Click here for the PDF handout or try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Nike. Click on the links below or see the activities below this article:
READ
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.
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.
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.
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 POSTERMake 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
Check your answers in the article at the top of this page.
