Breaking News English Lesson: Sushi Pranksters

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Pranksters target Japan's sushi restaurants (6th February 2023)

The Reading / Listening - Sushi Pranksters - Level 6

Pranksters in Japan are posing potential health issues and harming the reputation of the country's famed conveyor-belt sushi restaurants. This week, several diners have posted prank videos on social media. The pranks include people licking bottles of soy sauce and chopsticks, and licking their fingers and then touching the sushi on the revolving belt. These actions have shocked people in Japan. The actions have been dubbed "sushi-tero," or "sushi terrorism". The incidents have caused the share prices of a leading sushi chain to plummet. Many restaurants have sprung into action and taken measures to combat the pranksters. These include installing security cameras and providing disinfected eating utensils.

Japan's "kaitenzushi" restaurants are ubiquitous in Japan. They offer good quality, inexpensive sushi in an informal, casual environment. They are usually spotlessly clean. Some industry analysts are saying sushi terrorism poses a threat to the future operations of the eateries. One egregious video clip has been viewed 40 million times and has sparked copycat clips. The chain targeted by the prankster is filing a civil lawsuit against him and is claiming compensation for damages. The Guardian newspaper reported that there is a lot of outrage on social media from Japanese people, who believe the pranksters are showing "contempt for the country's high standards of hygiene".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Sushi Pranksters - Level 4 or Sushi Pranksters - Level 5

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/03/wave-of-sushi-terrorism-grips-japans-restaurant-world
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230201/p2g/00m/0na/039000c
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2023/02/02/digital/sushi-terrorism-tiktok-instagram-trends/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. SUSHI: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about sushi. 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?
prankster / health issues / reputation / diners / soy sauce / share prices / utensils /
restaurants / analysts / terrorism / video clip / lawsuit / compensation / hygiene
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CONVEYOR RESTAURANTS: Students A strongly believe conveyor restaurants are better than table service restaurants; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. RESTAURANTS: What are the pros and cons of these restaurants? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Pros	Cons
Conveyor sushi
Cafes
Pizzerias
Fast food
Gourmet dining
Bistro

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. 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.
6. SUSHI TOPPINGS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best sushi toppings at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Tuna
Avocado
Omelet
Hamburger
Eggplant / Aubergine
Natto
Seaweed
Wagyu beef

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	prankster	a.	A person fond of playing tricks.
2.	posing	b.	Fall or drop straight down at high speed.
3.	reputation	c.	Presenting or constituting a problem or danger.
4.	famed	d.	Give an unofficial name or nickname to.
5.	dubbed	e.	The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something.
6.	plummet	f.	Known about by many people; renowned.
7.	utensil	g.	A tool, container, or other article, especially for household use.

Paragraph 2

8.	ubiquitous	h.	Something (usually money) awarded to someone in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury.
9.	eatery	i.	A claim or dispute brought to a law court for judgment.
10.	egregious	j.	Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
11.	lawsuit	k.	A sum of money claimed by or awarded to someone for a loss or an injury.
12.	compensation	l.	A restaurant or cafe.
13.	damages	m.	The feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.
14.	contempt	n.	Outstandingly bad; shocking.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

Pranksters in Japan have harmed the reputation of sushi restaurants. T / F
Diners posted videos of themselves licking ketchup and mayonnaise. T / F
The share prices of a sushi chain nosedived because of the videos. T / F
Restaurants are requiring diners to bring their own eating utensils. T / F
Japan's "kaitenzushi" restaurants are very expensive. T / F
A video posted by a prankster has been viewed 40 million times. T / F
A sushi chain is suing a prankster for damages. T / F
A newspaper reports there is little anger among Japanese people. T / F

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

posing
reputation
pranks
plummet
utensils
ubiquitous
egregious
incidents
outrage
hygiene

equipment
tricks
cleanliness
everywhere
occurrences
presenting
anger
nosedive
image
shocking

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

Pranksters in Japan are posing
harming the
The actions have been dubbed
restaurants have sprung
disinfected eating
restaurants are ubiquitous
Some industry
filing a civil
claiming compensation
the country's high

lawsuit
into action
utensils
analysts
"sushi-tero"
standards of hygiene
potential health issues
for damages
reputation of
in Japan

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

pranks
combat
dubbed
utensils
famed
plummet
posing
licking

Pranksters in Japan are (1) _____________________ potential health issues and harming the reputation of the country's (2) _____________________ conveyor-belt sushi restaurants. This week, several diners have posted prank videos on social media. The (3) _____________________ include people licking bottles of soy sauce and chopsticks, and (4) _____________________ their fingers and then touching the sushi on the revolving belt. These actions have shocked people in Japan. The actions have been (5) _____________________ "sushi-tero," or "sushi terrorism". The incidents have caused the share prices of a leading sushi chain to (6) _____________________. Many restaurants have sprung into action and taken measures to (7) _____________________ the pranksters. These include installing security cameras and providing disinfected eating (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

outrage
spotlessly
hygiene
suit
threat
damages
ubiquitous
clips

Japan's "kaitenzushi" restaurants are (9) _____________________ in Japan. They offer good quality, inexpensive sushi in an informal, casual environment. They are usually (10) _____________________ clean. Some industry analysts are saying sushi terrorism poses a (11) _____________________ to the future operations of the eateries. One egregious video clip has been viewed 40 million times and has sparked copycat (12) _____________________. The chain targeted by the prankster is filing a civil law (13) _____________________ against him and is claiming compensation for (14) _____________________. The Guardian newspaper reported that there is a lot of (15) _____________________ on social media from Japanese people, who believe the pranksters are showing "contempt for the country's high standards of (16) _____________________".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Pranksters in Japan are posing potential health issues and ______
     a. harming the reputational
     b. hamming the reputation
     c. harming the reputation
     d. harming a reputation
2) licking their fingers and then touching the sushi on ______
     a. the revolving belt
     b. the revolting belt
     c. the evolving belt
     d. the revolve in belt
3) The incidents have caused the share prices of a leading sushi ______
     a. chain to plum it
     b. chain to plummet
     c. chain to plum mitt
     d. chain to plan it
4) Many restaurants have sprung into action and taken measures to ______
     a. con back the pranksters
     b. con bat the pranksters
     c. combative the pranksters
     d. combat the pranksters
5) These include installing security cameras and providing ______
     a. disinfect it eating utensils
     b. disinfect din eating utensils
     c. disinfect tide eating utensils
     d. disinfected eating utensils

6) Japan's "kaitenzushi" restaurants are ______
     a. ubiquity in Japan
     b. ubiquitously in Japan
     c. you backed with us in Japan
     d. ubiquitous in Japan
7) informal, casual environment. They are ______
     a. usual spotlessly clean
     b. usually spot lassie clean
     c. usually spotlessly cleaner
     d. usually spotlessly clean
8) Some industry analysts are saying sushi terrorism ______
     a. poses a throat
     b. poses a treat
     c. poses a threat
     d. poses a thread
9) The chain targeted by the prankster is filing a ______
     a. civil lawsuit
     b. civil law suite
     c. civil law sweet
     d. civil laws soot
10) Japanese people who believe the pranksters ______
     a. are shown contempt
     b. are showering contempt
     c. are showing contempt
     d. are show wing contempt

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Pranksters in Japan (1) ____________________ health issues and harming the reputation of the country's famed conveyor-belt sushi restaurants. This week, (2) ____________________ posted prank videos on social media. The pranks include people licking bottles of soy sauce and chopsticks, and licking their fingers and then touching the sushi on (3) ____________________. These actions have shocked people in Japan. The actions have been dubbed "sushi-tero," or "sushi terrorism". The incidents have caused the share prices of a leading sushi (4) ____________________. Many restaurants have sprung into action and taken measures to (5) ____________________. These include installing security cameras and providing (6) ____________________.

Japan's "kaitenzushi" restaurants (7) ____________________ Japan. They offer good quality, inexpensive sushi in (8) ____________________ environment. They are usually spotlessly clean. Some industry analysts are saying sushi terrorism poses a threat to the future operations of the eateries. (9) ____________________ clip has been viewed 40 million times and has sparked copycat clips. The chain targeted by the prankster is filing a (10) ____________________ against him and is claiming compensation for damages. The Guardian newspaper reported that there is a lot (11) ____________________ social media from Japanese people, who believe the pranksters are showing "contempt for the country's high (12) ____________________".

Comprehension questions

What does the article say the prank videos are harming?
What are pranksters licking besides sushi, their fingers and chopsticks?
What have the actions in the videos being dubbed?
What does the article say plummeted as a result of the pranksters?
What are some restaurants doing to eating utensils?
How clean does the article say many sushi restaurants in Japan are?
What did some analysts say could be a threat to the sushi industry?
What is a sushi chain filing against a prankster?
What did Japanese people feel, according to a newspaper?
What do Japanese people say pranksters are showing contempt for?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say the prank videos are harming?
a) fish
b) sushi chefs
c) the reputation of sushi restaurants
d) the quality of sushi
2) What are pranksters licking besides sushi, their fingers and chopsticks?
a) soy sauce bottles
b) tuna
c) knives and forks
d) bottles of vinegar
3) What have the actions in the videos being dubbed?
a) atrocious
b) sushi terrorism
c) revolting belts
d) plummets
4) What does the article say plummeted as a result of the pranksters?
a) the popularity of sushi
b) tuna catches
c) sushi chains
d) share prices
5) What are some restaurants doing to eating utensils?
a) using disposable chopsticks
b) asking customers to bring their own
c) disinfecting them
d) locking them up

6) How clean does the article say many sushi restaurants in Japan are?
a) surgically clean
b) spotlessly clean
c) quite clean
d) amazingly clean
7) What did some analysts say could be a threat to the sushi industry?
a) hamburgers
b) climate change
c) melting icebergs
d) sushi terrorism
8) What is a sushi chain filing against a prankster?
a) a file
b) a lawsuit
c) papers
d) a nail
9) What did Japanese people feel, according to a newspaper?
a) hungry
b) outrage
c) cross
d) egregious
10) What do Japanese people say pranksters are showing contempt for?
a) Japan's hygiene standards
b) tuna
c) social media
d) newspapers

Role play

Role A – Tuna
You think tuna is the best sushi topping. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their toppings. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): avocado, seaweed or wagyu beef.

Role B – Avocado
You think avocado is the best sushi topping. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their toppings. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): tuna, seaweed or wagyu beef.

Role C – Seaweed
You think seaweed is the best sushi topping. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their toppings. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): avocado, tuna or wagyu beef.

Role D – Wagyu Beef
You think wagyu beef is the best sushi topping. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their toppings. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): avocado, seaweed or tuna.

After reading / listening

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

'sushi'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'restaurant'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

posing

several

fingers

dubbed

action

utensils

quality

usually

future

civil

outrage

high

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Sushi Pranksters

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'prankster'?
What do you think of sushi?
How often do you go to sushi restaurants?
What do you think of social media pranks?
What do you think of the idea of conveyor-belt restaurants?
What do you think of the term 'sushi terrorism'?
What makes a good sushi restaurant?
Should all restaurants have security cameras?
What advice do you have for the sushi restaurants?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'sushi'?
What do you think about what you read?
Do you prefer formal or informal restaurants?
What do you do when a restaurant isn't spotlessly clean?
How much compensation should the prankster pay the restaurant?
What kinds of videos do you watch on social media?
What are the best sushi toppings?
Do you worry about hygiene standards in restaurants?
What questions would you like to ask the sushi restaurants?

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

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

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

Pranksters in Japan are (1) ____ potential health issues and harming the reputation of the country's famed conveyor-belt sushi restaurants. This week, several (2) ____ have posted prank videos on social media. The pranks (3) ____ people licking bottles of soy sauce and chopsticks, and licking their fingers and then touching the sushi on the revolving belt. These actions have (4) ____ people in Japan. The actions have been dubbed "sushi-tero," or "sushi terrorism". The incidents have caused the share prices of a leading sushi chain to (5) ____. Many restaurants have sprung into action and taken (6) ____ to combat the pranksters. These include installing security cameras and providing disinfected eating utensils.

Japan's "kaitenzushi" restaurants are ubiquitous in Japan. They offer good quality, inexpensive sushi in an informal, (7) ____ environment. They are usually spotlessly clean. Some industry analysts are saying sushi terrorism poses a threat to the future operations of the (8) ____. One egregious video clip has been viewed 40 million times and has sparked copycat clips. The chain targeted (9) ____ the prankster is filing a civil law (10) ____ against him and is claiming compensation for damages. The Guardian newspaper reported that there is a lot of (11) ____ on social media from Japanese people, who believe the pranksters are showing "contempt (12) ____ the country's high standards of hygiene".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) posing (b) pasting (c) posting (d) parsing
(a) dinners (b) dines (c) diners (d) dins
(a) inclusive (b) includes (c) include (d) inclusion
(a) shocker (b) shocking (c) shock (d) shocked
(a) plummet (b) grommet (c) helmet (d) gourmet
(a) treasures (b) measures (c) assures (d) censures
(a) casualty (b) causal (c) causative (d) casual
(a) eats (b) eateries (c) eatables (d) eat-in
(a) of (b) at (c) by (d) in
(a) outfit (b) suit (c) costume (d) attire
(a) vintage (b) tongue (c) outage (d) outrage
(a) at (b) for (c) on (d) as

Spelling

Paragraph 1

posing tptiaonel health issues
harming the otiauterpn
the sushi on the eognlrvvi belt
The actions have been ddbueb "sushi-tero"
prices of a leading sushi chain to mutmlep
disinfected eating leunisst

Paragraph 2

restaurants are uquuiisobt in Japan
the future operations of the eetsiaer
One iusgeoegr video clip
claiming pnnosimoacet for damages
pranksters are showing onptctem
high standards of eighney

Put the text back together

(...) sushi restaurants. This week, several diners have posted prank videos on social media. The pranks include people licking
(...) bottles of soy sauce and chopsticks, and licking their fingers and then touching the
(...) 40 million times and has sparked copycat clips. The chain targeted by the prankster is filing a civil
(...) believe the pranksters are showing "contempt for the country's high standards of hygiene".
(...) a threat to the future operations of the eateries. One egregious video clip has been viewed
(...) casual environment. They are usually spotlessly clean. Some industry analysts are saying sushi terrorism poses
(...) "sushi-tero," or "sushi terrorism". The incidents have caused the share prices of a leading sushi
(...) combat the pranksters. These include installing security cameras and providing disinfected eating utensils.
(...) lawsuit against him and is claiming compensation for damages. The Guardian newspaper
(...) sushi on the revolving belt. These actions have shocked people in Japan. The actions have been dubbed
(...) reported that there is a lot of outrage on social media from Japanese people, who
(...) chain to plummet. Many restaurants have sprung into action and taken measures to
(...) Japan's "kaitenzushi" restaurants are ubiquitous in Japan. They offer good quality, inexpensive sushi in an informal,
( 1 ) Pranksters in Japan are posing potential health issues and harming the reputation of the country's famed conveyor-belt

Put the words in the right order

are   posing   Pranksters   Japan   health   potential   in   issues   .
famed   restaurants   .   the   The   country's   of   sushi   reputation
videos   posted   prank   have   Diners   on   social   media   .
then   sushi   .   touching   fingers   Licking   and   the   their
of   a   sushi   share   The   leading   prices   chain   .
threat   poses   terrorism   a   future   to   operations   .   Sushi
video   copycat   has   sparked   egregious   clips   .   One   clip
a   They're   filing   law   him   .   civil   against   suit
.       a      There      of      lot      is      on       outrage      social media
high   Contempt   standards   of   hygiene   .   country's   the   for

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Pranksters in Japan are posing / posting potential health issues and harming the deputation / reputation of the country's framed / famed conveyor-belt sushi restaurants. This week, several diners / dinners have posted prank videos on social media. The pranks include / inclusive people licking bottles of soy sauce and chopsticks, and licking their fingers and then touching the sushi on the revolving / revolution belt. These actions have shocked people in Japan. The actions have been daubed / dubbed "sushi-tero," or "sushi terrorism". The incidence / incidents have caused the share prices of a leading sushi chain to plummet. Many restaurants have sprang / sprung into action and taken measures / measurements to combat the pranksters. These include installing security cameras and providing disinfected eating utensils.

Japan's "kaitenzushi" restaurants are ubiquity / ubiquitous in Japan. They offer good quality / quantity, inexpensive sushi in an informal, causal / casual environment. They are usually spotlessly clean. Some industry analysts / analysis are saying sushi terrorism poses a threat to / at the future operations of the eateries. One egregious video clip has been viewed 40 million times and has sparked copycat clips. The chain targeted of / by the prankster is filing a civil lawsuit with / against him and is claiming compensation for damages / damaging. The Guardian newspaper reported that there is a lot of outage / outrage on social media from Japanese people, who believe the pranksters are showing "contempt of / for the country's high standards of hygiene".

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

Pr_nkst_rs _n J_p_n _r_ p_s_ng p_t_nt__l h__lth _ss__s _nd h_rm_ng th_ r_p_t_t__n _f th_ c__ntry's f_m_d c_nv_y_r-b_lt s_sh_ r_st__r_nts. Th_s w__k, s_v_r_l d_n_rs h_v_ p_st_d pr_nk v_d__s _n s_c__l m_d__. Th_ pr_nks _ncl_d_ p__pl_ l_ck_ng b_ttl_s _f s_y s__c_ _nd ch_pst_cks, _nd l_ck_ng th__r f_ng_rs _nd th_n t__ch_ng th_ s_sh_ _n th_ r_v_lv_ng b_lt. Th_s_ _ct__ns h_v_ sh_ck_d p__pl_ _n J_p_n. Th_ _ct__ns h_v_ b__n d_bb_d "s_sh_-t_r_," _r "s_sh_ t_rr_r_sm". Th_ _nc_d_nts h_v_ c__s_d th_ sh_r_ pr_c_s _f _ l__d_ng s_sh_ ch__n t_ pl_mm_t. M_ny r_st__r_nts h_v_ spr_ng _nt_ _ct__n _nd t_k_n m__s_r_s t_ c_mb_t th_ pr_nkst_rs. Th_s_ _ncl_d_ _nst_ll_ng s_c_r_ty c_m_r_s _nd pr_v_d_ng d_s_nf_ct_d __t_ng _t_ns_ls.

J_p_n's "k__t_nz_sh_" r_st__r_nts _r_ _b_q__t__s _n J_p_n. Th_y _ff_r g__d q__l_ty, _n_xp_ns_v_ s_sh_ _n _n _nf_rm_l, c_s__l _nv_r_nm_nt. Th_y _r_ _s__lly sp_tl_ssly cl__n. S_m_ _nd_stry _n_lysts _r_ s_y_ng s_sh_ t_rr_r_sm p_s_s _ thr__t t_ th_ f_t_r_ _p_r_t__ns _f th_ __t_r__s. _n_ _gr_g___s v_d__ cl_p h_s b__n v__w_d 40 m_ll__n t_m_s _nd h_s sp_rk_d c_pyc_t cl_ps. Th_ ch__n t_rg_t_d by th_ pr_nkst_r _s f_l_ng _ c_v_l l_ws__t _g__nst h_m _nd _s cl__m_ng c_mp_ns_t__n f_r d_m_g_s. Th_ G__rd__n n_wsp_p_r r_p_rt_d th_t th_r_ _s _ l_t _f __tr_g_ _n s_c__l m_d__ fr_m J_p_n_s_ p__pl_, wh_ b_l__v_ th_ pr_nkst_rs _r_ sh_w_ng "c_nt_mpt f_r th_ c__ntry's h_gh st_nd_rds _f hyg__n_".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

pranksters in japan are posing potential health issues and harming the reputation of the countrys famed conveyorbelt sushi restaurants this week several diners have posted prank videos on social media the pranks include people licking bottles of soy sauce and chopsticks and licking their fingers and then touching the sushi on the revolving belt these actions have shocked people in japan the actions have been dubbed sushitero or sushi terrorism the incidents have caused the share prices of a leading sushi chain to plummet many restaurants have sprung into action and taken measures to combat the pranksters these include installing security cameras and providing disinfected eating utensils

japans kaitenzushi restaurants are ubiquitous in japan they offer good quality inexpensive sushi in an informal casual environment they are usually spotlessly clean some industry analysts are saying sushi terrorism poses a threat to the future operations of the eateries one egregious video clip has been viewed 40 million times and has sparked copycat clips the chain targeted by the prankster is filing a civil lawsuit against him and is claiming compensation for damages the guardian newspaper reported that there is a lot of outrage on social media from japanese people who believe the pranksters are showing contempt for the countrys high standards of hygiene

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

PrankstersinJapanareposingpotentialhealthissuesandharmingthere
putationofthecountry'sfamedconveyor-beltsushirestaurants.Thisw
eek,severaldinershavepostedprankvideosonsocialmedia.Thepranks
includepeoplelickingbottlesofsoysauceandchopsticks,andlickingthei
rfingersandthentouchingthesushiontherevolvingbelt.Theseactionsh
aveshockedpeopleinJapan.Theactionshavebeendubbed"sushi-ter
o,"or"sushiterrorism".Theincidentshavecausedthesharepricesofale
adingsushichaintoplummet.Manyrestaurantshavesprungintoaction
andtakenmeasurestocombatthepranksters.Theseincludeinstallings
ecuritycamerasandprovidingdisinfectedeatingutensils.Japan's"kait
enzushi"restaurantsareubiquitousinJapan.Theyoffergoodquality,in
expensivesushiinaninformal,casualenvironment.Theyareusuallysp
otlesslyclean.Someindustryanalystsaresayingsushiterrorismposesa
threattothefutureoperationsoftheeateries.Oneegregiousvideocliph
asbeenviewed40milliontimesandhassparkedcopycatclips.Thechaint
argetedbythepranksterisfilingacivillawsuitagainsthimandisclaiming
compensationfordamages.TheGuardiannewspaperreportedthatthe
reisalotofoutrageonsocialmediafromJapanesepeople,whobelieveth
eprankstersareshowing"contemptforthecountry'shighstandardsofhygiene".

Free writing

Write about sushi pranksters for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Conveyor-belt restaurants are better than restaurants with table service. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. SUSHI: Make a poster about sushi. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. PRISON: Write a magazine article about sending people to prison if they interfere with food or eating utensils in restaurants. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
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 an expert on sushi. Ask him/her three questions about sushi. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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Breaking News English Lesson: Sushi Pranksters

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