Breaking News English Lesson: Ramen

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Taiwan restaurant serves crocodile-foot ramen (6th July 2023)

The Reading / Listening - Ramen - Level 3

Ramen is becoming more and more popular around the world. It is a noodle dish of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a rich broth. Common flavours are soy sauce and miso, and common toppings include sliced pork, dried seaweed, bamboo shoots and spring onions. A restaurant in Taiwan has added a new ingredient – a crocodile foot. The Witch Cat Kwai restaurant in Yunlin has named its dish "thick witch crocodile ramen". Photos of the ramen have gone viral on social media. Internet users are calling it "Godzilla ramen". The restaurant's owner told CNN Travel that the ramen is very popular. There is a long waiting list to eat at the restaurant. It is fully booked until the end of August.

The Godzilla ramen is not cheap. One bowl costs about $50. The chef said the soup and the crocodile foot take about three hours to cook. He prepares just 10 feet a day. The chef uses 40 types of fresh ingredients. First, he cleans the foot and rubs it with alcohol. Then, he covers it with a variety of spices. Finally, he puts the foot in the ramen broth for two hours. The owner said some customers were "afraid" to try the dish. However, many others really want to try it. The chef said: "A lot of customers say crocodile meat tastes like chicken, but it is more springy, soft and elastic than chicken." In Taiwan, it is legal to farm and eat crocodiles that are not protected species.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Ramen - Level 0, Ramen - Level 1 or Ramen - Level 2

Sources

https://people.com/crocodile-leg-appears-to-crawl-out-of-ramen-bowl-at-restaurant-taiwan-7554832
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/crocodile-ramen-taiwan-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12242131/Godzilla-Ramen-featuring-crocodile-leg-hangs-edge-bowl-hit-Taiwan.html

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. RAMEN NOODLES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about ramen noodles. 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?
ramen / popular / noodles / broth / soy sauce / miso / toppings / crocodile / August /
Godzilla / soup / ingredients / spices / customers / dish / chicken / protected species
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CROCODILES: Students A strongly believe we should not kill crocodiles for food or fashion; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. FOOD: What do you know about the food below? How tasty is it? How do you make it? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	How Tasty	How To Make It
Ramen
Spaghetti
Hamburger
Shawarma
Samosa
Fish and chips

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

Garlic
Tomatoes
Onions
Chilli
Mushrooms
Cream
Cabbage
Eggs

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	popular	a.	Liked by many people.
2.	dish	b.	All of the food or things that are used to make a particular dish.
3.	broth	c.	One item of (cooked) food served as part of a meal.
4.	common	d.	Food put on top of another food to add flavour.
5.	topping	e.	Soup made by cooking bones, meat, or fish slowly in water.
6.	ingredient	f.	Happening, found, or done often or everywhere.
7.	go viral	g.	Spread quickly and everywhere across social media.

Paragraph 2

8.	prepare	h.	Can stretch easily.
9.	variety	i.	Quickly moving back to its original shape when squeezed or stretched.
10.	customer	j.	Make (food or a meal) ready for cooking or eating.
11.	springy	k.	Within the law; not against the law.
12.	elastic	l.	Lots of different things of a similar kind.
13.	legal	m.	Living things that laws say cannot be harmed.
14.	protected species	n.	A person who buys goods or services from a shop or business.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says ramen is becoming the world's most popular food. T / F
Ramen has toppings that include winter onions. T / F
Photos of the crocodile-foot ramen quickly spread across social media. T / F
The crocodile ramen restaurant is currently fully booked. T / F
One bowl of the crocodile-foot ramen costs about $50. T / F
The chef uses 10 types of fresh ingredients in the crocodile-foot ramen. T / F
Some of the restaurant's customers are afraid to try the ramen. T / F
Many customers say the crocodile meat tastes like salmon. T / F

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

popular
rich
common
named
fully
cheap
chef
afraid
legal
farm

called
typical
breed
inexpensive
lawful
well-liked
scared
totally
full-flavoured
cook

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

Ramen is becoming more and more
wheat noodles served in
common toppings
There is a long waiting list to
It is fully booked
One bowl
The chef uses 40 types
he covers it with a
crocodile meat tastes
protected

until the end of August
include sliced pork
variety of spices
a rich broth
like chicken
species
popular
eat at the restaurant
of fresh ingredients
costs about $50

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

ingredient
served
viral
list
popular
named
dried
owner

Ramen is becoming more and more (1) _____________________ around the world. It is a noodle dish of Chinese-style wheat noodles (2) _____________________ in a rich broth. Common flavours are soy sauce and miso, and common toppings include sliced pork, (3) _____________________ seaweed, bamboo shoots and spring onions. A restaurant in Taiwan has added a new (4) _____________________ – a crocodile foot. The Witch Cat Kwai restaurant in Yunlin has (5) _____________________ its dish "thick witch crocodile ramen". Photos of the ramen have gone (6) _____________________ on social media. Internet users are calling it "Godzilla ramen". The restaurant's (7) _____________________ told CNN Travel that the ramen is very popular. There is a long waiting (8) _____________________ to eat at the restaurant. It is fully booked until the end of August.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

customers
rubs
tastes
spices
species
cheap
prepares
chef

The Godzilla ramen is not (7) _____________________. One bowl costs about $50. The chef said the soup and the crocodile foot take about three hours to cook. He (8) _____________________ just 10 feet a day. The chef uses 40 types of fresh ingredients. First, he cleans the foot and (9) _____________________ it with alcohol. Then, he covers it with a variety of (10) _____________________. Finally, he puts the foot in the ramen broth for two hours. The owner said some (11) _____________________ were "afraid" to try the dish. However, many others really want to try it. The (12) _____________________ said: "A lot of customers say crocodile meat (13) _____________________ like chicken, but it is more springy, soft and elastic than chicken." In Taiwan, it is legal to farm and eat crocodiles that are not protected (14) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) It is a noodle dish of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in ______
     a. a rich breath
     b. a rich both
     c. a rich broth
     d. a rich brothel
2) Common flavours are soy ______
     a. sauce and me so
     b. source and miso
     c. saw sand miss so
     d. sauce and miso
3) toppings include sliced pork, dried seaweed, bamboo shoots ______
     a. and summer onions
     b. and autumn onions
     c. and winter onions
     d. and spring onions
4) Photos of the ramen ______
     a. have gone rival
     b. have gone viral
     c. have gone libel
     d. have gone rebel
5) It is fully booked until the ______
     a. ending August
     b. yen doff August
     c. end of August
     d. end of August

6) The chef said the soup and the crocodile foot take about three ______
     a. ours to cook
     b. hour stew cook
     c. hours stew cook
     d. hours to cook
7) Then, he covers it with a ______
     a. variety off splices
     b. variety of spices
     c. variety of spy ices
     d. variety of spicy
8) The owner said some customers were "afraid" to ______
     a. fry the dish
     b. pry the dish
     c. try the dish
     d. cry the dish
9) crocodile meat tastes like chicken, but it is more springy, ______
     a. soft end plastic
     b. soft and plastic
     c. soft end elastic
     d. soft and elastic
10) In Taiwan, it is legal to farm and eat crocodiles that are ______
     a. not protect tick species
     b. not protect Ted species
   c. not protect toad species
     d. not protected species

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Ramen is becoming (1) ____________________ popular around the world. It is a noodle dish of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in (2) ____________________. Common flavours are soy sauce and miso, and common toppings include sliced pork, dried seaweed, bamboo shoots and spring onions. A restaurant in Taiwan has added (3) ____________________ – a crocodile foot. The Witch Cat Kwai restaurant in Yunlin has named its dish "thick witch crocodile ramen". Photos of the ramen have (4) ____________________ social media. Internet users are calling it "Godzilla ramen". The restaurant's owner told CNN Travel that the ramen is very popular. There is a (5) ____________________ to eat at the restaurant. It is (6) ____________________ the end of August.

The Godzilla ramen is not cheap. One (7) ____________________ $50. The chef said the soup and the crocodile foot take about three hours to cook. He prepares just 10 feet a day. The chef uses 40 (8) ____________________ ingredients. First, he cleans the foot and rubs it with alcohol. Then, he covers it with a (9) ____________________. Finally, he puts the foot in the ramen broth for two hours. The owner said some customers were "afraid" to try the dish. However, many others really want (10) ____________________. The chef said: "A lot of customers say crocodile meat tastes like chicken, but it is more springy, (11) ____________________ than chicken." In Taiwan, it is legal to farm and eat crocodiles that are (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

What kind of noodles are used to make ramen?
What kinds of onions are used as a ramen topping?
Where have photos of the ramen gone viral?
What did Internet users nickname the crocodile-foot ramen?
What kind of list does the restaurant have that is full?
How much does a bowl of the ramen cost?
How many crocodile feet does the chef cook every day?
What does the chef cover the crocodile foot with?
What did many customers say crocodile meat tastes like?
What crocodiles is it illegal to eat in Taiwan?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of noodles are used to make ramen?
a) spaghetti
b) soba noodles
c) wheat noodles
d) thick noodles
2) What kinds of onions are used as a ramen topping?
a) spring onions
b) summer onions
c) autumn onions
d) winter onions
3) Where have photos of the ramen gone viral?
a) on social media
b) in newspapers
c) in hospitals
d) in ramen restaurants
4) What did Internet users nickname the crocodile-foot ramen?
a) Croco-men
b) Godzilla ramen
c) Footie ramen
d) Claws
5) What kind of list does the restaurant have that is full?
a) a wish list
b) a to-do list
c) a shopping list
d) a waiting list

6) How much does a bowl of the ramen cost?
a) $60
b) $50
c) $40
d) $80
7) How many crocodile feet does the chef cook every day?
a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 13
8) What does the chef cover the crocodile foot with?
a) foil
b) broth
c) a variety of spices
d) different sauces
9) What did many customers say crocodile meat tastes like?
a) tofu
b) yellow-spotted river turtle
c) salmon
d) chicken
10) What crocodiles is it illegal to eat in Taiwan?
a) protected species
b) saltwater crocodiles
c) Australian crocodiles
d) crocodiles in zoos

Role play

Role A – Tomatoes
You think tomatoes are the best ingredients for cooking. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ingredients. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): onions, garlic or eggs.

Role B – Onions
You think onions are the best ingredients for cooking. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ingredients. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): tomatoes, garlic or eggs.

Role C – Garlic
You think garlic is the best ingredient for cooking. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ingredients. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): onions, tomatoes or eggs.

Role D – Eggs
You think eggs are the best ingredients for cooking. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ingredients. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): onions, garlic or tomatoes.

After reading / listening

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

'crocodile'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'ramen'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

more

rich

common

named

calling

long

cheap

10

40

covers

tastes

legal

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 - Ramen

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'crocodile'?
What do you think of ramen?
What are your favourite noodle dishes?
What do you think of soy sauce and miso?
Why does all unusual meat taste like chicken?
What do you think of eating a crocodile foot?
What food do you upload on social media?
What are your favourite restaurants?
Would you like to try the thick witch crocodile ramen?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'ramen'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about ramen?
What spices does food really need?
What's the most unusual food you've eaten?
Why might people be afraid to try the crocodile ramen?
Is it wrong to kill crocodiles for meat and fashion?
What's your favourite food?
What questions would you like to ask the chef?

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)

Ramen is becoming more and (1) ____ popular around the world. It is a noodle dish of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a (2) ____ broth. Common flavours are soy sauce and miso, and common toppings include sliced pork, dried seaweed, bamboo (3) ____ and spring onions. A restaurant in Taiwan has added a new ingredient – a crocodile foot. The Witch Cat Kwai restaurant in Yunlin has named its dish "thick witch crocodile ramen". Photos of the ramen have gone (4) ____ on social media. Internet (5) ____ are calling it "Godzilla ramen". The restaurant's owner told CNN Travel that the ramen is very popular. There is a long waiting list to eat at the restaurant. It is fully booked until the (6) ____ of August.

The Godzilla ramen is not (7) ____. One bowl costs about $50. The chef said the soup and the crocodile foot take about three hours to cook. He prepares just 10 feet a day. The chef uses 40 types of (8) ____ ingredients. First, he cleans the foot and rubs it with alcohol. Then, he covers (9) ____ with a variety of spices. Finally, he puts the foot in the ramen broth for two hours. The owner said some customers were "afraid" to (10) ____ the dish. However, many others really want to try it. The chef said: "A lot of customers say crocodile meat tastes (11) ____ chicken, but it is more springy, soft and elastic than chicken." In Taiwan, it is legal to (12) ____ and eat crocodiles that are not protected species.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a)     more     (b)     much     (c)     most     (d)     many
(a)     tasteless     (b)     boring     (c)     rich     (d)     witch
(a)     sheets     (b)     shouts     (c)     shoots     (d)     shards
(a)     feral     (b)     libel     (c)     rival     (d)     viral
(a)     uses     (b)     usage     (c)     users     (d)     youths
(a)     last     (b)     end     (c)     close     (d)     death
(a)     cheep     (b)     cheap     (c)     chirp     (d)     chap
(a)     flush     (b)     fresh     (c)     flash     (d)     flesh
(a)     them     (b)     foot     (c)     it     (d)     cooking
(a)     fry     (b)     cry     (c)     pry     (d)     try
(a)     identical     (b)     same     (c)     similar     (d)     like
(a)     plant     (b)     dig     (c)     field     (d)     farm

Spelling

Paragraph 1

Ramen is becoming more and more pluraop
noodles served in a rich rbtoh
moconm toppings
added a new enriendgti
Photos of the ramen have gone riavl
It is fluyl booked

Paragraph 2

He pseaperr just 10 feet a day
he covers it with a yeviatr
some cotussrme were "afraid" to try the dish
it is more ignprys
soft and elitacs
protected eicsesp

Put the text back together

(...) customers were "afraid" to try the dish. However, many others really want to
(...) The Godzilla ramen is not cheap. One bowl costs about $50. The chef said the soup
(...) try it. The chef said: "A lot of customers say crocodile meat tastes like chicken, but it is more springy, soft and elastic
(...) served in a rich broth. Common flavours are soy sauce and miso, and common toppings include sliced
(...) ingredient – a crocodile foot. The Witch Cat Kwai restaurant in Yunlin has named its
(...) ramen is very popular. There is a long waiting list to eat at the restaurant. It is fully booked until the end of August.
( 1 ) Ramen is becoming more and more popular around the world. It is a noodle dish of Chinese-style wheat noodles
(...) and the crocodile foot take about three hours to cook. He prepares just 10 feet a day. The chef uses 40
(...) pork, dried seaweed, bamboo shoots and spring onions. A restaurant in Taiwan has added a new
(...) than chicken." In Taiwan, it is legal to farm and eat crocodiles that are not protected species.
(...) types of fresh ingredients. First, he cleans the foot and rubs it with alcohol. Then, he covers it with a variety
(...) social media. Internet users are calling it "Godzilla ramen". The restaurant's owner told CNN Travel that the
(...) of spices. Finally, he puts the foot in the ramen broth for two hours. The owner said some
(...) dish "thick witch crocodile ramen". Photos of the ramen have gone viral on

Put the words in the right order

and more popular worldwide . Ramen becoming is more
restaurant in Taiwan new a ingredient . added A
of gone ramen Photos have the viral .
long a list There's waiting eat there . to
end booked It's August . fully until the of
to takes hours crocodile foot cook . three The
fresh uses The chef of ingredients . types 40
dish . were try afraid the to customers Some
like meat chicken . Customers say tastes crocodile
crocodiles Eat not that species . protected are

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Ramen is becoming more and much / more popular around the world. It is a noodle dish of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a tasteless / rich broth. Common flavours are soy sauce and miso, and commonly / common toppings include sliced pork, dried seaweed, bamboo sheets / shoots and spring onions. A restaurant in Taiwan has added / subtracted a new ingredient – a crocodile feet / foot. The Witch Cat Kwai restaurant in Yunlin has named its dish "thick witch crocodile ramen". Photos of the ramen have gone rival / viral on social media. Internet users are calling it / them "Godzilla ramen". The restaurant's owner told CNN Travel that the ramen is very popular. There is a long wilting / waiting list to eat at the restaurant. It is fully booked until the last / end of August.

The Godzilla ramen is not cheap. One bowl / bowel costs about $50. The chef said the soup and the crocodile foot take about three hours to cake / cook. He prepares just / justly 10 feet a day. The chef uses 40 types of fresh / flesh ingredients. First, he cleans the foot and rubs it without / with alcohol. Then, he covers it with a variety of spaces / spices. Finally, he puts the foot in the ramen broth for two hours. The owner said some customers were "afraid" to / for try the dish. However, many others really want to try it. The chef said: "A lot of customers say crocodile meat tastes like / similar chicken, but it is more springy, soft and elastic than / that chicken." In Taiwan, it is legal to farm and eat / heat crocodiles that are not protected species.

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

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

R_m_n _s b_c_m_ng m_r_ _nd m_r_ p_p_l_r _r__nd th_ w_rld. _t _s _ n__dl_ d_sh _f Ch_n_s_-styl_ wh__t n__dl_s s_rv_d _n _ r_ch br_th. C_mm_n fl_v__rs _r_ s_y s__c_ _nd m_s_, _nd c_mm_n t_pp_ngs _ncl_d_ sl_c_d p_rk, dr__d s__w__d, b_mb__ sh__ts _nd spr_ng _n__ns. _ r_st__r_nt _n T__w_n h_s _dd_d _ n_w _ngr_d__nt – _ cr_c_d_l_ f__t. Th_ W_tch C_t Kw__ r_st__r_nt _n Y_nl_n h_s n_m_d _ts d_sh "th_ck w_tch cr_c_d_l_ r_m_n". Ph_t_s _f th_ r_m_n h_v_ g_n_ v_r_l _n s_c__l m_d__. _nt_rn_t _s_rs _r_ c_ll_ng _t "G_dz_ll_ r_m_n". Th_ r_st__r_nt's _wn_r t_ld CNN Tr_v_l th_t th_ r_m_n _s v_ry p_p_l_r. Th_r_ _s _ l_ng w__t_ng l_st t_ __t _t th_ r_st__r_nt. _t _s f_lly b__k_d _nt_l th_ _nd _f __g_st.

Th_ G_dz_ll_ r_m_n _s n_t ch__p. _n_ b_wl c_sts _b__t $50. Th_ ch_f s__d th_ s__p _nd th_ cr_c_d_l_ f__t t_k_ _b__t thr__ h__rs t_ c__k. H_ pr_p_r_s j_st 10 f__t _ d_y. Th_ ch_f _s_s 40 typ_s _f fr_sh _ngr_d__nts. F_rst, h_ cl__ns th_ f__t _nd r_bs _t w_th _lc_h_l. Th_n, h_ c_v_rs _t w_th _ v_r__ty _f sp_c_s. F_n_lly, h_ p_ts th_ f__t _n th_ r_m_n br_th f_r tw_ h__rs. Th_ _wn_r s__d s_m_ c_st_m_rs w_r_ "_fr__d" t_ try th_ d_sh. H_w_v_r, m_ny _th_rs r__lly w_nt t_ try _t. Th_ ch_f s__d: "_ l_t _f c_st_m_rs s_y cr_c_d_l_ m__t t_st_s l_k_ ch_ck_n, b_t _t _s m_r_ spr_ngy, s_ft _nd _l_st_c th_n ch_ck_n." _n T__w_n, _t _s l_g_l t_ f_rm _nd __t cr_c_d_l_s th_t _r_ n_t pr_t_ct_d sp_c__s.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

ramen is becoming more and more popular around the world it is a noodle dish of chinesestyle wheat noodles served in a rich broth common flavours are soy sauce and miso and common toppings include sliced pork dried seaweed bamboo shoots and spring onions a restaurant in taiwan has added a new ingredient a crocodile foot the witch cat kwai restaurant in yunlin has named its dish thick witch crocodile ramen photos of the ramen have gone viral on social media internet users are calling it godzilla ramen the restaurants owner told cnn travel that the ramen is very popular there is a long waiting list to eat at the restaurant it is fully booked until the end of august

the godzilla ramen is not cheap one bowl costs about 50 the chef said the soup and the crocodile foot take about three hours to cook he prepares just 10 feet a day the chef uses 40 types of fresh ingredients first he cleans the foot and rubs it with alcohol then he covers it with a variety of spices finally he puts the foot in the ramen broth for two hours the owner said some customers were afraid to try the dish however many others really want to try it the chef said a lot of customers say crocodile meat tastes like chicken but it is more springy soft and elastic than chicken in taiwan it is legal to farm and eat crocodiles that are not protected species

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Ramenisbecomingmoreandmorepopulararoundtheworld.Itisanoodl
edishofChinese-stylewheatnoodlesservedinarichbroth.Commonfla
voursaresoysauceandmiso,andcommontoppingsincludeslicedpork,
driedseaweed,bambooshootsandspringonions.ArestaurantinTaiwa
nhasaddedanewingredient–acrocodilefoot.TheWitchCatKwairesta
urantinYunlinhasnameditsdish"thickwitchcrocodileramen".Photosof
theramenhavegoneviralonsocialmedia.Internetusersarecallingit"G
odzillaramen".Therestaurant'sownertoldCNNTravelthattheramenis
verypopular.Thereisalongwaitinglisttoeatattherestaurant.Itisfullyb
ookeduntiltheendofAugust.TheGodzillaramenisnotcheap.Onebowlc
ostsabout$50.Thechefsaidthesoupandthecrocodilefoottakeaboutth
reehourstocook.Hepreparesjust10feetaday.Thechefuses40typesoff
reshingredients.First,hecleansthefootandrubsitwithalcohol.Then,h
ecoversitwithavarietyofspices.Finally,heputsthefootintheramenbro
thfortwohours.Theownersaidsomecustomerswere"afraid"totrythedi
sh.However,manyothersreallywanttotryit.Thechefsaid:"Alotofcusto
merssaycrocodilemeattasteslikechicken,butitismorespringy,soften
delasticthanchicken."InTaiwan,itislegaltofarmandeatcrocodilesthat
arenotprotectedspecies.

Free writing

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

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Academic writing

We should not kill crocodiles for food and fashion. 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. RAMEN NOODLES: Make a poster about ramen noodles. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. CROCODILES: Write a magazine article about banning the use of crocodiles for food, bags, shows, etc. 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 ramen noodles. Ask him/her three questions about ramen noodles. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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Breaking News English Lesson: Ramen

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