business socialising/ English for Japanese learners/ food and drink
Market Leader Pre-Intermediate Unit 6
Describing Japanese food to a guest
Roleplay a restaurant conversation between you and a foreign guest who is visiting Japan and has never been here before. Try to explain the following foods to them and recommend which ones they would and wouldn’t like. When the meal finishes, the guests should tell the class which of the foods that they were recommended they enjoyed most and why.
A
Sashimi
Sushi
Tako yaki
Ebi tempura
Chirashi
B
Tsukimi udon
Yaki soba
Miso ramen
C
Teriyaki
Sukiyaki
Tonkatsu
Shabu shabu
D
Gyoza
Shumai
Nikuman
E
Tsukemono
Edamame
F
Anmitsu
G
Sake
Shochu
What are each of the sections above?
Label the sections above with these headings:
Side dishes/ Seafood/ Meat dishes/ Desserts/ Dumplings/ Drinks/ Noodles
Listen to your teacher saying some typical restaurant language when you take a guest out for dinner. Without looking below, decide if each line is said by a guest or by a host.
Decide if each section is said by the guest (G) or by the host (H).
A
That’s very kind, but I couldn’t eat another thing.
This looks like a nice place. Do you come here often?
B
Help yourself.
How’s your steak?
Shall I order another bottle?
It’s a bit like spaghetti.
C
Thanks for your hospitality.
What does this one taste like?
Thank you. That was delicious.
Do you know where the bathroom is?
D
I think you’d like this one.
Do you like spicy food?
Do you have any allergies?
E
Is Japanese food popular in your country?
You can use chopsticks very well.
Can you eat raw fish?
One of the sections above is actually full of things you shouldn’t say. Which section do you think it is?
Brainstorm more suitable language.
Test each other in pairs:
- play the same guessing who is speaking game
- say a phrase and see if your partner can respond
- say a phrase, listen to your partner’s response, then roleplay the rest of the conversation
- roleplay a whole conversation twice, the first time with the phrases above to help
Do the related textbook exercises.
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Related pages
English for Japanese learners page
Teaching Social English: Interactive Classroom Activities Second Edition
