Speaking calendar/Setsubun
February 3rd · Cultural Insight

Setsubun

Driving out the demons. In Japan, families throw roasted soybeans out of their front doors to scare away oni (evil spirits) and welcome good luck for the spring. This lesson covers how we externalise our fears into monsters and whether rituals of cleaning are essential for mental clarity.

SPEAKING LESSONB1 / B2Discussion · Vocabulary · Activities
01 / LET’S TALK

Speaking Discussion

  1. Why do we feel the need to scare away bad luck with physical actions?
  2. Is superstition a harmless cultural game or a barrier to scientific thinking?
  3. What is the demon in your own life that you would like to throw beans at today?
  4. Why is the soybean a symbol of health and purity in Japanese culture?
  5. Does cleaning your house (literally or spiritually) actually improve your productivity?
02 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Activity 1: The Demon Designer

The Task: Describe your own personal demon (e.g., Procrastination or Self-Doubt). What does its mask look like, and what ritual would you use to scare it away?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Is luck something we make, or something that happens to us?