The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Traditional Japanese food ('Washoku') will soon be on the United Nations list of important world cuisines. It will be the fifth region to get the UNESCO cultural heritage status. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food are already on the list. 'Washoku' is very varied, ranging from sushi to ramen noodles, tempura and sukiyaki. Japan’s government said all of its food will be on the list, not just famous dishes. It said Japanese food is special because of its artistic presentation. It also uses special 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. This is why Japanese people live for so long and are usually slim. Different meals help to bring families and communities together in Japan. Food is part of many ceremonies in seasonal celebrations, such as New Year’s Day, rice-planting events and harvest festivals. 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 levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

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


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



The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

Traditional

a.

ingredients

2.

the United Nations list

b.

dishes

3.

UNESCO cultural

c.

varied

4.

'Washoku'  is very

d.

presentation

5.

not just famous

e.

seasons

6.

artistic

f.

Japanese food

7.

It also uses special

g.

heritage status

8.

they celebrate the four

h.

of important world cuisines



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

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

a good balance

a.

sense of culture

2.

carbohydrates

b.

communities together

3.

why Japanese people live

c.

and protein

4.

help to bring families and

d.

planting events

5.

rice-

e.

of minerals

6.

harvest

f.

for nature

7.

keep a strong

g.

festivals

8.

respect

h.

for so long

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Traditional Japanese food ('Washoku') (1) ___________________ the United Nations list of important world cuisines. It will be the fifth region to get the UNESCO (2) ___________________ status. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food are already on the list. 'Washoku' (3) ___________________, ranging from sushi to ramen noodles, tempura and sukiyaki. Japan's government said all of its food will be on the list, not (4) ___________________. It said Japanese food is special because of its (5) ___________________. It also uses special ingredients. Many dishes are important because they (6) ___________________ seasons.

'Washoku' is very healthy and (7) ___________________ of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and protein. This is why Japanese people live (8) ___________________ are usually slim. Different meals (9) ___________________ and communities together in Japan. Food is part (10) ___________________ in seasonal celebrations, such as New Year's Day, rice-planting events and harvest festivals. Japan's government said food helps Japanese people keep (11) ___________________ culture. It also said 'Washoku' is closely "associated with (12) ___________________ respect for nature."

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TraditionalJapanesefood('Washoku')willsoonbeontheUnitedNatio
nslistofimportantworldcuisines.ItwillbethefifthregiontogettheUNE
SCOculturalheritagestatus.French,Mediterranean,MexicanandTu
rkishfoodarealreadyonthelist.'Washoku'isveryvaried,rangingfro
msushitoramennoodles,tempuraandsukiyaki.Japan'sgovernment
saidallofitsfoodwillbeonthelist,notjustfamousdishes.ItsaidJapane
sefoodisspecialbecauseofitsartisticpresentation.Italsousesspecia
lingredients.Manydishesareimportantbecausetheycelebratethefo
urseasons.'Washoku'isveryhealthyandhasagoodbalanceofminera
ls,vitamins,carbohydratesandprotein.ThisiswhyJapanesepeopleli
veforsolongandareusuallyslim.Differentmealshelptobringfamilies
andcommunitiestogetherinJapan.Foodispartofmanyceremoniesin
seasonalcelebrations,suchasNewYear'sDay,rice-plantingeventsa
ndharvestfestivals.Japan'sgovernmentsaidfoodhelpsJapanesepe
oplekeepastrongsenseofculture.Italsosaid'Washoku'isclosely"ass
ociatedwithanessentialspiritofrespectfornature."

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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