Lesson 2: Taboos
It’ll jinx the baby!

I can discuss taboos.

INTRODUCE

Taboos change from culture to culture. Talking about them with foreign friends can help avoid misunderstandings and conflict.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the expressions with your tutor and answer the questions.

    1. If you frown on something, you don’t approve of it.

     

    My mother frowns on using smartphones at the dinner table.

     

    Q: Which of the following do you frown on more?

    arguing in public

    public displays of affection

     

     

    2. If you jinx something/someone, you do something that will cause bad luck to happen to a thing or person.

     

    I don’t want to tell anyone about my possible promotion because I might jinx it!

     

    Q: Do you believe that either of these things might jinx you?

    a hospital room with a number 4

    breaking a mirror

     

     

    3. If you think that something is a bunch of nonsense, you feel that it’s foolish and untrue.

     

    Many young people today think that superstitious beliefs are a bunch of nonsense.

     

    Q: Do you think that either of these things is a bunch of nonsense?

    wearing lucky charms

    ghosts

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

When a word starting with h comes after a word that ends in a consonant, the /h/ sound is often not pronounced.
Phrase Example

jinx her

/ jing-kser /

She didn’t want to / jing-kser / engagement.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Catherine and Jun are chatting at her parents’ house in Taiwan.

Catherine:

Jun, can you cut this for me?

Jun:

Why? Did you hurt your hand?

Catherine:

No, my hand’s fine. Don’t worry. It’s just that Mom told me that using scissors while pregnant will give the baby poor eyesight. If she saw me using them, she’d freak out.

Jun:

Really? (laughs) All right, whatever, I’ll cut it for you. Anyway, since we have a baby on the way, I think we should move to a bigger apartment. Let’s start looking for one when we get back to Tokyo.

Catherine:

Next week? We can’t! My mom would probably fly to Japan and block me from entering the new apartment. (laughs) Moving while pregnant is a big taboo in Taiwan. Some people say that if you move, it’ll jinx the baby!

Jun:

What a bunch of nonsense! Why is it okay for the baby to fly from Japan to Taiwan but not to move from one apartment in Tokyo to another?

Catherine:

(laughs) Don’t ask me. But you know that my mom frowns on ignoring customs and traditions, so it’s best to just follow them.

Jun:

(sighs) Fine. We’ll look for a new place after you give birth.

TRIVIA

There are a number of pregnancy superstitions in Taiwan. Aside from the moving taboo, it’s also believed that touching glue, eating crab, and using sharp objects can jinx an unborn baby. On the other hand, some people believe that looking at pictures of cute babies can make the unborn baby cute as well!

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Complete the conversations by replacing the underlined parts with expressions from the box. Some expressions may be used more than once, and the form of some expressions may need to be changed.

frown on something
jinx someone/something
a bunch of nonsense

1.

Tutor: I heard Ritsuko never gives people anything with the number four. Why is that?

Student: Oh, she doesn’t want to cause them bad luck.

 

2.

Tutor: Keith told me the pyramids were built by aliens!

Student: Don’t believe him! That’s crazy!

 

3.

Tutor: My class is visiting a really famous museum tomorrow! It’s going to be awesome!

Student: That’s great! But remember to use your indoor voice. The museum staff don’t approve of speaking loudly.

 

4.

Tutor: Do you think the urban legend your cousin told us is true?

Student: I don’t think so. It’s really foolish.

STEP B EXERCISE

Follow the instructions in parentheses using the expressions in the box. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

frown on something
jinx something
a bunch of nonsense

1.

Tutor: Is it common for people to live together before they get married?
Student: (Say that a lot of people still don’t approve of the idea of living together before marriage.)

 

2.

Tutor: Mark said that he went skydiving without a parachute! Is that true?
Student: (Say that what he said was stupid and unbelievable.)

 

3.

Tutor: I heard that Emma is finally going to go on a date with that guy she likes next week!
Student: (Say that she doesn’t want too many people to know about her date because she doesn’t want to cause bad luck.)

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You have a Taiwanese friend who grew up in the United States. He/She just returned to Taiwan to attend his/her grandmother’s funeral and was surprised by many things. Talk to your friend about it.

Today's Expressions

  • frown on something
  • jinx something/someone
  • a bunch of nonsense

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

TABOOS
2

JINXES
3

SUPERSTITIONS
1

TABOOS

  1. What are some taboos in Japan?
  2. Why do you think these taboos are established?
  3. What’s something that used to be a taboo but is now okay?
  4. What do you think of people who break taboos?

2JINXES

  1. What’s something that is believed to jinx a home?
  2. What’s something that is believed to jinx a couple’s relationship/marriage?
  3. Do Japanese people usually avoid doing or saying things that are believed to jinx things?
  4. What do people usually do to break a jinx?

3SUPERSTITIONS

  1. What are common superstitions that are still followed in Japan?
  2. Why do you think those superstitions were started?
  3. Are there any benefits to following superstitions?
  4. When traveling abroad, do you think it’s important to know the local superstitions?

FEEDBACK

I can discuss taboos.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK