TEACH FOR SUCCESS! · LESSON PLAN (teacher)
FOOD, COOKING & CULTURE
Food, Cooking & Culture · CEFR B1–B2 · 65 min
Upper-intermediate65 min · 55-min trimTeacher talk < 1/3
Why this lesson
We all eat every day, but food is much more than just eating. It connects us to family, memories, and the place we come from.
MY NOTE — personal reminders and in-the-moment cuesThis is the upper-intermediate edition. Vocabulary and prompts are simpler than the advanced version; it’s anticipated that students will speak more freely when the language load is lighter, so plan to step back and let pairs run.
1Warm-up: scan the survey5 minTTT low
Hand out (or display) the opinion survey. Students read the statements quietly and tick their first reactions. No talking yet — this primes the topic and the target vocabulary.
MY NOTE — personal reminders and in-the-moment cuesIt’s anticipated that a few words will be new here; that’s fine. Tell students they will learn them next, so they should just guess for now.
2Vocabulary input (two sets)10 minTTT med
Set 1 — core words:
ingredientnoun
one of the foods you use to make a dish
dishnoun
a type of prepared food, like soup or rice
recipenoun
instructions for cooking something
flavournoun
the taste of food (sweet, salty, spicy)
freshadj
just made or picked, not old
traditionaladj
done the same way for a long time
Set 2 — build on it:
homemadeadj
made at home, not bought in a shop
spicyadj
food with strong, hot flavour like chilli
localadj
from the area where you live
popularadj
liked by many people
healthyadj
good for your body
modernadj
new, of the present time
MY NOTE — personal reminders and in-the-moment cuesStudents will likely already know one or two of these. Drill only the trickier items chorally, then move on — don’t over-explain easy words.
3Video / input stimulus8 minTTT low
A short clip of a busy local market or a family cooking a meal together. Play it twice. First time: just watch. Second time: students note one thing they see and one thing they feel.
No video? Read-aloud fallback
Read aloud: “Every family has one dish that means home. For some it is a simple soup. For others it is a special meal they only eat once a year. When we cook these dishes, we keep our memories and our culture alive.”
4Pair discussion + Interaction Toolkit10 minTTT low
Pairs discuss the questions below. The toolkit gives them ready phrases so they keep talking instead of stopping to translate.
- What food did you often eat when you were a child?
- What is a typical dish from your country or region?
- Do you prefer cooking at home or eating in a restaurant? Why?
- Is there a food you did not like before but enjoy now?
MY NOTE — personal reminders and in-the-moment cuesIt’s anticipated that early finishers will go quiet. Have a follow-up ready: ‘Tell me one more reason.’ Circulate and collect errors for the next phase.
5Language Clinic 15 minTTT med
Anticipated focus: comparatives for taste and preference (sweeter, spicier, more popular than). It’s likely that students will reach for ‘more better’ — a quick board correction should help.
Put 3–4 real student sentences on the board (no names). The class fixes them together.
6Jigsaw: different points of view10 minTTT low
Question for the group: Should we keep traditional food the same, or is it good to change it?
Give each student one role card. They read it, then explain that person’s opinion to the group in their own words.
A CHEFI love mixing old recipes with new ideas to make exciting dishes.
A GRANDPARENTTraditional food connects us to our family. We should not change it.
A STUDENTI enjoy fast food and food from other countries. Variety is good.
A FARMERI want people to buy fresh, local ingredients, not food from far away.
7Likert debate8 minTTT low
Read each statement. Students move or raise hands to show agree / not sure / disagree, then defend their choice with one reason.
Home-cooked food is always healthier than restaurant food.
Fast food is bad for our culture.
Traditional recipes should never change.
Cooking is a skill everyone should learn.
Food from your own country is the best food in the world.
8Language Clinic 24 minTTT med
Anticipated focus: countable vs uncountable food words (a recipe / some rice, an ingredient / some flour). Students will probably need a reminder that ‘food’ is usually uncountable.
9Output task (choose one)7 minTTT low
Choose ONE way to share your ideas about food:
- Write a simple recipe for a dish you like (5–6 steps).
- Describe your favourite dish: what is in it, and why you love it.
- Plan a small menu for visitors who come to your area for the first time.
MY NOTE — personal reminders and in-the-moment cuesFor the 55-minute trim: set the output task as homework and end after the debate.
10One-word close2 minTTT low
Go round the room: Say one word that describes your favourite food. No explaining — just one word each.