Click here for the PDF handout or try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Nintendo. Click on the links below or see the activities below this article:
READ
Nintendo is a Japan-based multinational video game manufacturer and developer. It was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi as a maker of Japanese handmade hanafuda cards. The company tried various industries over the next century before turning to toys in 1966 and video games in 1977. It became one of the most popular and most influential in the world. It is also Japan’s third most valuable company, with a value of almost $100 billion. The company website says ‘Nintendo’ means ‘Leave luck to Heaven’. A game developer called Shigeru Miyamoto was hired by Nintendo and he changed the company’s fortunes with successes like Donkey Kong and Super Mario. Miyamoto is now a gaming superstar. The introduction of the Nintendo DS and the Wii game console further established Nintendo as a major player.
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WORKSHEET ACTIVITIES
WARM-UPS
1. BRAINSTORM: Write all the words you can think of about Nintendo on the board or on a piece of paper. Talk about these words with your partner(s).
2. NINTENDO MORNING: Each student pretends to be an employee of Nintendo. They walk around the class and talk about the company and their job.
3. RUMOURS:Each student writes down a pretend rumour about Nintendo. They then walk around the class and talk to other students about their rumour.
4. GOOD AND BAD:Brainstorm good and bad things about Nintendo and write them on the board. Students talk about these in pairs.
5. TRUE OR FALSE:Students find out several facts about Nintendo. 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 Nintendo. 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
Nintendo is _______________________ video game manufacturer and developer. It was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi as a _______________________ hanafuda cards. The company _______________________ the next century before ___________________ 1966 and video games in 1977. It became one of the most _______________________ in the world. It is also Japan’s third most valuable company, with a value of almost $100 billion. The company website says ‘Nintendo’ means ‘Leave luck to Heaven’. A game developer called Shigeru Miyamoto was hired by Nintendo and he changed the company’s _______________________ like Donkey Kong and Super Mario. Miyamoto is _______________________. The introduction of the Nintendo DS and the Wii game _______________________ Nintendo as a major player.
CORRECT THE SPELLING
Nintendo is a Japan-based multinational video game manufacturer and deeeorlvp. It was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi as a maker of Japanese handmade hanafuda cards. The company tried oisvrua industries over the next century before nrgtniu to toys in 1966 and video games in 1977. It became one of the most popular and most nlituaenifl in the world. It is also Japan’s third most avaebull company, with a value of almost $100 billion. The company website says ‘Nintendo’ means ‘Leave luck to ’Haneev. A game developer called Shigeru Miyamoto was hired by Nintendo and he changed the company’s etnfrous with successes like Donkey Kong and Super Mario. Miyamoto is now a gaming asrrtpues. The introduction of the Nintendo DS and the Wii game nlocsoe further slbadsetihe Nintendo as a major player.
UNJUMBLE THE WORDS
Nintendo is game video multinational based - Japan a manufacturer and developer. It was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro a of handmade as maker Japanese Yamauchihanafuda cards. The company tried various industries before next over toys turning century the in to 1966 and video games in 1977. It became one of the most popular and world the in influential most. It is also Japan’s third most valuable company, with a value of almost $100 billion. ‘ means company says Nintendo’ The website ‘Leave luck to Heaven’. A game developer called Shigeru was Miyamoto changed he and Nintendo by hired the company’s fortunes with successes like Donkey Kong and Super Mario. superstar Miyamoto is now a gaming. The introduction of the Nintendo DS and the Wii game console as further a established major Nintendo player.
nintendo is a japan-based multinational video game manufacturer and developer it was founded in 1889 by fusajiro yamauchi as a maker of japanese handmade hanafuda cards the company tried various industries over the next century before turning to toys in 1966 and video games in 1977 it became one of the most popular and most influential in the world it is also japan’s third most valuable company with a value of almost $100 billion the company website says ‘nintendo’ means ‘leave luck to heaven’ a game developer called shigeru miyamoto was hired by nintendo and he changed the company’s fortunes with successes like donkey kong and super mario miyamoto is now a gaming superstar the introduction of the nintendo ds and the wii game console further established nintendo as a major player
CHOOSE THE CORRECT TENSE
Nintendo .......... (be) a Japan-based multinational video game manufacturer and developer. It was .......... (found) in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi as a maker of Japanese handmade hanafuda cards. The company .......... (try) various industries over the next century before .......... (turn) to toys in 1966 and video games in 1977. It .......... (become) one of the most popular and most influential in the world. It .......... (be) also Japan’s third most valuable company, with a value of almost $100 billion. The company website .......... (say) ‘Nintendo’ means ‘Leave luck to Heaven’. A game developer .......... (call) Shigeru Miyamoto was .......... (hire) by Nintendo and he .......... (change) the company’s fortunes with successes like Donkey Kong and Super Mario. Miyamoto .......... (be) now a gaming superstar. The introduction of the Nintendo DS and the Wii game console further .......... (establish) Nintendo as a major player.
Nintendo is a Japan-based multinational video game manufacturer and ____________. It was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi as a maker of Japanese ____________ hanafuda cards. The company tried ____________ industries over the next century before ____________ to toys in 1966 and video games in 1977. It became one of the most popular and most ____________ in the world. It is also Japan’s third most ____________ company, with a value of almost $100 billion. The company website says ‘Nintendo’ means ‘Leave luck to Heaven’. A game developer called Shigeru Miyamoto was ____________ by Nintendo and he changed the company’s ____________ with successes like Donkey Kong and Super Mario. Miyamoto is now a gaming ____________. The introduction of the Nintendo DS and the Wii game console further established Nintendo as a ____________ player.
various
valuable
turning
fortunes
handmade
major
influential
developer
superstar
hired
PROJECT NINTENDO
Part 1. Your mission is to increase the profits and sales of Nintendo. Complete this table with your project partner(s):
Main products
How to improve them
A brand new ‘killer’ product
How Nintendo 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.
NINTENDO – ROLE PLAY 1
Role A – Nintendo 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 – Nintendo 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 – Nintendo customer
You are a customer of Nintendo. 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 Nintendo. 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.
NINTENDO – ROLE PLAY 2
Role A – Nintendo New Products Director
You have created a new product for Nintendo. 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 Nintendo.
Role B – Nintendo 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 – Nintendo 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 – Nintendo Shareholder
You know a lot about Nintendo’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.
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 Nintendo. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE:Write a magazine article about Nintendo. 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. NINTENDO POSTERMake a poster about Nintendo. 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 NINTENDO LESSON:Make your own English lesson on Nintendo. 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 Nintendo. Share your findings with the class.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in the article at the top of this page.
