Winter wonderland- beautiful and enchanting winter scene.

Bundle up- Dress warmly for cold weather.

Snowed in- Unable to leave due to heavy snowfall.

You're on thin ice- You are doing something risky and may get into trouble.

Winter blues- Feeling depressed or down during winter months.

A white Christmas- Having snow on the ground on Christmas Day.

Cold shoulder- Being unfriendly or avoiding someone. You may get or give someone the cold shoulder.

Break the ice- To make the first move to initiate a conversation.

Feel under the weather- To feel sick or unwell.

Taking the plunge- Taking a bold or risky action.

Throw caution to the wind-To take risks or act recklessly without thinking about the consequences.

Here are some classic Christmas movies to help you practice your English.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – The gold standard. James Stewart stars as George Bailey, a man who learns just how much his life has impacted his community with the help of a guardian angel.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) – A heartwarming story about a department store Santa who claims to be the real thing, leading to a court case to prove the existence of Santa Claus.

A Christmas Carol (1951) – While there are many versions, Alastair Sim’s performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in this adaptation (also known as Scrooge) is widely considered the definitive one.

A Christmas Story (1983) – A hilarious and cynical look at a 1940s childhood, centered on young Ralphie’s desperate quest for a Red Ryder BB gun.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) – The ultimate family comedy. Clark Griswold’s attempt at a "big-old-fashioned family Christmas" goes spectacularly (and hilariously) wrong.

Home Alone (1990) – 8-year-old Kevin McCallister defends his house from burglars with creative traps after being accidentally left behind by his family.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) – Michael Caine plays it perfectly straight as Scrooge alongside Kermit and the gang in this witty, surprisingly faithful adaptation.

The Santa Clause (1994) – Tim Allen stars as an ordinary man who inadvertently becomes the new Santa Claus due to a legal "clause" on a business card.

Elf (2003) – Will Ferrell’s Buddy the Elf is perhaps the most beloved holiday character of the 21st century. His journey to NYC to find his father is pure joy.

The Polar Express (2004) – A motion-capture animated adventure about a skeptical boy who boards a magical train to the North Pole.

You can use vocabulary learned in this newsletter to play other games like Charades, Pictionary, or 20 Questions.

Have a wonderful winter break! We look forward to seeing you back in January!

Casas Competencies: 0.1.4 Understand or use appropriate language in
general social situations; 0.2.1 Respond appropriately to common
personal information questions, 2.7 Understand aspects of society and culture