Click here for the PDF handout or try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Dell. Click on the links below or see the activities below this article:
READ
Dell Inc. is a multinational information technology company. It is best known for its competitively-priced computers and its original distribution methods. It was started by Michael Dell in 1984 under the name of PCs Limited. Dell was a student at the University of Texas and believed he could make money by making computers for and selling directly to his customers. He made $73 million in his first year by allowing customers to order their computers and choose design options. In 1996, Dell started selling computers via the Internet and his company became a serious contender in the PC market. In 2002, Dell moved into making televisions, music players and printers. Dell is committed to innovation and green technologies. It is working towards being “the greenest technology company on the planet”.
SEE A SAMPLE Mail this business English lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
WORKSHEET ACTIVITIES
WARM-UPS
1. BRAINSTORM: Write all the words you can think of about Dell on the board or on a piece of paper. Talk about these words with your partner(s).
2. DELL MORNING: Each student pretends to be an employee of Dell. They walk around the class and talk about the company and their job.
3. RUMOURS:Each student writes down a pretend rumour about Dell. They then walk around the class and talk to other students about their rumour.
4. GOOD AND BAD:Brainstorm good and bad things about Dell and write them on the board. Students talk about these in pairs.
5. TRUE OR FALSE:Students find out several facts about Dell. 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 Dell. 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
Dell Inc. is _________________________ technology company. It is best known for its competitively-priced computers and its _________________________. It was started by Michael Dell in 1984 ____________________ PCs Limited. Dell was a student at the University of Texas and believed he could _________________________ computers for and selling directly to his customers. He made $73 million in his first year ___________________ to order their computers _________________________. In 1996, Dell started selling computers via the Internet and his company became _________________________ the PC market. In 2002, Dell moved into making televisions, music players and printers. Dell is committed to innovation and green technologies. It is working _________________________ technology company on the planet”.
CORRECT THE SPELLING
Dell Inc. is a ionanmiutlalt information technology company. It is best known for its competitively-pcired computers and its original distribution shdetom. It was started by Michael Dell in 1984 under the name of PCs Limited. Dell was a student at the University of Texas and eviebdle he could make money by making computers for and selling ltdcreiy to his customers. He made $73 million in his first year by gilaowln customers to order their computers and choose design ioopsnt. In 1996, Dell started selling computers via the Internet and his company became a iuesrso contender in the PC market. In 2002, Dell moved into making televisions, music players and printers. Dell is committed to otiivnnona and green technologies. It is working towards being “the seneretg technology company on the planet”.
UNJUMBLE THE WORDS
Dell Inc. is a multinational information technology company. its It best for competitively is known-priced computers distribution its methods original and. It was started by Michael Dell name PCs 1984 the of in under Limited. Dell was a student at the University of Texas and believed he could computers making by money make for and selling directly to his customers. He made $73 million in his to customers allowing by year first order options design choose and computers their. In 1996, Dell started selling computers via the Internet and his company became a serious contender in the PC market. In 2002, Dell moved into making televisions, music players and printers. Dell is committed to innovation and green technologies. It is working towards being “the planet greenest technology company on the”.
dell inc is a multinational information technology company it is best known for its competitively-priced computers and its original distribution methods it was started by michael dell in 1984 under the name of pcs limited dell was a student at the university of texas and believed he could make money by making computers for and selling directly to his customers he made $73 million in his first year by allowing customers to order their computers and choose design options in 1996 dell started selling computers via the internet and his company became a serious contender in the pc market in 2002 dell moved into making televisions music players and printers dell is committed to innovation and green technologies it is working towards being “the greenest technology company on the planet”
CHOOSE THE CORRECT TENSE
Dell Inc. .......... (be) a multinational information technology company. It is best .......... (know) for its competitively-priced computers and its original distribution methods. It .......... (be) started by Michael Dell in 1984 under the name of PCs Limited. Dell was a student at the University of Texas and .......... (believe) he .......... (can) make money by making computers for and selling directly to his customers. He .......... (make) $73 million in his first year by allowing customers to order their computers and .......... (choose) design options. In 1996, Dell .......... (start) selling computers via the Internet and his company became a serious contender in the PC market. In 2002, Dell .......... (move) into making televisions, music players and printers. Dell is .......... (commit) to innovation and green technologies. It is .......... (work) towards being “the greenest technology company on the planet”.
Dell Inc. is a multinational information technology company. It is best ____________ for its competitively-priced computers and its original distribution ____________. It was started by Michael Dell in 1984 under the name of PCs Limited. Dell was a student at the University of Texas and believed he could ____________ money by making computers for and selling ____________ to his customers. He made $73 million in his first year by allowing customers to ____________ their computers and choose design ____________. In 1996, Dell started selling computers via the Internet and his company became a ____________ contender in the PC market. In 2002, Dell moved into making televisions, music players and printers. Dell is ____________ to innovation and green technologies. It is working towards ____________ “the greenest technology company on the ____________”.
directly
known
order
being
make
serious
planet
methods
committed
options
PROJECT DELL
Part 1. Your mission is to increase the profits and sales of Dell. Complete this table with your project partner(s):
Main products
How to improve them
A brand new ‘killer’ product
How Dell 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.
DELL – ROLE PLAY 1
Role A – Dell 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 – Dell 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 – Dell customer
You are a customer of Dell. 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 Dell. 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.
DELL – ROLE PLAY 2
Role A – Dell New Products Director
You have created a new product for Dell. 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 Dell.
Role B – Dell 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 – Dell 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 – Dell Shareholder
You know a lot about Dell’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.
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
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 Dell. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE:Write a magazine article about Dell. 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. DELL POSTERMake a poster about Dell. 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 DELL LESSON:Make your own English lesson on Dell. 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 Dell. Share your findings with the class.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in the article at the top of this page.
