1. Spring Festival - Facts
Chinese New Year is one of the oldest Chinese festivals and has many traditions. It is also known as the Spring Festival, which is more of the modern Chinese name. Before the start of the festivities, Chinese people spring clean their houses to sweep away any bad luck. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, dustpan and brushes are put away so that good luck can not be swept away. Houses are decorated with paper scrolls with good luck phrases such as 'Happiness' and 'Wealth'.
On New Year's Eve, families gather together and have a large, traditional meal. There are different types of food depending on which region of China people come from. in the north, people eat djiaozi - a steamed dumpling and in the south nian gao - a sticky, sweet rice pudding.
People will stay up until midnight setting off fireworks to frighten away evil spirits. Red symbolises fire which will scare away evil spirits, so people dress head to foot in new red clothing.
On New Year's Day children will wake up to find a red envelope filled with money and sweets under their pillows left by their parents and grandparents.
Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. The lanterns are often hand painted with scenes from history or legend. People hang glowing lanterns at the windows of their houses and carry lanterns under the light of the full moon. A dragon dance often takes places with a dragon made of paper, silk and bamboo held aloft by young men dancing and guiding it around to collect money.

2. Basic Mind Map – Spring Festival
What When why
Watch Fire works
New year parade
Clean house
Buy new clothes
Cards
Train
Ticket
Time
Introduction
Travel
Activities
Spring
Festival
Dinner
Dumplings
Fish
Food
Family
Visit(s) Relatives - greet
Emotional
Red envelopes

3. Travel Mind Map – Spring Festival
High-speed
Clean
Seat
Train
Ticket
Distance / Time
Travel
Expensive
Waiting -short
Spring
Festival
Fast
Short
During the spring festival many Chinese travel home for the holidays.
During the spring festival many Chinese take the short or long journey home by train. Getting Tickets home is all that they have on their mind.
During the spring festival I take the High-speed train home. Its nice and clean and I always get a seat. It’s expensive for the short trip but I don’t have to wait that long to get a ticket. It only takes the train 30 minutes before I’m back in my home city.
Simple Basic
Basic fact
Basic Personal Experience

4. Travel Mind Map – Spring Festival
High-speed / slow (K-T)
Clean / dirty
Seat / standing / bed
Train
Ticket
Distance / Time
Travel
Expensive / Cheap
Waiting –long / short
Spring
Festival
Fast /slow
Short /long
During the spring festival I take the High-speed train home. Its nice and clean. My friend John lives in Chengdu a city that’s far away from campus and for him its a slow train which are not as nice. It’s expensive for the short trip for me 50rmb especially as I'm only a student and money is hard to come by. For John his ticket is more expensive than mine 600rmb, he does have a longer journey and what a journey it is, 27 hours. I do feel sorry for him as I always get a seat while he may have to stand because sometimes there's no seats and he cannot afford a bed. I can get a ticket quite easily, John however isn’t so lucky once I waited outside the station for 2 days with him before he got his ticket. I feel sorry for him but I understand that he misses his family and the price and wait is worth it. As he loves them.
Basic Personal comparison

5. Party Mind Map Party Food costs Place Cake Cards Singing Dancing
Crisps
Nuts
fruits
Ice cream
Cupcakes
Pudding
Games
Music
Flowers
Entertainment
desserts
snacks
Balloons
Decorations
Candles
Cold food
Party
costs
Food
Pasta
Pizza
BBQ chicken
Living room
Rugs
Vacuum
Dust
Sweep
Hot food
Place
Clean House TV
Shelves
write
Kitchen
Hallway
Invite arrange
People
send
Cake
Restaurant
RSVP
Rent (hall)
Make a reservation (table)
Friends
Family members
Layer cake (flavour)
Candles

6. Conversations: future plans
Zoe: Hi!
Sandy: Oh, hello.
Zoe: you don’t look very happy. What’s the matter?
Sandy: David hasn’t rung.
Zoe: You only saw him yesterday.
Sandy: Yes, and the last thing he said, was: “I’ll ring you tomorrow”
Zoe: Well, tomorrow isn’t finished yet.
Sandy: No, but it’s eight o’clock. What’re you doing tonight? Do you fancy going for a drink?
Zoe: I’d love to, but John is coming round and we’re going for a meal.
Sandy: Well, I’m not going to sit here waiting for a phone to ring. I know, I’ll phone Becky.
Grammar tips:
Future forms
‘Have you got any plans for the weekend?’
Spontaneous decision: WILL
‘ No, I haven’t. I think I’ll call Jan and see if she’s free’
Intention: BE GOING TO
‘Not yet. I’m going to call Jan to see if she’s free’
Arrangement: PRESENTCONTINUOUS
‘Yes, I have. I’m having lunch with Jan on Saturday’

7. Conversations: future plans
Sandy: I’m going to the cinema with Becky.
Zoe: Good idea!
Sandy: Next time I see David I’m going to tell him to get lost.
Zoe: Hmm. I’ll believe that when I see it.
Becky: Hello.
Sandy: Hi Becky, it’s Sandy.
Becky: Hiya
Sandy: Becky, are you doing anything tonight?
Becky: Yes, I’m meeting Alex and Suzy in about half an hour.
Sandy: Where are you going?
Becky: To the cinema. Would you like to come with us?
Sandy: Yes I’d love to. Where are you meeting?
Becky: At their house, but we could meet you in front of the cinema in George street, at 8.30 (half past eight)
Sandy: Ok. Thanks see you later!

8. Conversations: future plans
Zoe: You didn’t tell him to get lost.
Sandy: Well, he apologized and he’s having dinner with his parents. Anyway, I must go. See you later.
Zoe: Hello.
Sandy: Is Sandy there, please?
Zoe: Yes, hold on moment, I’ll get her for you……It’s David
Sandy: Oh, hello David.
David: Look I’m really sorry I didn’t call earlier, but I had to work late.
Sandy: Oh, that’s all right; I forgot you were going to ring anyway.
David: Look, I’m afraid I can’t see you tonight. I’m having dinner with my parents
Sandy: Doesn’t matter, I’m going to the cinema anyway.
David: Oh, right. I’ll call you.
Sandy: When? I mean, all right. Goodbye.
David: Bye.
Sandy: Hi Alex, Hi Suzy. Where is Becky?
Suzy: She changed her mind in the last minute. David called her and asked her to go for a meal in that new Japanese restaurant.
Sandy: What!? Now, I’m definitely going to tell him to get lost!