Click here for the PDF handout or try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Harley Davidson. Click on the links below or see the activities below this article:
READ
Harley-Davidson is an American motorbike maker that has established a cult following for its machines. It was founded by William S. Harley and his childhood friend Arthur Davidson in 1901. They spent several years trying to make a motorbike that would sell. They started production in 1907 in their factory in Milwaukee, which is still the company headquarters today. The company has survived despite America’s Great Depression and competition from Japanese companies that finished off most of the world’s other motorcycle makers. Harley produces big bikes (over 750cc) designed for cruising. They have a distinctive Harley rumbling noise. The company has a very loyal following, which it develops through HOG – the Harley Owners Group. The company’s 2009 revenue was over $4 billion. Almost 5% of this was from the licensing of its logo.
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WORKSHEET ACTIVITIES
WARM-UPS
1. BRAINSTORM: Write all the words you can think of about Harley-Davidson on the board or on a piece of paper. Talk about these words with your partner(s).
2. HARLEY-DAVIDSON MORNING: Each student pretends to be an employee of Harley-Davidson. They walk around the class and talk about the company and their job.
3. RUMOURS:Each student writes down a pretend rumour about Harley-Davidson. They then walk around the class and talk to other students about their rumour.
4. GOOD AND BAD:Brainstorm good and bad things about Harley-Davidson and write them on the board. Students talk about these in pairs.
5. TRUE OR FALSE:Students find out several facts about Harley-Davidson. 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 Harley-Davidson. 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
Harley-Davidson is an American motorbike maker that _________________ cult following for its machines. It was founded by William S. Harley _________________ friend Arthur Davidson in 1901. They spent several years _________________ motorbike that would sell. They started production in 1907 in their factory in Milwaukee, which is _________________ headquarters today. The company has survived despite America’s Great Depression and competition from Japanese companies _________________ most of the world’s other motorcycle makers. Harley produces big bikes (over 750cc) ____________________. They have a distinctive Harley rumbling noise. The company has a very loyal following, which _________________ HOG – the Harley Owners Group. The company’s 2009 revenue was over $4 billion. Almost 5% of this was _________________ its logo.
CORRECT THE SPELLING
Harley-Davidson is an American motorbike maker that has established a cult wollgniof for its machines. It was founded by William S. Harley and his childhood friend Arthur Davidson in 1901. They spent eavrlse years trying to make a motorbike that would sell. They started production in 1907 in their fatyroc in Milwaukee, which is still the company headquarters today. The company has vresudvi despite America’s Great Depression and competition from Japanese companies that hidinfse off most of the world’s other motorcycle makers. Harley produces big bikes (over 750cc) designed for gncsruii. They have a distinctive Harley lbrinmgu noise. The company has a very oyall following, which it develops through HOG – the Harley Owners Group. The company’s 2009 vneeeru was over $4 billion. Almost 5% of this was from the nnlsieicg of its logo.
UNJUMBLE THE WORDS
Harley-Davidson is an American motorbike maker that established a cult following for has its machines. It was founded by William S. Harley and his childhood friend Arthur Davidson in 1901. spent trying several They years to make a motorbike that would sell. They started production in 1907 in their factory in Milwaukee, which is still the company headquarters today. The company has despite Depression America’s survived Great and competition companies Japanese from off finished that most of the world’s other motorcycle makers. Harley produces big bikes (over 750cc) designed for cruising. They Harley distinctive a have noise rumbling. The company following loyal very a has, which it develops through HOG – the Harley Owners Group. The company’s 2009 revenue was over $4 billion. Almost 5% of this was of licensing the from logo its.
harley-davidson is an american motorbike maker that has established a cult following for its machines it was founded by william s harley and his childhood friend arthur davidson in 1901 they spent several years trying to make a motorbike that would sell they started production in 1907 in their factory in milwaukee which is still the company headquarters today the company has survived despite america’s great depression and competition from japanese companies that finished off most of the world’s other motorcycle makers harley produces big bikes (over 750cc) designed for cruising they have a distinctive harley rumbling noise the company has a very loyal following which it develops through hog – the harley owners group the company’s 2009 revenue was over $4 billion almost 5% of this was from the licensing of its logo
CHOOSE THE CORRECT TENSE
Harley-Davidson .......... (be) an American motorbike maker that has .......... (establish) a cult following for its machines. It was .......... (found) by William S. Harley and his childhood friend Arthur Davidson in 1901. They spent several years trying to .......... (make) a motorbike that would sell. They .......... (start) production in 1907 in their factory in Milwaukee, which .......... (be) still the company headquarters today. The company has .......... (survive) despite America’s Great Depression and competition from Japanese companies that finished off most of the world’s other motorcycle makers. Harley .......... (produce) big bikes (over 750cc) designed for cruising. They .......... (have) a distinctive Harley rumbling noise. The company has a very loyal following, which it .......... (develop) through HOG – the Harley Owners Group. The company’s 2009 revenue was over $4 billion. Almost 5% of this .......... (be) from the licensing of its logo.
Harley-Davidson is an American motorbike maker that has established a ____________ following for its machines. It was founded by William S. Harley and his ____________ friend Arthur Davidson in 1901. They spent several years trying to make a motorbike that would sell. They started production in 1907 in their factory in Milwaukee, which is ____________ the company headquarters today. The company has survived ____________ America’s Great Depression and competition from Japanese companies that ____________ off most of the world’s other motorcycle makers. Harley produces big bikes (over 750cc) designed for ____________. They have a distinctive Harley rumbling ____________. The company has a very loyal following, which it ____________ through HOG – the Harley Owners Group. The company’s 2009 ____________ was over $4 billion. Almost 5% of this was from the licensing of its ____________.
still
noise
finished
develops
cult
logo
despite
revenue
cruising
childhood
PROJECT HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Part 1. Your mission is to increase the profits and sales of Harley-Davidson. Complete this table with your project partner(s):
Main products
How to improve them
A brand new ‘killer’ product
How Harley Davidson 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.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON – ROLE PLAY 1
Role A – Harley-Davidson 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 – Harley-Davidson 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 – Harley-Davidson customer
You are a customer of Harley-Davidson. 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 Harley-Davidson. 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.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON – ROLE PLAY 2
Role A – Harley-Davidson New Products Director
You have created a new product for Harley-Davidson. 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 Harley-Davidson.
Role B – Harley-Davidson 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 – Harley-Davidson 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 – Harley-Davidson Shareholder
You know a lot about Harley-Davidson’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 Harley-Davidson. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE:Write a magazine article about Harley-Davidson. 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. HARLEY-DAVIDSON POSTERMake a poster about Harley-Davidson. 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 HARLEY-DAVIDSON LESSON:Make your own English lesson on Harley-Davidson. 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 Harley-Davidson. Share your findings with the class.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in the article at the top of this page.
