NATIVEUK.COM LESSONS
August 30
La Tomatina
Held in the town of Buñol, Spain, La Tomatina is the world's largest food fight. Tens of thousands of people gather to throw over 100 metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes at each other for pure fun.
Speaking Discussion
- Would you ever participate in a festival like La Tomatina? Why or why not?
- What do you think is the appeal of "chaos" in a festival? Why do we enjoy getting messy?
- Some people criticise La Tomatina for wasting food. Do you agree with this criticism, or is the cultural value more important?
- How does a small town like Buñol handle the pressure of thousands of tourists arriving for just one day?
- What is the strangest or most unusual festival in your own country?
Activity 1: The Food Waste Debate
Motion: "Large cultural festivals that involve wasting food are unethical in a world where millions suffer from hunger."
Team A argues that festivals are essential for human joy and tourism; Team B argues for more sustainable and ethical ways to celebrate. Focus on using modals of probability (e.g., "It could be argued that," "One might suggest...").
Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences
- "The craziest festival I have ever seen or heard of is..."
- "The best thing about cultural traditions is..."
- "If I were to organise a festival, the main activity would be..."