Juneteenth
Each week, I will send out some handy tips and useful exercises for adults learning to navigate and use the English language. You are welcome to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States, celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery. The name "Juneteenth" combines "June" and "nineteenth," referencing the date when Union troops freed enslaved African Americans in Texas in 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. It is also known as Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday.
You can continue reading about this holiday on Wikipedia.
Vocabulary
Language Level - B2
We continue to add to our vocabulary words from the Oxford 3000.
A list of 3000 words someone should know if they are taking the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) language tests.
- Produce (n)
- Professional (n)
- Progress (v)
- Project (v)
- Proof (n)
- Proposal (n)
- Propose (v)
- Prospect (n)
- Protection (n)
- Psychologist (n)
Study this set of vocabulary words with this Quizlet.
Grammar Tip
Language Level - B2
Clauses vs. Phrases
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb.
There are two types:
Independent clause: Can stand alone as a sentence.
Example: “Juneteenth became a national holiday in 2021.”
Dependent clause: Cannot stand alone. Needs more information.
Example: “Because the news spread slowly…”
A phrase is a group of words without a subject-verb pair. It acts like a part of speech (noun, adjective, preposition, etc.).
Example: “After the Civil War” (prepositional phrase), “celebrating freedom” (gerund phrase)
Let's Practice!
Read each sentence below. Then identify the bold part as either a clause or a phrase.
- Every year on June 19th, people across the U.S. celebrate Juneteenth.
2. The celebration honors the day when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free.
3. The Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce emancipation.
4. Because many enslaved people were not immediately freed, Juneteenth became a symbol of delayed justice.
5. Families gather for barbecues, music, and reflection on African American history.
6. Although Juneteenth was first celebrated in 1866, it wasn’t a federal holiday until recently.
7. Events include storytelling, public readings, and singing traditional songs.
8. The day is a reminder that freedom must be protected and shared.
Reading and Listening Tip
Language Level - B2
Watch this short video about Juneteenth and practice reading English with the CC turned on:
Weekly Challenge
Language Level - C1
Test your vocabulary knowledge with this fun little video:
How can I help?
I'm currently unable to take on any additional one-on-one clients, but I'm available to answer any questions you may have. Contact me using the button below:
