ESC – English Orientation Programme

Week 2 (w/b 17th January)

Discussion topic: We are what we eat - the physical and emotional impact of what we eat, and
the impact on society

Large numbers of people around the world have more choice of what to eat than at any time in
our history. What impact is this having on us and on our societies? What about those who are
facing famine? What can the global community do to help? These are some of the issues we will
discuss in these sessions. They won't all be serious questions though! Want to find out what a
Burn's Supper consists of? We'll talk about that too.

Remember, you do not have to prepare for the discussion - you can just discuss your own views
and experiences. These online BBC resources may give you some ideas to help start the discussion.

• Marcus Rashford: Feeding Britain's Children

• Potential famine in Yemen
• Refusing to eat shark's fin
Classic Burns Night menu

Introductions

Introduce yourself to the people in your breakout room. Take as much time on this as you want.

Initial Discussion

• In your group, decide which point(s) to discuss

• You may discuss some or all of them
• You can of course talk about anything else you are interested in

 What is the typical diet of people from your country or your region?
 How healthy is the diet?
 How does the modern diet in your country/region compare with the diet of your parents or
grandparents?
 Does it include any foods which visitors think are unusual or unpleasant?
 What is the strangest/ tastiest/ most unpleasant food you have eaten?

Remember, you do not have to discuss all the questions, and you can add your own questions to
the discussion.
Burns Supper

Burns Night takes place on 25th January each year. Many Scots (and others!) mark the occasion by
going to a Burns supper.

 Do you know what a Burns Supper is and what it consists of?

These links give you some information about Burns Night

Burns Night menu - BBC Good Food
Burns Night & Burns Supper | Robert Burns | VisitScotland
Haggis - Wikipedia

Further Discussion

 Large numbers of people around the world have more choice of what to eat than at any
time in our history. There is a global change to our eating patterns as societies become
wealthier. This includes greater consumption of meat.
o What impact is this change of diet having on us and our health?
o What impact is it having on the planet?
o Should we all become vegetarian or vegan?

 Some natural food resources, e.g. certain sea fish species, are becoming scarce.
o How should damage to plant and animal resources caused by our use of them for
food be controlled?

 While many people have abundant food, there are also millions who are facing famine.
o Why is it that with our advanced agriculture, people cannot get enough food to
survive?
o What can the global community do to help?