Autumn is in full swing in most of our students' countries. What does this mean for our students? Below you’ll find some questions you can ask to spark conversation as well as relevant words (bolded), and Daily News articles you can introduce should you choose to discuss this topic.

Autumn Colors

In many parts of the world, trees burst into color in autumn. In many of our students' countries, people go far and wide to see these autumn colors.

Are there any famous spots for seeing autumn leaves in your country?
Do you like seeing the autumn leaves?
What’s your favorite part of autumn?
What’s your favorite season?

In Japan, the city of Kyoto becomes very busy this time of year as tourists flock to see the city’s historic monuments bathed in vibrant colors.

The red maple leaves you see in the foreground of the picture above are considered the most representative of autumn, so Japanese people refer to autumn/fall foliage as “red leaves” or “maple leaves.”

What’s the first type of tree that you think of when you hear the word, “autumn”?

South Korea’s historic sites also become more magnificent in the autumn, but the mountains are perhaps the best place to feast your eyes.

A poetic phrase Koreans use when talking about this season is “the sky is high and the horses are plump.” You can ask your students what this phrase means to them!

I hear there’s a popular expression in Korean used to talk about autumn. It has to do with the sky being high and horses being plump. Can you tell me what this means?

In Taiwan, leaves don’t change color in places of lower elevation, so fall foliage doesn’t feature in people’s everyday lives. As a result, many people flock to national parks on higher ground to get their fill of scenery.

And in Thailand, autumn colors aren’t a fixture of the landscape. However, by the end of October, the rainy season ends and the dry season starts, ushering in cooler weather and (usually) lots of tourists.

By the way, foliage is a rather high-level word, so we suggest teaching it to upper-intermediate students (and above)!

Autumn Foods

We can’t talk about a season without mentioning foods that are in season. In East Asia, the persimmon is commonly associated with autumn.

And lucky for us, persimmons are also a great conversation starter. Some people love them, while others hate them with a passion. Some like the soft, squishy kind, while others prefer the firm, crunchy kind pictured above.

Yet others like their persimmons dried!

Do you like persimmons? Why? Why not?
Do you like hard persimmons or soft persimmons? Can you tell me the difference? (It’s more than just the texture!)
Where can you buy persimmons?
How do you eat persimmons: by themselves, dried or in dessert?

Another autumn fruit is the Asian pear. Asian pears, also known as “apple pears,” are larger and juicier than their European counterpart. They’re usually served cut and peeled.

Because of how difficult they are to grow, Asian pears are usually pricier than the average fruit and are sometimes given as gifts. Different regions also grow different varieties of the pear.

Is it common for people in your country to eat Asian pears during this season?
Do you prefer Asian pears over European pears? Why? Why not?
In your country, is it common for people to give each other gifts of fruit?
What’s your favorite fruit or vegetable?

Another food that’s in season in the autumn is the Pacific saury also known as the mackerel pike. In Japanese, it’s called an “autumn sword fish,” because its peak season is the autumn and it looks like a sword: it’s silver, long and narrow.

What does it mean for a fish to be in season? Well, in this case, mackerel pikes caught towards the end of its season (i.e. October, November) tend to contain more fat, making them more rich.

In Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, this fish is often grilled so the skin is crispy but the insides remain juicy! An interesting fact about this fish is the bones are small enough that they can be eaten.

However, there are many other ways to eat the fish, including cooking it with kimchi to make a delicious stew. You can read about other ways to prepare this fish here and also its history in Japan here.

What fish are in season during the autumn?
What’s your favorite type of fish?
What’s your favorite way to eat Pacific saury/mackerel pike?
Do you prefer fish that has more fat content? Why? Why not?
Do you ever eat fish bones?

And don’t forget you can ask questions about seasonal food.

What other foods are in season in the autumn?
What are your favorite autumn foods?
Are autumn foods nutritious? (Here’s an article on the nutritional value of pumpkins.)
Are there any foods you eat in the autumn to prepare for the winter?
What’s your favorite season, food-wise?

Last but not least, here are some Daily News articles on this season: