Topics to teach:
Topic Levels
- Elem: Elementary
- Low-Int: Lower-Intermediate
- Int: Intermediate
- Upp-Int: Upper-Intermediate
- Adv: Advanced
There are numerous things you can teach your students on restaurant and food vocabulary. Which you choose or start with depends on the their level. I would recommend that you follow an order to introducing the vocabulary with them (see the below topic order). This will not only help them to use and remember the vocabulary they have learnt in previous classes on the topic, but also make the classes easier to teach.
- Basic Food Vocabulary
Level: Elem or Low-Int
Teach the names of common types of food and vocabulary connected to food (e.g. dish, types of meat etc...). - Basic Restaurant Vocabulary
Level: Elem or Low-Int
Teach the names of the basic vocabulary used in restaurants (e.g. menu, bill/check etc...). - Food Tastes & Textures
Level: Int or above
Teach the names of the different tastes and textures of food and drink. - Food Cooking Methods (e.g. roast, fried etc...)
Level: Int or above
Teach the names of the different ways that food can be cooked (good for understanding dishes on a menu). - Arriving at, Ordering and Paying in a Restaurant
Level: Int or above
Teach phrases and vocabulary used by both customers and waiters/waitresses during a meal in a restaurant. - Complaining in a Restaurant
Level: Upp-Int or above
Teach polite ways to complain politely in restaurants and common sitauations when this may happen. - Wine Vocabulary
Level: Upp-Int or above
Teach vocabulary for talking about and ordering wine (a good topic for people who regularly meet business clients/suppliers who speak English). - Drinking Alcohol Vocabulary
Level: Int or above
Teach vocabulary connected to beer, spirits/liquor and ordering it in bars/pubs.
Teaching the vocabulary
As everybody eats food and eats in restaurants and drinking in bars/pubs, they will already use the vocabulary in their own language. This makes teaching this vocabulary easy in class. Instead of telling them the names of the different vocabulary or phrases, give them printed texts or do online exercises where they have to work out the meaning of vocabulary themselves from the context (better for understanding and remembering).
Practising the vocabulary
There are many methods that you can use to get the students to practise the vocabulary they have learnt. The method you should use depends on the type of vocabulary they are learning.
Food & Drink Vocabulary (names, tastes and textures)
Use photos (either from images on the Google search engine or by bringing in photos) and get the students to name the food, dish and/or describe it.
Getting the students to write down and describe the different courses they have recently had or what their favourite 3 course meal are very good for reinforcing this vocabulary.
Restaurant Vocabulary and Phrases
To reinforce this vocabulary, get them to do as many role plays as possible on the vocabulary topic you are teaching them (e.g. ordering food, complaining etc...). Explain to them the situation and then give them roles (e.g. customer, waiter/waitress).
