Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

English Newsroom

Learn English through news articles - complete lesson plans, including articles, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

Unique Wedding Transport: Dragon Boat Adventure

A Suffolk couple incorporates dragon boats and metal detecting into their wedding.
Try this article at a different level?

A couple from Suffolk had a special idea for their wedding day. Liz and Mike, who love dragon boats, chose one for their ride to the reception. Liz has been enjoying dragon boating for a long time, and she got Mike interested too. They wanted their wedding to reflect their passion.

On their wedding day, after they got married, they boarded a dragon boat on the River Deben. The journey was memorable with a picnic on board, complete with champagne and sandwiches. The crew made the day extra special by spoiling them with treats during the ride. It was a fantastic way to celebrate their new life together.

For their honeymoon, the couple is going to Loch Ness to join a boat race. This is another fun adventure that they are looking forward to. Liz and Mike's creativity made their wedding truly memorable, showing their shared hobbies and interests. Their unique celebration was all about blending romance with adventure.

Original news source: 'I didn't want a wedding car, I wanted a dragon boat' – BBC News (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1. reception
2. dragon
3. memorable
4. boarding
5. champagne
6. journey
7. honeymoon
8. adventure
9. creativity
10. hobbies
11. unique
12. boarding

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

1. What is something special you would like at your own celebration?
2. Have you ever been on a boat ride? What was it like?
3. Why do you think people choose unique ways to celebrate?
4. Can you think of a hobby that could be a fun part of a celebration?
5. What do you enjoy doing during a celebration or party?

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What special method did Liz and Mike choose for transportation on their wedding day?

2. Where did Liz and Mike's wedding journey take place?

3. What did Liz and Mike enjoy during their dragon boat ride?

4. What are Liz and Mike planning for their honeymoon?

5. How did the crew make Liz and Mike's day extra special?

6. What was reflected in Liz and Mike's wedding celebration?

7. How did Liz and Mike feel about their wedding day adventure?

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A from Suffolk had a special for their wedding day. Liz and Mike, who dragon boats, chose one for their ride to the reception. Liz has been enjoying dragon boating for a long time, and she got Mike interested too. They wanted their wedding to reflect their passion. On their wedding day, after they got , they boarded a dragon boat on the . The journey was memorable with a picnic on board, complete with champagne and . The crew the day extra special by spoiling them with treats during the ride. It was a way to celebrate their new life together. For their honeymoon, the couple is going to Loch Ness to join a boat race. This is another fun that they are looking forward to. Liz and Mike's creativity made their wedding truly memorable, showing their hobbies and interests. Their unique celebration was all about blending with adventure.

💬 Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think makes a celebration memorable?
2. Have you ever participated in a race or competitive event?
3. How important is it to include your interests in your celebrations?
4. Would you enjoy a wedding ceremony on a dragon boat?
5. What is the most unique celebration you have attended?
6. Do you think it's better to have a small, unique wedding or a big traditional one? Why?
7. What's your favorite type of adventure and why?
8. How do you think hobbies can bring people closer together?
9. What are some activities you like to do with friends or family?
10. What places would you like to visit for an adventure?
11. How can sharing hobbies make relationships stronger?
12. Do you think every celebration should be planned carefully or is it okay to be spontaneous?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. reception
2. dragon
3. memorable
4. boarding
5. champagne
6. journey
7. honeymoon
8. adventure
9. creativity
10. hobbies
11. unique
12. boarding

Meanings

(A) something that is not easily forgotten
(B) being the only one of its kind
(C) a mythical creature often depicted as a large, flying reptile
(D) traveling from one place to another
(E) an exciting activity or experience
(F) a party to celebrate something special
(G) using imagination to create something new
(H) activities done for pleasure in one's spare time
(I) a sparkling wine often used in celebrations
(J) getting on board a vehicle like a ship or plane
(K) a holiday taken by a couple immediately after their wedding
(L) getting on board a vehicle like a ship or plane

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Liz and Mike choose for their wedding day transportation?
(a) A car
(b) A dragon boat
(c) A bicycle
(d) A horse
2. Where did the couple board the dragon boat?
(a) River Thames
(b) River Nile
(c) River Seine
(d) River Deben
3. What did they enjoy during their dragon boat ride?
(a) Pizza and soda
(b) Tacos and coffee
(c) Burgers and juice
(d) Champagne and sandwiches
4. Where are Liz and Mike planning to go for their honeymoon?
(a) Loch Ness
(b) Paris
(c) New York
(d) Sydney
5. What activity are they looking forward to on their honeymoon?
(a) A skiing trip
(b) A hiking adventure
(c) A boat race
(d) A beach vacation
6. How have they made their wedding special?
(a) With a large guest list
(b) By including shared hobbies
(c) By having a famous singer
(d) By hiring a luxury car
7. What did the crew do to make their journey extra special?
(a) Told them stories
(b) Played music
(c) Spoiled them with treats
(d) Gave them flowers
8. What does their honeymoon adventure show about them?
(a) Their love for fun experiences
(b) Their need for relaxation
(c) Their love for sunbathing
(d) Their interest in art galleries

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Their honeymoon destination is not Loch Ness.
2. They are excited about joining a boat race during their honeymoon.
3. The wedding concealed their shared hobbies and interests.
4. They chose a dragon boat for their wedding day ride.
5. Liz and Mike are from Suffolk.
6. The couple had a picnic on the dragon boat.
7. Their wedding celebration excluded champagne and sandwiches.
8. Liz has not been interested in dragon boating for a long time.

Writing Questions:

1. Describe your perfect celebration and what makes it special.
2. Write about a time when you tried a new hobby and enjoyed it.
3. Imagine planning a fun adventure for a friend. What would you do?
4. How do you think planning a special event brings people together?
5. Write about a memorable event you attended and why it was unforgettable.

How about these other Level 2 articles?

Online
Class
Writing
Coach

Feedback