| My
1,000 Ideas e-Book |
Breaking News EnglishHOME | HELP MY SITE | 000s MORE FREE LESSONS |
My
1,000 Ideas e-Book |
|
Date: Jun 1, 2007
THE ARTICLEEnglish soccer salaries set to break $2 billion barrierThe salaries of soccer players in England’s top level Premiership are set to break the $2bn barrier for the first time in the competition's history. This is according to the 16th edition of the “Annual Review of Football Finance”, carried out by accounting firm Deloitte. The report was launched on May 31st and is available online at just under $1,000. This in-depth guide to European soccer finances is packed with facts and figures and trends from all of Europe’s top-flight leagues. The section on salaries paid by English clubs shows a spiraling of wage demands by players and their agents. The London club Chelsea topped the payroll list, forking out a whopping $225m in salaries for its stars. Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool were next. Perhaps not coincidentally, all four teams regularly finish in the top four positions at the end of each season. The Premiership is currently the top-earning league in the world. However, Deloitte’s said that although salaries have been increasing at a rate of nine percent a year, the trend is unlikely to continue. It forecast that the wave of new, foreign ownership of clubs was likely to result in more restraint in spending. As is with the case of Manchester, its new American owners are saddled with huge debt repayments and costly stadium improvements. Deloitte's Paul Rawnsley suggested this would stop clubs from simply throwing money at players. He added: "Whilst wages will rise, clubs do have the opportunity to increase the importance of performance related pay structures.” He predicted this would have a positive knock-on effect, saying: "This will both insulate the business in future when on-pitch results are not so good, and also help motivate and reward players and management for winning." WARM-UPS1. FOOTBALL (SOCCER): Walk around the class and talk to other students about football (soccer) and money. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your original partner(s) and share what you found out. 2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently. 3. SALARIES: With your partner(s), decide how much people in these professions should earn. Change partners and tell each other your earnings. After you have finished, discuss which professions are most important. Are these the highest paid ones?
4. BIG MONEY: What would you like to earn big money for? Choose your top and bottom three from the table. Talk about these with your partner(s).
5. 2-MINUTE DEBATES: Have these fun, short debates. Change partners and topics often. Students A argue the first part; students B, the second.
6. SOCCER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with soccer. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories. BEFORE READING / LISTENING1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
WHILE READING / LISTENINGGAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text. English soccer salaries set to break $2 billion barrier
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The salaries of soccer players in England’s top _______ Premiership are set to break the $2bn barrier for the first ______ in the competition's history. This is according to the 16th ______ of the “Annual Review of Football Finance”, carried out by accounting firm Deloitte. The report was ______ on May 31st and is available online at just under $1,000. This in-depth ______ to European soccer finances is packed with facts and figures and trends from all of Europe’s top-flight leagues. The section on salaries paid by English clubs shows a ______ of wage demands by players and their agents. The London club Chelsea topped the payroll list, forking out a ______ $225m in salaries for its stars. Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool were next. Perhaps not ______, all four teams regularly finish in the top four positions at the end of each season. |
|
spiraling |
|
The Premiership is ________ the top-earning league in the world. However, Deloitte’s said that although salaries have been increasing at a rate of nine percent a year, the trend is unlikely to continue. It ________ that the wave of new, foreign ________ of clubs was likely to result in more restraint in spending. As is with the case of Manchester, its new American owners are saddled with huge ________ repayments and costly stadium improvements. Deloitte's Paul Rawnsley suggested this would stop clubs from simply ________ money at players. He added: "Whilst wages will rise, clubs do have the opportunity to increase the importance of performance ________ pay structures.” He predicted this would have a ________ knock-on effect, saying: "This will both insulate the business in future when on-pitch results are not so good, and also help motivate and ________ players and management for winning." |
|
related |
Listen and fill in the spaces.
__________________ soccer players in England’s top level Premiership are set to break the $2bn barrier for __________________ competition's history. __________________ the 16th edition of the “Annual Review of Football Finance”, carried out by accounting firm Deloitte. The report was launched on May 31st and is available online at just under $1,000. This __________________ European soccer finances is packed with facts and figures and trends from all of Europe’s top-flight leagues. The section on salaries paid by English clubs ______________________ demands by players and their agents. The London club Chelsea topped the payroll list, forking out a whopping $225m in salaries for its stars. Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool were next. Perhaps not coincidentally, all four teams regularly finish in the top four positions at __________________.
The Premiership is currently the top-earning __________________. However, Deloitte’s said that although salaries have been increasing __________________ percent a year, the trend is unlikely to continue. It forecast that the wave of new, foreign ownership __________________ result in more restraint in spending. As is with the case of Manchester, its new American owners ______________________ repayments and costly stadium improvements. Deloitte's Paul Rawnsley suggested this would stop clubs from _____________________ players. He added: "Whilst wages will rise, clubs do have the opportunity to increase the importance of performance related pay structures.” He predicted __________________ positive knock-on effect, saying: "This will both insulate the business in future when on-pitch _____________________, and also help motivate and reward players and management for winning."
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘break’ and ‘barrier’.
|
break |
barrier
|
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:
|
|
Write five GOOD questions about SALARIES 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. |
|
|
|
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.
ROLE PLAY:
Are soccer players paid too much? Team up with classmates who have the same role as you. Develop your roles and discuss ideas and “strategies”. Discuss whether a limit should be placed on soccer stars’ salaries.
|
Role A – SOCCER STAR You think the money you get is about right. You have a special talent no one else wants. People pay to see your talent. You are a top athlete. People have to understand you will have no salary after you are 35. THINK OF MORE REASONS WHY YOUR SALARY IS OK |
|
Role B – SOCCER FAN Your salary is low. You pay a lot of money to enter the stadium. You love your soccer team but you think many of the stars do not try hard enough. Your team loses too often. The players play badly or are injured. They should do more for the money they earn. THINK OF MORE THINGS STARTS CAN DO FOR THEIR MONEY |
|
Role C – PRIME MINISTER You are the prime minister of your country. You have a PhD. and worked very hard for many years. You have a lot or responsibility. Your salary is less than some 18-year-old soccer stars. This is totally ridiculous. THINK OF REASONS WHY SOCCER STARS ARE OVERPAID |
|
Role D – CEO OF SOCCER CLUB Your job is to win trophies, make money and keep your fans happy. You need the best players to do this. The best players are expensive. This is simple economics. THINK OF REASONS WHY SALARIES CAN NEVER BE TOO HIGH |
Change roles and repeat the role play. Comment in groups about the differences between the two role plays.
In pairs / groups, discuss whether you really believe in what you said while you were in your roles.
CORRECT WORD: Put the correct words from a–d below in the article.
The salaries of soccer players in England’s top level Premiership are set to break the $2bn barrier for the first time in the competition's history. This is (1) ____ to the 16th edition of the “Annual Review of Football Finance”, carried (2) ____ by accounting firm Deloitte. The report was launched on May 31st and is available online at just under $1,000. This (3) ____ -depth guide to European soccer finances is packed with facts and figures and trends from all of Europe’s top-flight leagues. The section on salaries paid by English clubs shows a (4) ____ of wage demands by players and their agents. The London club Chelsea topped the payroll list, (5) ____ out a whopping $225m in salaries for its stars. Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool were next. Perhaps (6) ____ coincidentally, all four teams regularly finish in the top four positions at the end of each season.
The Premiership is currently the top-earning league in the world. However, Deloitte’s said that although salaries have been increasing at a rate of nine percent a year, the trend is (7) ____ to continue. It forecast that the wave of new, foreign ownership of clubs was likely to result in more restraint in spending. (8) ____ is with the case of Manchester, its new American owners are saddled (9) ____ huge debt repayments and costly stadium improvements. Deloitte's Paul Rawnsley suggested this would stop clubs from (10) ____ throwing money at players. He added: "Whilst wages will rise, clubs do have the opportunity to increase the importance of performance (11) ____ pay structures.” He predicted this would have a positive knock-on effect, saying: "This will both insulate the business in future when on-pitch results are not so good, and also help motivate and reward players and management (12) ____ winning."
|
1. |
(a) |
reckoning |
(b) |
considering |
(c) |
according |
(d) |
research |
|
2. |
(a) |
out |
(b) |
in |
(c) |
under |
(d) |
over |
|
3. |
(a) |
deep |
(b) |
real |
(c) |
out |
(d) |
in |
|
4. |
(a) |
zigzagging |
(b) |
spiraling |
(c) |
springing |
(d) |
bouncing |
|
5. |
(a) |
forking |
(b) |
knifing |
(c) |
bowling |
(d) |
cupping |
|
6. |
(a) |
maybe |
(b) |
in |
(c) |
by |
(d) |
not |
|
7. |
(a) |
likely |
(b) |
similarly |
(c) |
unlikely |
(d) |
similarity |
|
8. |
(a) |
So |
(b) |
As |
(c) |
Because |
(d) |
This |
|
9. |
(a) |
wither |
(b) |
within |
(c) |
without |
(d) |
with |
|
10. |
(a) |
simply |
(b) |
easily |
(c) |
hardly |
(d) |
correctly |
|
11. |
(a) |
relation |
(b) |
relative |
(c) |
related |
(d) |
relations |
|
12. |
(a) |
are |
(b) |
for |
(c) |
with |
(d) |
by |
Write about sports salaries for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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: Search the Internet and find more information about England’s Premier League. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. SOCCCER POSTER: Make a poster about the different countries around the world that have top level soccer leagues. Show your poster to your class in the next lesson. Vote on the best one(s).
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about the role soccer plays in your country. Is it a big part of culture?
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?
5. LETTER: Write a letter to the head of England’s Premier League. Ask him three questions about soccer salaries being so high. Give him three pieces of advice about how to keep good players. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
TRUE / FALSE:
|
a. F |
b. F |
c. F |
d. T |
e. T |
f. F |
g. T |
h. F |
SYNONYM MATCH:
|
a. |
carried out |
conducted |
|
b. |
in-depth |
comprehensive |
|
c. |
forking out |
paying |
|
d. |
whopping |
huge |
|
e. |
coincidentally |
by chance |
|
f. |
trend |
movement |
|
g. |
restraint |
self-control |
|
h. |
saddled |
burdened |
|
i. |
insulate |
protect |
|
j. |
motivate |
spur on |
PHRASE MATCH:
|
a. |
for the first time in the |
competition's history |
|
b. |
packed with facts |
and figures and trends |
|
c. |
a spiraling of wage |
demands by players |
|
d. |
forking out a whopping |
$225m in salaries |
|
e. |
Perhaps not coincidentally, all four |
teams regularly finish in the top |
|
f. |
The Premiership is currently the top- |
earning league in the world |
|
g. |
more restraint |
in spending |
|
h. |
saddled with huge |
debt repayments |
|
i. |
stop clubs from simply throwing |
money at players |
|
j. |
insulate the business in future when |
on-pitch results are not so good |
GAP FILL:
The salaries of soccer players in England’s top level Premiership are set to break the $2bn barrier for the first time in the competition's history. This is according to the 16th edition of the “Annual Review of Football Finance”, carried out by accounting firm Deloitte. The report was launched on May 31st and is available online at just under $1,000. This in-depth guide to European soccer finances is packed with facts and figures and trends from all of Europe’s top-flight leagues. The section on salaries paid by English clubs shows a spiraling of wage demands by players and their agents. The London club Chelsea topped the payroll list, forking out a whopping $225m in salaries for its stars. Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool were next. Perhaps not coincidentally, all four teams regularly finish in the top four positions at the end of each season.
The Premiership is currently the top-earning league in the world. However, Deloitte’s said that although salaries have been increasing at a rate of nine percent a year, the trend is unlikely to continue. It forecast that the wave of new, foreign ownership of clubs was likely to result in more restraint in spending. As is with the case of Manchester, its new American owners are saddled with huge debt repayments and costly stadium improvements. Deloitte's Paul Rawnsley suggested this would stop clubs from simply throwing money at players. He added: "Whilst wages will rise, clubs do have the opportunity to increase the importance of performance related pay structures.” He predicted this would have a positive knock-on effect, saying: "This will both insulate the business in future when on-pitch results are not so good, and also help motivate and reward players and management for winning."
LANGUAGE WORK
|
1 - c |
2 - a |
3 - d |
4 -b |
5 - a |
6 -d |
7 - c |
8 -b |
9 -d |
10 - a |
11 -c |
12 - b |
| SHARE THIS LESSON: | RSS |