The Reading / Listening - Level 6

French restaurants and eateries will soon have to put a new logo on menus to inform customers whether or not their food is home-made. France's government has come up with a simple sign so that both French people and tourists will have a better idea of what they are eating. Restaurants could start using the sign from July the 15th and it will be compulsory for eateries from January. The move comes after complaints about the quality of food being served in French restaurants. Many customers expect top-quality food when dining in France. The country is, after all, supposed to be the home of fine dining and gastronomic delights. French cuisine is world famous for its rich history, taste and presentation.

The new symbol is an attempt by the French government to improve the quality of restaurant food and boost tourism. A spokesperson said: "French gastronomy represents 13.5 per cent of foreign tourists' expenses. It is undeniable that if we add value to the quality of our restaurants, it will have an impact on tourism." He added that the government wants to, "reign in the amount of processed foods used and preserve France's high gastronomical standing". A poll conducted last year found that only around half of restaurant meals were cooked from scratch on the premises. The French Union of Hotel Skills and Industries believe that around 85 per cent of restaurants secretly use frozen or vacuum-packed food.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28313666
  • http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2014/jul/15/france-fait-maison-homemade-law-save-reputation
  • http://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2014/07/15/how-frances-restaurants-and-a-homemade-logo-take-on-fast-food-and-save-their-gastronomical-reputation/


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. FRENCH FOOD: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about French food. 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?

 

restaurants / home-made / better idea / compulsory / quality of food / presentation / symbol / tourism / undeniable / impact / processed foods / cooked from scratch

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

3. CUISINE: What do you know about these cuisines? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Cuisine

Dishes

Healthiness

Taste

French

 

 

 

Italian

 

 

 

Thai

 

 

 

American

 

 

 

Japanese

 

 

 

Indian

 

 

 

4. HOME-MADE: Students A strongly believe restaurants must make all food from scratch; Students B strongly believe it's OK to add processed or frozen food in restaurant dishes.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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5. FOOD: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Mum's cooking

  • fast food

  • microwave meals

  • frozen meals

  • camping food

  • haute cuisine

  • street food

  • your cooking

6. RESTAURANT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "restaurant". 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 'home-made' logo is only for tourists visiting France.

T / F

b.

Restaurants can already start using the logo.

T / F

c.

Eateries will be able to choose whether or not they will use the logo.

T / F

d.

French food is often said to be the home of fine dining.

T / F

e.

The French government hopes the logo will increase tourist numbers.

T / F

f.

Tourists spend over 20% of their travel budget on eating out.

T / F

g.

The French government wants restaurants to use less processed food.

T / F

h.

A hotel group said 85% of restaurants do not use frozen food.

T / F

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

1.

logo

a.

spur

2.

inform

b.

devised

3.

come up with

c.

status

4.

compulsory

d.

first-class

5.

fine

e.

endeavour

6.

attempt

f.

symbol

7.

boost

g.

indisputable

8.

undeniable

h.

notify

9.

standing

i.

building

10.

premises

j.

mandatory

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

1.

inform customers whether or not

a.

tourism

2.

it will be compulsory

b.

dining

3.

the quality of food being

c.

foods

4.

supposed to be the home of fine

d.

on tourism

5.

gastronomic

e.

their food is home-made

6.

boost

f.

packed food

7.

it will have an impact

g.

for eateries

8.

processed

h.

on the premises

9.

cooked from scratch

i.

delights

10.

vacuum-

j.

served in French restaurants

GAP FILL

French restaurants and (1) ____________ will soon have to put a new logo on menus to (2) ____________ customers whether or not their food is home-made. France's government has come up with a simple sign so that both French people and tourists will have a better (3) ____________ of what they are eating. Restaurants could start using the sign from July the 15th and it will be (4) ____________ for eateries from January. The move comes after complaints about the quality of food being (5) ____________ in French restaurants. Many customers (6) ____________ top-quality food when dining in France. The country is, after all, supposed to be the home of (7) ____________ dining and gastronomic delights. French cuisine is world famous for its (8) ____________ history, taste and presentation.

 

 

served
fine
idea
eateries
rich
compulsory
inform
expect

The new symbol is an (9) ____________ by the French government to improve the quality of restaurant food and (10) ____________ tourism. A spokesperson said: "French gastronomy represents 13.5 per cent of foreign tourists' expenses. It is (11) ____________ that if we add value to the quality of our restaurants, it will have an (12) ____________ on tourism." He added that the government wants to, "reign in the amount of processed foods used and (13) ____________ France's high gastronomical standing". A (14) ____________ conducted last year found that only around half of restaurant meals were cooked from scratch on the (15) ____________. The French Union of Hotel Skills and Industries believe that around 85 per cent of restaurants secretly use frozen or vacuum-(16) ____________ food.

 

preserve
premises
boost
impact
packed
attempt
undeniable
poll

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

French restaurants and eateries will soon have to put a new _____

 

a.  logo on menu
b.  logo in menus
c.  logo on menus
d.  logo in menu

2)

Restaurants could start using the sign from July the 15th and it _____

 

a.  will be compulsion
b.  will be impulse story
c.  will be con pulse airy
d.  will be compulsory

3)

The move comes after complaints about the quality of ______

 

a.  food been served
b.  food being served
c.  food been serviced
d.  food been serviced

4)

The country is, after all, supposed to be the home of fine dining and ______

 

a.  gastronomy delights
b.  gastronomic delight
c.  gastronomy delight
d.  gastronomic delights

5)

French cuisine is world famous for its rich history, ______

 

a.  tasty and presentation
b.  taste and presentation
c.  tastes and presentation
d.  tasted and presentation

6)

improve the quality of restaurant food ______

 

a.  and boost tourism
b.  and boast tourism
c.  and baste tourism
d.  and boots tourism

7)

if we add value to the quality of our restaurants, it will have an ______

 

a.  impact on tourists
b.  impact on tourism
c.  impact on tourist
d.  impact on truism

8)

reign in the amount of processed foods used and preserve France's high ______

 

a.  gastronomical stamping
b.  gastronomical steaming
c.  gastronomical stranding
d.  gastronomical standing

9)

around half of restaurant meals were cooked from scratch ______

 

a.  in the premises
b.  on the premises
c.  in the premise is
d.  on the premise is

10)

around 85 per cent of restaurants secretly use frozen or ______

 

a.  vacuum-packed food
b.  vacuum-packaged foods
c.  vacuum-pact food
d.  vacuum-pact foods

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

French restaurants and eateries will soon have (1) ___________________ on menus to inform customers whether or not their food is home-made. France's government (2) ___________________ simple sign so that both French people and tourists will (3) ___________________ what they are eating. Restaurants could start using the sign from July the 15th and it will be (4) ___________________ from January. The move comes after complaints about the quality of food being served in French restaurants. Many customers expect top-quality (5) ___________________ France. The country is, after all, supposed to be the home of fine dining and gastronomic delights. French cuisine is world famous (6) ___________________, taste and presentation.

The new symbol (7) ___________________ French government to improve the quality of restaurant food and boost tourism. A spokesperson said: "French gastronomy represents 13.5 per cent of (8) ___________________. It is undeniable that if we add value to the quality of our restaurants, it will have (9) ___________________." He added that the government wants to, "reign in the amount of processed foods (10) ___________________ France's high gastronomical standing". A poll conducted last year found that only around half of restaurant meals were (11) ___________________ on the premises. The French Union of Hotel Skills and Industries believe that around 85 per cent of restaurants (12) ___________________ vacuum-packed food.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What will new menus tell customers about?

2.

When were restaurants first able to use the logo?

3.

When will eateries have to put the logo on their menus?

4.

What do many diners expect when eating at French restaurants?

5.

What else is French food famous for besides a rich history and taste?

6.

What does the French government hope to boost?

7.

What proportion of their budget do tourists spend on eating out?

8.

What does the French government want to reduce?

9.

According to a poll, what proportion of food is cooked on the premises?

10.

What is the percentage of restaurants that supposedly use frozen food?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

What will new menus tell customers about?

6.

What does the French government hope to boost?

 

a) nutritional content of food
b) where vegetables come from
c) whether or not food is home-made
d) prices in dollars

 

a) the eating of garlic
b) tourism
c) regional wines
d) food production

2.

When were restaurants first able to use the logo?

7.

What proportion of their budget do tourists spend on eating out?

 

a) July 15
b) the beginning of the year
c) last January
d) several years ago

 

a) 13.5%
b) 15.3%
c) 15.5%
d) 13.3%

3.

When will eateries have to put the logo on their menus?

8.

What does the French government want to reduce?

 

a) January
b) February
c) March
d) April

 

a) tax
b) calories in food
c) processed food
d) tourists

4.

What do many diners expect when eating at French restaurants?

9.

According to a poll, what proportion of food is cooked on the premises?

 

a) bread
b) top-quality food
c) dessert
d) wine

 

a) three-quarters
b) a third
c) four-fifths
d) around half

5.

What else is French food famous for besides a rich history and taste?

10.

What is the percentage of restaurants that supposedly use frozen food?

 

a) eclairs
b) colour
c) health benefits
d) presentation

 

a) 85%
b) 75%
c) 65%
d) 55%

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Mum's cooking

You think mum's cooking is the best food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell what's wrong with their kind of food. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): fast food, street food or microwave meals.

Role  B – Fast food

You think fast food is the best food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell what's wrong with their kind of food. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): mum's cooking, street food or microwave meals.

Role  C – Street food

You think street food is the best food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell what's wrong with their kind of food. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): fast food, mum's cooking or microwave meals.

Role  D – Microwave meals

You think microwave food is the best food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell what's wrong with their kind of food. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why):  fast food, street food or mum's cooking.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

boost

 

tourism

 

 

  • 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:

  • soon
  • simple
  • idea
  • served
  • home
  • history
  • attempt
  • 13.5
  • add
  • high
  • half
  • 85

FRENCH FOOD SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about French 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.

FRENCH 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 words 'French food'?

c)

What do you think of French food?

d)

What's your favourite eatery and why?

e)

Is home-made food the most delicious?

f)

What do you think of the "home-made" logo on the menus?

g)

Should all restaurants have "home-made" on menu items?

h)

What's your biggest complaint about restaurant food?

i)

Why is French cuisine thought to be the best in the world?

j)

What are your favourite gastronomic delights?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

How is the quality of food in your local restaurants?

c)

How important is eating out when you go to other countries?

d)

Is it wrong for restaurants to use processed foods?

e)

Do you automatically assume that all restaurant food is home-made?

f)

Should menus have information about what food is processed or vacuum-packed?

g)

Would you ask a waiter about how fresh your food is?

h)

Which country has the best cuisine?

i)

Would food cooked on the premises improve restaurants?

j)

What questions would you like to ask a restaurant owner?

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

French restaurants and (1) ____ will soon have to put a new logo on menus to inform customers whether or not their food is home-made. France's government has come up with a (2) ____ sign so that both French people and tourists will have a better idea of what they are (3) ____. Restaurants could start using the sign from July the 15th and it will be (4) ____ for eateries from January. The move comes after complaints about the quality of food being served in French restaurants. Many customers (5) ____ top-quality food when dining in France. The country is, after all, supposed to be the home of (6) ____ dining and gastronomic delights. French cuisine is world famous for its rich history, taste and presentation.

The new symbol is an attempt by the French government to improve the quality of restaurant food and (7) ____ tourism. A spokesperson said: "French gastronomy represents 13.5 per cent of foreign tourists' (8) ____. It is undeniable that if we add value to the quality of our restaurants, it will have an impact (9) ____ tourism." He added that the government wants to, "reign (10) ____ the amount of processed foods used and preserve France's high gastronomical standing". A poll conducted last year found that only around half of restaurant meals were cooked from (11) ____ on the premises. The French Union of Hotel Skills and Industries believe that around 85 per cent of restaurants secretly use frozen or (12) ____-packed food.

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

1.

(a)

pastries

(b)

confectionary

(c)

eateries

(d)

snacks

2.

(a)

simple

(b)

sample

(c)

sampled

(d)

shrimp

3.

(a)

eating

(b)

imbibing

(c)

snacking

(d)

grazing

4.

(a)

compulsory

(b)

compulsive

(c)

compulsion

(d)

compassionate

5.

(a)

excess

(b)

expect

(c)

expat

(d)

except

6.

(a)

five

(b)

file

(c)

fire

(d)

fine

7.

(a)

baste

(b)

boast

(c)

boost

(d)

beast

8.

(a)

expunges

(b)

expanses

(c)

expanders

(d)

expenses

9.

(a)

on

(b)

in

(c)

of

(d)

off

10.

(a)

in

(b)

up

(c)

off

(d)

down

11.

(a)

itch

(b)

scratch

(c)

patch

(d)

clutch

12.

(a)

suction

(b)

hoover

(c)

vacuum

(d)

void

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

a new logo on menus to fonmir customers

2.

it will be lysocroump

3.

minptscaol about the quality of food

4.

the home of fine diginn

5.

ioomntrcsag delights

6.

French euiicsn

Paragraph 2

7.

The new slbyom

8.

eprersesnt 13.5 per cent of foreign tourists

9.

It is launiedenb

10.

sopserdec foods

11.

cooked from scratch on the serpsiem

12.

umuacv-packed food

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

tourism. A spokesperson said: "French gastronomy represents 13.5 per cent of foreign tourists'

(    )

using the sign from July the 15th and it will be compulsory for eateries from January. The move

(    )

or not their food is home-made. France's government has come up with a simple sign so that both French people

(    )

quality food when dining in France. The country is, after all, supposed to be the home of fine dining and gastronomic

(    )

comes after complaints about the quality of food being served in French restaurants. Many customers expect top-

(    )

on tourism." He added that the government wants to, "reign in the amount of processed foods used and preserve France's

(    )

The new symbol is an attempt by the French government to improve the quality of restaurant food and boost

(    )

high gastronomical standing". A poll conducted last year found that only around

(    )

and tourists will have a better idea of what they are eating. Restaurants could start

(    )

expenses. It is undeniable that if we add value to the quality of our restaurants, it will have an impact

1  )

French restaurants and eateries will soon have to put a new logo on menus to inform customers whether

(    )

that around 85 per cent of restaurants secretly use frozen or vacuum-packed food.

(    )

half of restaurant meals were cooked from scratch on the premises. The French Union of Hotel Skills and Industries believe

(    )

delights. French cuisine is world famous for its rich history, taste and presentation.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

to    have    soon   will    Eateries    menus   on    logo    new    a    put.

2.

their   not   or   whether   customers   Inform    home-made  - is   food.

3.

will    Tourists    eating    are    they   what   of   idea   better   a   have.

4.

about     food     Complaints     of     quality     served     the     being.    

5.

history     cuisine     famous     rich     French     world     its     is     for.    

6.

and    quality    food    tourism    the   restaurant   boost   Improve   of.

7.

quality     Add     of     value     our     to     restaurants     the.    

8.

used     amount     of     Reign     processed     in     foods     the.    

9.

cooked     of     from     restaurant     scratch     meals     were     Half.    

10.

use     vacuum     food   secretly   or   packed   Restaurants   frozen   -.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

French restaurants and eateries will soon / soonish have to put a new logo on menus to inform customers whether or not their food was / is home-made. France's government has come down / up with a simple sign so that both French people and tourists / tourism will have a better idea of what they are eating. Restaurants could start usage / using the sign from July the 15th and it will be compulsion / compulsory for eateries from January. The move comes after complaints / compliant about the quality of food being served in French restaurants. Many customers expect / extract top-quality food when dining in France. The country is, after every / all, supposed to be the home of fine dining and gastronomic delights. French cuisine is world famous for its rich / richly history, taste and presentation.

The new symbol is an attempt / attempting by the French government to improve the quality of restaurant food and boost tourists / tourism. A spokesperson said: "French gastronomy represents 13.5 per cent of foreign tourists' expanses / expenses. It is undeniable / unenviable that if we add value to the quality of our restaurants, it will have an impasse / impact on tourism." He added that the government wants to, "rain / reign in the amount of processed foods used and conserve / preserve France's high gastronomical standing". A poll contracted / conducted last year found that only around half of restaurant meals were cooked from scratching / scratch on the premises. The French Union of Hotel Skills and Industries believe that around 85 per cent of restaurants secretly / secretion use frozen or vacuum-packed food.

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)

Fr_nch r_st__r_nts _nd __t_r__s w_ll s__n h_v_ t_ p_t _ n_w l_g_ _n m_n_s t_ _nf_rm c_st_m_rs wh_th_r _r n_t th__r f__d _s h_m_-m_d_. Fr_nc_'s g_v_rnm_nt h_s c_m_ _p w_th _ s_mpl_ s_gn s_ th_t b_th Fr_nch p__pl_ _nd t__r_sts w_ll h_v_ _ b_tt_r _d__ _f wh_t th_y _r_ __t_ng. R_st__r_nts c__ld st_rt _s_ng th_ s_gn fr_m J_ly th_ 15th _nd _t w_ll b_ c_mp_ls_ry f_r __t_r__s fr_m J_n__ry. Th_ m_v_ c_m_s _ft_r c_mpl__nts _b__t th_ q__l_ty _f f__d b__ng s_rv_d _n Fr_nch r_st__r_nts. M_ny c_st_m_rs _xp_ct t_p-q__l_ty f__d wh_n d_n_ng _n Fr_nc_. Th_ c__ntry _s, _ft_r _ll, s_pp_s_d t_ b_ th_ h_m_ _f f_n_ d_n_ng _nd g_str_n_m_c d_l_ghts. Fr_nch c__s_n_ _s w_rld f_m__s f_r _ts r_ch h_st_ry, t_st_ _nd pr_s_nt_t__n.

Th_ n_w symb_l _s _n _tt_mpt by th_ Fr_nch g_v_rnm_nt t_ _mpr_v_ th_ q__l_ty _f r_st__r_nt f__d _nd b__st t__r_sm. _ sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d: "Fr_nch g_str_n_my r_pr_s_nts 13.5 p_r c_nt _f f_r__gn t__r_sts' _xp_ns_s. _t _s _nd_n__bl_ th_t _f w_ _dd v_l__ t_ th_ q__l_ty _f __r r_st__r_nts, _t w_ll h_v_ _n _mp_ct _n t__r_sm." H_ _dd_d th_t th_ g_v_rnm_nt w_nts t_, "r__gn _n th_ _m__nt _f pr_c_ss_d f__ds _s_d _nd pr_s_rv_ Fr_nc_'s h_gh g_str_n_m_c_l st_nd_ng". _ p_ll c_nd_ct_d l_st y__r f__nd th_t _nly _r__nd h_lf _f r_st__r_nt m__ls w_r_ c__k_d fr_m scr_tch _n th_ pr_m_s_s. Th_ Fr_nch _n__n _f H_t_l Sk_lls _nd _nd_str__s b_l__v_ th_t _r__nd 85 p_r c_nt _f r_st__r_nts s_cr_tly _s_ fr_z_n _r v_c__m-p_ck_d f__d.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

french restaurants and eateries will soon have to put a new logo on menus to inform customers whether or not their food is home-made france's government has come up with a simple sign so that both french people and tourists will have a better idea of what they are eating restaurants could start using the sign from july the 15th and it will be compulsory for eateries from january the move comes after complaints about the quality of food being served in french restaurants many customers expect top-quality food when dining in france the country is after all supposed to be the home of fine dining and gastronomic delights french cuisine is world famous for its rich history taste and presentation

the new symbol is an attempt by the french government to improve the quality of restaurant food and boost tourism a spokesperson said "french gastronomy represents 135 per cent of foreign tourists' expenses it is undeniable that if we add value to the quality of our restaurants it will have an impact on tourism" he added that the government wants to "reign in the amount of processed foods used and preserve france's high gastronomical standing" a poll conducted last year found that only around half of restaurant meals were cooked from scratch on the premises the french union of hotel skills and industries believe that around 85 per cent of restaurants secretly use frozen or vacuum-packed food

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Frenchrestaurantsandeaterieswillsoonhavetoputanewlogoonmenustoinfor
mcustomerswhetherornottheirfoodishome-made.France'sgovernm
enthascomeupwithasimplesignsothatbothFrenchpeopleandtouristswillhave
abetterideaofwhattheyareeating.RestaurantscouldstartusingthesignfromJ
ulythe15thanditwillbecompulsoryforeateriesfromJanuary.Themovecomesa
ftercomplaintsaboutthequalityoffoodbeingservedinFrenchrestaurants.Man
ycustomersexpecttop-qualityfoodwhendininginFrance.Thecountryis,aft
erall,supposedtobethehomeoffinediningandgastronomicdelights.Frenchcui
sineisworldfamousforitsrichhistory,tasteandpresentation.Thenewsymbolis
anattemptbytheFrenchgovernmenttoimprovethequalityofrestaurantfoodan
dboosttourism.Aspokespersonsaid:"Frenchgastronomyrepresents13.5perc
entofforeigntourists'expenses.Itisundeniablethatifweaddvaluetothequality
ofourrestaurants,itwillhaveanimpactontourism."Headdedthatthegovernme
ntwantsto,"reignintheamountofprocessedfoodsusedandpreserveFrance'shi
ghgastronomicalstanding".Apollconductedlastyearfoundthatonlyaroundhal
fofrestaurantmealswerecookedfromscratchonthepremises.TheFrenchUnio
nofHotelSkillsandIndustriesbelievethataround85percentofrestaurantssecr
etlyusefrozenorvacuum-packedfood.

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Compare and contrast restaurant food and home cooking. Which is best? Why?

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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 French food. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. HOME-MADE: Write a magazine article about home-made food in restaurants. Include imaginary interviews with people who think it is necessary and those who don't.

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 restaurant owner. Ask him/her three questions about home-made food. Give him/her three of your opinions on the use of fresh and processed food in restaurants. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

logo

a.

symbol

2.

inform

b.

notify

3.

come up with

c.

devised

4.

compulsory

d.

mandatory

5.

fine

e.

first-class

6.

attempt

f.

endeavour

7.

boost

g.

spur

8.

undeniable

h.

indisputable

9.

standing

i.

status

10.

premises

j.

building

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Whether or not it is home-made

2.

15th July

3.

January

4.

Top-quality food

5.

Presentation

6.

Tourism

7.

13.5%

8.

The amount of processed food used

9.

Around half

10.

Around 85%

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

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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