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General English · Speaking · B1

Talking about culture and traditions

Explain a familiar custom while recognising differences between families and communities.

Lesson 10 · About 22 minutes

Learn: your objectives

  • Explain a custom to an unfamiliar listener.
  • Avoid treating a whole culture as identical.

Warm-up

Think about these questions. Say a short answer aloud.

  • What is a custom in your family or community?
  • What might a visitor need explained?

Useful language

Context and variation

In my family, we usually …

Describe a bounded experience.

In my family, we usually share a meal when relatives visit.

The idea behind it is …

Explain meaning, not just actions.

The idea behind it is to make visitors feel welcome.

It varies from … to …

Recognise variation.

It varies from family to family.

Notice: model speaking

Read aloud. Notice how the speakers use the phrases and respond to each other.

Liam: What happens when relatives visit your family?

Shahnoza: We usually sit down together and offer tea or a meal. The idea is to give people time to talk, not just greet them at the door.

Liam: Is there a fixed meal?

Shahnoza: Not in our family. It depends on the time and the visitors. Other families may do things differently.

Liam: So I shouldn't assume every visit follows the same rules?

Shahnoza: Exactly. Asking politely is usually better than guessing.

Speaking strategy

Explain who practises the custom, what happens and why it matters. Use ‘in my family’ or ‘often’ where appropriate instead of turning your experience into a rule for everyone.

Pronunciation & fluency focus

If you use an unfamiliar local word, say it clearly, pause and explain it in ordinary English. Do not assume the listener already knows the term.

Teaching guidance, not an analysis of your voice.

Use: controlled practice

Choose a useful response for each situation. Check when all questions are answered. These are phrase exercises, not a speaking assessment.

1. Which opening avoids a cultural stereotype?
2. Explain why a shared meal matters.
3. Your listener does not know a local term. What helps?
4. A visitor asks whether every family follows your custom. Reply responsibly.
5. Ask about another person's tradition respectfully.

Build your answer

Write a few keywords. Then look away and speak. Notes stay on this page only.

Speak: your challenge

Explain a familiar tradition to an imagined visitor for 90 seconds. Describe what happens, why it matters and how it may vary. You may use a fictional family custom.

Avoid speaking on behalf of every person in a country or culture.

Speak aloud. This page does not record, listen to or assess your speech. There is no automatic speaking score.

Self-check

Open to everyone. Answers, notes and checklists are not saved to an account. These original lessons use level labels to organize learning; completion is not official CEFR certification or proof of a level.