishClass101 teacher, this is an excellent phrase to memorize!

8- Thank you for spending time with us.

Any host at a gathering with English speakers, such as a meeting or a party, should have this under his/her belt! Use it when you’re saying goodbye or busy closing a meeting. It could also be another lovely way to thank your English language teacher for her time.

9- Thank you for being patient and helping me improve.

This phrase is another sure way to melt any formal or informal English teacher’s heart! Teaching is not easy, and often a lot of patience is required from the teacher. Thank him/her for it! It’s also a good phrase to use if you work in English speaking country, and want to thank your trainer or employer. You will go a long way towards making yourself a popular employee - gratitude is the most attractive trait in any person!

10- You’re the best teacher ever!

This is also an enthusiastic way to thank your teacher by means of a compliment. It could just make their day!

11- Thank you for the gift.

This is a good phrase to remember when you’re the lucky recipient of a gift. Show your respect and gratitude with these words.

12- I have learned so much thanks to you.

What a wonderful compliment to give a good teacher! It means they have succeeded in their goal, and you’re thankful for it.

2. Audio Lesson: Survival Phrases - Thank You

Perhaps you think it’s unimportant that you don’t know what ‘Thank you’ is in English, or that it’s too difficult a language to learn. Yet, as a traveler or visitor, you will be surprised at how far you can go using a little bit of English in English speaking country!

Click Here to Listen to the Free Audio Lesson!

At EnglishClass101, we offer you a few ways of saying ‘Thank you’ in English that you have no excuse not knowing, as they’re so simple and easy to learn. The lesson is geared to aid your ‘survival’ in formal and informal situations in English speaking country, so don’t wait! You will never have to google ‘How do you say thanks in English’ again…!

3. ‘Thank You’ in 31 Languages

For the global traveler in a hurry, here are 31 ways to say ‘Thank you’! These are the first words you need to learn in any foreign language - it is sure to smooth your way with native speakers by showing your gratitude for services rendered, and your respect for their culture! Learn and know how to correctly say ‘Thank you’ in 31 different languages in this short video.

4. Why would EnglishClass101 be the perfect choice to learn English?

However, you need not stop at ‘Thank you’ in English - why not learn to speak the language?! You have absolutely nothing to lose. Research has shown that learning a new language increases intelligence and combats brain-aging. Also, the ability to communicate with native speakers in their own language is an instant way to make friends and win respect! Or imagine you know how to write ‘Thank you’ to that special English friend after a date…he/she will be so impressed!

EnglishClass101 Has Special Lessons, Tools and Resources to Teach You How to Say Thank You and Other Key Phrases

With more than a decade of experience behind us, we have taught thousands of satisfied users to speak foreign languages. How do we do this? First, we take the pain out of learning! At EnglishClass101, students are assisted as they master vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation through state-of-the-art and fun online learning methods. A library replete with learning resources allows for you to learn at your own pace and in your own space! Resources include thousands of video and audio recordings, downloadable PDF lessons and plenty of learning apps for your mobile devices. Each month, we add benefits with FREE bonuses and gifts to improve your experience.

We accommodate all levels and types of learners, from Absolute Beginner to Advanced, and EnglishClass101 is free for anyone to sign up. However, you can choose to fast track your fluency with lesson customization and increased interactive learning and practicing. Upgrade to Premium, or Premium PLUS to enhance your experience and greatly expedite your learning. With this type of assistance, and pleasurable effort on your part, you will speak English in a very short period of time!

Click Here to Visit EnglishClass101!

Best of all is that you’re never alone! We believe that practice is the holy grail of learning any new language, and we gear our courses to ensure lots of it. Enroll with us, and you gain immediate access to our lively forum where we meet and greet, and discuss your burning questions. Our certified teachers are friendly and helpful, and you are very likely to practice your first ‘Thanks!’ in English on him/her, AND mean it! Hurry up, and sign up now - you will thank us for it.

Learn a little English everyday with the free English Word of the Day Widget. Check back daily for more vocabulary!

fourteen fourteen (noun)

The fourteen ball has a green stripe.
The fourteen ball has a green stripe.

number fourteen
number fourteen

14
14

fourteen letters
fourteen letters

Own a blog or website? Share free language content with your readers with the English Word of the Day with Audio Widget. Click here for instructions on how to embed and customize this free widget!

Learn a little English everyday with the free English Word of the Day Widget. Check back daily for more vocabulary!

weak weak (adjective)

That professional wrestler is weak.
That professional wrestler is weak.

weak connection
weak connection

Own a blog or website? Share free language content with your readers with the English Word of the Day with Audio Widget. Click here for instructions on how to embed and customize this free widget!

Learn 4 tools and techniques to stop translating in your head and start thinking in English

Going through English lessons is enough to get by and learn the basics of English, but to truly become fluent you need to be able to think in English. This will allow you to have conversations with ease, read smoothly, and comprehensively understand natives. To do this, you need to go beyond just completing daily or weekly lessons.

We naturally translate in our heads because it’s viewed as the easiest way to learn the definitions needed when learning a language. This way of learning can actually hinder your skills and fluency later on. If your brain has to make neural connections between the word you’re learning, what it means in your native tongue, and the physical object the connection will not be nearly as strong. When you bypass the original translation between English and your native language then there is a more basic and strong connection between just the English vocabulary word and the tangible object.

In this blog post, you will learn the 4 important techniques to easily and naturally begin to speculate about the daily occurrences in your life. The best part is all of these techniques are supported and can be achieved through EnglishClass101.com.

Create Your Free Lifetime Account and Start Learning the whole English Language from the Beginning!

1. Surround yourself with English

By surrounding yourself with English constantly you will completely immerse yourself in the language. Without realizing it you’ll be learning pronunciation, sentence structures, grammar, and new vocabulary. You can play music in the background while you’re cooking or have a English radio station on while you study. Immersion is a key factor with this learning process because it is one of the easiest things to do, but very effective. Even if you are not giving the program your full attention you will be learning.

One great feature of EnglishClass101.com is the endless podcasts that are available to you. You can even download and listen to them on the go. These podcasts are interesting and are perfect for the intention of immersion, they are easy to listen to as background noise and are interesting enough to give your full attention. Many of them contain stories that you follow as you go through the lessons which push you to keep going.

2. Learn through observation

Learning through observation is the most natural way to learn. Observation is how we all learned our native languages as infants and it’s a wonder why we stop learning this way. If you have patience and learn through observation then English words will have their own meanings rather than meanings in reference to your native language. Ideally, you should skip the bilingual dictionary and just buy a dictionary in English.

EnglishClass101.com also offers the materials to learn this way. We have numerous video lessons which present situational usage of each word or phrase instead of just a direct translation. This holds true for many of our videos and how we teach English.

3. Speak out loud to yourself

Speaking to yourself in English not only gets you in the mindset of English, but also makes you listen to how you speak. It forces you to correct any errors with pronunciation and makes it easy to spot grammar mistakes. When you speak out loud talk about what you did that day and what you plan to do the next day. Your goal is to be the most comfortable speaking out loud and to easily create sentences. Once you feel comfortable talking to yourself start consciously thinking in your head about your daily activities and what is going on around you throughout the day.

With EnglishClass101.com you start speaking right away, not only this, but they have you repeat words and conversations after a native English speaker. This makes your pronunciation very accurate! With this help, you are on the fast path to making clear and complex sentences and then actively thinking about your day.

4. Practice daily

If you don’t practice daily then your progress will be greatly slowed. Many people are tempted to take the 20-30 minutes they should be practicing a day and practice 120 in one day and skip the other days. This isn’t nearly as effective because everyday you practice you are reinforcing the skills and knowledge you have learned. If you practice all in one day you don’t retain the information because the brain can realistically only focus for 30 minutes at most. If you’re studying for 120 minutes on the same subject little of the information will be absorbed. Studying everyday allows you to review material that you went over previous days and absorb a small amount of information at a time.

It’s tough to find motivation to study everyday, but EnglishClass101.com can help. It’s easy to stay motivated with EnglishClass101.com because we give you a set learning path, with this path we show how much progress you’ve made. This makes you stick to your goals and keep going!

Conclusion

Following the steps and having patience is the hardest part to achieving your goals, it’s not easy learning a new language. You are essentially teaching your brain to categorize the world in a completely new way. Stick with it and you can do it just remember the 4 tools I taught you today! With them, conversations, reading, and understanding will become much easier. The most important thing to remember is to use the tools that EnglishClass101.com provides and you will be on your way to being fluent!

Learn English With EnglishClass101 Today!