Wait… People Really Do That?! | Weird & Wonderful Customs Around the World | FREE B1–B2 Culture Lesson

What happens when turning 25 means being covered in cinnamon? Or when people settle disagreements with a fight at Christmas? And why would thousands of people chase a wheel of cheese down a dangerously steep hill?

This FREE, ready-to-use culture lesson takes students on a surprising journey through some of the world’s most unusual traditions.

But there is a twist: the aim is not simply to label other cultures as “weird”.

Students first guess which customs are real, discover the stories behind them, and then move beyond their initial reactions to explore cultural meaning, assumptions and perspective.

Students will:

• guess whether extraordinary customs are real or invented

• discover unusual traditions from different parts of the world

• practise speaking, reading and inference skills

• explore the values and social purposes behind traditions

• identify their own cultural lens

• distinguish between difference and judgement

• develop intercultural awareness

• create an original tradition for an imaginary country

Includes:

✓ Real or Total Nonsense? guessing activity
✓ 7 surprising customs from around the world
✓ cultural meaning prompts
✓ “From Weird to Intercultural Awareness” framework
✓ intercultural discussion questions
✓ creative “Ministry of Traditions” challenge
✓ teacher notes and answers

Level: B1–B2
Skills: Speaking • Reading • Critical Thinking • Intercultural Awareness
Time: approximately 45–60 minutes

Perfect for culture lessons, speaking classes, intercultural education, end-of-term lessons or simply for the day when your students need something genuinely different.

FREE resource — download, teach and enjoy the reactions!