2024-07-19 Dragon’s Den: Fujieda Version

In this lesson, groups of students will brainstorm ideas for businesses or government programs that offer solutions to common local issues. Other students act as investors or government decision-makers, asking follow-up questions.

(The original video is longer.)

What is Dragon’s Den?

“Dragon’s Den” is a British reality TV show where people with business ideas ask rich investors for money. They show the investors their ideas and try to convince them to give them money in exchange for a part of their business. The investors, who are all successful businesspeople, ask the people with ideas many questions and try to agree on the terms of the deal. Sometimes, this can be a bit tense. The show helps people with business ideas show what they have and get the money they need to make their business grow.

(In the video, Marisa mentions the health benefits of L-Theanine in matcha. I didn’t know what it was, so I looked it up. There’s an explanation at the bottom of this page.)

Common Local Issues

Here are 20 common local issues facing Fujieda and the surrounding municipalities:

Demographic Challenges

1. Aging Population: The region is experiencing a significant increase in the elderly
2. Declining Birth Rate: There is a noticeable decrease in the number of births
3. Youth Outmigration: Many young people are moving to larger cities for better opportunities

Economic Challenges

4. Economic Revitalization: Efforts are needed to boost the local economy and create jobs
5. Tourism Promotion: Enhancing tourism to boost the local economy
6. Digital Transformation: Implementing digital solutions for better governance and services
7. Support for Small Businesses: Offering support and incentives for small businesses

Environmental Challenges

8. Environmental Conservation: Protecting natural resources and addressing pollution
9. Food Waste: Reducing food waste through better management and awareness
10. Urban Development: Balancing urban development with the preservation of green spaces
11. Water Management: Addressing issues related to water supply and quality
12. Waste Management: Improving waste collection and recycling systems
13. Traffic Congestion: Reducing traffic congestion in urban areas

Social Challenges

14. Disaster Preparedness: Enhancing measures to prepare for earthquakes and other natural disasters
15. Public Transportation: Improving the availability and efficiency of public transport
16. Healthcare Services: Ensuring adequate healthcare facilities and services for all residents
17. Education Quality: Maintaining and improving the quality of education
18. Cultural Preservation: Preserving local culture and traditions
19. Affordable Housing: Providing affordable housing options for residents
20. Community Engagement: Increasing community involvement in local governance

“Dragon’s Den” Business Pitch Lesson Plan

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify and explain a local issue affecting Fujieda or the surrounding municipalities.
2. Develop a comprehensive proposal for either a business idea or a government program to address the chosen local issue.
3. Create a persuasive pitch for their proposed solution (business or government program) using appropriate language and formatting.
4. Deliver a concise, well-organized 3-minute pitch presenting their proposal.
5. Ask relevant, critical questions about other proposed solutions, whether they are business ideas or government programs.
6. Evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of both business and government program proposals.
7. Use specific English phrases and vocabulary related to either business entrepreneurship or public policy initiatives.
8. Adapt their language and presentation style to suit either a business or government context, demonstrating awareness of the different requirements of each sector.
9. Collaborate effectively in small groups to develop and refine ideas.
10. Provide constructive feedback on peers’ proposals and presentations, showing understanding of both private and public sector approaches to problem-solving.

1. Warm-Up (10 minutes)

• Purpose: Stimulate creative thinking and introduce business vocabulary.
• Activity: “Rapid-Fire Business Solutions”
  • Students form pairs.
  • Teacher presents common local issues (e.g., aging population, food waste).
  • Pairs have 60 seconds to brainstorm as many business (or government program) ideas as possible for each issue.
  • Quick sharing of the most innovative ideas.

2. Presentation (15 minutes)

• Purpose: Introduce the “Dragon’s Den” concept and pitch structure.
• Activities:
  • Show a short clip from the actual TV show (with English subtitles if needed).
  • Teacher explains the pitch format:
    1. Problem statement
    2. Solution overview
    3. Market potential
    4. Financial projections (If your idea is a government program, it doesn’t need to make a profit.)
    5. Investment request
  • See the handout with useful phrases for each section of the pitch.

3. Practice (35 minutes)

• Purpose: Develop business (or government program) ideas and prepare pitches.
• Activities:
  • Divide class into groups of 3-4.
  • Each group chooses a local issue to address.
  • Groups work on developing their business/government program idea and structuring their pitch.
  • Teacher circulates, providing language support and advice.
  • Mid-point check: Groups share their progress, receive peer feedback.

4. Production (20 minutes)

• Purpose: Present business pitches and practice questioning.
• Activities:
  • Each group presents their 3-minute pitch to the class.
  • Other students act as investors, asking follow-up questions.
  • Teacher moderates and ensures all students participate in questioning.

5. Cool Down/Reflection (10 minutes)

• Purpose: Consolidate learning and provide feedback.
• Activities:
  • The class will vote on the most innovative and feasible business/government program idea.
  • Brief discussion on what made the winning pitch effective.
  • Students write a short reflection:
    • What was the most challenging aspect of creating your pitch?
    • What new business English vocabulary did you learn?
    • Can you apply this experience to real-life situations?

Why we are doing this

This lesson plan encourages deep processing by having students apply business concepts to local issues. It provides purposeful repetition through the pitch preparation and delivery. Students process language for meaning as they craft persuasive arguments and respond to questions. The activity promotes interaction between learners’ language processing and the context of business presentations. It also fosters communication between learners throughout the group work and Q&A sessions, enhancing group cohesion through collaborative problem-solving.

Handout: Useful Phrases

This handout provides a range of useful phrases for each section of the business/government program pitch. Use these as a starting point to make your own unique and persuasive pitches. The phrases are designed to be adaptable to various business ideas and local issues.

To make the most of this handout:

1. Customize these phrases to fit your group’s specific ideas and the local issues they’re addressing.
2. Use these phrases as inspiration rather than copying them verbatim. The most effective pitches will sound natural and authentic.
3. Practice using these phrases in different combinations to find what flows best for your presentation style.
4. We’ll review some of the more advanced vocabulary as a class to ensure everyone understands terms like “addressable market” or “equity.”

Totally unrelated but…what is L-Theanine?

In the Dragon’s Den video, Marisa mentions L-Theanine as one of the health benefits of drinking green tea. I didn’t know what the benefits are, so I looked it up.

The Amazing Benefits of L-Theanine

Have you ever felt really calm and relaxed after drinking a nice cup of green tea? Well, there’s a special ingredient in green tea called L-Theanine that helps make you feel that way! L-Theanine is like a natural superhero that can do some good things for your body and mind.

What is L-Theanine?

L-Theanine is a special kind of nutrient called an amino acid. Amino acids are like tiny building blocks that help make up proteins in our bodies. But L-Theanine is a unique amino acid because it can actually help our brains work better and make us feel more relaxed.

L-Theanine is found naturally in green tea leaves and some types of mushrooms. When you drink green tea, the L-Theanine gets absorbed into your body and travels up to your brain where it can start working its magic!

Helps You Relax Without Feeling Sleepy

One of the best things about L-Theanine is that it can help calm your mind and body without making you feel sleepy. It’s almost like it presses the “relax” button in your brain! When you feel relaxed but still awake and alert, it’s easier to concentrate, be productive, and learn new things.

L-Theanine helps increase the levels of some brain chemicals like GABA, serotonin, and dopamine. These chemicals have a calming effect and can improve your mood. At the same time, L-Theanine seems to slightly boost other brain chemicals that help you stay focused and alert.

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

When we feel stressed or anxious, our bodies make a hormone called cortisol. Too much cortisol can make us feel really tense, worried, and even affect our sleep. But L-Theanine has been shown to help lower cortisol levels, which can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

Imagine your brain is like a busy city, with tons of cars and people rushing around. L-Theanine is like a traffic officer that helps everything flow smoothly and calmly without getting all jammed up and chaotic.

Boosts Brain Power

Not only does L-Theanine help you relax, but it may also give your brain a helpful boost! Some studies have shown that L-Theanine can improve memory, learning ability, and even reaction times.

It’s kind of like giving your brain a healthy snack – L-Theanine provides the nutrients and support your brain needs to work at its best. With a relaxed yet alert mind, you may find it easier to focus on tasks, solve problems, and remember important information.

Helps You Sleep Better

Even though L-Theanine doesn’t make you feel sleepy during the day, it can actually help improve the quality of your sleep at night. L-Theanine seems to help our bodies and minds relax and prepare for a good night’s rest.

It’s like having a bedtime story for your brain. L-Theanine helps calm all the busy thoughts and worries swirling around, so you can drift off to sleep more easily. And when you sleep better, you wake up feeling more refreshed and ready to take on the day!

Where to Find L-Theanine

The best way to get L-Theanine is by drinking green tea. Green tea leaves are naturally rich in this amazing nutrient. You can also find L-Theanine supplements in some health food stores or online.

Just remember, L-Theanine works best when you get it from natural sources like green tea. So next time you’re feeling a little stressed or having trouble concentrating, try sipping on a warm cup of green tea and let the L-Theanine work its relaxing magic!