• boats, music, lights and fireworks bring people together!

Hi Wolf,

You want to know about the Water Festival in Kampong Thom. Here is some information about it.

In 2026, the festival takes place on November 7 and 8. It is a big event for local people. It takes place near the Steung Sen River.

The main event is the boat race. Many long boats race on the river. People stand near the river and watch the races. They shout and cheer for their teams.

In the evening, there are beautiful lights on the water. People also watch fireworks in the sky.

There is music, too. People can listen to Khmer music and pop music. There are also small shops. They sell local things and food.

Many families and friends come to the festival. They meet, talk, listen to music and have a good time together.

On November 9, people also celebrate Cambodia’s Independence Day.

I think it is a very nice festival!

Best wishes,
Salas

_____________________________

Vocabulary:

Word / Phrase	Definition
a festival	a special day or event with music, dancing and fun.
to take place	to happen.
an event	something special that happens.
local people	people who live in this place.
to watch a race	to look at people or boats that try to be the first to finish.
to shout	to speak very loudly.
to cheer for a team	to shout and show that you like a team.
fireworks	bright lights and colours in the sky. They make loud sounds.
the sky	the space above us where we see the sun, clouds and stars.
to sell food	to give food to people for money.
to meet	to come together and see other people.
to celebrate	to do something special because of a happy day or event.
independence day	a special day when a country celebrates its freedom [when a country is free and can make its own decisions].

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Match the words with the definitions

Words

1. to cheer for a team
2. independence day
3. to take place
4. fireworks
5. local people
6. to celebrate
7. a festival
8. to shout
9. the sky
10. to meet
11. an event
12. to sell food
13. to watch a race

Definitions

a. to happen

b. people who live in this place

c. bright lights and colours in the sky that make loud sounds

d. to come together and see other people

e. something special that happens

f. to speak very loudly

g. a special day or event with music, dancing and fun

h. to look at people or boats that try to be the first to finish

i. the space above us where we see the sun, clouds and stars

j. to give food to people for money

k. to do something special because of a happy day or event

l. to shout and show that you like a team

m. a special day when a country celebrates its freedom and can make its own decisions

____________________________

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

Definitions

1. to happen
2. people who live in this place
3. bright lights and colours in the sky that make loud sounds
4. to come together and see other people
5. something special that happens
6. to speak very loudly
7. a special day or event with music, dancing and fun
8. to look at people or boats that try to be the first to finish
9. the space above us where we see the sun, clouds and stars
10. to give food to people for money
11. to do something special because of a happy day or event
12. to shout and show that you like a team
13. a special day when a country celebrates its freedom and can make its own decisions

Words

a. fireworks

b. to celebrate

c. local people

d. an event

e. to cheer for a team

f. the sky

g. to take place

h. independence day

i. to meet

j. a festival

k. to sell food

l. to watch a race

m. to shout

____________________________

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

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Multiple choice – choose the correct answer: a, b or c.

1. When does the Water Festival take place in Kampong Thom in 2026?

a. On October 7 and 8
b. On December 7 and 8
c. On November 7 and 8

2. Where does the festival take place?

a. Near the Steung Sen River
b. Near a large lake outside the city
c. Near the sea in the south of Cambodia

3. What is the main event?

a. A big music show
b. A boat race
c. A traditional dance show

4. What do people watch during the festival?

a. Cars racing through the streets
b. Long boats racing on the river
c. People playing football in the town

5. What do people do during the boat races?

a. They go home and have dinner.
b. They swim in the river.
c. They shout and cheer for their teams.

6. What can people see on the water in the evening?

a. Beautiful lights
b. Small fishing boats with many people
c. Big ships coming from other countries

7. What can people watch in the sky?

a. Birds flying over the river
b. Aeroplanes flying over the town
c. Fireworks

8. What kind of music can people hear?

a. Only classical music
b. Khmer music and pop music
c. Only music from other countries

9. What can people buy at the small shops?

a. Local things and food
b. Cars and motorbikes
c. Computers and mobile phones

10. Who comes to the festival?

a. Only foreign visitors from other countries
b. Only children from local schools
c. Families and friends

11. What do people do together?

a. They work in shops and clean the streets.
b. They meet and talk.
c. They go to school and study English.

12. When is Cambodia’s Independence Day?

a. November 9
b. November 7
c. November 8

13. What does Cambodia celebrate on Independence Day?

a. The start of the rainy season
b. The country’s freedom
c. The beginning of the school year

14. Where do people watch the boat races?

a. From their homes
b. From the mountains
c. Near the river

15. What is the Water Festival like?

a. It is a big event for local people.
b. It is a small event for a few tourists.
c. It is a quiet day without music or activities.

_________________________________

Answer key:
1c, 2a, 3b, 4b, 5c, 6a, 7c, 8b, 9a,
10c, 11b, 12a, 13b, 14c, 15a

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True or false

1. The Water Festival takes place near the Mekong River.

2. Many long boats race on the river.

3. The festival takes place on November 7 and 8 in 2026.

4. People watch the boat races on television.

5. The main event is a boat race.

6. People listen to Thai music and pop music.

7. People shout and cheer for their teams.

8. There are no lights on the water in the evening.

9. Many families and friends come to the festival.

10. The small shops sell only clothes.

11. People watch fireworks in the sky.

12. Cambodia celebrates Independence Day on November 8.

_______________________________

Answer key:
1 F, 2 T, 3 T, 4 F, 5 T, 6 F, 7 T,
8 F, 9 T, 10 F, 11 T, 12 F

______________________________
Correct version:

1. The Water Festival takes place near the Mekong River.
True is: The Water Festival takes place near the Steung Sen River.

2. Many long boats race on the river.

3. The festival takes place on November 7 and 8 in 2026.

4. People watch the boat races on television.
True is: People watch the boat races near the river.

5. The main event is a boat race.

6. People listen to Thai music and pop music.

True is: People listen to Khmer music and pop music.

7. People shout and cheer for their teams.

8. There are no lights on the water in the evening. True is: There are beautiful lights on the water in the evening.

9. Many families and friends come to the festival.

10. The small shops sell only clothes.
True is: The small shops sell local things and food.

11. People watch fireworks in the sky.

12. Cambodia celebrates Independence Day on November 8.
True is: Cambodia celebrates Independence Day on November 9.

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Match the sentence halves

Beginning

1. The Water Festival takes place
2. In 2026, the festival is
3. The main event
4. Many long boats
5. People stand near the river
6. In the evening, there are
7. Visitors can listen to
8. Small shops sell
9. Many families and friends
10. On November 9, Cambodia celebrates

Ending

a. Khmer music and pop music.

b. beautiful lights on the water.

c. Independence Day.

d. near the Steung Sen River.

e. come to the festival.

f. race on the river.

g. local things and food.

h. on November 7 and 8.

i. and watch the boat races.

j. is the boat race.

________________________________

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

Correct version:

1. The Water Festival takes place near the Steung Sen River.

2. In 2026, the festival is on November 7 and 8.

3. The main event is the boat race.

4. Many long boats race on the river.

5. People stand near the river and watch the boat races.

6. In the evening, there are beautiful lights on the water.

7. Visitors can listen to Khmer music and pop music.

8. Small shops sell local things and food.

9. Many families and friends come to the festival.

10. On November 9, Cambodia celebrates Independence Day.

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Fill in, words below

fireworks – river – food – festival – boats –
music – lights – race –
November –
families

1. The Water __________ takes place in Kampong Thom.

2. In 2026, it takes place on __________ 7 and 8.

3. The festival takes place near the Steung Sen __________.

4. The main event is the boat __________.

5. Many long __________ race on the river.

6. People stand near the river and watch the races.

7. In the evening, there are beautiful __________ on the water.

8. People watch __________ in the sky.

9. Visitors can listen to Khmer __________ and pop music.

10. Small shops sell local things and __________.

—————————————

Answer key:
1 festival, 2 November, 3 river, 4 race, 5 boats,
6 (no gap), 7 lights, 8 fireworks, 9 music, 10 food

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Choose the correct word

1. The festival (take / takes / taking) place in November.
2. Many boats (race / races / racing) on the river.
3. People (watch / watches / watching) the races.
4. Small shops (sell / sells / selling) food.
5. Families (come / comes / coming) to the festival.
6. People (listen / listens / listening) to music.

_________________________

Answer key:
1 takes, 2 race, 3 watch, 4 sell, 5 come, 6 listen,
7 starts, 8 enjoy, 9 look, 10 visit
__________________________
Explanations:

1. The festival (take / takes / taking) place in November.
takes – We use takes because “the festival” is one thing (he/she/it). In the present simple, we add -s to the verb.

2. Many boats (race / races / racing) on the river.
race – “Many boats” means more than one boat. We use the basic verb without -s.

3. People (watch / watches / watching) the races.
watch – “People” is plural. We use the basic verb without -s.

4. Small shops (sell / sells / selling) food.
sell – “Small shops” is plural. We use the basic verb without -s.

5. Families (come / comes / coming) to the festival.
come – “Families” is plural. We use the basic verb without -s.

6. People (listen / listens / listening) to music.
listen – “People” is plural. We use the basic verb without -s.

7. The boat race (start / starts / starting) in the morning.
starts – “The boat race” is one event (it). We add -s to the verb.

8. Visitors (enjoy / enjoys / enjoying) the festival.
enjoy – “Visitors” is plural. We use the basic verb without -s.

9. The fireworks (look / looks / looking) beautiful.
look – “Fireworks” is plural. We use the basic verb without -s.

10. My friends (visit / visits / visiting) the festival every year.
visit – “My friends” means more than one person. We use the basic verb without -s.

Simple grammar rule – Present Simple

Subject	Verb
I / you / we / they	work
he / she / it	works

Remember:
With he, she, it or one person/thing,
we usually add -s to the verb.
With plural subjects,
we use the basic verb.

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Answer the questions – key words only

1. Where does the Water Festival take place?
2. Which dates are important in 2026?
3. What is the main event?
4. How do people watch the boat races?
5. What can people see on the water?
6. Which music can visitors hear?
7. Why do people come together?
8. Who cheers for the boat teams?
9. What do the small shops sell?
10. When is Independence Day?

___________________________

Answer key

1. Near the Steung Sen River
2. November 7 and 8
3. Boat race
4. Near the river
5. Beautiful lights
6. Khmer and pop music
7. To meet and talk
8. People
9. Local things and food
10. November 9

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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………………

SMFrockZ@gmx.at