Business Business English English Materials Materials

BUSINESS
ENGLISH
M A T E R I A L S .com
NIKE
http://www.BusinessEnglishMaterials.com/nike.html
CONTENTS
2.
Listening/Reading script
12.
Project
3.
Warm-ups
13.
Role play 1
4.
Gap fill
14.
Role play 2
5.
Correct the spelling
15.
Job interview role play
6.
Unjumble the words
16.
Discussion
7.
Insert the vowels
17.
Survey
8.
Punctuate the text
18.
Speed writing
9.
Choose the correct tense
19.
Letter of complaint
10.
Rewrite with spaces
20.
Letter of apology
11.
Choose the correct word
21.
Homework
Follow me: http://twitter.com/SeanBanville
THE LISTENING / READING SCRIPT

From: http://www.businessenglishmaterials.com/nike.html
Nike is one of the worlds 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 Ribbons first product was a soccer shoe
called Nike. A major factor in Nikes success is its
sponsorship of top sports stars. Tennis ace Ilie Nastase
was the first. Subsequent tie-ups with superstars like
basketballs Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods
accelerated Nikes 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.
More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

Copyright 2010 Sean Banville
WARM UPS
1. BRAINSTORM CHAT: 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
Ribbons __________________________ soccer shoe
called
Nike.
major
__________________________
Tennis
ace
Ilie
Nastase
__________________________
factor
of
in
Nikes
sports
stars.
the
first.
superstars
like
top
was
with

__________________________ that its products are
made by children and workers paid below the legal
__________________________.
CORRECT THE SPELLING

Nike is one of the worlds leading wrsosrpate and

ehilttac shoes. The company was founded in 1964 by Bill
Ribbon Sports but that daenhgc to Nike in 1978. Nike is
the Greek goddess of iotrycv. It is famous for its slogan,
1971. Blue Ribbons first product was a soccer shoe
called Nike. A major cafotr in Nikes usesccs is its
was the first. Subsequent tie-ups with superstars like
basketballs Michael Jordan and goerlf Tiger Woods
accelerated Nikes 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 worlds sportswear one the leading and

athletic shoes. company The Bill by 1964 in founded was
Ribbon 1978 Sports but that changed to Nike in. Nike is
the Greek goddess of victory. It is famous for its slogan,
1971. was product first Ribbons Blue shoe soccer a
called Nike. Nikes in factor major A its is success
was the first. like tie ups superstars Subsequent - with
criticism its defend against that products itself are made
by children workers below legal and paid the minimum
wage in sweatshops.

INSERT THE VOWELS

N_ k_ _ s _ n_ _ f th_ w_ rlds l_ _ d_ ng sp_ rtsw_ _ r

_ nd
_ q_ _ pm_ nt
m_ n_ f_ ct_ r_ rs.
_t
l_ _ ds
w_ rld _ n s_ l_ s _ f _ thl_ t_ c sh_ _ s. Th_

w_ s
f_ _ nd_ d
_n
1964
by
B_ ll
th_
c_ mp_ ny
B_ w_ rm_ n
_ nd
Ph_ l_ p Kn_ ght. _ ts f_ rst n_ m_ w_ s Bl_ _ R_ bb_ n

Sp_ rts b_ t th_ t ch_ ng_ d t_ N_ k_ _ n 1978. N_ k_
_ s th_ Gr_ _ k g_ dd_ ss _ f v_ ct_ ry. _ t _ s f_ m_ _ s
f_ r _ ts sl_ g_ n, J_ st D_ _ t _ nd th_ Sw_ _ sh l_ g_ ,
wh_ ch N_ k_
f_ rst _ s_ d _ n 1971. Bl_ _
R_ bb_ ns
f_ rst pr_ d_ ct w_ s _ s_ cc_ r sh_ _ c_ ll_ d N_ k_ . _

m_ j_ r
f_ ct_ r
_n
N_ k_ s
s_ cc_ ss
_s
_ ts
sp_ ns_ rsh_ p _ f t_ p sp_ rts st_ rs. T_ nn_ s _ c_ _ l_ _

N_ st_ s_ w_ s th_ f_ rst. S_ bs_ q_ _ nt t_ _ -_ ps w_ th
s_ p_ rst_ rs l_ k_ b_ sk_ tb_ lls M_ ch_ _ l J_ rd_ n _ nd
g_ lf_ r T_ g_ r W_ _ ds _ cc_ l_ r_ t_ d N_ k_ s c_ rp_ r_ t_
s_ cc_ ss. N_ k_ h_ s h_ d t_ d_ f_ nd _ ts_ lf _ g_ _ nst
cr_ t_ c_ sm
ch_ ldr_ n
th_ t
_ nd
_ ts
pr_ d_ cts
w_ rk_ rs
p_ _ d
_ r_
b_ l_ w
m_ d_
th_
by
l_ g_ l
m_ n_ m_ m w_ g_ _ n sw_ _ tsh_ ps.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

nike is one of the worlds 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 ribbons first product was a soccer shoe called nike a
major factor in nikes success is its sponsorship of top
sports
stars
subsequent
tennis
tie-ups
ace
with
ilie
nastase
superstars
was
like
the
first
basketballs
michael jordan and golfer tiger woods accelerated nikes

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 worlds 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 Ribbons first product .......... (be) a
soccer shoe called Nike. A major factor in Nikes success
.......... (be) its sponsorship of top sports stars. Tennis
ace Ilie Nastase .......... (be) the first. Subsequent tie-ups
with superstars like basketballs Michael Jordan and
golfer Tiger Woods .......... (accelerate) Nikes 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.
REWRITE WITH SPACES

Nikeisoneoftheworldsleadingsportswearandequipmentmanufacturers.Itleadst
heworldinsalesofathleticshoes.Thecompanywasfoundedin1964byBillBowerma
nandPhilipKnight.ItsfirstnamewasBlueRibbonSportsbutthatchangedtoNikein1
978.NikeistheGreekgoddessofvictory.Itisfamousforitsslogan,JustDoItandthe
Swooshlogo,whichNikefirstusedin1971.BlueRibbonsfirstproductwasasoccersh
oecalledNike.AmajorfactorinNikessuccessisitssponsorshipoftopsportsstars.Te
nnisaceIlieNastasewasthefirst.SubsequenttieupswithsuperstarslikebasketballsMichaelJordanandgolferTigerWoodsaccelera
tedNikescorporatesuccess.Nikehashadtodefenditselfagainstcriticismthatitspro
ductsaremadebychildrenandworkerspaidbelowthelegalminimumwageinsweats
hops.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

10
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Nike
is
one
of
the
worlds
____________
sportswear and equipment manufacturers. It

leads the world in sales of athletic shoes. The
success
goddess
logo
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 Ribbons first
product was a soccer shoe called Nike. A major
leading
accelerated
criticism
sweatshops
slogan
tie-ups
founded
factor in Nikes ____________ is its sponsorship

of top sports stars. Tennis ace Ilie Nastase was
the
first.
Subsequent
____________
with
superstars like basketballs Michael Jordan and

golfer
Tiger
Woods
____________
Nikes
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 ____________.
11
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.
12
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 its a bad company to work for. Youre very unhappy
with pay, raises and bonuses. You are very unhappy with the
working environment. You dont like the companys 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.

13
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 companys 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 companys 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 theres 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 dont 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 Nikes 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 dont agree with C. The new product should not go on the
market.

14
JOB INTERVIEW ROLE PLAY

INTERVIEWER (Write the questions you want to ask the candidate.)
1.
________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________
4.
________________________________________________________
5.
________________________________________________________
6.
________________________________________________________
Copyright www.BusinessEnglishMaterials.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------JOB INTERVIEW ROLE PLAY

INTERVIEWEE (Write questions you want to ask the interviewer.)
1.
________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________
4.
________________________________________________________
5.
________________________________________________________
6.
________________________________________________________

15
DISCUSSION
(Write your own questions)
STUDENT As QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________
4.
________________________________________________________
5.
________________________________________________________
6.
________________________________________________________
Copyright www.BusinessEnglishMaterials.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------DISCUSSION
(Write your own questions)
STUDENT Bs QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.
________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________
4.
________________________________________________________
5.
________________________________________________________
6.
________________________________________________________

16
NIKE SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about Nike 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
STUDENT 2
STUDENT 3
_____________
_____________
_____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found
out. Change partners often.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

17
WRITING 1 SPEED WRITING

Write anything about Nike for 10 minutes. Show your

partner your paper. Correct each others work.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

18
WRITING 2 LETTER OF COMPLAINT

Write a letter to Nike. Complain about one of its products.

Ask for a refund. Show your partner your paper. Correct
each others work.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

19
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 others work.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

20
HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words
from the text. Use a dictionary or Googles 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 POSTER Make 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.

21

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BUSINESS

Correct the spelling

Job interview role play

Unjumble the words

Insert the vowels

Punctuate the text

Choose the correct tense

Rewrite with spaces

Choose the correct word

Follow me: http://twitter.com/SeanBanville

THE LISTENING / READING SCRIPT

Nike is one of the worlds leading sportswear and

More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

1. BRAINSTORM CHAT: Write all the words you can think of

More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

LISTENING / READING GAP FILL

Nike is one of the __________________________ and

company was founded in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and

basketballs Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods

CORRECT THE SPELLING

Nike is one of the worlds leading wrsosrpate and

More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

Nike is of worlds sportswear one the leading and

More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

INSERT THE VOWELS

N_ k_ _ s _ n_ _ f th_ w_ rlds l_ _ d_ ng sp_ rtsw_ _ r

w_ rld _ n s_ l_ s _ f _ thl_ t_ c sh_ _ s. Th_

Ph_ l_ p Kn_ ght. _ ts f_ rst n_ m_ w_ s Bl_ _ R_ bb_ n

f_ rst _ s_ d _ n 1971. Bl_ _

f_ rst pr_ d_ ct w_ s _ s_ cc_ r sh_ _ c_ ll_ d N_ k_ . _

sp_ ns_ rsh_ p _ f t_ p sp_ rts st_ rs. T_ nn_ s _ c_ _ l_ _

m_ n_ m_ m w_ g_ _ n sw_ _ tsh_ ps.

More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

nike is one of the worlds leading sportswear and

michael jordan and golfer tiger woods accelerated nikes

More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

CHOOSE THE CORRECT TENSE

Nike .......... (be) one of the worlds leading sportswear

REWRITE WITH SPACES

More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

sportswear and equipment manufacturers. It

company was ____________ in 1964 by Bill

factor in Nikes ____________ is its sponsorship

superstars like basketballs Michael Jordan and

corporate success. Nike has had to defend itself

How to beat the

NIKE ROLE PLAY 1

Role A Nike CEO

More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

NIKE ROLE PLAY 2

Role A Nike New Products Director

More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

JOB INTERVIEW ROLE PLAY

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------JOB INTERVIEW ROLE PLAY

More free lesson plans and listenings at BusinessEnglishMaterials.com

(Write your own questions)