The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Japanese food ('Washoku') will soon be on the United Nations list of world cuisines. It will get UNESCO's cultural heritage status. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food already have this. 'Washoku' is very varied. It includes sushi, ramen noodles, tempura and sukiyaki. Japan's government wants all its food to be on the list, not just famous dishes. It said its food is special because it's like art. It also uses special ingredients.

'Washoku' is very healthy and has a good balance. This is why Japanese people live for so long and are usually slim. Special meals bring families and communities together in Japan. Food is part of many ceremonies for the four seasons. New Year’s Day, rice-planting events and harvest festivals all have different food. Food helps Japanese people keep their culture. 'Washoku' is also linked to a respect for nature.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2013/10/24/japans-cuisine-set-to-be-deemed-intangible-cultural-heritage/
  • http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/23/national/unesco-to-recognize-japanese-food-culture/
  • http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000742904


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)



The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

the United Nations list

a.

to be on the list

2.

UNESCO's cultural

b.

of world cuisines

3.

Mexican and Turkish food already

c.

ingredients

4.

'Washoku' is very

d.

heritage

5.

Japan's government wants all its food

e.

art

6.

not just famous

f.

have this

7.

it's like

g.

dishes

8.

It also uses special

h.

varied

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

'Washoku' is

a.

communities together

2.

has a good

b.

festivals

3.

why Japanese people

c.

balance

4.

meals bring families and

d.

planting events

5.

ceremonies for

e.

very healthy

6.

rice-

f.

for nature

7.

harvest

g.

live for so long

8.

linked to a respect

h.

the four seasons

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Japanese food ('Washoku') (1) ___________________ United Nations list (2) ___________________. It will get UNESCO's cultural heritage status. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food (3) ___________________. 'Washoku' is very varied. It includes sushi, ramen noodles, tempura and sukiyaki. Japan's government (4) ___________________ to be on the list, not just famous dishes. (5) ___________________ special because it's like art. It also uses (6) ___________________.

'Washoku' is very healthy and (7) ___________________. This is why Japanese people (8) ___________________ and are usually slim. Special (9) ___________________ and communities together in Japan. Food (10) ___________________ ceremonies for the four seasons. New Year's Day, rice-planting events and (11) ___________________ have different food. Food helps Japanese people keep their culture. 'Washoku' is also (12) ___________________ for nature.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Japanesefood('Washoku')willsoonbeontheUnitedNationslistofwor
ldcuisines.ItwillgetUNESCO'sculturalheritagestatus.French,Medit
erranean,MexicanandTurkishfoodalreadyhavethis.'Washoku'isve
ryvaried.Itincludessushi,ramennoodles,tempuraandsukiyaki.Jap
an'sgovernmentwantsallitsfoodtobeonthelist,notjustfamousdishe
s.Itsaiditsfoodisspecialbecauseit'slikeart.Italsousesspecialingredi
ents.'Washoku'isveryhealthyandhasagoodbalance.ThisiswhyJapa
nesepeopleliveforsolongandareusuallyslim.Specialmealsbringfa
miliesandcommunitiestogetherinJapan.Foodispartofmanyceremo
niesforthefourseasons.NewYear'sDay,rice-plantingeventsandh
arvestfestivalsallhavedifferentfood.FoodhelpsJapanesepeopleke
eptheirculture.'Washoku'isalsolinkedtoarespectfornature.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

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b)

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c)

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d)

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e)

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f)

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g)

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h)

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

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b)

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c)

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d)

________________________________________________________

e)

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f)

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g)

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h)

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WRITING

Write about Japanese food for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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