‘Jom Makan’ - Flavours of Language: Using Food to Teach English and Cultural Competence

At the 17th ESAP Symposium, in Jennifer Rathabai's workshop, ‘Jom Makan’ - Flavours of Language: Using Food to Teach English and Cultural Competence, participants learned that food is more than just nourishment—it's a rich, tangible expression of culture, identity, and history. This interactive workshop equipped ESL teachers with creative strategies to integrate food-related content into their speaking lessons, enhancing vocabulary, conversational skills, and cultural awareness. Participants discovered practical strategies for incorporating food-related themes into lessons to teach vocabulary, grammar, and social language in meaningful, culturally responsive ways.

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Through hands-on activities, that is, preparing traditional food, conversations about culture and preference will occur. Teachers also gained insights into how discussions around food can help students share their own cultural identities and perhaps develop communicative confidence. Whether teaching beginners or advanced learners, this workshop provided ideas for ESL educators with a deliciously creative approach to make language learning both authentic and appetizing.