What is the weight of the human race?

You are going to

• talk about obesity, eating and health
• read a text and do a gap-fill (with differentiated options for FCE and IELTS students)
• listen to a radio discussion on obesity and do a true / false exercise
• look at / listen to some comments by Jamie Oliver on solutions to the obesity problem and do a gap-fill exercise
• write an IELTS style question on the subject of obesity, food and health
• do a crossword to practise the vocabulary used in this post

1) Discuss

• Do you have a healthy diet?
• What is a healthy / unhealthy diet?
• Do some nations have better diets than others?

2) Watch

In 2009 www.globalpost.com compiled a list of the Top 10 Fattest Countries in the world based on national health surveys WHO compiled between 2000 and 2008.

• What countries do you think were on the list?

Watch the video and find out.

3) Discuss

• Is your country on the list?
• What do you think causes people to become overweight?
• Why are we all getting fatter?

4) Read

The Obesity Epidemic
Why are we getting fatter?
Read the text below and do the gap-fill to find out

Exam options

• Click here if you want to do the same text adapted for FCE practice
• Click here if you want to do the same text adapted for IELTS practice

5) Listen

• What do you think is the combined weight of the human race? If you added all our weights together what would it come to?

Listen and find out

listen to ‘What is the weight of the human race?’ on Audioboo

Listen again and do the true / false exercise

 6) Read

• What solutions can you think of to prevent world obesity?

A) Read these quotes from a speech Jamie Oliver made at TED (or watch the clip below)
What solutions does he give?



B) Now fill in the gaps with the correct word from the list.

C) Look at the sentences again.

1. Which sentences describe the problem?
2. Which sentences offer solutions?
3. What language does Jamie use to emphasize the urgency for solutions? 

Answers - highlight below

1. 1 - 6  describe the problem
2. 8 - 14  offer solutions
3. Urgency - have (got) to, need to, it's (profoundly) important that... , it's time for..., most importantly

If you have time watch the clip.

http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html

7) Write (IELTS)

Plan and write the following essay
Obesity is becoming a serious problem in many countries. 
Explain the main causes and effects of this problem, and suggest some possible solutions. (250 words)

8) Crossword

Practise some of the vocabulary used in this post.

Printable worksheets are here
Crossword here

9) More

More reading and learning activities
Learning Activities

• Obesity http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0602/060203-obesity.html
• Problems with Food http://www.eslhandouts.com/worksheets/problems-with-food-vocabulary-lesson/
• BBC Learning English - Fit or Fat? http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/britain/fit.shtml
• Supersize Me http://efllecturer.blogspot.com.es/2012/05/supersize-me.html

Reading

• 10 fattest countries
• USA is no longer the fattest country
• Body Mass Index 
• Physical activity guidelines for adults
• www.jamieoliver.com/

Obesity Calculator “Obese” is someone with a BMI of 30 or higher. Use this calculator by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute to see how you score http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/efl-esl-resources.php?c=6

 

Visit Britain - You're invited.

You are going to

• watch 3 tourist adverts for Great Britain
• do some listening and vocabulary activities
• look at adjectives to describe feelings and places
• write or present a descriptive advert for your country

Discuss

What do you know about Great Britain?

• What is it famous for?
• What famous British people do you know?
• What are the famous places in Great Britain?
• How do you feel when you visit new places?

Watch Advert 1

You are going to watch an advert for Great Britain. 

1) What adjectives can you hear?

Source http://www.visitbritain.com/en/GB/

2) Now look at the exercise below. Match the correct meaning to the participles on the left.
You can drag and drop the expressions into the right place.

Answer these questions
How do you feel when you go on holiday?
How do you feel when you watch a good film?
How do you feel when you fall deeply in love with someone or something?
How do you feel when you see a magic trick?
How do you feel when you do something dangerous?
How do you feel when your teacher tells you that you are a brilliant student?

Watch Advert 2

You are going to watch Jamie Oliver. Jamie is a famous TV chef.

1) Here are some adjectives. Watch the advert and match them with these topics;

cities  |  countryside |  seaside |  food

• amazing = cities
• busy
• bustling
• (really) special
• lush
• green
• amazing
• (absolutely) incredible
• great
• some of the very best (in the world)

Now do the exercise.

2) Jamie says the UK is "steeped in loads of tradition" but also we are a "magpie culture"

• What does he mean by "magpie culture"? (A magpie is a bird. It can also describe a person who collects and keeps many things)
• What examples does he give?

Answers - highlight below

• We are very multicultural. We take and embrace bits from different cultures.
• Food. Music. Fashion. The arts. 

Watch Advert 3

You are going to watch Dev Patel in London's Leicester Square. Dev Patel starred in the film Slumdog Millionaire

1) Before you watch. What do these expressions mean?  Double click on each word to find out.

cutting edge, forefront, really into, a melting pot, diverse, chilled out, buzzing, energetic, boisterous

2) Read his introduction. Why does he like Leicester Square?

Coming from the suburbs most exciting thing about central London for my friends and me was the energy of Leicester square. I always wanted to be an actor and this is the place where all the big premieres happen and I dreamt of one day having one of my films here too. My dream did come true. The British "Slum Dog Millionaire" film premier was down in Leicester Square.

3) Watch the advert. What adjectives does he use to describe Britain?

4) Now put these sentences from the video in the correct order. Watch again if you need to.
 You can drag and drop the sentences into the right place

Writing / Presentation

Write or present a short advert for your country, city or region
Look on the internet to find important information
Talk about the cities, countryside, food, culture and customs


Don't forget to use lots of adjectives

• Past participles say how something makes you feel - invigorated, involved, inspired...
• Adjectives describe something - amazing, busy, bustling, really special, lush, green, amazing, absolutely incredible, some of the very best, cutting edge, diverse, chilled out, buzzing, energetic, boisterous...

Reading and practice

More infomation and reading about Great Britain

http://www.visitbritain.com/en/GB/
Look at the Cities and Towns. Where would you like to go?
Choose 3 places. Say why you would like to go there.

More on participial adjectives http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/passive3a.html