.png)
English with Ally
Welcome to English with Ally!
I'll take you on a journey of language learning and cultural discovery! Each episode is designed to help you improve your English while exploring the traditions, culture and everyday life that make English-speaking countries unique.
From festive fun to fascinating customs, you’ll learn the language and discover the culture – one story at a time.
In season 1, we'll take a look at Christmas customs over 24 episodes exploring the secular and religious traditions of this Christian celebration.
So sit back and enjoy a backstage pass to English culture and language!
English with Ally
The Best Gift at Christmas: Acts of Kindness and Charity
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally!
I’m Ally, and you’re listening to one of 24 episodes I’m making this December to explain different Christmas customs and give English language learners a little culture and a little listening practice.
Today we’re talking about something that makes Christmas truly special: lending a helping hand to people in need. For many people the holiday season is not just a time to celebrate, but to consider others—through charity, volunteering, and acts of kindness.
Listen out for these words:
- Charity – giving money, food, or help to people in need.
- Volunteer – to work without pay to help a cause.
- Donate – to give something, like money or clothes, to help others.
- Fundraiser – an event to collect money for charity.
- Aid - help
See if you can hear them in this episode.
Christmas is often called the season of giving, and for many, that means more than exchanging gifts with family and friends. People donate money to charities, give food to food banks, and collect toys for children who might not receive presents. There might be special fundraisers during December, like charity concerts or Christmas markets where profits go to good causes.
One of the most famous examples of a charitable initiative started with a song: “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and recorded by Band Aid in November 1984. Lots on British musicians and singers were involved, and the single raised millions for famine relief in Ethiopia. It inspired an even bigger event—the Live Aid concert, held on 13 July 1985 in London and Philadelphia - you might have heard about it.
Along with collecting money for charity, volunteering is also popular around Christmas time with many people spend time helping at shelters, serving meals to the homeless, or visiting elderly people who might be alone. These acts of kindness remind us that a true spirit of Christmas looks beyond the people you may know to caring for the wider community and others who need a hand.
Do you do something to help others at Christmas? Maybe donate, volunteer, or support a charity? I used to sing in a community choir and we collected money for charity by singing in in public places. You can let me know about how you help others by emailing me at helloenglishwithally[at]gmail.com — I'd love to hear from you.
Thanks for listening to English with Ally! If you enjoyed today’s episode, share it with a friend and subscribe for more cultural insights. Merry Christmas!
Learn the language, discover the culture.