Discussion on Columns: Dandelions: One of the Healthiest Foods on the Planet

PART A_1

Let’s learn vocabulary. Listen and repeat the words and the sentences with your tutor.

PART A_2

1.　top	/top/
	-to be the most important or most successful
	The song topped the charts for five weeks.
2.　drought	/drawt/
	-a long period when there is no rain and people do not have enough water
	Lettuce will not grow during a drought.
3.　resistant	/ri-ZIS-tant/
	-not harmed or affected by something
	My new watch is water-resistant.
4.　spread	/spred/
	-to gradually affect a larger area
	The virus has spread in the entire city.
5.　waste	/weyst/
	-unwanted matter or material of any type, often that which is left after useful substances or parts have been removed
	No part of a coconut is a waste as each part has its own purpose.

PART B_1

Let’s read the article. Please read it aloud, and I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

PART B_2

Dandelions: One of the Healthiest Foods on the Planet

With their radiant colors and pleasant smell, everyone loves flowers. However, the case is not the same for dandelion, which is considered the most hated flower in the United States. Despite being the most hated flower, the dandelion is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Ranking number 16 in a 2014 study of the healthiest foods, dandelion even topped the popularly healthy kale and broccoli. Dandelion is rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. It also provides lots of iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It is also rich in fiber and may help in the balance of bacteria in the digestive system. Aside from the nutrients it gives, another great thing about dandelion is that there is no waste as you can eat it from the bottom of the roots to the top of the flower. The dandelion grows fast. It is drought-resistant. The roots spread easily as do their white, soft, seed-filled tops. Lastly, it is fun for children as they believe that their wishes will come true if they were able to blow all seeds off with just one breath. Even if the wish isn’t granted, the seeds have spread far and large, allowing more of this nutritious food source to flourish.

PART C_1

Let’s answer comprehension questions. Please answer them based on the article.

PART C_2

1.	Despite being the most hated flower, what did studies show about the dandelion?
2.	What could fiber do with our body?
3.	Aside from the nutritional benefits, what are the other benefits of dandelion?

PART D_1

Let’s discuss the article. Please answer the questions below and express your opinions.

PART D_2

1.	Do you hate dandelions as well as most Americans? Why or why not?
2.	Why do you think people hate dandelions?
3.	Can you think of other benefits which a dandelion can give?
4.	What other nutritious food can you think of that is also hated by some, if not most?
5.	Do you think people should stop hating plants on the basis of their appearance and should focus more on the nutritional benefits? Why or why not?

REVIEW AND FEEDBACK

Now, let us review the things that you learned in this lesson.

ではこのレッスンで学んだことを振り返りましょう。

(Please give a short feedback on how your student did on your class.)

	Grammar 文法	Pronunciation 発音	Vocabulary 単語	Comprehension 理解
GOOD	文法の誤りはほとんどなく、完全な文章で話すことができる	ほとんどの単語をはっきりと正しく発音することができる	習った表現を適切に使うことができる	文章を理解し、質問に正しく答えることができる
FAIR	文法の誤りはあるが、完全な文章で話すことができる	発音の練習が必要な言葉がいくつかある	たまにミスはあるが、習った表現を適切に使うことができる	文章を完全に理解するのは難しく、質問に正しく答えられないときもある
POOR	文章で話すのは難しく、単語だけで話すことができる	発音の練習が必要である	習った単語と表現を少しだけ使うことができる	文章を理解するのは難しく、質問に答えるのは難しい

TUTOR FEEDBACK

GRAMMAR
Good:	Was able to speak in complete sentences with minimal grammatical errors.
Fair:	Was able to speak in complete sentences with evident grammatical errors.
Poor:	Was able to speak using words only.
PRONUNCIATION
Good:	Was able to pronounce most of the words clearly and correctly.
Fair:	Mispronounced a few words.
Poor:	Mispronounced most of the words.
VOCABULARY
Good:	Used appropriate expressions learned in class.
Fair:	Used appropriate expressions learned in class and made a few errors in word choice.
Poor:	Used only a few words and expressions.
COMPREHENSION
Good:	Was able to understand the passages and answer the questions correctly.
Fair:	Had a little difficulty in understanding passages and answering questions.
Poor:	Had a hard time understanding passages and answering questions.

Parts of this lesson material are based on:
An article by Voice of America