INTRODUCE
Japanese food is known for its high quality, but this reputation has a downside. Because consumers only want food of the best quality, food that is a bit older but still edible often goes to waste.
PRESENT
STEP A EXPRESSIONS
Go over the first two expressions with your tutor and answer the questions. Then, guess the meaning of the third expression based on the clues provided.
1. The best-by date refers to the date by which you should eat something for the best quality, while the expiration date refers to the date after which it should NOT be eaten.
This looks good. Let’s buy this!
Look at the label. The expiration date is February 28th. That’s tomorrow!
Q: Do you always check the expiration date when you buy food?
2. To discard means to throw away something that is no longer useful or wanted.
You’ve lost so much weight!
I know, right? It felt so good to discard my old clothes.
Q: What items did you recently discard?
3. _____________ ______.
Excuse me, do you have other bananas? These are all blemished.
Oh, I’m sorry for the black spots. I assure you they still taste fine, though.
Q: What do you think blemished means?
STEP B SPEAK YOUR MIND
Sometimes you want to make it clear that something is not supported by facts.
Dina said Aaron is cheating on me. I think she’s right.
There’s no reason to believe that. She didn’t show you any proof.
UNDERSTAND
SPEAKING
Risa is grocery shopping with her Canadian friend, Alyssa, who just moved to Kyoto.
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- Alyssa:
Wow, jackpot! Look at all the discounted food! Hurry up, grab some!
- Risa:
(laughs) There’s no reason to hurry. I don’t think many people want to buy this stuff.
- Alyssa:
Why? I mean, what’s wrong with this curry sauce? It looks fine to me.
- Risa:
Find out for yourself. Check the date on the package.
- Alyssa:
Well, yeah, the best-by date is tomorrow, but it should still be fine to eat next week. Don’t worry!
- Risa:
Most people here don’t want to eat something past the best-by date. Also, some people like my mom confuse the best-by date with the expiration date.
- Alyssa:
I agree that the food might not taste the best after that date, but it’s not like it turns to poison or anything – if it did, I would’ve died a long time ago. (laughs)
- Risa:
True, true.
- Alyssa:
Look at these apples! Are they seriously only 50 yen because they’re blemished?
- Risa:
Yup! People don’t want to eat imperfect fruit. Also, sometimes it looks like it’s just a bit blemished on the surface, but the whole inside is rotten.
- Alyssa:
Yeah, that happened to me before. It looked like it was just a small spot, but when I cut into it, it was totally rotten. But it’s okay – I’m willing to gamble 50 yen. (laughs) Can you grab me some of those lemons too?
- Risa:
Sure! How many do you want?
- Alyssa:
All of them! If they’re just going to be discarded soon, I might as well buy them all!
- Risa:
I hope you have a good recipe for lemon meringue pie!
TRIVIA
Did you know that the phrase don’t mind (ドンマイ) is actually Japanese English? The correct phrase is don’t worry. Native speakers will say I don’t mind to express that something doesn’t bother them, but they never use it as a command.
PRACTICE
Are the underlined expressions used correctly? If not, correct the sentences.
1. The best-by date was three days ago. The crackers aren’t safe to eat anymore.
2. I’ve discarded all the important documents that I need.
3. Yuka bought the pears even though they were blemished.
4. No wonder this milk tastes sour! The expiration date was June 1! That was two weeks ago.
5. Patricia gathered up all the discarded empty bottles that were left on the street after the party.
CHALLENGE
Challenge 1
Your foreign friend sends a lot of money home every month to pay for his/her school loans. He/She doesn’t have a lot of money and is struggling to buy healthy food. Give your friend advice about where he/she can buy discounted food.
Today's Expressions
- the best-by/expiration date
- discard
- blemished
Speak Your Mind
- There’s no reason to believe that…
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Challenge 2
What do you think? What does your tutor think? Discuss.
If TimeAllows
1 FOOD WASTE |
2 DISCOUNTED ITEMS |
|---|---|
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1 FOOD WASTE
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2DISCOUNTED ITEMS
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FEEDBACK
I can talk about food waste.
LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT
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4
Very GoodCould complete the task with ease
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3
GoodCould complete the task with some clarifications
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2
FairCould complete the task with additional instructions
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1
PoorCould somehow complete the task with difficulty
PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK
- RANGE
the ability to use a wide variety of vocabulary - ACCURACY
the ability to speak correctly - FLUENCY
the ability to speak smoothly without pauses or fillers - COHERENCE
the ability to speak logically and at length
