Carol of the Bells
This B2 lesson tells the story behind Carol of the Bells, one of the most recognizable Christmas songs in the world. Students learn about its Ukrainian origins, watch a short video about the composer Mykola Leontovych, and practice 10 vocabulary items through matching and discussion activities. It’s a great pick for the holiday season when students want something cultural and conversation-heavy.
Lesson overview
- Learn the Ukrainian history behind Carol of the Bells through video and discussion
- Practice vocabulary like “folk chant,” “chorus,” and “repetitive motif” in context
- Develop listening and comprehension skills with a true/false/not given activity
- Explore Ukrainian Christmas traditions by creating a 12-dish holiday menu
Student's Version (Light/Dark)
Teacher's Version (Answer Keys)
Printable Classroom Version (A4)
| Level | Vocabulary | Video Length | Lesson Time |
| B2 / Upper-Intermediate | 10 words | 2:28 min | 60 min |
Vocabulary
- recognize
- repetitive motif
- folk chant
- swallow
- priest
- arithmetic
- chorus
- independence
- undercover agent
- collapse
Contents
- Lead-in
- Vocabulary
- Video
- Comprehension
- Discussion
- Matching
- Quote
- 12 dishes
- Extra
Open with the Christmas readiness scale. It’s silly but it works. Students pick their percentage, share it with a partner, and you’re off to a good start. Then move to the sentence completion prompts on slide 3. These are gold for getting B2 students talking because the sentences are personal but low-pressure. Give them about five minutes in pairs before opening it up to the group.
Before the video, run through the vocabulary matching on slide 4. Words like “folk chant” and “repetitive motif” are specific to this topic, so students will need them to follow the video properly. Let pairs work through the definitions together, then check as a class. The video itself is only about two and a half minutes, so play it twice if your group needs it. The first watch can be for general understanding, and the second for the comprehension questions on slide 6.
The true/false/not given activity is where students really have to pay attention to detail. Go through answers together and let them debate any disagreements. This usually leads naturally into the discussion questions on slide 7, which ask students to think about the song’s meaning and the composer’s story. These questions tend to generate strong opinions, especially the one about whether the song loses its original meaning as a Christmas carol.
Wrap up with the 12-dish menu activity. Give groups about ten minutes to plan their Christmas menu and present it. It ties back to the Ukrainian Christmas tradition mentioned in the lesson and gives everyone a chance to talk about food, which B2 students always have opinions about. If you have extra time, mention the film and longer video on the final slide for homework.
