Pre-questions
1. How often do you go to a supermarket?
2. How far away is the nearest shop from where you live?
3. What did you last buy from that shop?
4. Do you have a favourite supermarket? Why?
5. Do you like to check out supermarkets and shops when you’re abroad?
6. How often do you check the expiry dates on things you buy? Which items are most important?
7. Do you ever buy things from the bakery section of a shop or supermarket?
Tell your student they are going to read a short article called ‘Don't Touch my Buns!’ and then brainstorm some ideas what could be behind the article. Encourage more details on your students’ suggestions even if they aren’t correct.
As you can see, key words have been highlighted under each paragraph. You can get your student to read aloud and then go over the words together if needed after each paragraph.
Don't Touch my Buns!
In Japan in February a woman in her mid-40s was arrested for what can only be described as a bizarre crime as she was caught red-handed on CCTV squeezing freshly baked buns...
Mid-40s – someone between 44-46.
Bizarre – something very strange.
To be caught red-handed – when someone sees you doing something you shouldn’t be doing.
Squeeze – when you put something in your hand and press on it.
A bun – a small-round sweet cake.
Police in Fukuoka confirmed they had arrested the culprit for criminal damage after the shop worker at Lawson convenience store made the call to the police which resulted in the arrest.
Culprit – the person responsible for a crime.
The shop worker said " I had seen the woman before lurking around the bakery items and acting oddly. She would sometimes walk into the store, stroll over to the bakery items, do her thing, and then leave without buying anything".
To lurk– to stand around an area usually because you’re up to no good.
Act oddly – behaving strangely.
Stroll – a slow-relaxed walk.
Do your thing – to do something you do very well.
The woman who said she was unemployed and struggling to get by also said, "I am a picky eater, and I like my buns to be fresh. If after I give them a gentle squeeze, they don't feel right to me, I won't get them. The buns in this shop are rubbish. I only come here because it's not too far away from where I live"
To get by – to earn just enough money to survive.
A picky eater – an eater who is very hard to please and only likes certain things.
To not feel right to me – a feeling you have inside that something is wrong.
The shopkeeper confronted and tried to apprehend the woman at the time of the crime and demanded she pay for the pack of four cream-cheese buns that she damaged. The woman refused to pay the 180 yen (£0.95; $1.20) and stormed out of the shop.
To confront (s/o) – to go to someone and tell them you saw them doing something they shouldn’t.
Apprehend – to try and stop someone getting away after they do something bad.
Demanded – when you ‘ask’ for something in a very strong way.
Storm out – to leave a place in a bad mood after someone says or does something bad.
It didn't end there. The owner of the shop quickly locked the door and proceeded to follow the woman. " I couldn't let this slide. I had to do something" he said. While on the woman's tail that is when he called the police to report the woman. The shopkeeper followed the woman for 1km before giving the address to the police to take over.
To let something slide – to forget about something and accept it.
To be on someone's tail – to be following someone very closely.
Japan is no stranger when it comes to things other countries raise their eyebrows at. A couple of years ago two men were arrested for what they called sushi terrorism. This doesn't
To be no stranger – to be familiar with something; something that is normal for you.
To raise your eyebrows at – to show something is strange or unusual
Post-questions
1. What do you think should happen to the woman?
2. What would happen if this happened in your country?
3. Do you think the shop worker was right to follow the woman?
4. Have you ever been to Japan? Would you like to?
5. What other things do you know about Japan?
Reading Vocab questions
Have you or anyone you know been caught red-handed for something?
Do you think you can tell if someone is in their early 40s and mid 30s?
What kind of things do you think would show odd behaviour?
Have you ever read or heard about any other bizarre stories like this one?
If you saw someone doing something wrong, would you confront/apprehend them?
Are you a picky eater?
Need to print? Here is the DOC
Enjoy!
Luke - Native Speaker Online
