Khmer New Year

Curriculum Alignment

This lesson aligns with the Australian Curriculum: Languages – Modern Languages, Senior Secondary (Year 11). It focuses on:

• Understanding: Exploring language and culture related to Khmer New Year (AC9L1U01)
• Communicating: Discussing and presenting cultural traditions in the target language (AC9L1C01)
• Intercultural Understanding: Exploring perspectives, beliefs, and values embedded in cultural traditions (AC9LCU01)

Language Focus: Khmer
Duration: 100 minutes
Class Size: 20 students

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Describe Khmer New Year traditions, customs, and celebrations in Khmer and English
• Compare Khmer New Year with Australian celebrations
• Develop intercultural understanding by reflecting on how language connects to cultural identity
• Engage in group discussions and a hands-on cultural activity

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Lesson Plan

Introduction (15 minutes) – Engaging Students

1. Warm-up Discussion (7 minutes)

• Ask students:
  • What New Year celebrations do they know about?
  • How do they celebrate New Year in their families?
• Show visuals of Khmer New Year celebrations (e.g., traditional dances, temples, and food).
• Introduce key Khmer vocabulary:
  • Chaul Chnam Thmey (Khmer New Year)
  • Sdei Chnam Thmey (Happy New Year)
  • Angkor Sankranta (Festival during New Year)
  • Sompeas (Traditional greeting)

2. Video Insight – Immersive Experience (8 minutes)

• Play a short video (with subtitles) showing Khmer New Year celebrations in Cambodia.
• After the video, have students jot down key observations:
  • What stood out?
  • What traditions seemed unfamiliar or interesting?
• Quick pair-share discussion to reflect on these observations.

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Main Activities (60 minutes) – Deepening Understanding

3. Cultural Comparison Activity (15 minutes)

• Group Work (4-5 students per group):
  • Assign each group a New Year celebration to compare (e.g., Khmer New Year vs. Lunar New Year, Khmer New Year vs. Australian New Year).
  • Groups fill in a Venn diagram with similarities and differences.
• Class Discussion:
  • How do cultural values influence celebrations?
  • Why do different countries celebrate the New Year at different times?

4. Role-play: Khmer New Year Greetings & Customs (20 minutes)

• Teach how to perform the Sompeas greeting and its levels of respect.
• Students role-play Khmer New Year scenarios, using polite phrases.
• Example scenarios:
  • Greeting elders and giving wishes
  • Participating in a family blessing ceremony

5. Traditional Khmer Game – “Leak Kanseng” (20 minutes)

(Look beyond typical classroom activities – this will make the lesson memorable!)

• Setup:
  • "Leak Kanseng" is a traditional Cambodian game played during New Year. It is similar to "duck, duck, goose."
  • A cloth (or small object) is rotated behind seated players in a circle while music plays.
• Objective:
  • Introduce students to fun and interactive aspects of Khmer culture.
  • Encourage language use by incorporating instructions and greetings in Khmer.

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Conclusion (25 minutes) – Reflection & Application

6. Creative Writing Task (15 minutes)

• Ask students to write a short reflection in Khmer or English:
  • What they found most interesting about Khmer New Year
  • How it compares to celebrations they know
  • How languages and traditions shape cultural identity

7. Exit Ticket – One Key Takeaway (10 minutes)

• Students write down or share one key thing they learned on a sticky note and place it on the board.
• Discuss a few responses as a class.

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Assessment & Differentiation

Formative Assessment:

• Observing student participation in discussions and role-plays
• Evaluating Venn diagram comparisons for depth of understanding
• Checking written reflections for cultural insights

Differentiation Strategies:

• For support: Provide sentence starters in Khmer for speaking activities.
• For extension: Challenge advanced students to write a Khmer New Year greeting card in both English and Khmer.

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Resources & Materials

• Printed Venn diagrams
• Cloth or scarf for “Leak Kanseng” game
• Visuals and video clips showcasing Khmer New Year
• Example Khmer greeting cards

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Teacher Reflection

• What worked well? (e.g., high engagement in the game or role-play)
• What can be improved? (e.g., balancing group tasks better)
• How did students show intercultural understanding?

This lesson introduces a unique, immersive experience into Khmer language and culture while actively engaging students beyond textbook learning. It provides a mix of discussion, interaction, and hands-on activities to bring Khmer New Year to life in the classroom. 🎉