The Reading / Listening - Kimchi - Level 3

China and South Korea are arguing over a pickled food. The two countries are in a dispute over a savoury pickled cabbage dish. China is trying to win an international certificate for pao cai, a savoury vegetable dish from Sichuan province. However, South Korean officials are angry about this. They say this dish is too much like kimchi - perhaps the most famous food in South Korea. Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine. It is a traditional dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as cabbage and Korean radish. It is made with a wide variety of seasonings, including chilli powder, spring onions, garlic, ginger, and salted seafood. Pao cai is a pickle, usually made using cabbage, mustard, peppers and ginger.

South Korea is angry that China says it has won certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its kimchi making process. South Korean officials say pao cai, "has nothing to do with kimchi". They added: "We need to understand that pao cai is different from kimchi." People in Korea are angry that China is trying to claim the standard for the kimchi-making process. A professor in Korea said: "China lacks efforts to understand the culture and history of surrounding nations." On social media in China, people said most kimchi eaten in South Korea is made in China. One person wrote: "Even the pronunciation of kimchi originated from Chinese."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Kimchi - Level 0 Kimchi - Level 1   or  Kimchi - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20201130000660
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimchi
  • https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/11/30/20/south-koreans-chinese-clash-over-chinese-style-kimchi-winning-international-certificate


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. KIMCHI: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about kimchi. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       China / South Korea / dispute / cabbage / kimchi / pao cai / cuisine / seasoning / chilli
       angry / process / standard / professor / understand / culture / history / pronunciation
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SPICY FOOD: Students A strongly believe spicy food is best; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SEASONINGS: What do you think of these seasonings? What are they used for? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

 

What I Think

What They Are Used for

Salt

 

 

Pepper

 

 

Soy sauce

 

 

Chilli powder

 

 

Garlic

 

 

Mustard

 

 

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. ARGUE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "argue". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. FOOD: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Kimchi
  • Sushi
  • Fish and chips
  • Curry
  • Tacos
  • Falafel
  • Pizza
  • Burgers

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. arguing a. Left food in vinegar or salt water for a long time to make it last longer.
      2. pickled b. Broke a food down by bacteria, yeast, or heat.
      3. savoury c. A main or important element of something, especially of a diet.
      4. staple d. Food with a salty or spicy rather than a sweet taste.
      5. fermented e. Exchanging or expressing different or opposite views, often in an angry way.
      6. variety f. Salt, herbs, or spices added to food to make it taste better.
      7. seasoning g. A number of things of the same general type that are different in character or quality.

    Paragraph 2

      8. certification h. The way in which we say the sounds of a word, phrase or sentence.
      9. process i. Getting an official document to show a status or level of achievement.
      10. standard j. All around a particular place or thing.
      11. lack k. First started somewhere or at some time.
      12. surrounding l. An idea or thing used as a measure or model when comparing to other ideas or things.
      13. pronunciation m. Not enough of something.
      14. originated n. A series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a goal.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. China and S. Korea are arguing over a pickled cabbage dish.     T / F
  2. The Chinese dish pao cai is from Hong Kong.     T / F
  3. The article says kimchi is very stable in South Korea.     T / F
  4. Pao cai is made from cabbage, mustard, peppers and ginger.     T / F
  5. South Korea won a certification from the ISO.     T / F
  6. A professor in Korea said China totally understand Korean culture.     T / F
  7. The article says most kimchi people eat in S. Korea is made in China.     T / F
  8. The article says the pronunciation of the word kimchi is from Chinese.     T / F

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

  1. arguing
  2. dispute
  3. angry
  4. cuisine
  5. variety
  6. process
  7. understand
  8. standard
  9. nations
  10. originated
  1. method
  2. food
  3. started
  4. disagreement
  5. appreciate
  6. furious
  7. countries
  8. fighting
  9. example
  10. range

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

  1. China and South Korea are arguing
  2. a dispute over a savoury
  3. They say this dish is too
  4. Kimchi is a staple
  5. It is made with a wide
  6. its kimchi making
  7. pao cai is different
  8. understand the culture
  9. the pronunciation
  10. originated
  1. from Chinese
  2. in Korean cuisine
  3. from kimchi
  4. variety of seasonings
  5. pickled cabbage dish
  6. and history
  7. over a pickled food
  8. of kimchi
  9. process
  10. much like kimchi

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
salted
win
using
arguing
much
variety
dish
staple

China and South Korea are (1) _____________________ over a pickled food. The two countries are in a dispute over a savoury pickled cabbage dish. China is trying to (2) _____________________ an international certificate for pao cai, a savoury vegetable (3) _____________________ from Sichuan province. However, South Korean officials are angry about this. They say this dish is too (4) _____________________ like kimchi - perhaps the most famous food in South Korea. Kimchi is a (5) _____________________ in Korean cuisine. It is a traditional dish of (6) _____________________ and fermented vegetables, such as cabbage and Korean radish. It is made with a wide (7) _____________________ of seasonings, including chilli powder, spring onions, garlic, ginger, and salted seafood. Pao cai is a pickle, usually made (8) _____________________ cabbage, mustard, peppers and ginger.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
different
efforts
eaten
process
claim
originated
angry
history

South Korea is (9) _____________________ that China says it has won certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its kimchi making (10) _____________________. South Korean officials say pao cai, "has nothing to do with kimchi". They added: "We need to understand that pao cai is (11) _____________________ from kimchi." People in Korea are angry that China is trying to (12) _____________________ the standard for the kimchi-making process. A professor in Korea said: "China lacks (13) _____________________ to understand the culture and (14) _____________________ of surrounding nations." On social media in China, people said most kimchi (15) _____________________ in South Korea is made in China. One person wrote: "Even the pronunciation of kimchi (16) _____________________ from Chinese."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) China and South Korea are arguing over ______
     a.  a pickle food
     b.  a pickle food
     c.  a tickled food
     d.  a pickled food
2)  The two countries are ______
     a.  in a despise
     b.  in a despot
     c.  in a dispute
     d.  in a respite
3)  a savoury vegetable dish from ______
     a.  Sichuan province
     b.  Sichuan provincial
     c.  Sichuan prove Vince
     d.  Sichuan prove ants
4)  Kimchi is a staple in ______
     a.  Korean cuisine
     b.  Korean kitchens
     c.  Korean cruising
     d.  Korean quizzing
5)  including chilli powder, spring onions, garlic, ginger, ______
     a.  end salted seafood
     b.  all salted seafood
     c.  any salted seafood
     d.  and salted seafood

6)  South Korea is angry that China says it ______
     a.  has win certification
     b.  has won certification
     c.  has one certification
     d.  has wine certification
7)  the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its kimchi ______
     a.  make in process
     b.  May king process
     c.  making process
     d.  may king process
8)  South Korean officials say pao cai has nothing to ______
     a.  have with kimchi
     b.  de with kimchi
     c.  eat with kimchi
     d.  do with kimchi
9)  A professor in Korea said: "China ______"
     a.  slacks efforts
     b.  lacks effects
     c.  lacks affects
     d.  lacks efforts
10)  One person wrote: "Even the pronunciation of kimchi ______"
     a.  originated from Chinese
     b.  originate it from Chinese
     c.  origin ate it from Chinese
     d.  originates from Chinese

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

China and South Korea (1) ____________________ a pickled food. The two countries are in a dispute over a savoury pickled cabbage dish. China is (2) ____________________ an international certificate for pao cai, a savoury vegetable dish from Sichuan province. However, South Korean officials are angry about this. They say this dish is (3) ____________________ kimchi - perhaps the most famous food in South Korea. Kimchi is (4) ____________________ Korean cuisine. It is a traditional dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as cabbage and Korean radish. It is made with a wide (5) ____________________, including chilli powder, spring onions, garlic, ginger, and salted seafood. Pao cai is a pickle, usually made using cabbage, mustard, (6) ____________________.

South Korea (7) ____________________ China says it has won certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its kimchi making process. South Korean officials say pao cai, "has (8) ____________________ with kimchi". They added: "We need to understand that pao cai is different from kimchi." People in Korea (9) ____________________ China is trying to claim the standard for the kimchi-making process. A professor in Korea said: "China (10) ____________________ understand the culture and history of surrounding nations." On (11) ____________________ China, people said most kimchi eaten in South Korea is made in China. One person wrote: "(12) ____________________ of kimchi originated from Chinese."

Comprehension questions

  1. What adjective does the article use to describe the pickled cabbage dish?
  2. What is kimchi a staple of?
  3. What else is kimchi made from besides cabbage?
  4. What kind of powder is used in kimchi?
  5. What is pao cai made from besides cabbage, peppers and ginger?
  6. What is the abbreviation of the organization issuing the certificate?
  7. What did South Korean officials say has nothing to do with kimchi?
  8. Who said China lacks understanding?
  9. Where is most of the kimchi made that South Korean people eat?
  10. What is it about kimchi that originated from China?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What adjective does the article use to describe the pickled cabbage dish?
a) salty
b) savoury
c) savvy
d) sour
2) What is kimchi a staple of?
a) snack food
b) pubs and bars
c) cookery books
d) Korean cuisine
3) What else is kimchi made from besides cabbage?
a) Korean radish
b) Korean potato
c) Korean lettuce
d) Korean aubergine
4) What kind of powder is used in kimchi?
a) salt powder
b) baking powder
c) chilli powder
d) garlic powder
5) What is pao cai made from besides cabbage, peppers and ginger?
a) garlic
b) mustard
c) onion
d) leek

6) What is the abbreviation of the organization issuing the certificate?
a) ISO
b) SIO
c) SOI
d) OIS
7) What did South Korean officials say has nothing to do with kimchi?
a) cabbage
b) China
c) pao cai
d) mustard
8) Who said China lacks understanding?
a) a Korean professor
b) a kimchi expert
c) a restaurant owner
d) a mustard grower
9) Where is most of the kimchi made that South Korean people eat?
a) China
b) North Korea
c) the north of South Korea
d) the south of South Korea
10) What is it about kimchi that originated from China?
a) the recipe
b) the cabbage
c) the name
d) the pronunciation

Role play

Role  A – Sushi
You think sushi is the best food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their food. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): curry, pizza or burgers.

Role  B – Curry
You think curry is the best food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their food. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): sushi, pizza or burgers.

Role  C – Pizza
You think pizza is the best food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their food. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): curry, sushi or burgers.

Role  D – Burgers
You think burgers is the best food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their food. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): curry, pizza or sushi.

After reading / listening

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

'kimchi'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'cabbage'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • dispute
    • win
    • much
    • such
    • spring
    • usually
    • says
    • nothing
    • do
    • claim
    • nations
    • person

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Kimchi

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'kimchi'?
    3. What do you know about kimchi?
    4. What do you know about Korean food?
    5. How much do you like savoury food?
    6. What are the staple dishes of your country?
    7. What are your favourite seasonings?
    8. What do you think of salted seafood?
    9. What food can you make using cabbage?
    10. What do you think of garlic?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'cabbage'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about pao cai?
    5. What do you know about Chinese food?
    6. How much do you like pickled food?
    7. Do you think China should have the international certificate?
    8. What dish from your country are you most proud of?
    9. Is kimchi Chinese if the pronunciation is from China?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a kimchi lover?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    China and South Korea are (1) ____ over a pickled food. The two countries are in a dispute over a savoury pickled cabbage dish. China is trying to win an international certificate (2) ____ pao cai, a savoury vegetable (3) ____ from Sichuan province. However, South Korean officials are angry about this. They say this dish is too (4) ____ like kimchi - perhaps the most famous food in South Korea. Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine. It is a traditional dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such (5) ____ cabbage and Korean radish. It is made with a wide variety of seasonings, (6) ____ chilli powder, spring onions, garlic, ginger, and salted seafood. Pao cai is a pickle, usually made using cabbage, mustard, peppers and ginger.

    South Korea is angry that China says it has (7) ____ certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its kimchi making (8) ____. South Korean officials say pao cai, "has nothing to do with kimchi". They added: "We need to understand that pao cai is different from kimchi." People in Korea are angry that China is trying to (9) ____ the standard for the kimchi-making process. A professor in Korea said: "China (10) ____ efforts to understand the culture and history of surrounding nations." On social media in China, people said most kimchi (11) ____ in South Korea is made in China. One person wrote: "Even the pronunciation of kimchi (12) ____ from Chinese."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     arguing     (b)     argued     (c)     argument     (d)     argues    
    2. (a)     from     (b)     at     (c)     for     (d)     in    
    3. (a)     bowl     (b)     saucer     (c)     dish     (d)     plate    
    4. (a)     more     (b)     many     (c)     most     (d)     much    
    5. (a)     as     (b)     is     (c)     has     (d)     was    
    6. (a)     inclusive     (b)     including     (c)     include     (d)     includes    
    7. (a)     conquered     (b)     beat     (c)     victory     (d)     won    
    8. (a)     progress     (b)     process     (c)     prowess     (d)     protest    
    9. (a)     clam     (b)     cram     (c)     claim     (d)     climb    
    10. (a)     blacks     (b)     flacks     (c)     slacks     (d)     lacks    
    11. (a)     ate     (b)     eats     (c)     eatery     (d)     eaten    
    12. (a)     original     (b)     originated     (c)     origin     (d)     origami

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. arguing over a eklicdp food
    2. The two countries are in a istupde
    3. a rsuyoav vegetable dish
    4. Kimchi is a staple in Korean sieucin
    5. a wide ityevra of seasonings
    6. made using agabbec

    Paragraph 2

    1. it has won tccrnfoiiteai
    2. South Korean loisiaffc
    3. the kimchi-making reocssp
    4. ortsfef to understand the culture
    5. rnsuirudgno nations
    6. kimchi raoetinigd from Chinese

    Put the text back together

    1  ) China and South Korea are arguing over a pickled food. The two countries are in a dispute
    (...)  Standardization (ISO) for its kimchi making process. South Korean officials say pao cai, "has nothing to
    (...)  over a savoury pickled cabbage dish. China is trying to win an international certificate for pao cai, a savoury vegetable
    (...)  South Korea is angry that China says it has wwon certification from the International Organization for
    (...)  do with kimchi". They added: "We need to understand that pao cai is different from kimchi." People in Korea are angry that China is
    (...)  wrote: "Even the pronunciation of kimchi originated from Chinese."
    (...)  cuisine. It is a traditional dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as cabbage and Korean radish. It is made with a wide
    (...)
    (...)  in China, people said most kimchi eaten in South Korea is made in China. One person
    (...)  to understand the culture and history of surrounding nations." On social media
    (...)  seafood. Pao cai is a pickle, usually made using cabbage, mustard, peppers and ginger.
    (...)  much like kimchi - perhaps the most famous food in South Korea. Kimchi is a staple in Korean
    (...)  dish from Sichuan province. However, South Korean officials are angry about this. They say this dish is too
    (...)  variety of seasonings, including chilli powder, spring onions, garlic, ginger, and salted
    (...)  trying to claim the standard for the kimchi-making process. A professor in Korea said: "China lacks efforts

    Put the words in the right order

    1. over   dish   .   a   savoury   A   cabbage   pickled   dispute
    2. to   trying   certificate   .   win   China   international   an   is
    3. like   is   too   This   kimchi   .   much   dish
    4. in   Korean   staple   Kimchi   cuisine   .   a   is
    5. of   made   wide   a   It's   variety   with   seasonings   .
    6. nothing   cai   with   to   Pao   kimchi   .   do   has
    7. We   pao   is   to   different   .   understand   that   need   cai
    8. the   the   standard   Claim   for   kimchi-making   process   .
    9. nations   .   history   of   and   surrounding   Understand   culture   the
    10. from   Chinese   .   pronunciation   Even   of   kimchi   the   originated

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    China and South Korea are arguing under / over a pickled food. The two countries are on / in a dispute over a savoury pickled cabbage dish. China is trying to win an international certificate for pao cai, a savoury vegetable dish from Sichuan province / provincial. However, South Korean officials are angry about this. They say this bowl / dish is too much like kimchi - perhaps the / a most famous food in South Korea. Kimchi is a staple / stable in Korean cuisine. It is a traditional dish of salted and tormented / fermented vegetables, such as cabbage and Korean radish. It is made with a width / wide variety of seasonings, including chilli powder, spring / autumn onions, garlic, ginger, and salted seafood. Pao cai is a pickle, usually made / makes using cabbage, mustard, peppers and ginger.

    South Korea is angry that China says it has/ was won certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its kimchi munching / making process. South Korean officials say pao cai, "has nothing to have / do with kimchi". They added: "We need to understand that / what pao cai is different from kimchi." People in Korea are angrily / angry that China is trying to clam / claim the standard for the kimchi-making prowess / process. A professor in Korea said: "China lacks efforts for / to understand the culture and history of surrounding nations." On social media in China, people said most kimchi ate / eaten in South Korea is made in China. One person wrote: "Even the pronunciation of kimchi originated from / at Chinese."

    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)

    Ch_n_  _nd  S__th  K_r__  _r_  _rg__ng  _v_r  _  p_ckl_d  f__d.  Th_  tw_  c__ntr__s  _r_  _n  _  d_sp_t_  _v_r  _  s_v__ry  p_ckl_d  c_bb_g_  d_sh.  Ch_n_  _s  try_ng  t_  w_n  _n  _nt_rn_t__n_l  c_rt_f_c_t_  f_r  p__  c__,  _  s_v__ry  v_g_t_bl_  d_sh  fr_m  S_ch__n  pr_v_nc_.  H_w_v_r,  S__th  K_r__n  _ff_c__ls  _r_  _ngry  _b__t  th_s.  Th_y  s_y  th_s  d_sh  _s  t__  m_ch  l_k_  k_mch_  -  p_rh_ps  th_  m_st  f_m__s  f__d  _n  S__th  K_r__.  K_mch_  _s  _  st_pl_  _n  K_r__n  c__s_n_.  _t  _s  _  tr_d_t__n_l  d_sh  _f  s_lt_d  _nd  f_rm_nt_d  v_g_t_bl_s,  s_ch  _s  c_bb_g_  _nd  K_r__n  r_d_sh.  _t  _s  m_d_  w_th  _  w_d_  v_r__ty  _f  s__s_n_ngs,  _ncl_d_ng  ch_ll_  p_wd_r,  spr_ng  _n__ns,  g_rl_c,  g_ng_r,  _nd  s_lt_d  s__f__d.  P__  c__  _s  _  p_ckl_,  _s__lly  m_d_  _s_ng  c_bb_g_,  m_st_rd,  p_pp_rs  _nd  g_ng_r.

    S__th  K_r__  _s  _ngry  th_t  Ch_n_  s_ys  _t  h_s  w_n  c_rt_f_c_t__n  fr_m  th_  _nt_rn_t__n_l  _rg_n_z_t__n  f_r  St_nd_rd_z_t__n  (_S_)  f_r  _ts  k_mch_  m_k_ng  pr_c_ss.  S__th  K_r__n  _ff_c__ls  s_y  p__  c__,  "h_s  n_th_ng  t_  d_  w_th  k_mch_".  Th_y  _dd_d:  "W_  n__d  t_  _nd_rst_nd  th_t  p__  c__  _s  d_ff_r_nt  fr_m  k_mch_."  P__pl_  _n  K_r__  _r_  _ngry  th_t  Ch_n_  _s  try_ng  t_  cl__m  th_  st_nd_rd  f_r  th_  k_mch_-m_k_ng  pr_c_ss.  _  pr_f_ss_r  _n  K_r__  s__d:  "Ch_n_  l_cks  _ff_rts  t_  _nd_rst_nd  th_  c_lt_r_  _nd  h_st_ry  _f  s_rr__nd_ng  n_t__ns."  _n  s_c__l  m_d__  _n  Ch_n_,  p__pl_  s__d  m_st  k_mch_  __t_n  _n  S__th  K_r__  _s  m_d_  _n  Ch_n_.  _n_  p_rs_n  wr_t_:  "_v_n  th_  pr_n_nc__t__n  _f  k_mch_  _r_g_n_t_d  fr_m  Ch_n_s_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    china and south korea are arguing over a pickled food. the two countries are in a dispute over a savoury pickled cabbage dish. china is trying to win an international certificate for pao cai, a savoury vegetable dish from sichuan province. however, south korean officials are angry about this. they say this dish is too much like kimchi - perhaps the most famous food in south korea. kimchi is a staple in korean cuisine. it is a traditional dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as cabbage and korean radish. it is made with a wide variety of seasonings, including chilli powder, spring onions, garlic, ginger, and salted seafood. pao cai is a pickle, usually made using cabbage, mustard, peppers and ginger.

    south korea is angry that china says it has won certification from the international organization for standardization (iso) for its kimchi making process. south korean officials say pao cai, "has nothing to do with kimchi". they added: "we need to understand that pao cai is different from kimchi." people in korea are angry that china is trying to claim the standard for the kimchi-making process. a professor in korea said: "china lacks efforts to understand the culture and history of surrounding nations." on social media in china, people said most kimchi eaten in south korea is made in china. one person wrote: "even the pronunciation of kimchi originated from chinese."

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ChinaandSouthKoreaarearguingoverapickledfood.Thetwocountries
    areinadisputeoverasavourypickledcabbagedish.Chinaistryingtowin
    aninternationalcertificateforpaocai,asavouryvegetabledishfromSic
    huanprovince.However,SouthKoreanofficialsareangryaboutthis.Th
    eysaythisdishistoomuchlikekimchi-perhapsthemostfamousfoodinS
    outhKorea.KimchiisastapleinKoreancuisine.Itisatraditionaldishofsal
    tedandfermentedvegetables,suchascabbageandKoreanradish.Itis
    madewithawidevarietyofseasonings,includingchillipowder,springon
    ions,garlic,ginger,andsaltedseafood.Paocaiisapickle,usuallymadeu
    singcabbage,mustard,peppersandginger.SouthKoreaisangrythatC
    hinasaysithaswoncertificationfromtheInternationalOrganizationfor
    Standardization(ISO)foritskimchimakingprocess.SouthKoreanoffici
    alssaypaocai,"hasnothingtodowithkimchi".Theyadded:"Weneedtou
    nderstandthatpaocaiisdifferentfromkimchi."PeopleinKoreaareangry
    thatChinaistryingtoclaimthestandardforthekimchi-makingprocess.
    AprofessorinKoreasaid:"Chinalackseffortstounderstandtheculturea
    ndhistoryofsurroundingnations."OnsocialmediainChina,peoplesaid
    mostkimchieateninSouthKoreaismadeinChina.Onepersonwrote:"E
    venthepronunciationofkimchioriginatedfromChinese."

    Free writing

    Write about kimchi for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    No country owns the rights to claim a food dish. Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. KIMCHI: Make a poster about kimchi. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FOOD RIGHTS: Write a magazine article about any country being able to claim the rights to any food. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 an expert on kimchi. Ask him/her three questions about it. 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.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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