4 Discussing food
In this chapter, you will learn about:
-
- Understanding Conversational English
- Describing food in English
- Using contracted speech in English
“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are.”
– Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
Discussion Questions:
Read the quotation above. What does this quotation mean?
-
- Do you agree with this statement?
- What are your favorite foods? What do these foods say about you as a person?
Chapter 4 Vocabulary
Part 1:
Directions: Use your dictionary to find the meaning for the vocabulary words in the box. Then write the words from the box next to their definitions below.
- A series of actions that produce something:
- How good or bad something is: quality:
- Something special or particular:
- To say that something should be chosen:
- Relating to a whole country or nation:
- To become bigger in amount or number:
- Involving two or more countries:
- To permit someone to have or do something:
- Something that is made to be sold:
- To stay away from something or someone:
Part 2: Syllables
Directions: Listen to the pronunciation of the vocabulary words. Write the number of syllables that you hear in each word. The first word has been done for you.
Activity 2 Part 1
Directions: Read the paragraph and fill in the missing words with the chapter 4 vocabulary words. Some words might be used more than one time. You may need to change the form of the words. You will not use one of the words.
process increase product allow suggest national quality
international specific avoid
before it arrives in the grocery store. Some like milk are produced 
, meaning in the United States. However, some products are 
and are imported from other countries. Let’s look at some examples. Most beef in the United States is produced nationally. For this reason, the 
of beef is good in the United States. It is fresh. However, some fruits, like mangos or coconuts are not grown in the U.S. They are shipped to the U.S. from other countries. Some people 
eating foods that are not local. It is a good idea, but sometimes, this 
the price of some foods. Some shoppers 
themselves to buy international
once in a while, but not often. Other shoppers don’t care and buy whatever is the cheapest. In the U.S., you can find almost any product. Next time, think about where something came from when you buy it! Look for the sticker on the label.Activity 2 Part 2
Listen and check your answers to the exercise on the page before. Then listen again and answer the questions below. Discuss with a partner.
Part A: Listening for details
- What kind of food does the speaker say is produced in the U.S.?
- What are the two examples of foods that are imported from other countries?
- Why do some people avoid buying products from outside of the U.S.?
Part B: Discussion
- Answer the questions below then compare with a partner.
- What are three foods produced locally in your country?
- What are some common foods that your country imports from other countries?
- What is your favorite food from another country?
Speaking Activity: Food Habits and Likes
Directions: Find a classmate who has says “yes” to the questions below. If they say “yes”, write their name. If they say “no”, ask a different classmate.
Question:
Classmate’s name who says “yes”
- Do you like green tea?
- Do you cook really well?
- Do you love American food?
- Do you like sushi?
- Do you like falafel?
- Do you know a lot of restaurants in Portland?
- Do you like vegetables?
- Do you like to drink milk?
- Do you like pineapple on your pizza?
- Do you like salad?
- Do you drink more than 8 glasses of water per day?
- Can you make delicious pasta?
- Do you like chocolate?
- Are you on a diet?
- Do you drink coffee every day?
Homework Survey: Eating Out
Directions: Ask 5 Americans or strong users of English the questions below. Listen and write their answers.
Use conversation strategies to ask follow up questions and show interest.
And remember to thank the people after you interview them.
- What is one of your favorite local restaurants?
- What kind of food do they have?
- What do you usually order?
- How often do you eat at restaurants?
- What is one of your favorite local restaurants?
- What kind of food do they have?
- What do you usually order?
- How often do you eat at restaurants?
- What is one of your favorite local restaurants?
- What kind of food do they have?
- What do you usually order?
- How often do you eat at restaurants?
- What is one of your favorite local restaurants?
- What kind of food do they have?
- What do you usually order?
- How often do you eat at restaurants?
- What is one of your favorite local restaurants?
- What kind of food do they have?
- What do you usually order?
- How often do you eat at restaurants?
Adjectives Used to Describe Food
Watch this presentation and study the vocabulary below to learn about describing food.
It is described
It tastes / smells / looks / feels vocabulary word
Taste or flavor
- Good/Delicious
- Sweet /Salty
- Sour/Spicy
- Stale/Fresh
- Fishy/Fruity
Look
- Fresh/Delicious
- Tasty/Bad
Smell
- Good/Amazing
- Strong/ Bad
Texture or feel
- Hot/Cold
- Crunchy/Smooth
- Chewy/Crispy
- Fried/Creamy
- How do you think the food in this picture smells? How does it taste? How does it look?
- Have you eaten food like this before? Where does it come from?
Listening Homework Practice Quizzes
Directions: Click on the links below to listen to the audio files about food. Listen two or three times until you understand most of the speaking. Then answer the questions on the forms.
Practicing Fluency: Talking about food
Directions: Talk about the questions below with your classmates. Keep the conversation going with continuing questions and phrases like “Why” or “Tell me more”.
1. Who buys the groceries in your family?
2. How often do you skip breakfast?
3. Do you avoid eating foods with a lot of calories?
4. What is your favorite fruit to eat?
5. What kind of products do you always buy for your kitchen?
6. Do you prefer coffee or tea in the morning?
7. What is the most famous national food in your country?
8. Can you suggest a good restaurant?
9. Do you think the quality of food is good in America?
10. Do you like to try new international foods?
11. What is your favorite kind of desert?
12. Is it OK to gain weight in your culture?
13. How can you increase the number of fruits and vegetables that you eat?
14. Do you like a specific food for breakfast?
15. What was the last food you cooked for yourself
Speaking and Listening Tip: Reduced speech
Reduced speech is used when people are talking quickly or informally. Study and listen to the examples below then practice reading the conversation at the bottom.
Some common examples of reduced speech
Unreduced language/Reduced Speech
- Can you= Kanya
- Give me = Gimme
- I have to = I hafta
- I’ve got to = I gotta
- Could you = Couldja
- A lot of = A lotta
- Are you = Arya
- Going to = Gonna
- Want to = Wanna
- How about you? = How bouchu?
- Do you want to? = D’ya wanna?
- See you soon! = Seeya soon!
Unreduced speech:
A: Hey! Want to go to a restaurant later?
B: No, I can’t! I’m going to go to the party. Are you going to go?
A: Yes, but I have to pick up a lot of snacks on the way.
B: No problem. Do you want to stop by the mall too? I’ve got to buy a birthday present. How about you?
A: Perfect! I want to buy one too. Could you call me when you’re close to my house?
B: Sure! See you soon!
Reduced speech:
A: Hey! Wanna go to a restaurant later?
B: No, I can’t! I’m gonna go to the party? Arya gonna go?
A: Yes, but I have to pick up a lotta snacks on the way.
B: No problem. D’ya wanna stop by the mall too? I’ve gotta buy a birthday present. How bouchu?
A: Perfect! I wanna buy one too. Couldja call me when you’re close to my house?
B: Sure! See ya soon!
Grammar Tip: Contractions
Contractions are two words joined together by an apostrophe (’). They are used in casual or informal speaking and writing.
Some common examples of contradictions
- I am = I’m
- He is = He’s
- She is = She’s
- We are = we’re
- I have = I’ve
- You have=You’ve
- We have = we’ve
- Will not = won’t
- Should not = shouldn’t
- Is not = isn’t
- We’re not = weren’t
- Cannot = Can’t
- Do not = don’t
- I will = I’ll
Practice: Listening for contractions
Directions: Listen to the conversations. Write in the missing contractions that you hear.
Conversation 1
Do you know how to make lasagna?
No, I .
Can you teach me?
No, I . I know how either.
Conversation 2
Hi, is Bob home?
No, he .
OK. Is Sheila?
No, she .
Conversation 3
Hey, going to the cafe. Want to come?
No, I . got some things to do.
Ok. We be there long. call you later.
Ok!
Discussion Activity: What will you buy?
You are grocery shopping with your family. Your shopping list is written below.
However, you only have $50.00 to spend! What will you buy? What will you have to cross off your list?
Directions:
With your group, calculate how much it will cost to buy everything on your list.
Write that number .
Next, talk with your group to cross items off your list, so that you will spend $50.00 or less.
Cross off the items you will not buy.
Write your final total for your grocery trip here: $
- 2 bags of chips at $3.00 each
- 2 quarts of milk at $ 4.00 each
- 2 loaves of bread at $3.50 each
- 1 bag of carrots at $3.00
- 1 bag of 6 apples at $4.00
- 1 pound of cheese at $6.00 per pound
- 3 lemons at $. 99
- 3 onions at $1.00 each
- 2 pounds of chicken at $3. 50 per pound
- 1 carton of eggs at $3.00
- 1 pound of rice at $4.00 per pound
- 1 pound of bananas at $2.00 per pound
- 1 quart of ice cream at $4.00
- 1 pound of fish at $13.00 per pound
Restaurant Review Field Trip
With your group, choose a Portland restaurant to go to that you have not visited. It must be a local restaurant, not a chain restaurant or a fast food restaurant.
Go to the restaurant and eat a meal. Be polite and remember to pay a tip at the end (15-20% of the total bill is common in the U.S.).
While you are there, take a photo of the food you order. Answer the questions below after you are finished eating.
What kind of food do they have?
What did you order?
How did the food taste? Describe it using adjectives.
How many stars would you give the food? 12345
How was the service? Describe it using adjectives.
How much did your meal cost?
Would you recommend this restaurant to a friend? Why?
Chapter 4 Review
In this chapter, you learned
- How to describe food using adjectives
- How to say and hear common reduced speech in English
- How to say and write contractions
Extra Listening Practice
- Mari talks about foods that she really loves to eat.
- Diana talks about food she loves and what she likes to put on it.
- Listen to how healthy these six people are when it comes to eating.
- Raphael talks about what he eats with his busy schedule.
- Katie and Gilda talk about the different foods that they hate.
