The 7 Steps August
1. CONTEXT
Mindmap
anything you
know about thetopic, including
vocabulary. Do
some research
online to help.

Japanese Dietary Habits
Listening Questions 1
1. What special recognition has been given to traditional Japanese food?
.

2. QUESTIONS

2. What time period did the U.S. study on Japanese diets cover and what
did it show?
.

Read the listening
questions tocheck yourunderstanding.
Look up any new
vocabulary.

3. What dietary patterns have been on the decline and rise in Japan?
.
4. What percentage increase of obese people has there been in Japan from1962 to 2002?
.
5. What phenomenon has this situation led to?
.
Listening Questions 2

3. LISTEN

1. What are 2 solutions people in Japan have turned to for weight loss?
.

Listen and answer
the questions
using fullsentences. Circle
the number oftimes and % you
understood.

2. What are 2 of the famous gym chains operating in Japan?
.
3. How did Rizap gain nationwide attention?
.
4. What other skill areas does Rizap now operate in?
.
5. How has the Coronavirus pandemic affected the fitness industry?

1

Listening 1
2 3 4

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Discussion Questions

1Listening 2
2 3 45%%%

1. How would you describe your own dietary habits? Are you satisfied
with these?
2. How do you feel about the services and facilities provided by gyms
in Japan?

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4. CHECK ANSWERS

TRANSCRIPT 1
Japan has long been famous for its unique food culture. Dishes such as sushi, tempura, andramen are now familiar globally, and restaurants devoted to them can be found in major cities
everywhere. Traditional Japanese food has even been listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritageby the United Nations.

Read through thetranscript andunderline theanswers. Checkthem against yourown answers.

However, starting in the postwar years and accelerating over time, dietary habits in Japan havebeen changing. A comprehensive study by a branch of the U.S. National Institute of Healthlooked at changes in Japanese diets from 2003 to 2015. It found a continuous westernization ofthe Japanese diet. The study noted a decrease in the plant and fish dietary pattern, and anincrease in the bread, dairy, meat and oils dietary pattern.

5. CHECK VOCABULARY
Read thetranscript andcircle any newvocabulary you
find. Look themup and add themto your list.

This change in eating habits has led to ballooning waistlines. Based on data from the Asia
Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the percentage of Japanese people considered obese, witha Body Mass Index (or BMI) over 25, has tripled from 1962 to 2002. One other outcome of thistrend has been the rise of products and services designed to manage weight.

MATCH THE ANTONYMS BY DRAWING LINES BELOW:

6. READ ALOUD

Read thetranscript aloudat least 5 times,
focusing onintonation andpronunciation.

Devoted toShrink

Accelerate

Scarcity

BalloonApathetic

RadicalDelay

Cater toConservative

Plethora

IgnoreTRANSCRIPT 21122334455

7. SHADOWING

In particular, many nationwide gym chains have emerged to help cater to fitness-minded
individuals. Some of the more famous gyms include Gold’s Gym, 24/7, NAS, Anytime Fitness,and Konami Sports Club. One of the newer chains on the scene is Rizap, which has gained
national attention through an aggressive advertising campaign featuring before and after shotsof gym members with music that corresponds to their weight. Interestingly, Rizap has alsobranched out into golf and English conversation schools for people to improve their skills inthese areas.

Say the transcript
aloud at the sametime as the audio
without reading
it. Circle how
many times
below.

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In response to the dietary shifts and increase in obesity in Japan, businesses and products havesurfaced to provide help with weight management. These include special drinks and foods to cut
calories and burn fat, gym and fitness services, and in some cases more radical measures suchas surgical procedures.

55Despite the plethora of gyms available in Japan, the industry took a major hit during theCoronavirus pandemic with limitations on operating hours and stricter regulations on usage. It
remains to be seen if the industry can recover but if Japanese dietary trends continue to follow
the same pattern, it is likely that the need for fitness facilities will remain.