A Lesson on Nike

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THE LESSON ON NIKE

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Nike is one of the world’s leading sportswear and equipment manufacturers. It leads the world in sales of athletic shoes. The company was founded in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight. Its first name was Blue Ribbon Sports but that changed to Nike in 1978. Nike is the Greek goddess of victory. It is famous for its slogan, “Just Do It” and the Swoosh logo, which Nike first used in 1971. Blue Ribbon’s first product was a soccer shoe called Nike. A major factor in Nike’s success is its sponsorship of top sports stars. Tennis ace Ilie Nastase was the first. Subsequent tie-ups with superstars like basketball’s Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods accelerated Nike’s corporate success. Nike has had to defend itself against criticism that its products are made by children and workers paid below the legal minimum wage in sweatshops.

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    WORKSHEET ACTIVITIES

    WARM-UPS

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

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

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

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

    5. TRUE OR FALSE: Students find out several facts about Nike. 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 Nike. 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

    Nike is one of the __________________________ and equipment manufacturers. It __________________________ athletic shoes. The company was founded in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight. Its first name was Blue Ribbon Sports but that changed to Nike in 1978. Nike is the Greek goddess of victory. __________________________, “Just Do It” and the Swoosh logo, which Nike first used in 1971. Blue Ribbon’s __________________________ soccer shoe called Nike. A major factor in Nike’s __________________________ of top sports stars. Tennis ace Ilie Nastase was the first. __________________________ with superstars like basketball’s Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods accelerated Nike’s corporate success. Nike has had to __________________________ that its products are made by children and workers paid below the legal __________________________.

    CORRECT THE SPELLING

    Nike is one of the world’s leading wrsosrpate and equipment manufacturers. It leads the world in sales of ehilttac shoes. The company was founded in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight. Its first name was Blue Ribbon Sports but that daenhgc to Nike in 1978. Nike is the Greek goddess of iotrycv. It is famous for its slogan, “Just Do It” and the Swoosh logo, which Nike first used in 1971. Blue Ribbon’s first product was a soccer shoe called Nike. A major cafotr in Nike’s usesccs is its sponsorship of top sports stars. Tennis ace Ilie Nastase was the first. Subsequent tie-ups with superstars like basketball’s Michael Jordan and goerlf Tiger Woods accelerated Nike’s corporate sessccu. Nike has had to defend itself against tcsiicimr that its products are made by children and workers paid below the legal minimum wage in hetpwssoas.

    UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

    Nike is of world’s sportswear one the leading and equipment manufacturers. It leads the world in sales of athletic shoes. company The Bill by 1964 in founded was Bowerman and Philip Knight. Its first name was Blue Ribbon 1978 Sports but that changed to Nike in. Nike is the Greek goddess of victory. It is famous for its slogan, “Just Do It” and the Swoosh logo, which Nike first used in 1971. was product first Ribbon’s Blue shoe soccer a called Nike. Nike’s in factor major A its is success sponsorship of top sports stars. Tennis ace Ilie Nastase was the first. like tie ups superstars Subsequent - with basketball’s Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods accelerated Nike’s corporate success. Nike has had to criticism its defend against that products itself are made by children workers below legal and paid the minimum wage in sweatshops.

    INSERT THE VOWELS

    N_k_ _s _n_ _f th_ w_rld’s l__d_ng sp_rtsw__r _nd _q__pm_nt m_n_f_ct_r_rs. _t l__ds th_ w_rld _n s_l_s _f _thl_t_c sh__s. Th_ c_mp_ny w_s f__nd_d _n 1964 by B_ll B_w_rm_n _nd Ph_l_p Kn_ght. _ts f_rst n_m_ w_s Bl__ R_bb_n Sp_rts b_t th_t ch_ng_d t_ N_k_ _n 1978. N_k_ _s th_ Gr__k g_dd_ss _f v_ct_ry. _t _s f_m__s f_r _ts sl_g_n, “J_st D_ _t” _nd th_ Sw__sh l_g_, wh_ch N_k_ f_rst _s_d _n 1971. Bl__ R_bb_n’s f_rst pr_d_ct w_s _ s_cc_r sh__ c_ll_d N_k_. _ m_j_r f_ct_r _n N_k_’s s_cc_ss _s _ts sp_ns_rsh_p _f t_p sp_rts st_rs. T_nn_s _c_ _l__ N_st_s_ w_s th_ f_rst. S_bs_q__nt t__-_ps w_th s_p_rst_rs l_k_ b_sk_tb_ll’s M_ch__l J_rd_n _nd g_lf_r T_g_r W__ds _cc_l_r_t_d N_k_’s c_rp_r_t_ s_cc_ss. N_k_ h_s h_d t_ d_f_nd _ts_lf _g__nst cr_t_c_sm th_t _ts pr_d_cts _r_ m_d_ by ch_ldr_n _nd w_rk_rs p__d b_l_w th_ l_g_l m_n_m_m w_g_ _n sw__tsh_ps.

    PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

    nike is one of the world’s leading sportswear and equipment manufacturers it leads the world in sales of athletic shoes the company was founded in 1964 by bill bowerman and philip knight its first name was blue ribbon sports but that changed to nike in 1978 nike is the greek goddess of victory it is famous for its slogan “just do it” and the swoosh logo which nike first used in 1971 blue ribbon’s first product was a soccer shoe called nike a major factor in nike’s success is its sponsorship of top sports stars tennis ace ilie nastase was the first subsequent tie-ups with superstars like basketball’s michael jordan and golfer tiger woods accelerated nike’s corporate success nike has had to defend itself against criticism that its products are made by children and workers paid below the legal minimum wage in sweatshops

    CHOOSE THE CORRECT TENSE

    Nike .......... (be) one of the world’s leading sportswear and equipment manufacturers. It .......... (lead) the world in sales of athletic shoes. The company was .......... (found) in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight. Its first name .......... (be) Blue Ribbon Sports but that .......... (change) to Nike in 1978. Nike is the Greek goddess of victory. It .......... (be) famous for its slogan, “Just Do It” and the Swoosh logo, which Nike first .......... (use) in 1971. Blue Ribbon’s first product .......... (be) a soccer shoe called Nike. A major factor in Nike’s success .......... (be) its sponsorship of top sports stars. Tennis ace Ilie Nastase .......... (be) the first. Subsequent tie-ups with superstars like basketball’s Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods .......... (accelerate) Nike’s corporate success. Nike has .......... (have) to defend itself against criticism that its products are .......... (make) by children and workers .......... (pay) below the legal minimum wage in sweatshops.

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    REWRITE WITH SPACES

    Nikeisoneoftheworld’sleadingsportswearandequipmentmanufacturers.Itleadstheworldinsales
    ofathleticshoes.Thecompanywasfoundedin1964byBillBowermanandPhilipKnight.Itsfirstname
    wasBlueRibbonSportsbutthatchangedtoNikein1978.NikeistheGreekgoddessofvictory.Itisfamous
    foritsslogan,“JustDoIt”andtheSwooshlogo,whichNikefirstusedin1971.BlueRibbon’sfirstproduct
    wasasoccershoecalledNike.AmajorfactorinNike’ssuccessisitssponsorshipoftopsportsstars.Tennis
    aceIlieNastasewasthefirst.Subsequenttie-upswithsuperstarslikebasketball’sMichaelJordanandgolferTigerWoodsacceleratedNike’scorporate
    success.Nikehashadtodefenditselfagainstcriticismthatitsproductsaremadebychildrenandworkers
    paidbelowthelegalminimumwageinsweatshops.

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    CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

    Nike is one of the world’s ____________ sportswear and equipment manufacturers. It leads the world in sales of athletic shoes. The company was ____________ in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight. Its first name was Blue Ribbon Sports but that changed to Nike in 1978. Nike is the Greek ____________ of victory. It is famous for its ____________, “Just Do It” and the Swoosh ____________, which Nike first used in 1971. Blue Ribbon’s first product was a soccer shoe called Nike. A major factor in Nike’s ____________ is its sponsorship of top sports stars. Tennis ace Ilie Nastase was the first. Subsequent ____________ with superstars like basketball’s Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods ____________ Nike’s corporate success. Nike has had to defend itself against ____________ that its products are made by children and workers paid below the legal minimum wage in ____________.

     

     

    success
    goddess
    logo
    leading
    accelerated
    criticism
    sweatshops
    slogan
    tie-ups
    founded

    PROJECT NIKE

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

    Main products

     

     

     

    How to improve them

     

     

     

    A brand new ‘killer’ product

     

    How Nike 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.

    NIKE – ROLE PLAY 1

    Role  A – Nike 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 – Nike 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 – Nike customer

    You are a customer of Nike. 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 Nike. 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.

    NIKE – ROLE PLAY 2

    Role  A – Nike New Products Director

    You have created a new product for Nike. 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 Nike.

    Role  B – Nike 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 – Nike 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 – Nike Shareholder

    You know a lot about Nike’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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    NIKE SURVEY

    Write five GOOD questions about Nike 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 Nike 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 Nike. 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 Nike. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Nike. 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. NIKE POSTER Make a poster about Nike. 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 NIKE LESSON: Make your own English lesson on Nike. 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 Nike. Share your findings with the class.

    ANSWERS

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