A Lesson on Sony

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THE LESSON ON SONY

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Sony Corporation is one of Japan’s biggest multinational conglomerates. It is renowned worldwide for high-tech innovation and quality electronics products, many of which are household names. It was founded by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka in 1946. They popularized tiny transistor radios and gained a solid market share in Europe and the U.S. The Sony name was created by combining "sonus," (Latin for "SONIC," meaning sound), with "sonny," - a youthful boy. It was chosen for its simple pronunciation that is the same in any language. Today, Sony is a market leader in batteries, computer game consoles, cameras, music and movies and financial services. The Sony Walkman and PlayStation are among their pioneering products. The company’s turnover is close to $100 billion a year.

ONLINE QUIZZES

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    WORKSHEET ACTIVITIES

    WARM-UPS

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

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

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

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

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

    Sony Corporation ____________________ multinational conglomerates. It ____________________ for high-tech innovation and quality electronics products, many of which ____________________. It was founded by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka in 1946. ____________________ transistor radios and gained a solid market share in Europe and the U.S. The Sony name was ____________________ "sonus," (Latin for "SONIC," meaning sound), with "sonny," - a youthful boy. It was chosen for ____________________ that is the same in any language. Today, Sony is a market leader in batteries, ____________________, cameras, music and movies and financial services. The Sony Walkman and PlayStation are ____________________ products. The company’s turnover is close to $100 billion a year.

    CORRECT THE SPELLING

    Sony Corporation is one of Japan’s biggest multinational conglomerates. It is dwnnoeer worldwide for high-tech ivnnnaioto and quality electronics products, many of which are sdoulhhoe names. It was founded by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka in 1946. They popularized tiny transistor radios and dgneai a solid market share in Europe and the U.S. The Sony name was created by noicmngbi "sonus," (Latin for "SONIC," meaning sound), with "sonny," - a youthful boy. It was chosen for its simple pronunciation that is the same in any ulganage. Today, Sony is a market leader in batteries, computer game esosonlc, cameras, music and movies and canflinia services. The Sony Walkman and PlayStation are manog their pioneering products. The company’s rouretvn is close to $100 billion a year.

    UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

    Sony Japan’s multinational is of biggest Corporation one conglomerates. is It high for worldwide renowned-tech electronics and products quality innovation, many of which are household names. It was founded by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka in 1946. They popularized tiny solid transistor and a market radios gained share in Europe and the U.S. The Sony name was created by combining "sonus," (Latin for "SONIC," meaning sound), with "sonny," - a youthful boy. It was chosen for its simple any in same the is that pronunciation language. Today, Sony is computer , batteries in leader market a game consoles, cameras, music and movies and financial services. Walkman PlayStation among Sony and are The their pioneering products. The company’s turnover is billion year to 100 a close $..

    INSERT THE VOWELS

    S_ny C_rp_r_t__n _s _n_ _f J_p_n’s b_gg_st m_lt_n_t__n_l c_ngl_m_r_t_s. _t _s r_n_wn_d w_rldw_d_ f_r h_gh-t_ch _nn_v_t__n _nd q__l_ty _l_ctr_n_cs pr_d_cts, m_ny _f wh_ch _r_ h__s_h_ld n_m_s. _t w_s f__nd_d by _k__ M_r_t_ _nd M_s_r_ _b_k_ _n 1946. Th_y p_p_l_r_z_d t_ny tr_ns_st_r r_d__s _nd g__n_d _ s_l_d m_rk_t sh_r_ _n __r_p_ _nd th_ _.S. Th_ S_ny n_m_ w_s cr__t_d by c_mb_n_ng "s_n_s," (L_t_n f_r "S_N_C," m__n_ng s__nd), w_th "s_nny," - _ y__thf_l b_y. _t w_s ch_s_n f_r _ts s_mpl_ pr_n_nc__t__n th_t _s th_ s_m_ _n _ny l_ng__g_. T_d_y, S_ny _s _ m_rk_t l__d_r _n b_tt_r__s, c_mp_t_r g_m_ c_ns_l_s, c_m_r_s, m_s_c _nd m_v__s _nd f_n_nc__l s_rv_c_s. Th_ S_ny W_lkm_n _nd Pl_ySt_t__n _r_ _m_ng th__r p__n__r_ng pr_d_cts. Th_ c_mp_ny’s t_rn_v_r _s cl_s_ t_ $100 b_ll__n _ y__r.

    PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

    sony corporation is one of japan’s biggest multinational conglomerates it is renowned worldwide for high-tech innovation and quality electronics products many of which are household names it was founded by akio morita and masaru ibuka in 1946 they popularized tiny transistor radios and gained a solid market share in europe and the us the sony name was created by combining "sonus" (latin for "sonic" meaning sound) with "sonny" - a youthful boy it was chosen for its simple pronunciation that is the same in any language today sony is a market leader in batteries computer game consoles cameras music and movies and financial services the sony walkman and playstation are among their pioneering products the company’s turnover is close to $100 billion a year

    CHOOSE THE CORRECT TENSE

    Sony Corporation .......... (be) one of Japan’s biggest multinational conglomerates. It .......... (be) renowned worldwide for high-tech innovation and quality electronics products, many of which .......... (be) household names. It was .......... (found) by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka in 1946. They .......... (popularize) tiny transistor radios and .......... (gain) a solid market share in Europe and the U.S. The Sony name was .......... (create) by combining "sonus," (Latin for "SONIC," meaning sound), with "sonny," - a youthful boy. It was .......... (choose) for its simple pronunciation that .......... (be) the same in any language. Today, Sony .......... (be) a market leader in batteries, computer game consoles, cameras, music and movies and financial services. The Sony Walkman and PlayStation .......... (be) among their pioneering products. The company’s turnover .......... (be) close to $100 billion a year.

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    REWRITE WITH SPACES

    SonyCorporationisoneofJapan’sbiggestmultinationalconglomerates.Itisrenowned
    worldwideforhigh-techinnovationandqualityelectronicsproducts,manyofwhichare
    householdnames.ItwasfoundedbyAkioMoritaandMasaruIbukain1946.Theypopularized
    tinytransistorradiosandgainedasolidmarketshareinEuropeandtheU.S.TheSonynamewas
    createdbycombining"sonus,"(Latinfor"SONIC,"meaningsound),with"sonny,"-ayouthfulboy.Itwaschosenforitssimplepronunciationthatisthesameinanylanguage.
    Today,Sonyisamarketleaderinbatteries,computergameconsoles,cameras,musicand
    moviesandfinancialservices.TheSonyWalkmanandPlayStationareamongtheirpioneering
    products.Thecompany’sturnoveriscloseto$100billionayear.

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    CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

    Sony Corporation is one of Japan’s biggest multinational conglomerates. It is ____________ worldwide for high-tech innovation and quality electronics products, many of which are ____________ names. It was founded by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka in 1946. They popularized ____________ transistor radios and gained a solid market ____________ in Europe and the U.S. The Sony name was created by ____________ "sonus," (Latin for "SONIC," meaning sound), with "sonny," - a youthful boy. It was chosen for its ____________ pronunciation that is the same in any language. Today, Sony is a market ____________ in batteries, computer game ____________, cameras, music and movies and financial services. The Sony Walkman and PlayStation are ____________ their pioneering products. The company’s ____________ is close to $100 billion a year.

     

     

    leader
    renowned
    share
    turnover
    consoles
    simple
    among
    tiny
    household
    combining

    PROJECT SONY

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

    Main products

     

     

     

    How to improve them

     

     

     

    A brand new ‘killer’ product

     

    How Sony 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.

    SONY – ROLE PLAY 1

    Role  A – Sony 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 – Sony 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 – Sony customer

    You are a customer of Sony. 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 Sony. 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.

    SONY – ROLE PLAY 2

    Role  A – Sony New Products Director

    You have created a new product for Sony. 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 Sony.

    Role  B – Sony 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 – Sony 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 – Sony Shareholder

    You know a lot about Sony’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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    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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    SONY SURVEY

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

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

    ANSWERS

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