• a special day in a Toraja village begins in a church and continues with traditional music, clothes, dancing, and family life

Dear Rina,

Last week, I went to a Toraja wedding in a small village in South Sulawesi. A friend invited me because his family knew the bride’s family. I had never been to a Toraja wedding before, so I wanted to see it. The wedding had two main parts. First, there was a church service. After that, there was a traditional event in the village.

The wedding started in a church. The bride wore a beautiful white dress, and the groom wore a dark suit. Their parents, family members, and friends sat together in the church. The priest talked about marriage, family, and faith. The bride and groom made promises to each other and gave each other rings. They also prayed together. At the end of the service, the priest gave them a blessing. Everyone sat quietly and listened.

After the church service, we went to the village. The traditional event took place in the main square. It was near a tongkonan, a large family house of the Toraja people. There were many chairs in the square. There was also a large space for the people who came to the wedding. Many guests were already there when we arrived.

The bride and groom changed into traditional Toraja clothes. Their clothes had bright colours and beautiful patterns. They also wore jewellery. They looked very different from how they had looked in the church.

Some older family members had an important part in the traditional event. They talked about the two families. They gave the young couple good advice and good wishes. They also welcomed the guests and thanked them for coming.

Then the traditional music and dances started. Some people played music, and other people danced in the square. Many guests watched the dancers, talked to friends, and took photos. Some family members came from other villages for the wedding. The square was very busy.

Later, everyone ate together. People sat with family and friends and talked. The event continued for several hours.

I liked the wedding very much because I could see both parts of Toraja life. The day started in a church and then continued in the village with Toraja music, clothes, dancing, and other traditions.

It was a very nice day, and I was happy to be there.

Best wishes,
Indra

___________________________

Voabulary

• a wedding – a day when two people get married
• a village – a small place where people live
• to invite somebody – to ask somebody to come
• a bride – a woman who is getting married
• a church service – a time when people meet in a church to pray
• an event – something that happens at a special time or place
• to wear – to have clothes on your body
• a suit – a jacket and trousers worn together
• faith – strong belief in God
• a groom – a man who is getting married
• to make a promise – to say that you will do something
• to pray – to speak to God
• a blessing – words that ask God to help or protect someone
• to take place – to happen
• a square – an open place in a town or village
• a large space – a big area where people can move or sit
• a pattern – a design that is repeated on clothes or other things
• a couple – two people who are together
• to give advice – to tell someone what you think they should do
• to be busy – to have many people or things around
• to continue – to keep happening

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Match the Words with the Definitions

1. a wedding
2. a village
3. to invite somebody
4. a bride
5. a church service
6. an event
7. to wear
8. a suit
9. faith
10. a groom
11. to make a promise
12. to pray
13. a blessing
14. to take place
15. a square
16. a large space
17. a pattern
18. a couple
19. to give advice
20. to be busy
21. to continue
    

A. to have clothes on your body
B. two people who are together
C. to keep happening
D. a man who is getting married
E. to tell someone what you think they should do
F. a big area where people can move or sit
G. something that happens at a special time or place
H. strong belief in God
I. a woman who is getting married
J. to ask somebody to come
K. an open place in a town or village
L. a day when two people get married
M. to happen
N. a jacket and trousers worn together
O. words that ask God to help or protect someone
P. to say that you will do something
Q. to speak to God
R. a design that is repeated on clothes or other things
S. a small place where people live
T. to have many people or things around
U. a time when people meet in a church to pray

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Answer key:
1-L, 2-S, 3-J, 4-I, 5-U, 6-G, 7-A, 8-N,
9-H, 10-D, 11-P, 12-Q, 13-O, 14-M, 15-K,
16-F, 17-R, 18-B, 19-E, 20-T, 21-C

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Match the definitions with the words

Definitions

1. A day when two people get married.
2. A small place where people live.
3. To ask somebody to come.
4. A woman who is getting married.
5. A time when people meet in a church to pray.
6. Something that happens at a special time or place.
7. To have clothes on your body.
8. A jacket and trousers worn together.
9. Strong belief in God.
10. A man who is getting married.
11. To say that you will do something.
12. To speak to God.
13. Words that ask God to help or protect someone.
14. To happen.
15. An open place in a town or village.
16. A big area where people can move or sit.
17. A design that is repeated on clothes or other things.
18. Two people who are together.
19. To tell someone what you think they should do.
20. To have many people or things around.
21. To keep happening.

Words

a) a blessing
b) to wear
c) a couple
d) a village
e) to continue
f) a suit
g) a bride
h) to take place
i) faith
j) a church service
k) to invite somebody
l) a groom
m) a large space
n) an event
o) to pray
p) a wedding
q) a pattern
r) to be busy
s) a square
t) to make a promise
u) to give advice

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Answer key:
1-p, 2-d, 3-k, 4-g, 5-j, 6-n, 7-b, 8-f,
9-i, 10-l, 11-t, 12-o, 13-a, 14-h, 15-s,
16-m, 17-q, 18-c, 19-u, 20-r, 21-e

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Find the Information – find specific facts in the text

1. Place: __________
2. Who invited Indra: __________
3. Bride’s clothes: __________
4. Where the traditional event happened: __________
5. What the groom wore in the church: __________
6. What the bride and groom gave each other: __________
7. Who talked about marriage, family, and faith: __________
8. What the couple did together: __________
9. What the priest gave the couple: __________
10. What a tongkonan is: __________
11. What was in the main square: __________
12. What the bride and groom wore after the church service: __________
13. What the older family members gave the young couple: __________
14. What the older family members did for the guests: __________
15. What some people played: __________
16. What some people did in the square: __________
17. Where some family members came from: __________
18. What people did later: __________
19. How long the event continued: __________
20. What Indra liked about the wedding: __________

—————————————–

Answers:

1. Place: a small village in South Sulawesi
2. Who invited Indra: a friend
3. Bride’s clothes: a beautiful white dress
4. Where the traditional event happened: in the main square
5. What the groom wore in the church: a dark suit
6. What the bride and groom gave each other: rings
7. Who talked about marriage, family, and faith: the priest
8. What the couple did together: They prayed together.
9. What the priest gave the couple: a blessing
10. What a tongkonan is: a large family house
11. What was in the main square: many chairs and a large space
12. What the bride and groom wore after the church service: traditional Toraja clothes
13. What the older family members gave the young couple: good advice and good wishes
14. What the older family members did for the guests: They welcomed and thanked them.
15. What some people played: traditional music
16. What some people did in the square: They danced.
17. Where some family members came from: other villages
18. What people did later: They ate together.
19. How long the event continued: several hours
20. What Indra liked about the wedding: He could see both parts of Toraja life.

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Who or what?

1. Who wore a white dress?
2. Who wore a dark suit?
3. Who invited Indra to the wedding?
4. Who talked about marriage, family, and faith?
5. Who gave the couple a blessing?
6. Who prayed together?
7. What is a tongkonan?
8. Where did the traditional event take place?
9. What did the bride and groom give each other?
10. What did the bride and groom wear in the village?
11. Who gave the young couple good advice?
12. Who welcomed the guests?
13. What did some people play?
14. What did some people do in the square?
15. What did everyone do later?

___________________________

Answers:

Who wore a white dress? — the bride

Who wore a dark suit? — the groom

Who invited Indra? — a friend

Who talked about marriage, family, and faith? — the priest

Who gave the couple a blessing? — the priest

Who prayed together? — the bride and groom

What is a tongkonan? — a large family house

Where did the traditional event take place? — the main square

What did the bride and groom give each other? — rings

What did the bride and groom wear in the village? — traditional Toraja clothes

Who gave the young couple good advice? — older family members

Who welcomed the guests? — older family members

What did some people play? — traditional music

What did some people do in the square? — danced

What did everyone do later? — ate together

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True or false

1. The wedding took place in a small village in South Sulawesi.
2. The wedding started in the village square.
3. Indra’s friend invited him to the wedding.
4. The bride wore a dark suit in the church.
5. The bride and groom gave each other rings.
6. The priest talked about marriage, family, and faith.
7. The traditional event took place in the main square.
8. A tongkonan is a small village shop.
9. The bride and groom wore traditional Toraja clothes in the village.
10. The older family members gave the young couple good advice.
11. Nobody played music at the wedding.
12. Some family members came from other villages.
13. The couple did not pray together.
14. Everyone ate together later.
15. The bride and groom stayed in their church clothes for the whole wedding.
16. Indra had been to a Toraja wedding before.
17. The priest gave the couple a blessing.
18. The groom wore a white dress in the church.
19. The traditional event happened before the church service.
20. Indra was happy to see both parts of Toraja life.

_____________________

False: 2,4,8,11,13,15,16,18,19

____________________

Correct answers:

1. The wedding took place in a small village in South Sulawesi.

2. The wedding started in the village square. True is: The wedding started in a church.

3. Indra’s friend invited him to the wedding.

4. The bride wore a dark suit in the church. True is: The bride wore a beautiful white dress in the church.

5. The bride and groom gave each other rings.

6. The priest talked about marriage, family, and faith.

7. The traditional event took place in the main square.

8. A tongkonan is a small village shop. True is: A tongkonan is a large family house.

9. The bride and groom wore traditional Toraja clothes in the village.

10. The older family members gave the young couple good advice.

11. Nobody played music at the wedding. True is: Some people played traditional music at the wedding.

12. Some family members came from other villages.

13. The couple did not pray together. True is: The bride and groom prayed together.

14. Everyone ate together later.

15. The bride and groom stayed in their church clothes for the whole wedding. True is: The bride and groom changed into traditional Toraja clothes in the village.

16. Indra had been to a Toraja wedding before. True is: Indra had never been to a Toraja wedding before.

17. The priest gave the couple a blessing.

18. The groom wore a white dress in the church. True is: The groom wore a dark suit in the church.

19. The traditional event happened before the church service. True is: The church service happened before the traditional event.

20. Indra was happy to see both parts of Toraja life.

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Wh- Questions – answer, word/s only

1. Where did the wedding take place?
2. Who invited Indra to the wedding?
3. Why did Indra want to see the wedding?
4. What were the two main parts of the wedding?
5. Where did the wedding start?
6. What did the bride wear in the church?
7. What did the bride and groom give each other?
8. Who talked about marriage, family, and faith?
9. What did the priest give the couple?
10. Where did the traditional event take place?
11. What is a tongkonan?
12. What did the older family members give the young couple?
13. What did some people do in the square?
14. How long did the event continue?

__________________________

Answers:

Where did the wedding take place? — In a small village in South Sulawesi.

Who invited Indra to the wedding? — A friend.

Why did Indra want to see the wedding? — Because he had never been to a Toraja wedding before.

What were the two main parts of the wedding? — A church service and a traditional event.

Where did the wedding start? — In a church.

What did the bride wear in the church? — A beautiful white dress.

What did the bride and groom give each other? — Rings.

Who talked about marriage, family, and faith? — The priest.

What did the priest give the couple? — A blessing.

Where did the traditional event take place? — In the main square.

What is a tongkonan? — A large family house.

What did the older family members give the young couple? — Good advice and good wishes.

How long did the event continue? — For several hours.

What did some people do in the square? — They played music and danced.

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Cause and effect – match

Causes

1. Indra’s friend invited him to the wedding.
   
   ANSWER:
   N. Indra went to the wedding.
   
2. Indra had never been to a Toraja wedding before.
3. The wedding had a church service first.
4. The church service ended.
5. The bride and groom changed their clothes.
6. The traditional event took place in the main square.
7. Older family members talked to the young couple.
8. Older family members welcomed the guests.
9. Some family members lived in other villages.
10. People played traditional music.
11. People danced in the square.
12. Everyone sat together later.
13. People stayed together for several hours.
14. The wedding showed church life and Toraja traditions.

Effects

A. The guests watched the dancers.
B. The young couple received good advice and good wishes.
C. Family members from other places came to the wedding.
D. The guests went to the village.
E. Indra saw two different parts of the wedding.
F. The guests heard traditional music.
G. The bride and groom put on traditional Toraja clothes.
H. The couple received a blessing from the priest.
I. The guests felt welcome.
J. The guests spent a long time together.
K. People sat and talked together.
L. The couple made promises and exchanged rings.
M. Indra wanted to see how the wedding was.
N. Indra went to the wedding.

___________________________

Answer key:
1-N, 2-M, 3-L, 4-H, 5-G, 6-D, 7-B, 8-I,
9-C, 10-F, 11-A, 12-K, 13-J, 14-E

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Sentence halves – match them

A

1. Indra went to a Toraja wedding
2. The wedding started
3. The bride wore
4. The bride and groom gave
5. The priest talked about
6. After the church service, they went
7. The traditional event took place
8. The bride and groom changed into
9. Older family members gave
10. Some family members came
11. People played traditional music
12. Everyone ate together

B

a. to the village.
b. good advice and good wishes.
c. and danced in the square.
d. in a small village in South Sulawesi.
e. traditional Toraja clothes.
f. in the main square.
g. each other rings.
h. from other villages.
i. in a church.
j. a beautiful white dress.
k. marriage, family, and faith.
l. later in the day.

____________________________

Answer key:
1-d, 2-i, 3-j, 4-g, 5-k, 6-a, 7-f,
8-e, 9-b, 10-h, 11-c, 12-l

____________________________
Matched:

Indra went to a Toraja wedding → d. in a small village in South Sulawesi.

The wedding started → i. in a church.

The bride wore → j. a beautiful white dress.

The bride and groom gave → g. each other rings.

The priest talked about → k. marriage, family, and faith.

After the church service, they went → a. to the village.

The traditional event took place → f. in the main square.

The bride and groom changed into → e. traditional Toraja clothes.

Older family members gave → b. good advice and good wishes.

Some family members came → h. from other villages.

People played traditional music → c. and danced in the square.

Everyone ate together → l. later in the day.

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Fill in, words below:

traditional – bride – changed – enjoyed – village –
members – promises – ate – parts –
faith – patterns –
service – groom

Indra went to a Toraja wedding in a small _____ in South Sulawesi. The wedding had two main _____. First, the bride and _____ had a church service. The _____ wore a white dress, and the groom wore a dark suit. They prayed, made _____, and gave each other rings. The priest talked about marriage, family, and_____ and gave them a blessing.

After the church _____, everyone went to the village main square. The bride and groom _____ into traditional Toraja clothes with bright colours and _____. Older family _____ gave them advice and good wishes. They also welcomed the guests. Then people played_____ music and danced. Guests talked, watched the dancers, and took photos. Later, everyone _____ together and spent several hours together. Indra _____ seeing both church life and Toraja traditions.

____________________________

Correct version:

Indra went to a Toraja wedding in a small village in South Sulawesi. The wedding had two main parts. First, the bride and groom had a church service. The bride wore a white dress, and the groom wore a dark suit. They prayed, made promises, and gave each other rings. The priest talked about marriage, family, and faith and gave them a blessing.

After the church service, everyone went to the village main square. The bride and groom changed into traditional Toraja clothes with bright colours and patterns. Older family members gave them advice and good wishes. They also welcomed the guests. Then people played traditional music and danced. Guests talked, watched the dancers, and took photos. Later, everyone ate together and spent several hours together. Indra enjoyed seeing both church life and Toraja traditions.

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Match question and answer:

Questions

1. Where did the wedding take place?
2. Who invited you to the wedding?
3. Why did you want to see the wedding?
4. What were the two main parts of the wedding?
5. Where did the wedding start?
6. What did the bride wear in the church?
7. What did the groom wear?
8. What did the bride and groom give each other?
9. Who talked about marriage, family, and faith?
10. What did the priest give the couple?
11. Where did the traditional event take place?
12. What did the bride and groom wear there?
13. What did the older family members give the young couple?
14. What did people do during the traditional event?

Answers

a. They exchanged rings.
b. The priest spoke about these things.
c. It was in the main square near a tongkonan.
d. There was music and dancing, and guests talked, watched the dancers, and took photos.
e. He had a dark suit on.
f. I had never been to a Toraja wedding before.
g. The young couple received good advice and good wishes.
h. There was a church service and a traditional event.
i. A friend asked me to come because his family knew the bride’s family.
j. She had a beautiful white dress on.
k. It was in a small village in South Sulawesi.
l. They received a blessing from him.
m. The first part was in a church.
n. They put on traditional Toraja clothes with bright colours and beautiful patterns.

___________________________

Answer key:
1-k, 2-i, 3-f, 4-h, 5-m, 6-j, 7-e, 8-a,
9-b, 10-l, 11-c, 12-n, 13-g, 14-d

___________________________

Full version:

Interview: A Toraja Wedding

Interviewer: Where did the wedding take place?
Indra: It was in a small village in South Sulawesi.

Interviewer: Who invited you to the wedding?
Indra: A friend asked me to come because his family knew the bride’s family.

Interviewer: Why did you want to see the wedding?
Indra: I had never been to a Toraja wedding before.

Interviewer: What were the two main parts of the wedding?
Indra: There was a church service and a traditional event.

Interviewer: Where did the wedding start?
Indra: The first part was in a church.

Interviewer: What did the bride wear in the church?
Indra: She had a beautiful white dress on.

Interviewer: What did the groom wear?
Indra: He had a dark suit on.

Interviewer: What did the bride and groom give each other?
Indra: They exchanged rings.

Interviewer: Who talked about marriage, family, and faith?
Indra: The priest spoke about these things.

Interviewer: What did the priest give the couple?
Indra: They received a blessing from him.

Interviewer: Where did the traditional event take place?
Indra: It was in the main square near a tongkonan.

Interviewer: What did the bride and groom wear there?
Indra: They put on traditional Toraja clothes with bright colours and beautiful patterns.

Interviewer: What did the older family members give the young couple?
Indra: The young couple received good advice and good wishes.

Interviewer: What did people do during the traditional event?
Indra: There was music and dancing, and guests talked, watched the dancers, and took photos.

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Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN………………