Performance Tasks for English Language Learners/Nutrition

Dietary Plan

Instructions

This is one of four performance tasks designed for English language learners at a basic level (A1). The objective of the course is to use English in real situations, integrating listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills along with teaching and learning appropriate grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. This course is strongly based on TBLT/TBI. This performance task is designed for 20 hours of face-to-face instruction and learners are typically first-year university students (i.e., English language teacher trainers).

Essential Question

How much of a healthy and sustainable dietary plan is dependent on well established research vs. one's own routine and dietary likes and dislikes?

Goal

Learners will design a dietary plan based on an individual's routines, dietary preferences, and medical requirements.

Role

Learners will assume the role of a nutritionist.

Audience

Anyone who has health challenges and who would benefit from eating a healthy diet.

Situation/Context

Someone comes to you, a nutritionist, and seeks your expertise in developing a dietary plan that is sustainable, healthy, and one that can be adhered to given the client's busy schedule.

Purpose/Process/Product

The purpose is to tailor a dietary plan through learning both what experts say is a good diet and how practical the diet will be for one who holds a busy lifestyle. Learners may choose to work in pairs, small groups, and/or individually and products for this performance task may include brochures, videos, posters, among others. The learning process(es) and product(s) will depend on the learner and the degree to which differentiated instruction is employed.

Standards/Criteria

A dietary plan must differentiate between what is healthy based on the literature, and what is considered a "cheat meal" - food that is not exactly healthy but something the client is likely not to give up. A successful performance task will include equal involvement among all learners and will include product(s) that are appropriate for the client.

Learning Design Sequence

1. Analyze pros and cons of different diets.
2. Create and apply a dietary survey to apply to a specific group of individuals.
3. Analyze survey results.
4. Create a dietary plan based on an individual's routine, dietary preferences, and medical requirements.