Thanksgiving is a holiday deeply rooted in American culture—and one that has spread and been adapted in various forms around the world. Known for expressing gratitude and sharing meals with family and friends, this holiday provides a fun opportunity for language learning and cultural understanding. For language faculty, different countries’ celebrations or reinterpretations of the day can be ideal resources for enriching the classroom and promoting cross-cultural understanding.
Although Thanksgiving originated in the United States, based on a tradition of harvest and giving thanks, similar festivals exist in many countries. For example, in Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated in October, and while the history is different, the customs are similar, including sharing a meal with loved ones and focusing on giving thanks for a good harvest and prosperity.
While other countries do not celebrate this day specifically, they do have holidays to celebrate gratitude and the harvest. For example, in South Korea, Chuseok is a harvest festival held in September, when families gather to express gratitude and share traditional foods. Although each country has its own traditions, all of these types of celebrations involve acts of gratitude, allowing students to recognize the similarities between cultures and the universal significance of these expressions of gratitude.
For many American expatriates, Thanksgiving is more than just a day on the calendar—it’s also an important cultural tie-in. In cities like London, Paris, and even Latin American ones, expats often search for ways to celebrate the holiday by hosting dinners with friends or visiting restaurants that serve traditional turkey dinners. In some places, Americans might gather locals and friends from other countries for the evening to attend and learn about the meaning of the holiday. This adaptation and transmission of American traditions can be an interesting resource for students exploring how to transfer traditions to new environments and adapt them to local cultures.
Language teachers can also take advantage of this diversity of perspectives and traditions as a resource in the classroom. Discussing Thanksgiving and its different cultural expressions in the classroom allows students to reflect on their own customs and make connections with others. A suggested activity could be to compare typical Thanksgiving dishes with traditional dishes from their own countries.
In addition, using vocabulary with themes related to food and emotions allows students to learn in a practical and dynamic way. For example, an activity on how to write a thank-you note to someone special can help students express their feelings at the same time as they are practicing grammatical structures and useful vocabulary.
Finally, Thanksgiving incorporates the idea of “acts of gratitude” into the language. Teaching about this concept not only broadens cultural awareness; it also promotes a greater appreciation for and understanding of the similarities and differences between cultures. From the origins of the American harvest tradition to its adaptation around the world, Thanksgiving remains a universal reminder of the importance of gratitude. There is no doubt that by addressing the topics associated with this holiday, language teachers provide students with the opportunity to develop a more global perspective and to reflect on common values across cultures, furthering their linguistic and personal development.
By Andreina Ibarra.
