Japanese food to get UNESCO status (27th October, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

The United Nations is going to put traditional Japanese food on its list of important world cuisines. It will be the fifth time for UNESCO to give a country's or region's food its cultural heritage status. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food are already on the list. Traditional Japanese food is called 'Washoku'. It is very famous for its variety. It ranges from sushi (raw fish on rice) to ramen noodles, tempura and sukiyaki. Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs said it wants to put all of its food on the list, not just one or two famous dishes. The agency said Japanese food is special because of its artistic presentation. It also uses unique ingredients. Many dishes are important because they celebrate the four seasons.

'Washoku' is very healthy and has a good balance of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and protein. It is one of the reasons why Japanese people live for so long. It also helps to keep obesity levels low. The cuisine is also important as different meals throughout the year help to bring families and communities together. Food plays an important role in many ceremonies that mark seasonal traditions. The menu for New Year’s celebrations, rice-planting events and harvest festivals are all very different. Japan's government said food helps Japanese people keep a strong sense of culture. It also said 'Washoku' is closely "associated with an essential spirit of respect for nature."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. JAPANESE FOOD: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Japanese food. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

United Nations / world cuisines / heritage / variety / sushi / artistic / four seasons / healthy / balance / carbohydrates / obesity / communities / traditions / respect

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. YOUR CUISINE: What's best about it? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

	Best points	Why?
Taste
Presentation
Healthiness
Cost
Balance
Smell

4. JAPANESE CUISINE: Students A strongly believe Japanese food is the best; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. TASTIEST: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the tastiest cuisine at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• Japanese

• French

• American

• Mexican

• Indian

• Chinese

• Italian

• Thai

6. LIST: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "list". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	The U.N. will give modern Japanese food a special prize.	T / F
b.	Five other cuisines are already on the UNESCO list.	T / F
c.	Japan doesn't want only sushi and sukiyaki to be on the U.N. list.	T / F
d.	A cultural agency said Japanese food is presented in an artistic way.	T / F
e.	The Japanese diet is well balanced and good for a long life.	T / F
f.	Japanese cuisine helps keep communities apart.	T / F
g.	Rice-planting food and New Year's food are the same in Japan.	T / F
h.	'Washoku' is connected with a respect for nature.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	important	a.	meals
2.	cuisine	b.	linked
3.	heritage	c.	special
4.	dishes	d.	all around
5.	unique	e.	significant
6.	healthy	f.	necessary
7.	throughout	g.	good for you
8.	role	h.	cooking
9.	associated	i.	part
10.	essential	j.	tradition

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	its list of important	a.	live for so long
2.	cultural heritage	b.	of minerals
3.	raw	c.	celebrate the four seasons
4.	not just one or	d.	communities together
5.	Many dishes are important because they	e.	status
6.	a good balance	f.	strong sense of culture
7.	reasons why Japanese people	g.	world cuisines
8.	help to bring families and	h.	for nature
9.	helps Japanese people keep a	i.	fish on rice
10.	an essential spirit of respect	j.	two famous dishes

GAP FILL

The United Nations is going to put (1) ____________ Japanese food on its list of important world cuisines. It will be the fifth time for UNESCO to give a country's or region's food its cultural heritage (2) ____________. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food are already on the (3) ____________. Traditional Japanese food is called 'Washoku'. It is very famous for its variety. It (4) ____________ from sushi (raw fish on rice) to ramen noodles, tempura and sukiyaki. Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs said it wants to put all of its food on the list, not just one or two famous (5) ____________. The agency said Japanese food is special because of its (6) ____________ presentation. It also uses (7) ____________ ingredients. Many dishes are important because they (8) ____________ the four seasons.

artistic
ranges
celebrate
traditional
unique
status
dishes
list

'Washoku' is very healthy and has a good (9) ____________ of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and (10) ____________. It is one of the reasons why Japanese people live for so long. It also helps to keep obesity (11) ____________ low. The cuisine is also important as different meals throughout the year help to bring families and (12) ____________ together. Food plays an important (13) ____________ in many ceremonies that mark seasonal traditions. The menu for New Year's celebrations, rice-planting events and (14) ____________ festivals are all very different. Japan's government said food helps Japanese people keep a strong (15) ____________ of culture. It also said 'Washoku' is closely "associated with an essential (16) ____________ of respect for nature."

communities
harvest
protein
spirit
balance
role
sense
levels

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	put traditional Japanese food on its list of important ______
	a. worldly cuisines b. world's cuisines c. world cuisines d. worlds cuisines
2)	the fifth time for UNESCO to give a country's or region's food its ______
	a. cultural hermitage status b. cultural heritage status c. cultural heritages status d. cultural inheritance status
3)	Traditional Japanese food is called 'Washoku'. It is very famous ______
	a. for it's variety b. for that's variety c. for its variety d. for it is variety
4)	it wants to put all of its food on the list, not just one or ______
	a. two famous dish is b. two famous dished c. two famous dish d. two famous dishes
5)	special because of its artistic presentation. It also uses ______
	a. uniquely ingredients b. antique ingredients c. unique ingredients d. uniqueness ingredients
6)	has a good balance of minerals, vitamins, ______
	a. carbohydrates and protein b. car-boy hi dates and protein c. carbon, high dates and protein d. carbon, hydrates and protein
7)	It also helps to keep ______
	a. obesity levelers low b. obesity revels low c. obesity levels low d. obesity revel low
8)	different meals throughout the year help to bring families and ______
	a. commune it is together b. come you nit is together c. communities together d. com new it is together
9)	The menu for New Year's celebrations, rice-planting events ______
	a. and harvest festivals b. and harvests festivals c. and harvested festivals d. and harvesting festivals
10)	It also said 'Washoku' is closely "associated with an essential spirit of ______
	a. respect from nature b. respect four nature c. respect of nature d. respect for nature

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Nations (1) ___________________ traditional Japanese food on its list of important world cuisines. It will be the fifth time for UNESCO to give a country's (2) ___________________ cultural heritage status. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food are (3) ___________________. Traditional Japanese food is called 'Washoku'. It is very famous for its variety. (4) ___________________ (raw fish on rice) to ramen noodles, tempura and sukiyaki. Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs said it wants to put all of its food on the list, (5) ___________________ famous dishes. The agency said Japanese food is special because of its artistic presentation. It also (6) ___________________. Many dishes are important because they celebrate the four seasons.

'Washoku' is very healthy and (7) ___________________ of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and protein. It is one of the reasons why Japanese people live for so long. It also helps to (8) ___________________ low. The cuisine is also important as different meals throughout the year help to bring families and (9) ___________________. Food plays an important role in many ceremonies (10) ___________________ traditions. The menu for New Year's celebrations, rice-planting events (11) ___________________ are all very different. Japan's government said food helps Japanese people keep a strong sense of culture. It also said 'Washoku' is closely "associated with an essential (12) ___________________ for nature."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What list will traditional Japanese food be on?
2.	How many countries/regions are already on the list?
3.	What is 'Washoku' famous for?
4.	How many dishes does Japan want to put on the list?
5.	What did the article say was unique about Japanese food?
6.	What does 'Washoku' have a good balance of?
7.	What is low because of Japanese cuisine?
8.	What festivals were mentioned in the article?
9.	What does food help Japanese people keep?
10.	What spirit is 'Washoku' connected with?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What list will traditional Japanese food be on?	6.	What does 'Washoku' have a good balance of?
	a) a shopping list b) the top ten rice-using list c) a to-do list d) important world cuisines		a) colour and texture b) rice and potatoes c) minerals and vitamins d) bowls and bento boxes
2.	How many countries/regions are already on the list?	7.	What is low because of Japanese cuisine?
	a) 3 b) 4 c) 5 d) 6		a) obesity levels b) rice prices c) the height of doors d) tables
3.	What is 'Washoku' famous for?	8.	What festivals were mentioned in the article?
	a) its low price b) its fruit c) colourful rice d) its variety		a) music festivals b) shopping festivals c) harvest festivals d) summer festivals
4.	How many dishes does Japan want to put on the list?	9.	What does food help Japanese people keep?
	a) 72 b) one or two c) all of them d) just the porcelain ones		a) money b) a strong sense of culture c) a lot of rice d) warm
5.	What did the article say was unique about Japanese food?	10.	What spirit is 'Washoku' connected with?
	a) miso soup b) bento c) chopsticks d) the ingredients		a) nature b) the sun c) Tokyo d) sumo

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Japanese

You think Japanese food is the best in the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their cuisines. Also, tell the others that French cuisine is the worst tasting food in the world (and why).

Role B – American

You think American food is the best in the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their cuisines. Also, tell the others that Indian food is the worst tasting food in the world (and why).

Role C – Indian

You think Indian food is the best in the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their cuisines. Also, tell the others that Japanese food is the worst tasting food in the world (and why).

Role D – French

You think French cuisine is the best in the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their cuisines. Also, tell the others that American food is the worst tasting food in the world (and why).

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'raw' and 'fish'.

raw

fish

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

going
already
called
all
one or two
artistic

balance
long
help
mark
strong
nature

JAPANESE FOOD SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Japanese food in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

JAPANESE FOOD DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'Japanese food'?
c)	What do you think of Japanese food?
d)	What famous Japanese dishes do you know?
e)	Should Japanese food be on UNESCO's list?
f)	What other world cuisine should be on UNESCO's list?
g)	What do you think of raw fish and raw meat?
h)	How important is it to present food artistically?
i)	Is food that is artistic tastier?
j)	Which is better, sushi or noodles?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Is Japanese food the healthiest in the world?
c)	Should everyone eat Japanese food to live longer and be slimmer?
d)	What meals bring families and communities together in your culture?
e)	What seasonal food do you love in your country?
f)	What's your favourite restaurant (and why)?
g)	How proud are you of your country's cuisine?
h)	What special food do you eat at the New Year?
i)	Would you like to be able to cook / prepare Japanese food?
j)	What questions would you like to ask a Japanese food expert?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The United Nations is going to put (1) ____ Japanese food on its list of important world cuisines. It will be the fifth time for UNESCO to give a country's or region's food its (2) ____ heritage status. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food are already on the list. Traditional Japanese food is (3) ____ 'Washoku'. It is very famous for its variety. It ranges (4) ____ sushi (raw fish on rice) to ramen noodles, tempura and sukiyaki. Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs said it wants to put all of its food on the list, not just one or two famous (5) ____. The agency said Japanese food is special because of its (6) ____ presentation. It also uses unique ingredients. Many dishes are important because they celebrate the four seasons.

'Washoku' is very healthy and has a good (7) ____ of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and protein. It is one of the reasons why Japanese people live for so long. It also helps to keep obesity levels (8) ____. The cuisine is also important as different meals (9) ____ the year help to bring families and communities together. Food plays an important role in many ceremonies that (10) ____ seasonal traditions. The menu for New Year's celebrations, (11) ____-planting events and harvest festivals are all very different. Japan's government said food helps Japanese people keep a strong sense of culture. It also said 'Washoku' is closely "associated (12) ____ an essential spirit of respect for nature."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	traditional	(b)	traditions	(c)	traditionally	(d)	tradition
2.	(a)	cultured	(b)	culture	(c)	cultural	(d)	cultures
3.	(a)	calls	(b)	calling	(c)	called	(d)	caller
4.	(a)	along	(b)	among	(c)	between	(d)	from
5.	(a)	bowls	(b)	plates	(c)	dishes	(d)	chopsticks
6.	(a)	art deco	(b)	artistic	(c)	artificial	(d)	artifact
7.	(a)	equal	(b)	balance	(c)	stability	(d)	fairness
8.	(a)	cheap	(b)	low	(c)	scarce	(d)	short
9.	(a)	thoroughly	(b)	though	(c)	throughout	(d)	trough
10.	(a)	bark	(b)	dark	(c)	park	(d)	mark
11.	(a)	chopstick	(b)	sushi	(c)	noodle	(d)	rice
12.	(a)	at	(b)	to	(c)	for	(d)	with

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	litritnoada Japanese food
2.	cultural rthaegie status
3.	It is very famous for its tveriya
4.	special because of its iicstrta presentation
5.	It also uses neiquu ingredients
6.	they tarecbele the four seasons
Paragraph 2
7.	and has a good balance of risnlmae, vitamins…
8.	helps to keep tbiyeos levels low
9.	The uneicsi is also important
10.	Food plays an important role in many ionserceem
11.	rice-planting events and harvest estislvfa
12.	an essential spirit of strpeec for nature

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	different. Japan's government said food helps Japanese people keep a strong sense of
( )	and sukiyaki. Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs said it wants to put all of its food on the list, not just one
( )	cuisines. It will be the fifth time for UNESCO to give a country's or region's food its cultural heritage
( )	protein. It is one of the reasons why Japanese people live for so long. It also helps to keep obesity
( )	levels low. The cuisine is also important as different meals throughout the year help to bring families and
( )	culture. It also said 'Washoku' is closely "associated with an essential spirit of respect for nature."
( )	or two famous dishes. The agency said Japanese food is special because of its artistic
( )	called 'Washoku'. It is very famous for its variety. It ranges from sushi (raw fish on rice) to ramen noodles, tempura
( )	'Washoku' is very healthy and has a good balance of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and
( )	communities together. Food plays an important role in many ceremonies that mark seasonal traditions. The menu
( 1 )	The United Nations is going to put traditional Japanese food on its list of important world
( )	for New Year's celebrations, rice-planting events and harvest festivals are all very
( )	status. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food are already on the list. Traditional Japanese food is
( )	presentation. It also uses unique ingredients. Many dishes are important because they celebrate the four seasons.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	of Food important on world its cuisines list.
2.	It rice) sushi noodles on from ramen fish ranges to (raw.
3.	food its of all put to wants It list the on.
4.	because artistic Japanese special its is of presentation food.
5.	the celebrate they because Important seasons four.
6.	of One long so for live people Japanese why reasons the.
7.	low to keep It obesity also levels helps.
8.	that Many traditions mark ceremonies seasonal.
9.	of Helps keep sense people strong culture Japanese a.
10.	nature for respect of spirit essential An.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The United Nations is going to put traditional / traditions Japanese food on its list of important world cuisines. It will be the fifth time for UNESCO to give a country's or region's food its cultural hermitage / heritage status. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food are ready / already on the list. Traditional Japanese food is called 'Washoku'. It is very famously / famous for its variety / various. It ranges / arranges from sushi (raw fish on rice) to ramen noodles, tempura and sukiyaki. Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs said it wants to put all of its food on the list, not / no just one or two famous dishes. The agency said Japanese food is special because of its artistic presence / presentation. It also uses uniquely / unique ingredients. Many dishes are important because they celebrate the four / five seasons.

'Washoku' is very healthy and has a good balance / balanced of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and protein. It is two / one of the reasons why Japanese people live for so lengthy / long. It also helps to keep obesity levels short / low. The cuisine is also important as different meal / meals throughout the year help to bring families and communities apart / together. Food plays an important role in many ceremonies that remark / mark seasonal traditions. The menu for New Year's celebrations, rice-planting events and harvest festivals are all very difference / different. Japan's government said food helps Japanese people keep a strong cents / sense of culture. It also said 'Washoku' is closely "associated with / for an essential spirit of respect for nature / natural."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns _s g__ng t_ p_t tr_d_t__n_l J_p_n_s_ f__d _n _ts l_st _f _mp_rt_nt w_rld c__s_n_s. _t w_ll b_ th_ f_fth t_m_ f_r _N_SC_ t_ g_v_ _ c__ntry's _r r_g__n's f__d _ts c_lt_r_l h_r_t_g_ st_t_s. Fr_nch, M_d_t_rr_n__n, M_x_c_n _nd T_rk_sh f__d _r_ _lr__dy _n th_ l_st. Tr_d_t__n_l J_p_n_s_ f__d _s c_ll_d 'W_sh_k_'. _t _s v_ry f_m__s f_r _ts v_r__ty. _t r_ng_s fr_m s_sh_ (r_w f_sh _n r_c_) t_ r_m_n n__dl_s, t_mp_r_ _nd s_k_y_k_. J_p_n's _g_ncy f_r C_lt_r_l _ff__rs s__d _t w_nts t_ p_t _ll _f _ts f__d _n th_ l_st, n_t j_st _n_ _r tw_ f_m__s d_sh_s. Th_ _g_ncy s__d J_p_n_s_ f__d _s sp_c__l b_c__s_ _f _ts _rt_st_c pr_s_nt_t__n. _t _ls_ _s_s _n_q__ _ngr_d__nts. M_ny d_sh_s _r_ _mp_rt_nt b_c__s_ th_y c_l_br_t_ th_ f__r s__s_ns.

'W_sh_k_' _s v_ry h__lthy _nd h_s _ g__d b_l_nc_ _f m_n_r_ls, v_t_m_ns, c_rb_hydr_t_s _nd pr_t__n. _t _s _n_ _f th_ r__s_ns why J_p_n_s_ p__pl_ l_v_ f_r s_ l_ng. _t _ls_ h_lps t_ k__p _b_s_ty l_v_ls l_w. Th_ c__s_n_ _s _ls_ _mp_rt_nt _s d_ff_r_nt m__ls thr__gh__t th_ y__r h_lp t_ br_ng f_m_l__s _nd c_mm_n_t__s t_g_th_r. F__d pl_ys _n _mp_rt_nt r_l_ _n m_ny c_r_m_n__s th_t m_rk s__s_n_l tr_d_t__ns. Th_ m_n_ f_r N_w Y__r's c_l_br_t__ns, r_c_-pl_nt_ng _v_nts _nd h_rv_st f_st_v_ls _r_ _ll v_ry d_ff_r_nt. J_p_n's g_v_rnm_nt s__d f__d h_lps J_p_n_s_ p__pl_ k__p _ str_ng s_ns_ _f c_lt_r_. _t _ls_ s__d 'W_sh_k_' _s cl_s_ly "_ss_c__t_d w_th _n _ss_nt__l sp_r_t _f r_sp_ct f_r n_t_r_."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the united nations is going to put traditional japanese food on its list of important world cuisines it will be the fifth time for unesco to give a country's or region's food its cultural heritage status french mediterranean mexican and turkish food are already on the list traditional japanese food is called 'washoku' it is very famous for its variety it ranges from sushi (raw fish on rice) to ramen noodles tempura and sukiyaki japan's agency for cultural affairs said it wants to put all of its food on the list not just one or two famous dishes the agency said japanese food is special because of its artistic presentation it also uses unique ingredients many dishes are important because they celebrate the four seasons

'washoku' is very healthy and has a good balance of minerals vitamins carbohydrates and protein it is one of the reasons why japanese people live for so long it also helps to keep obesity levels low the cuisine is also important as different meals throughout the year help to bring families and communities together food plays an important role in many ceremonies that mark seasonal traditions the menu for new year's celebrations rice-planting events and harvest festivals are all very different japan's government said food helps japanese people keep a strong sense of culture it also said 'washoku' is closely "associated with an essential spirit of respect for nature"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheUnitedNationsisgoingtoputtraditionalJapanesefoodonitslistofi
mportantworldcuisines.ItwillbethefifthtimeforUNESCOtogiveacou
ntry'sorregion'sfooditsculturalheritagestatus.French,Mediterrane
an,MexicanandTurkishfoodarealreadyonthelist.TraditionalJapane
sefoodiscalled'Washoku'.Itisveryfamousforitsvariety.Itrangesfro
msushi(rawfishonrice)toramennoodles,tempuraandsukiyaki.Jap
an'sAgencyforCulturalAffairssaiditwantstoputallofitsfoodonthelist
,notjustoneortwofamousdishes.TheagencysaidJapanesefoodissp
ecialbecauseofitsartisticpresentation.Italsousesuniqueingredient
s.Manydishesareimportantbecausetheycelebratethefourseasons.
'Washoku'isveryhealthyandhasagoodbalanceofminerals,vitamins
,carbohydratesandprotein.ItisoneofthereasonswhyJapanesepeop
leliveforsolong.Italsohelpstokeepobesitylevelslow.Thecuisineisal
soimportantasdifferentmealsthroughouttheyearhelptobringfamili
esandcommunitiestogether.Foodplaysanimportantroleinmanycer
emoniesthatmarkseasonaltraditions.ThemenuforNewYear'sceleb
rations,rice-plantingeventsandharvestfestivalsareallverydifferen
t.Japan'sgovernmentsaidfoodhelpsJapanesepeoplekeepastrongs
enseofculture.Italsosaid'Washoku'isclosely"associatedwithaness
entialspiritofrespectfornature."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Compare and contrast the cuisine of your country to another country's food.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about Japanese food. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. JAPANESE FOOD: Make a poster about Japanese food. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. WORLD CUISINE: Write a magazine article about world cuisine. Include imaginary interviews with people from different countries who think their cuisine is the best.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to a Japanese food expert. Ask him/her three questions about Japanese food. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	important	a.	significant
2.	cuisine	b.	cooking
3.	heritage	c.	tradition
4.	dishes	d.	meals
5.	unique	e.	special
6.	healthy	f.	good for you
7.	throughout	g.	all around
8.	role	h.	part
9.	associated	i.	linked
10.	essential	j.	necessary

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The U.N. list of important world cuisines
2.	Four
3.	Its variety
4.	All of them
5.	The ingredients
6.	Minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and protein
7.	Obesity levels
8.	Harvest festivals
9.	A strong sense of culture
10.	A respect for nature

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Japanese food to get UNESCO status (27th October, 2014)

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