A Lesson on Apple

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THE LESSON ON APPLE

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READ

Apple Inc. is one of the world’s best-known and perhaps favourite companies. It has earned the reputation as being an innovative leader in the fields of personal computers, software, music players, mobile phones and digital music distribution. The company was started by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. In 2010, it became the world’s most valuable computer company. Apple has succeeded by providing consumers with high quality, groundbreaking products. Almost everything Apple produces creates a media frenzy. The brand loyalty the company enjoys is the envy of any business. The company’s product range is a list of stunning commercial successes, from the iMac to iTunes, the iPod, iPad and iPhone. ‘Fortune’ magazine says Apple is the world’s most admired company.

ONLINE QUIZZES

  • Text jumble

  • Missing words

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    WORKSHEET ACTIVITIES

    WARM-UPS

    1. BRAINSTORM: Write all the words you can think of about Apple on the board or on a piece of paper. Talk about these words with your partner(s).

    2. APPLE MORNING: Each student pretends to be an employee of Apple. They walk around the class and talk about the company and their job.

    3. RUMOURS: Each student writes down a pretend rumour about Apple. They then walk around the class and talk to other students about their rumour.

    4. GOOD AND BAD: Brainstorm good and bad things about Apple and write them on the board. Students talk about these in pairs.

    5. TRUE OR FALSE: Students find out several facts about Apple. They write these down and add the same number of things about the company that are false. Students test each other on which of their points are true or false.

    6. FACTS: In groups, students write down as many facts as they can about Apple. The winner is the group with the most facts. Teacher may wish to have groups share their facts to make sure they are real.

    LISTENING / READING GAP FILL

    Apple Inc. is one of the world’s ___________________ favourite companies. It has ___________________ as being an innovative ___________________ of personal computers, software, music players, mobile phones and digital music distribution. The company was started by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. In 2010, it became the ___________________ computer company. Apple has succeeded ___________________ with high quality, groundbreaking products. Almost everything Apple produces ___________________ frenzy. The brand loyalty the company enjoys ___________________ business. The company’s product range is a list of stunning commercial successes, from the iMac to iTunes, the iPod, iPad and iPhone. ‘Fortune’ magazine says Apple is the ___________________ company.

    CORRECT THE SPELLING

    Apple Inc. is one of the world’s best-known and perhaps favourite companies. It has arnede the reputation as being an veiatnniov leader in the fields of personal computers, software, music players, mobile phones and liaditg music distribution. The company was started by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. In 2010, it became the world’s most evllauba computer company. Apple has succeeded by dgiovnpri consumers with high quality, groundbreaking products. Almost everything Apple produces creates a media yenfzr. The brand aoyltly the company enjoys is the envy of any business. The company’s product angre is a list of untnsgin commercial successes, from the iMac to iTunes, the iPod, iPad and iPhone. ‘Fortune’ magazine says Apple is the world’s most mieradd company.

    UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

    Apple Inc. known the and world’s is best one - of perhaps favourite companies. as reputation the earned has It being in fields an leader the of innovative personal computers, software, music players, mobile phones and digital music distribution. The company was started by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. In 2010, it became valuable computer company the world’s most. Apple providing by succeeded has with consumers high quality, groundbreaking products. Almost everything media a creates produces Apple frenzy. The brand loyalty the company the of business is envy any enjoys. The company’s product range is a list of stunning commercial successes, from the iMac to iTunes, the iPod, iPad and iPhone. ‘Fortune’ is magazine the says world’s Apple most admired company.

    INSERT THE VOWELS

    _ppl_ _nc. _s _n_ _f th_ w_rld’s b_st-kn_wn _nd p_rh_ps f_v__r_t_ c_mp_n__s. _t h_s __rn_d th_ r_p_t_t__n _s b__ng _n _nn_v_t_v_ l__d_r _n th_ f__lds _f p_rs_n_l c_mp_t_rs, s_ftw_r_, m_s_c pl_y_rs, m_b_l_ ph_n_s _nd d_g_t_l m_s_c d_str_b_t__n. Th_ c_mp_ny w_s st_rt_d by St_v_ J_bs _nd St_v_ W_zn__k _n 1976. _n 2010, _t b_c_m_ th_ w_rld’s m_st v_l__bl_ c_mp_t_r c_mp_ny. _ppl_ h_s s_cc__d_d by pr_v_d_ng c_ns_m_rs w_th h_gh q__l_ty, gr__ndbr__k_ng pr_d_cts. _lm_st _v_ryth_ng _ppl_ pr_d_c_s cr__t_s _ m_d__ fr_nzy. Th_ br_nd l_y_lty th_ c_mp_ny _nj_ys _s th_ _nvy _f _ny b_s_n_ss. Th_ c_mp_ny’s pr_d_ct r_ng_ _s _ l_st _f st_nn_ng c_mm_rc__l s_cc_ss_s, fr_m th_ _M_c t_ _T_n_s, th_ _P_d, _P_d _nd _Ph_n_. ‘F_rt_n_’ m_g_z_n_ s_ys _ppl_ _s th_ w_rld’s m_st _dm_r_d c_mp_ny.

    PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

    apple inc is one of the world’s best-known and perhaps favourite companies it has earned the reputation as being an innovative leader in the fields of personal computers software music players mobile phones and digital music distribution the company was started by steve jobs and steve wozniak in 1976 in 2010 it became the world’s most valuable computer company apple has succeeded by providing consumers with high quality groundbreaking products almost everything apple produces creates a media frenzy the brand loyalty the company enjoys is the envy of any business the company’s product range is a list of stunning commercial successes from the imac to itunes the ipod ipad and iphone ‘fortune’ magazine says apple is the world’s most admired company

    CHOOSE THE CORRECT TENSE

    Apple Inc. .......... (be) one of the world’s best-known and perhaps favourite companies. It .......... (have) earned the reputation as being an innovative leader in the fields of personal computers, software, music players, mobile phones and digital music distribution. The company .......... (be) .......... (start) by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. In 2010, it .......... (become) the world’s most valuable computer company. Apple has .......... (succeed) by providing consumers with high quality, groundbreaking products. Almost everything Apple produces .......... (create) a media frenzy. The brand loyalty the company .......... (enjoy) is the envy of any business. The company’s product range .......... (be) a list of stunning commercial successes, from the iMac to iTunes, the iPod, iPad and iPhone. ‘Fortune’ magazine says Apple .......... (be) the world’s most admired company.

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    REWRITE WITH SPACES

    AppleInc.isoneoftheworld’sbest-knownandperhapsfavouritecompanies.Ithasearnedthereputationasbeinganinnovativeleaderinthefields
    ofpersonalcomputers,software,musicplayers,mobilephonesanddigitalmusicdistribution.Thecompany
    wasstartedbySteveJobsandSteveWozniakin1976.In2010,itbecametheworld’smostvaluablecomputer
    company.Applehassucceededbyprovidingconsumerswithhighquality,groundbreakingproducts.Almost
    everythingAppleproducescreatesamediafrenzy.Thebrandloyaltythecompanyenjoysistheenvyofany
    business.Thecompany’sproductrangeisalistofstunningcommercialsuccesses,fromtheiMactoiTunes,
    theiPod,iPadandiPhone.‘Fortune’magazinesaysAppleistheworld’smostadmiredcompany.

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    CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

    Apple Inc. is one of the world’s best-known and ____________ favourite companies. It has earned the reputation as being an ____________ leader in the fields of personal computers, software, music players, mobile phones and ____________ music distribution. The company was started by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. In 2010, it became the world’s most ____________ computer company. Apple has succeeded by ____________ consumers with high quality, groundbreaking products. Almost everything Apple produces creates a ____________ frenzy. The brand loyalty the company enjoys is the ____________ of any business. The company’s product ____________ is a list of ____________ commercial successes, from the iMac to iTunes, the iPod, iPad and iPhone. ‘Fortune’ magazine says Apple is the world’s most ____________ company.

     

     

    valuable
    media
    range
    innovative
    providing
    stunning
    perhaps
    admired
    digital
    envy

    PROJECT APPLE

    Part 1. Your mission is to increase the profits and sales of Apple. Complete this  table with your project partner(s):

    Main products

     

     

     

    How to improve them

     

     

     

    A brand new ‘killer’ product

     

    How Apple is better than the competition

     

    How to beat the competition

     

    Part 2. Change partners and look at their project. Suggest improvements. Ask for advice on your project:

    Part 3. Make a presentation on your project. Give it to the class. Vote the best projects.

    APPLE – ROLE PLAY 1

    Role  A – Apple CEO

    You believe your company is the best in the world. It pays its workers very well and working conditions are great. Your company is very green – it cares about the environment. You think your levels of customer service are great. Disagree with person B, C and D.

    Role  B – Apple worker

    You think it’s a bad company to work for. You’re very unhappy with pay, raises and bonuses. You are very unhappy with the working environment. You don’t like the company’s policy on the environment. You keep hearing profits are more important than customers. Disagree with A and C. Tell D the truth.

    Role  C – Apple customer

    You are a customer of Apple. You used to think it was great, but not now. Its workers are always very rude. No one ever answers the phone. You are shocked about its policy on the environment. You think all staff should get less pay. You disagree with person A and B. Tell D the truth.

    Role  D – A journalist

    You keep hearing bad things about Apple. You want to tell the world in your newspaper. You heard the CEO gets a huge bonus every year. You found a company memo saying profits are more important than the environment. You want to know why so many staff are ill. Find the truth.

    APPLE – ROLE PLAY 2

    Role  A – Apple New Products Director

    You have created a new product for Apple. You believe the new product will be the company’s best ever. It will be a bestseller. There are people who do not agree with you. You need B, C and D on your side. Tell them why this is a product that will bring great things to Apple.

    Role  B – Apple Marketing Director

    You think the company’s new product is a really bad idea. It will give your company a really bad name. You think the New Products Director is trying to destroy the company. Try to get him/her to understand there’s no way the new product will sell. Try to get person C and D on your side.

    Role  C – Apple Market Researcher

    You have interviewed thousands of people about the new product. They don’t like it or hate it. You think it will be successful if they make many changes. Tell the New Products Director he/she needs to change the product. You neither like nor trust person B. Disagree will him/her.

    Role  D – Apple Shareholder

    You know a lot about Apple’s new product. You are worried it will not sell and share prices will go down. You think A is crazy and must find a new job. You agree with everything B says. You don’t agree with C. The new product should not go on the market.

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    JOB INTERVIEW ROLE PLAY

    INTERVIEWER  (Write the questions you want to ask the candidate.)

    1.

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    2.

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    INTERVIEWEE  (Write questions you want to ask the interviewer.)

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    DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

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    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

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    APPLE SURVEY

    Write five GOOD questions about Apple in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

    When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

     

    STUDENT 1

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    STUDENT 2

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    STUDENT 3

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    Q.1.

     

     

     

     

    Q.2.

     

     

     

     

    Q.3.

     

     

     

     

    Q.4.

     

     

     

     

    Q.5.

     

     

     

     

    WRITING 1 – SPEED WRITING

    Write anything about Apple for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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    WRITING 2 – LETTER OF COMPLAINT

    Write a letter to Apple. Complain about one of its products. Ask for a refund. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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    WRITING 3 – LETTER OF APOLOGY

    Write a letter of apology to the customer. Explain why you cannot give a refund. Show your partner your letter. Correct each other’s work.

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    HOMEWORK

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about Apple. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Apple. What have they done recently? What are their plans? Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    4. APPLE POSTER Make a poster about Apple. Make sure you sell the company to the public.  Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

    5. MY APPLE LESSON: Make your own English lesson on Apple. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.

    6. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, Del-icio-us / StumbleUpon account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on Apple. Share your findings with the class.

    ANSWERS

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