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Vocabulary Grammar Reading Listening Speaking Writing

Section 1

Teacher's Lesson Plan

Lesson Overview

Topic

History of Valentine's Day — Elena is a journalist writing an article about the surprisingly complex origins of Valentine's Day. She discovers that the holiday has almost nothing to do with its original history — it was shaped by Roman festivals, a martyred saint, medieval poetry, Victorian commerce, and modern globalisation. Where did it really come from?

Level

B1–C1

Duration

90 minutes

Skills

Reading · Listening · Speaking · Writing (+ Vocabulary + Grammar)

Grammar

Present Simple — modern customs and what people do today
Past Simple — historical events: how the holiday originated and changed
Passive (Present + Past) — language of history and tradition: cards are sent, the holiday was celebrated, flowers are given

Vocabulary

12 words (B1–C1): custom · tradition · ritual · courtship · martyrdom · legend · anonymous · pagan · commercialise · dedicate · folklore · affection

Materials

Student Handouts 1–6 (printed); whiteboard; this plan

Key Grammar — Teaching Notes

Three structures — their roles in history and traditions

Present Simple — what happens today, every year, as a custom or fact:
People send cards to those they love. · The holiday is celebrated in over 100 countries. · Red roses symbolise love.

Past Simple — specific completed historical events:
The Romans celebrated Lupercalia in February. · Chaucer wrote a poem linking birds and love to February. · Victorian card companies printed millions of Valentine's cards.

Passive — language of history and tradition, when the action or recipient matters more than who did it:
Present: Cards are sent anonymously. · Roses are given as gifts. · The day is marked in different ways around the world.
Past: The holiday was shaped by centuries of tradition. · Lupercalia was replaced by a Christian feast. · The first Valentine's card was printed in 1913.

Key contrast — Present Simple vs Past Simple

"People send flowers on Valentine's Day." (PS — always true, today)
"People sent handwritten letters in the 19th century." (Past S — specific historical period)

"The holiday is celebrated worldwide." (Passive PS — current fact)
"The holiday was introduced to Japan in the 1950s." (Passive Past — specific event)

Lesson Procedure

Time

Stage

Skill

Teacher does

Students do

0–7 min

Lead-in

Speaking

"What do people do on Valentine's Day in your country?" Board a quick list. Then: "When do you think the holiday started?" Take guesses — reveal the real answer later.

Discuss customs. Make guesses about origins. Predict the lesson.

7–16 min

Vocabulary

—

12 B1-C1 words. Concept-check pagan, martyrdom, courtship. Part B gap-fill.

Part A: read + self-test. Part B: gap-fill.

16–44 min

Grammar

—

PS vs Past S contrast on board → Passive (Present + Past) → Active to Passive drill → exercises 1–5.

Study cards. Exercises 1–5. Pair-check.

44–56 min

Reading

Gist: "What are the three main origins of Valentine's Day?" Identify all three structures. Tasks 1–2.

Read Elena's article. Questions. T/F/NG.

56–68 min

Listening

Context: "Elena interviews a cultural historian and a florist." Read TWICE.

MCQ. Notes. Grammar hunt.

68–80 min

Speaking

Timeline presentation + debate: Is Valentine's Day genuine tradition or pure commerce? Monitor all 3 structures.

Present timeline. Debate. Discussion.

80–90 min

Writing

100–120 words. Short article or opinion piece. All 3 structures.

Write about Valentine's Day history or customs. Self-check.

Listening Script — 'More Than Just a Card'

Read aloud twice at a clear B1–B2 pace. Do not show to students during the tasks.

Elena:

Professor Hart, Valentine's Day is celebrated everywhere now. But where did it actually come from?

Prof. Hart:

The origins are surprisingly complicated. The Romans celebrated a fertility festival called Lupercalia every February. It was later replaced by a Christian feast day dedicated to a saint named Valentine. But the romantic connection was added much later — probably by the poet Chaucer in the 1380s. He wrote a poem in which birds chose their mates on Saint Valentine's Day. That idea caught on, and the tradition grew.

Elena:

And the cards? When were they introduced?

Prof. Hart:

Handwritten notes were exchanged in Europe as early as the 15th century. But printed cards were produced on a large scale in the 1840s, when the postal system made it easy to send them anonymously. By the 1900s, millions of cards were sold every year. The day was effectively commercialised during the Victorian era.

Elena:

And today, what does the day mean to people?

Elena:

I also spoke to Maria, a florist in the city centre.

Maria:

Valentine's Day is the busiest day of the year for us. Hundreds of bouquets are ordered every February. Red roses are the most popular — they are given as a symbol of love and affection. But in recent years, more unusual flowers are also being chosen — people want something more personal. The tradition is still very much alive, but it is being reinvented all the time.

Grammar in the script:
· PS: Valentine's Day is celebrated everywhere / The tradition is still very much alive / Red roses are the most popular / it is being reinvented
· Past S: The Romans celebrated Lupercalia / It was later replaced / Chaucer wrote a poem / the tradition grew / Handwritten notes were exchanged / printed cards were produced / The day was effectively commercialised
· Passive: is celebrated / was replaced / was dedicated / were exchanged / were produced / were sold / was commercialised / are ordered / are given / are being chosen

Answer Key

Handout 1 — Vocabulary

1. custom · tradition 2. pagan 3. ritual 4. martyrdom 5. legend 6. courtship 7. affection 8. dedicate 9. anonymous 10. folklore 11. commercialise 12. tradition / custom

Handout 2 — Grammar

Ex 1 (PS or Past S?): 1. PS 2. Past S 3. Past S 4. PS 5. Past S 6. PS 7. Past S 8. PS

Ex 2 (complete): 1. celebrate (PS) 2. introduced (Past S) 3. are sent (Passive PS) 4. was replaced (Passive Past) 5. give (PS) 6. was commercialised (Passive Past) 7. is celebrated (Passive PS) 8. wrote (Past S) 9. are associated (Passive PS) 10. was printed (Passive Past)

Ex 3 (active → passive): 1. Valentine's Day is celebrated by millions of people every year. 2. The first printed card was produced in England in the 1840s. 3. Red roses are given as a symbol of love and affection. 4. The romantic tradition was popularised by Victorian card companies. 5. Flowers and chocolates are sold in enormous quantities every February.

Ex 4 (PS vs Past S): 1. celebrated (Past S — specific ancient time) 2. is dedicated (Passive PS — still today) 3. wrote (Past S — 1380s) 4. are exchanged (Passive PS — every year now) 5. was introduced (Passive Past — specific decade)

Ex 5 (errors): 1. is celebrated (PS passive) 2. replaced (Past S — specific event) 3. are given (Passive PS — present) 4. was written (Past passive) 5. is celebrated (PS — general truth)

Handout 3 — Reading

T/F/NG: 1 T 2 F (the romantic link was added by Chaucer in the 14th century, not the Romans) 3 T 4 NG 5 T

Handout 4 — Listening

Task 1: 1-B 2-C 3-A

Task 2: (1) Lupercalia / fertility festival (2) Chaucer / 1380s (3) were produced / 1840s (4) are ordered / red roses (5) being reinvented / personal

History of Valentine's Day

Student Handouts

Name:

Date:

Class:

Handout 1

Vocabulary

Part A — Key Words

Word

What it means

custom

something that people in a particular society regularly do — sending cards on Valentine's Day is a long-standing custom

tradition

a belief or practice that has been passed down through generations — the tradition of giving roses goes back centuries

ritual

a set of actions performed in a fixed order, often as part of a ceremony or celebration

courtship

the period during which two people develop a romantic relationship before getting married

martyrdom

the death or suffering of a person because of their beliefs — Saint Valentine was executed for his religious beliefs

legend

an old story, often based loosely on real events, that is widely told but impossible to verify

anonymous

sent or done by a person whose name is not known or not given — many Valentine's cards are sent anonymously

pagan

relating to religious beliefs that are not part of the main world religions — Lupercalia was a pagan Roman festival

commercialise

to make something into a business opportunity, often losing its original meaning — Valentine's Day was commercialised in the 19th century

dedicate

to officially give something a name or set it aside for a particular purpose

folklore

the traditional stories, customs and beliefs of a community, passed down informally

affection

a gentle feeling of love or care — Valentine's Day is a day for expressing affection

Part B — Fill in the Gaps

Use words from Part A. More than one answer may be possible for some gaps.

1.Sending cards and giving flowers on 14th February is a __________________ that is observed in many countries around the world.

2.Long before Christianity arrived, the Romans held __________________ festivals in February to celebrate fertility and the arrival of spring.

3.In Japan, the giving of chocolate on Valentine's Day has become an important social __________________, especially among young people.

4.Saint Valentine is believed to have married Christian couples in secret, which eventually led to his arrest and __________________ at the hands of Roman authorities.

5.According to popular __________________, Saint Valentine sent a letter signed "from your Valentine" to the daughter of his jailer before his execution.

6.In medieval England, Valentine's Day was associated with __________________ — the beginning of the season when birds and animals chose their mates.

7.Sending an __________________ card — one without a name — was fashionable in Victorian England, allowing people to express feelings they were too shy to declare openly.

8.The Romans decided to __________________ 14th February to Saint Valentine after Christianity became the official religion of the empire.

9.According to English __________________, the first bird a woman saw on Valentine's Day morning would predict the kind of man she would marry.

10.Card companies and florists have been accused of trying to __________________ the holiday, turning a personal gesture into a commercial event.

11.Valentine's Day is a time to show __________________ — whether through a handwritten note, a gift, or simply a kind word.

12.The __________________ of giving red roses on Valentine's Day is a relatively modern one — it became popular in the 20th century.

Handout 2

Grammar

Three Structures — The Language of History and Tradition

PRESENT SIMPLE
What happens today — customs, general facts, things that are always true.
People send cards to those they love. · Red roses symbolise love and affection.
The holiday is celebrated in over 100 countries. · Cards are sent anonymously.
Ask: "Is this always true? Does this happen every year?" → Present Simple

PAST SIMPLE
Completed events at a specific time in history.
The Romans celebrated Lupercalia in February. · Chaucer wrote a poem linking birds to love.
Victorian card companies printed millions of cards. · The holiday arrived in Japan in the 1950s.
Ask: "Did this happen at a specific time in the past?" → Past Simple

PASSIVE
When the action or recipient matters more than who did it — essential in history and traditions.
Present: Roses are given as gifts. · The day is marked in many cultures.
Past: Lupercalia was replaced by a Christian feast. · The first card was printed in 1840.
Structure: be (is/are/was/were) + past participle

KEY CONTRAST:
"People send flowers today." (PS — general truth now)
"People sent handwritten letters in the 19th century." (Past S — specific period)
"The holiday is celebrated worldwide." (Passive PS — current fact)
"The holiday was introduced to Japan in the 1950s." (Passive Past — specific event)

Exercise 1 — Present Simple or Past Simple?

Write PS or Past S.

1.Millions of Valentine's cards are sold every February around the world. [ ]

2.The Romans celebrated a fertility festival called Lupercalia in mid-February. [ ]

3.Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a poem connecting birds, love and Saint Valentine's Day in the 1380s. [ ]

4.Red roses symbolise love and passion in most Western cultures. [ ]

5.Victorian card companies produced millions of printed Valentine's cards in the 1840s. [ ]

6.In Japan, women traditionally give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. [ ]

7.The postal system made it easy to send anonymous cards for the first time in the 19th century. [ ]

8.Many countries celebrate Valentine's Day with flowers, cards and romantic dinners. [ ]

Exercise 2 — Complete with the Correct Form

Use: Present Simple · Past Simple · Passive (PS or Past)

1.Many couples __________________ (celebrate) Valentine's Day with a romantic dinner. [PS]

2.The Romans __________________ (introduce) the festival of Lupercalia long before Christianity arrived. [Past S]

3.Over a billion Valentine's cards __________________ (send) every year around the world. [Passive PS]

4.The pagan festival of Lupercalia __________________ (replace) by a Christian feast day in the 5th century. [Passive Past]

5.In many countries, people __________________ (give) roses and chocolates as expressions of affection. [PS]

6.Valentine's Day __________________ (commercialise) during the Victorian era, when greeting card companies grew rapidly. [Passive Past]

7.Today, the holiday __________________ (celebrate) in countries from Brazil to South Korea. [Passive PS]

8.Chaucer __________________ (write) one of the first known references to romantic love on Saint Valentine's Day. [Past S]

9.Red roses __________________ (associate) with love because of their colour and their connection to the goddess Venus. [Passive PS]

10.The first mass-produced Valentine's card __________________ (print) by Esther Howland in the United States in 1847. [Passive Past]

Exercise 3 — Active to Passive

Rewrite each sentence in the passive. Keep the same tense.

1. "Millions of people celebrate Valentine's Day every year." (Present)

___________________________________________________________________________

2. "English printers produced the first mass-produced card in the 1840s." (Past)

___________________________________________________________________________

3. "People give red roses as a symbol of love and affection." (Present)

___________________________________________________________________________

4. "Victorian card companies popularised the romantic tradition." (Past)

___________________________________________________________________________

5. "Florists sell flowers and chocolates in enormous quantities every February." (Present)

___________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 4 — Choose the Right Tense

PS (Present Simple) · Past S (Past Simple) · Passive PS · Passive Past. Choose the best form.

1."The Romans __________________ (celebrate / celebrated) Lupercalia as a fertility festival." (ancient history)

2."14th February __________________ (dedicate / is dedicated) to Saint Valentine in the Christian calendar." (current fact)

3."Chaucer __________________ (writes / wrote) a poem linking love to Saint Valentine's Day in the 1380s." (specific date)

4."Today, Valentine's cards __________________ (are exchanged / exchanged) all over the world on 14th February." (every year now)

5."The holiday __________________ (is introduced / was introduced) to Japan by chocolate companies in the 1950s." (specific decade)

Exercise 5 — Find and Correct the Error

Each sentence has ONE mistake.

1. "Valentine's Day celebrate in over 100 countries around the world today."

Corrected: ___________________________________________________________________

2. "The pagan festival of Lupercalia is replaced by a Christian feast in the 5th century."

Corrected: ___________________________________________________________________

3. "Red roses give as a symbol of love every year on 14th February."

Corrected: ___________________________________________________________________

4. "The poem was write by Chaucer in the 1380s."

Corrected: ___________________________________________________________________

5. "The holiday celebrated in a different way in every culture."

Corrected: ___________________________________________________________________

Handout 3

Reading

Elena's Article — 'A Holiday With a Complicated Past'

Ancient roots

Long before Valentine's Day was associated with love and romance, the Romans celebrated Lupercalia — a pagan fertility festival held every February. It was a wild and ancient ritual, far removed from the chocolates and roses of today. When Christianity spread across the Roman Empire, church leaders decided to replace Lupercalia with a feast day dedicated to a Christian martyr. They chose Saint Valentine — a priest who was executed in the 3rd century AD for performing secret Christian marriages. According to legend, he sent a letter signed "from your Valentine" to his jailer's daughter on the day he died.

The romantic link

The connection between Valentine's Day and romantic love was not made by the Romans or the Church — it was invented by poets. In 1382, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a poem in which birds chose their mates on Saint Valentine's Day. The idea caught on. By the 15th century, handwritten love notes were exchanged across Europe. The English poet John Donne also wrote Valentine's poems, and the tradition spread through the educated classes.

The modern holiday

Valentine's Day as we know it today was largely created in the 19th century. Mass-produced cards were introduced in England in the 1840s. Sending a card anonymously became fashionable — the mystery added to the romance. By the early 1900s, the holiday was fully commercialised. Today, it is celebrated in over 100 countries. Billions of cards are sent, millions of roses are sold, and restaurants are fully booked weeks in advance. The ancient ritual of Lupercalia is long forgotten — but the affection it inspired continues, transformed almost beyond recognition.

After reading: Underline all the passive constructions in the text. How many can you find?

Task 1 — Answer the Questions

Write full sentences.

1.What was Lupercalia and when was it celebrated?