Hi Guys,
It’s Matt here, Director of Studies at Langports Brisbane.
At Langports, we are always trying to provide our students with the best possible environment to learn English, and to also learn about different countries and cultures where students come from (we currently have over 20 different nationalities studying in Brisbane!).
To help facilitate this learning, one of the most enjoyable activities we run is International Day.
So, what is International Day?
Well, in the days leading up to International Day, your morning teacher discusses with the class what food is usually eaten in your country. The teacher will then work out a ‘menu’ with the class where students are strongly encouraged to prepare typical/famous dishes from their country (the teacher will also bring in food!). Remember, different countries/cultures eat different foods at different times of day. Therefore, it is not unusual to have a wonderful mixture of sweet and savoury and salty and spicy food.
For example, a typical International Day breakfast could be:
Japan – sushi
Brazil – sweet dessert
Colombia – cheesy-bread
Thailand – curry
Switzerland – bread (and chocolate!)
France – cheese
Saudi Arabia – chicken and rice
Taiwan – dumplings
As well as food, students are encouraged to wear clothes representing their country (traditional outfits, or more modern clothes such as soccer shirts!), as well as bringing in music or any other items associated with their country.
Students get the chance to show off their food and trying delicious food prepared by their classmates.
On the big day itself, everybody brings in their dish and goes to their classroom to have breakfast with their teacher and classmates. Students get the chance to show off their food and talk through how they made their dish, as well as trying delicious food prepared by their classmates.
After 20 minutes or so, all the classes are opened up and students are invited to walk around the school trying various dishes (there is always heaps of food!), and discussing what they are eating. It’s an opportunity to try an assortment of food you may not have ever seen before!
At around 10am, the students and teacher clean up their classroom and then take part in several International Day-inspired speaking activities. It’s also a time to digest the vast amounts of food everybody has eaten!
Classes then go back to normal after the 11:15 break.
I look forward to seeing you at a future International Day.
And remember, don’t eat breakfast before coming to school on International Day!
Until the next time.
Matt