- the living spirit of Cambodia
Apsara is a traditional dance from Cambodia. It is one of the most famous parts of Cambodian culture. People love this dance because it tells stories in a very special way. The dancers wear beautiful, colorful costumes, and they look like angels or spirits. When they move, their hands and bodies are soft and slow, like poetry without words. Every movement has a meaning and shows feelings such as love, sadness, or joy.
The stories in Apsara usually come from Cambodian legends, old myths, or religious books like the Ramayana. These stories are very old and belong to the history and beliefs of the Cambodian people. Because of this, the dance is not only art but also a way to remember the past.
Apsara is more than entertainment. It is a symbol of Cambodia’s identity. It shows beauty, grace, and a connection with the spiritual world. Many Cambodians feel proud when they see the Apsara dance because it represents the richness of their culture.
Tourists who visit Cambodia often want to watch an Apsara performance. For them, it feels like traveling back in time. By watching the dance, they can understand Cambodian traditions and experience the magic of its history.
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Vocabulary:
- to explain – to make something clear so another person can understand
- revised – changed to be better or more correct
- part of a culture – something important in the life and traditions of a people
- to tell a story (stories) – to say or show what happens in an event, real or imaginary
- to wear a costume – to put on special clothes for a dance, play, or celebration
- colorful – having many bright colors
- an angel – a spirit from heaven, often shown with wings
- a spirit (figurative) – something like a ghost or special power, not a body
- to be soft – gentle, not hard or strong
- sadness – the feeling of being unhappy
- joy – a strong feeling of happiness
- a legend – an old story about heroes or special events, sometimes not true
- a myth – an old traditional story about gods or nature
- to belong – to be part of something
- a belief – something people think is true or have faith in
- art – creative work like music, painting, dance, or theater
- to remember – to keep something in your mind from the past
- entertainment – things people do for fun, like music, movies, or shows
- Cambodia’s identity – what makes Cambodia special and different from other countries
- beauty – something that looks very nice
- grace – moving in a beautiful and smooth way
- connection with a spiritual world – a link with things that are holy, religious, or not of this world
- to feel proud – to be happy about something you or your country has
- to represent – to show or stand for something
- a richness (culture) – many interesting and valuable things in culture
- to watch a performance – to look at a show like dance, theater, or music
- to travel back in time – to feel like you are in the past
- to experience the magic – to feel something very special, beautiful, or exciting
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Multiple-choice, one answer correct – part 1:
- What does to explain mean?
a) To make something clear
b) To forget something
c) To ask a question - What does revised mean?
a) Very old
b) Changed to be better
c) Easy to do - What is part of a culture?
a) A problem in a country
b) Something important in the life of a people
c) A new idea - What does to tell a story mean?
a) To play music
b) To eat with friends
c) To say or show events - What does to wear a costume mean?
a) To put on special clothes for a dance or show
b) To make a costume
c) To buy clothes - What does colorful mean?
a) Very quiet
b) Having many bright colors
c) Having no color - What is an angel?
a) A person from the sea
b) A type of music
c) A spirit from heaven - What is a spirit (figurative)?
a) A kind of food
b) A teacher at school
c) A special power or ghost, not a body - What does to be soft mean?
a) Hard and strong
b) Easy to break
c) Gentle, not hard - What is sadness?
a) The feeling of being hungry
b) The feeling of being angry
c) The feeling of being unhappy - What is joy?
a) A strong feeling of happiness
b) A small mistake
c) A kind of game - What is a legend?
a) An old story about heroes or events
b) A story about gods and nature
c) A new movie - What is a myth?
a) A history book
b) A true story from today
c) An old traditional story about gods or nature - What does to belong mean?
a) To lose something
b) To be part of something
c) To give something - What is a belief?
a) Something people eat
b) Something people sell
c) Something people think is true - What is art?
a) A kind of food
b) Creative work like music, painting, or dance
c) A place to live - What does to remember mean?
a) To forget the past
b) To write something down
c) To keep something in your mind - What is entertainment?
a) Something very difficult
b) Work at a job
c) Things people do for fun, like music or shows
Answer Key
1-a, 2-b, 3-b, 4-c, 5-a, 6-b, 7-c, 8-c,
9-c, 10-c, 11-a, 12-a, 13-c, 14-b,
15-c, 16-b, 17-c, 18-c
____________________
- To explain means to make something clear.
- Revised means changed to be better.
- Part of a culture means something important in the life of a people.
- To tell a story means to say or show events.
- To wear a costume means to put on special clothes for a dance or show.
- Colorful means having many bright colors.
- An angel is a spirit from heaven.
- A spirit (figurative) is a special power or ghost, not a body.
- To be soft means gentle, not hard.
- Sadness is the feeling of being unhappy.
- Joy is a strong feeling of happiness.
- A legend is an old story about heroes or events.
- A myth is an old traditional story about gods or nature.
- To belong means to be part of something.
- A belief is something people think is true.
- Art is creative work like music, painting, or dance.
- To remember means to keep something in your mind.
- Entertainment is things people do for fun, like music or shows.
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Multiple-choice, one answer correct – part 2:
- Can you _______ this lesson so I understand it better?
a) sleep
b) explain
c) eat - The teacher gave us a _______ version of the exercise.
a) heavy
b) soft
c) revised - Music is an important _______ of many societies.
a) part of a culture
b) chair
c) ball - My grandmother likes _______ stories about her childhood.
a) to write
b) to tell a story
c) to run - For the play, the children had _______ to put on.
a) to play football
b) to wear a costume
c) to eat a sandwich - The festival was very _______ with decorations and lights.
a) boring
b) colorful
c) quiet - In the painting, the girl looks like _______ with wings.
a) a dog
b) an angel
c) a table - Some people believe they can see _______ in old houses.
a) a pencil
b) a car
c) a spirit - The pillow is very _______ and comfortable.
a) soft
b) to run fast
c) to eat quickly - He felt _______ when he lost his favorite toy.
a) a tree
b) sadness
c) a chair - She felt great _______ when she won the game.
a) a rock
b) joy
c) a window - Hercules is a hero from _______.
a) a legend
b) a chair
c) a pen - Zeus and other gods are from _______.
a) a cat
b) a dog
c) a myth
__________________
Answers:
1b, 2c, 3a, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b,
8c, 9a, 10b, 11b, 12a, 13c
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Full version:
- Can you explain this lesson so I understand it better.
- The teacher gave us a revised version of the exercise.
- Music is an important part of a culture of many societies.
- My grandmother likes to tell a story about her childhood.
- For the play, the children had to wear a costume.
- The festival was very colorful with decorations and lights.
- In the painting, the girl looks like an angel with wings.
- Some people believe they can see a spirit in old houses.
- The pillow is very soft and comfortable.
- He felt sadness when he lost his favorite toy.
- She felt great joy when she won the game.
- Hercules is a hero from a legend.
- Zeus and other gods are from a myth.
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True or false:
- The dancers move gracefully, like angels or spirits from old Cambodian stories.
- Apsara is only a dance and not a symbol of Cambodian identity.
- Apsara stories are modern and not part of Cambodia’s history.
- People in Cambodia are not proud of the Apsara dance.
- Tourists in Cambodia often want to see Apsara.
- The dancers move quickly and without grace.
- Their movements are like poetry, showing feelings and telling tales without words.
- Watching Apsara does not help understand Cambodia’s past.
- Apsara is a traditional dance that comes from Cambodia.
- When you watch Apsara, you see dancers wearing beautiful costumes.
- These stories are part of Cambodia’s history and beliefs.
- Apsara represents beauty, grace, and the spiritual world.
- The stories told by Apsara are often from Cambodian mythology or ancient religious books like the Ramayana.
- Apsara is not important in Cambodian culture.
______________________
True: 1,5,7,9,10,11,12,13
______________________
Full version:
- The dancers move gracefully, like angels or spirits from old Cambodian stories.
- Apsara is only a dance and not a symbol of Cambodian identity. True is: Apsara is more than just a dance—it is a symbol of Cambodian identity.
- Apsara stories are modern and not part of Cambodia’s history. True is: The stories they tell are often from long ago, from Cambodian mythology or ancient religious books like the Ramayana.
- People in Cambodia are not proud of the Apsara dance. True is: People in Cambodia are proud of their Apsara dance because it shows their culture’s richness and beauty.
- Tourists in Cambodia often want to see Apsara.
- The dancers move quickly and without grace. True is: They move gracefully, like angels or spirits from old Cambodian stories.
- Their movements are like poetry, showing feelings and telling tales without words.
- Watching Apsara does not help understand Cambodia’s past. True is: Watching the dance is a way to understand the country’s past and appreciate its traditions.
- Apsara is a traditional dance that comes from Cambodia.
- When you watch Apsara, you see dancers wearing beautiful costumes.
- These stories are part of Cambodia’s history and beliefs.
- Apsara represents beauty, grace, and the spiritual world.
- The stories told by Apsara are often from Cambodian mythology or ancient religious books like the Ramayana.
- Apsara is not important in Cambodian culture. True is: Apsara is very important in Cambodian culture because it tells stories in a special way.
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Match the word with its definition:
Words:
- to belong
- joy
- a spirit
- to explain
- sadness
- beauty
- colorful
- a legend
- part of a culture
- to tell a story
- an angel
- to wear a costume
- grace
- a myth
- to be soft
Definitions:
A. Something important in the life and traditions of a people
B. To put on special clothes for a dance, play, or celebration
C. A strong feeling of happiness
D. To make something clear so another person can understand
E. To be part of something
F. Gentle, not hard or strong
G. An old story about heroes or special events, sometimes not true
H. Something like a ghost or special power, not a body
I. Having many bright colors
J. A spirit from heaven, often shown with wings
K. A traditional or old story about gods or nature
L. To say or show what happens in an event, real or imaginary
M. The quality that makes something attractive or pleasing
N. A strong feeling of being unhappy
O. Smoothness and elegance in movement
Answers:
1 – E, 2 – C, 3 – H, 4 – D, 5 – N, 6 – M, 7 – I, 8 – G, 9 – A, 10 – L, 11 – J, 12 – B, 13 – O, 14 – K, 15 – F
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Full version:
To belong means to be part of something.
Joy is a strong feeling of happiness.
A spirit is something like a ghost or special power, not a body.
To explain means to make something clear so another person can understand.
Sadness is a strong feeling of being unhappy.
Beauty is the quality that makes something attractive or pleasing.
Colorful means having many bright colors.
A legend is an old story about heroes or special events, sometimes not true.
Part of a culture is something important in the life and traditions of a people.
To tell a story means to say or show what happens in an event, real or imaginary.
An angel is a spirit from heaven, often shown with wings.
To wear a costume means to put on special clothes for a dance, play, or celebration.
Grace is smoothness and elegance in movement.
A myth is a traditional or old story about gods or nature.
To be soft means gentle, not hard or strong.
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Interview – fill in, words below:
angels – history – culture – traditional –
past – words – grace – stories –
back in time – costumes – books – watch
_____________________________
Interviewer: Hello! Can you tell us about Apsara?
Expert: Yes, Apsara is a__________ dance from Cambodia.
Interviewer: Why is Apsara important in Cambodia?
Expert: It is very important because it tells __________ in a special way.
Interviewer: What do people see when they watch Apsara?
Expert: They see dancers wearing beautiful __________.
Interviewer: How do the dancers move?
Expert: They move gracefully, like __________ or spirits from old Cambodian stories.
Interviewer: Do the dancers use __________ to tell the stories?
Expert: No, they show the stories with their movements, like poetry.
Interviewer: Where do the stories come from?
Expert: They come from Cambodian mythology and ancient religious __________ like the Ramayana.
Interviewer: Are the stories important in Cambodian culture?
Expert: Yes, they are part of Cambodia’s __________ and beliefs.
Interviewer: What does Apsara represent?
Expert: It represents beauty, __________, and the spiritual world.
Interviewer: Are people in Cambodia proud of Apsara?
Expert: Yes, people are proud because it shows the richness and beauty of their __________.
Interviewer: Do tourists like to see Apsara?
Expert: Yes, tourists often want to __________ the dance.
Interviewer: How does watching Apsara feel for the audience?
Expert: It is like traveling __________ and seeing the magic of ancient Cambodia.
Interviewer: What can people learn from Apsara?
Expert: They can understand Cambodia’s __________ and appreciate its traditions.
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Full version:
Interviewer: Hello! Can you tell us about Apsara?
Expert: Yes, Apsara is a traditional dance from Cambodia.
Interviewer: Why is Apsara important in Cambodia?
Expert: It is very important because it tells stories in a special way.
Interviewer: What do people see when they watch Apsara?
Expert: They see dancers wearing beautiful costumes.
Interviewer: How do the dancers move?
Expert: They move gracefully, like angels or spirits from old Cambodian stories.
Interviewer: Do the dancers use words to tell the stories?
Expert: No, they show the stories with their movements, like poetry.
Interviewer: Where do the stories come from?
Expert: They come from Cambodian mythology and ancient religious books like the Ramayana.
Interviewer: Are the stories important in Cambodian culture?
Expert: Yes, they are part of Cambodia’s history and beliefs.
Interviewer: What does Apsara represent?
Expert: It represents beauty, grace, and the spiritual world.
Interviewer: Are people in Cambodia proud of Apsara?
Expert: Yes, people are proud because it shows the richness and beauty of their culture.
Interviewer: Do tourists like to see Apsara?
Expert: Yes, tourists often want to watch the dance.
Interviewer: How does watching Apsara feel for the audience?
Expert: It is like traveling back in time and seeing the magic of ancient Cambodia.
Interviewer: What can people learn from Apsara?
Expert: They can understand Cambodia’s past and appreciate its traditions.
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