The Reading / Listening - Carlos Ghosn - Level 6

Carlos Ghosn, one of the best-known leaders in the automotive industry, has announced that he will step down as Nissan Motor's president and CEO, effective April 1. The hugely successful Mr Ghosn will remain with the company as chairman to oversee a wider group of carmakers that, in addition to Nissan, includes France's Renault and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors. Ghosn told reporters: "I'm stepping down as the CEO because it's the right moment and I have the right team. I think after 16 years as CEO and 18 years taking care of Nissan, I can say today that what I can bring to Nissan, I have already brought." He added: "Nissan is profitable, financially healthy, with a clear strategy."

Carlos Ghosn joined Nissan as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 1999, after Renault purchased a stake in the Japanese automaker. He became president in 2000 and was named CEO the following year. He is credited with turning around Nissan by producing attractive new cars and models and cutting costs. His cost-cutting strategies earned him the nickname "The Cost Killer". Following the turnaround of Nissan, Fortune magazine awarded him Asia Businessman of the Year in 2002. A year later, the magazine named him as one of the 10 most powerful people in business outside the USA. He became a celebrity in Japan, where his life story has been depicted in a manga comic book.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Carlos Ghosn - Level 4  or  Carlos Ghosn - Level 5

Sources
  • http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Nissan-s-Ghosn-shifts-from-CEO-to-guardian-of-alliance
  • http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/02/23/business/corporate-business/ghosn-taps-veteran-nissan-exec-saikawa-replace-ceo/
  • http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1109016_carlos-ghosn-steps-down-as-ceo-of-nissan
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Ghosn


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. CEOs: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about CEOs. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       best / automotive industry / successful / stepping down / profitable / healthy / strategy
       stake / president / credited / cost-cutting / nickname / turnaround / magazine / manga

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. CEO: Students A strongly believe the CEO is the most important person in the company; Students B strongly believe he/she isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. CARMAKERS: What do you know about these carmakers? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

General

Models

Image

Reliability

Price

Nissan

 

 

 

 

 

Renault

 

 

 

 

 

Rolls Royce

 

 

 

 

 

Ferrari

 

 

 

 

 

Chevrolet

 

 

 

 

 

Volvo

 

 

 

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. CAR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "car". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. LEADER: Rank these with your partner. Put the things most needed by a company CEO at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • time management skills
  • likeability
  • qualifications
  • luck
  • sense of humour
  • intelligence
  • discipline
  • fearlessness

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Carlos Ghosn is the best known leader in the automotive industry.     T / F
  2. Mr Ghosn will step down as Nissan CEO at the end of this year.     T / F
  3. Mr Ghosn will take up a new position looking after three car makers.     T / F
  4. Mr Ghosn said Nissan needs a much clearer strategy to be profitable.     T / F
  5. Mr Ghosn joined Nissan last century.     T / F
  6. Mr Ghosn had the nickname 'The Cost Killer'.     T / F
  7. Fortune magazine name Ghosn Asian Businessman of the Year in 2012.   T / F
  8. In Japan, there is a manga comic book on Mr Ghosn's life story.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. announced
  2. effective
  3. remain
  4. stepping down
  5. healthy
  6. stake
  7. named
  8. earned
  9. awarded
  10. depicted
  1. stay
  2. gave
  3. resigning
  4. share
  5. appointed
  6. made public
  7. portrayed
  8. in good shape
  9. in force
  10. gained

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. one of the best-known leaders in the
  2. hugely
  3. oversee a
  4. it's the right
  5. a clear
  6. Renault purchased
  7. He is credited with
  8. earned him the nickname
  9. He became a
  10. his life story has been depicted
  1. celebrity in Japan
  2. moment
  3. strategy
  4. successful
  5. turning around Nissan
  6. in a manga comic
  7. automotive industry
  8. a stake
  9. "The Cost Killer"
  10. wider group of carmakers

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
stepping
profitable
announced
oversee
strategy
effective
moment
addition

Carlos Ghosn, one of the best-known leaders in the automotive industry, has (1) ____________ that he will step down as Nissan Motor's president and CEO, (2) ____________ April 1. The hugely successful Mr Ghosn will remain with the company as chairman to (3) ____________ a wider group of carmakers that, in (4) ____________ to Nissan, includes France's Renault and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors. Ghosn told reporters: "I'm (5) ____________ down as the CEO because it's the right (6) ____________ and I have the right team. I think after 16 years as CEO and 18 years taking care of Nissan, I can say today that what I can bring to Nissan, I have already brought." He added: "Nissan is (7) ____________, financially healthy, with a clear (8) ____________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
named
awarded
attractive
depicted
stake
celebrity
credited
nickname

Carlos Ghosn joined Nissan as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 1999, after Renault purchased a (9) ____________ in the Japanese automaker. He became president in 2000 and was (10) ____________ CEO the following year. He is (11) ____________ with turning around Nissan by producing (12) ____________ new cars and models and cutting costs. His cost-cutting strategies earned him the (13) ____________ "The Cost Killer". Following the turnaround of Nissan, Fortune magazine (14) ____________ him Asia Businessman of the Year in 2002. A year later, the magazine named him as one of the 10 most powerful people in business outside the USA. He became a (15) ____________ in Japan, where his life story has been (16) ____________ in a manga comic book.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  announced that he will step down as Nissan Motor's president and CEO, ______
     a.  effectively April 1
     b.  affective April 1
     c.  affected April 1
     d.  effective April 1

2)  Ghosn will remain with the company as chairman to oversee ______
     a.  a widen group
     b.  a wider group
     c.  a whiter group
     d.  a wither group

3)  Ghosn told reporters: "I'm stepping down as the CEO because it's ______."
     a.  the right moment
     b.  the right moments
     c.  a right momentary
     d.  a right moment

4)  I can say today that what I can bring to Nissan, I have ______
     a.  already bought
     b.  already wrought
     c.  already brought
     d.  already broad

5)  Nissan is profitable, financially healthy, with ______
     a.  a clear strut agree
     b.  a clear strata gee
     c.  a clear stratagem
     d.  a clear strategy

6)  joined Nissan as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 1999, after Renault ______
     a.  purchased a steak
     b.  purchased a strike
     c.  purchased a stake
     d.  purchased a stoke

7)  He became president in 2000 and was ______
     a.  name CEO
     b.  names CEO
     c.  named CEO
     d.  naming CEO

8)  His cost-cutting strategies earned him the nickname "______"
     a.  The Costly Killer
     b.  The Cost Killing
     c.  The Cost Killer
     d.  The Costs Killer

9)  the magazine named him as one of the 10 most powerful people in business ______
     a.  inside the USA
     b.  onside the USA
     c.  offside the USA
     d.  outside the USA

10)  He became a celebrity in Japan, where his life story has been _____ manga comic book
     a.  despised in a
     b.  detracted in a
     c.  depicted in a
     d.  delisted in a

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Carlos Ghosn, (1) ___________________-known leaders in the automotive industry, has announced that he (2) ___________________ Nissan Motor's president and CEO, effective April 1. The hugely successful Mr Ghosn will remain with the company as chairman (3) ___________________ wider group of carmakers that, in addition to Nissan, includes France's Renault and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors. Ghosn told reporters: "I'm stepping down as the CEO because it's (4) ___________________ and I have the right team. I think after 16 years as CEO and 18 years taking care of Nissan, I can say today that what I can bring to Nissan, I (5) ___________________." He added: "Nissan is profitable, financially healthy, (6) ___________________ strategy."

Carlos Ghosn joined Nissan as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 1999, after Renault purchased (7) ___________________ Japanese automaker. He became president in 2000 and was named CEO (8) ___________________. He is credited with turning around Nissan by producing attractive new cars and models (9) ___________________. His cost-cutting strategies earned him the nickname "The Cost Killer". Following (10) ___________________ Nissan, Fortune magazine awarded him Asia Businessman of the Year in 2002. A year later, the magazine named him (11) ___________________ 10 most powerful people in business outside the USA. He became a celebrity in Japan, where his life story has been (12) ___________________ manga comic book.

Comprehension questions

  1. What industry did the article say Carlos Ghosn was a leader in?
  2. From when will Carlos Ghosn's resignation be effective?
  3. How many companies will Mr Ghosn oversee as chairman?
  4. For how long has Carlos Ghosn worked at Nissan?
  5. What kind of strategy did Mr Ghosn say Nissan had?
  6. What position did Mr Ghosn take up in 1999?
  7. When did Carlos Ghosn become CEO?
  8. What was Carlos Ghosn's nickname?
  9. When was Carlos Ghosn named as Asian Businessman of the Year?
  10. What king of book was Carlos Ghosn's life story in?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What industry did the article say Carlos Ghosn was a leader in?
a) Mitsubishi
b) a group industry
c) the leadership industry
d) the automotive industry

2) From when will Carlos Ghosn's resignation be effective?
a) December 1
b) April 1
c) June 1
d) October 1

3) How many companies will Mr Ghosn oversee as chairman?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

4) For how long has Carlos Ghosn worked at Nissan?
a) 18 years
b) 16 years
c) 12 years
d) 8 years

5) What kind of strategy did Mr Ghosn say Nissan had?
a) a brave one
b) a clever one
c) a clear one
d) a bold one

6) What position did Mr Ghosn take up in 1999?
a) CCO
b) COO
c) CEO
d) CFO

7) When did Carlos Ghosn become CEO?
a) 2001
b) 1998
c) 1999
d) 2000

8) What was Carlos Ghosn's nickname?
a) The Cost Killer
b) The Cost Cutter
c) The Cost Culler
d) The Cost Coster

9) When was Carlos Ghosn named as Asian Businessman of the Year?
a) 2000
b) 2001
c) 2002
d) 2012

10) In what king of book was Carlos Ghosn's life story in?
a) his autobiography
b) a manga
c) an encyclopaedia
d) The History of Nissan

Role play

Role A — A Sense of Humour

You think a sense of humour is the thing most needed by CEOs. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): fearlessness, likeability or luck.

Role B — Fearlessness

You think fearlessness is the thing most needed by CEOs. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a sense of humour, likeability or luck.

Role C — Likeability

You think likeability is the thing most needed by CEOs. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): fearlessness, a sense of humour or luck.

Role D — Luck

You think luck is the thing most needed by CEOs. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): fearlessness, likeability or a sense of humour.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'step'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'down'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    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 how they were used in the text:

    • stake
    • around
    • earned
    • awarded
    • 10
    • book
    • best
    • effective
    • wider
    • because
    • bring
    • clear

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Carlos Ghosn to step down as Nissan boss

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the abbreviation 'CEO'?
    3. What business leaders do you know?
    4. What do you know about Carlos Ghosn?
    5. What does it take to become a CEO?
    6. Why are Japanese cars so popular?
    7. What's the difference between a CEO and a chairman?
    8. How important is the CEO in a company?
    9. What would it be like to be CEO of a car-making giant?
    10. What advice do you have for Carlos Ghosn?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'chairman'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about Nissan?
    5. What's the difference between a CEO and a COO?
    6. How do you turn around a car company and turn losses into profits?
    7. Are men or women better CEOs?
    8. Who is your favourite business leader?
    9. What kind of CEO would you be?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Carlos Ghosn?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Carlos Ghosn, one of the best-known leaders in the (1) ____ industry, has announced that he will step down as Nissan Motor's president and CEO, (2) ____ April 1. The hugely successful Mr Ghosn will remain (3) ____ the company as chairman to oversee a wider group of carmakers that, in addition to Nissan, includes France's Renault and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors. Ghosn told reporters: "I'm stepping down (4) ____ the CEO because it's the right moment and I have the right team. I think after 16 years (5) ____ CEO and 18 years taking care of Nissan, I can say today that what I can bring to Nissan, I have already brought." He added: "Nissan is profitable, financially healthy, with a (6) ____ strategy."

    Carlos Ghosn joined Nissan as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 1999, after Renault purchased a (7) ____ in the Japanese automaker. He became president in 2000 and was named CEO the (8) ____ year. He is credited with turning around Nissan by producing attractive new cars and models and cutting costs. His cost-cutting strategies (9) ____ him the nickname "The Cost Killer". Following the turnaround of Nissan, Fortune magazine (10) ____ him Asia Businessman of the Year in 2002. A year later, the magazine (11) ____ him as one of the 10 most powerful people in business outside the USA. He became a celebrity in Japan, where his life story has been (12) ____ in a manga comic book.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     autos     (b)     automated     (c)     automotive     (d)     automatic    
    2. (a)     effective     (b)     elective     (c)     assertive     (d)     affective    
    3. (a)     with     (b)     to     (c)     on     (d)     as    
    4. (a)     as     (b)     was     (c)     is     (d)     has    
    5. (a)     is     (b)     as     (c)     was     (d)     has    
    6. (a)     cure     (b)     clue     (c)     clarity     (d)     clear    
    7. (a)     steak     (b)     stack     (c)     stake     (d)     stuck    
    8. (a)     follows     (b)     followed     (c)     follower     (d)     following    
    9. (a)     earned     (b)     learned     (c)     yearned     (d)     yawned    
    10. (a)     rearguard     (b)     awarded     (c)     guarded     (d)     rewarded    
    11. (a)     called     (b)     named     (c)     titled     (d)     gave    
    12. (a)     deducted     (b)     despised     (c)     depicted     (d)     detracted

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. in the veoioutamt industry
    2. nuodanecn that he will step down
    3. uhyelg successful
    4. ecisnudl France's Renault
    5. Nissan is aretoplibf
    6. a clear tsygrate

    Paragraph 2

    1. after Renault repscahud a stake
    2. producing taettarivc new cars
    3. He is rtdicdee with turning around Nissan
    4. the nmknaeic "The Cost Killer"
    5. He became a yceetilbr in Japan
    6. cipdtdee in a manga comic book

    Put the text back together

    (    )     stake in the Japanese automaker. He became president in 2000 and was named CEO the following year. He is credited

    (    )     cutting strategies earned him the nickname "The Cost Killer". Following the turnaround of Nissan, Fortune

    (    )     France's Renault and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors. Ghosn told reporters: "I'm stepping down as the CEO because it's

    (    )     brought." He added: "Nissan is profitable, financially healthy, with a clear strategy."

    (    )     with the company as chairman to oversee a wider group of carmakers that, in addition to Nissan, includes

    1  )     Carlos Ghosn, one of the best-known leaders in the automotive industry, has announced that he will step

    (    )     Carlos Ghosn joined Nissan as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 1999, after Renault purchased a

    (    )     the right moment and I have the right team. I think after 16 years as CEO and 18 years taking

    (    )     care of Nissan, I can say today that what I can bring to Nissan, I have already

    (    )     magazine awarded him Asia Businessman of the Year in 2002. A year later, the magazine named him

    (    )     in Japan, where his life story has been depicted in a manga comic book.

    (    )     down as Nissan Motor's president and CEO, effective April 1. The hugely successful Mr Ghosn will remain

    (    )     as one of the 10 most powerful people in business outside the USA. He became a celebrity

    (    )     with turning around Nissan by producing attractive new cars and models and cutting costs. His cost-

    Put the words in the right order

    1. automotive  leaders  best-  one  industry  in  of  Ghosn  the  known  the  is  .
    2. will   as   remain   chairman   with   Mr   the   Ghosn   company   .
    3. as  the  CEO  because   it's  the   right  moment   I'm  stepping  down  .
    4. taking   years   18   and  CEO   as  years   16   After   Nissan  of  care  .
    5. strategy  Nissan  is   profitable  ,  financially  healthy   ,  with  a  clear  .
    6. around   Turning   cars   new   attractive   producing   by   Nissan   .
    7. -   the   cutting   nickname   strategies   His   earned   cost   him   .
    8. him   Year   Asia   'Fortune'  Businessman  magazine  of  awarded  the  .
    9. 10  the  of  One  USA  the  outside  business  in  people  powerful  most  .
    10. a   manga   comic   book   His   life   story   has   been   depicted   in   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Carlos Ghosn, one of the best-known leaders in the automotive industrial / industry, has announced that he will step / stair down as Nissan Motor's president and CEO, effective April 1. The huge / hugely successful Mr Ghosn will remain with the company as chairman to overdo / oversee a wider group of carmakers that, in / on addition to Nissan, includes France's Renault and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors. Ghosn told reporters: "I'm stepping down was / as the CEO because it's the right moment / momentary and I have the right team. I think after 16 years as CEO and 18 years taking / making care of Nissan, I can say today that what I can bring to Nissan, I have already brought." He added: "Nissan is profitable / profited, financially healthy, with a clear stratum / strategy."

    Carlos Ghosn joined / joint Nissan as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 1999, after Renault purchased a steak / stake in the Japanese automaker. He became president in 2000 and was named / naming CEO the following year. He is debited / credited with turning around Nissan by producing attraction / attractive new cars and models and cutting costs. His cost-cutting strategies earned / learned him the nickname "The Cost Killer". Following the turnaround of Nissan, Fortune magazine awarded / rewarded him Asia Businessman of the Year in 2002. A year later / latter, the magazine named him as one of the 10 most powerful people in / on business outside the USA. He became a celebrity in Japan, where his life story has been departed / depicted in a manga comic book.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    C_rl_s Gh_sn, _n_ _f th_ b_st-kn_wn l__d_rs _n th_ __t_m_t_v_ _nd_stry, h_s _nn__nc_d th_t h_ w_ll st_p d_wn _s N_ss_n M_t_r's pr_s_d_nt _nd C__, _ff_ct_v_ _pr_l 1. Th_ h_g_ly s_cc_ssf_l Mr Gh_sn w_ll r_m__n w_th th_ c_mp_ny _s ch__rm_n t_ _v_rs__ _ w_d_r gr__p _f c_rm_k_rs th_t, _n _dd_t__n t_ N_ss_n, _ncl_d_s Fr_nc_'s R_n__lt _nd J_p_n's M_ts_b_sh_ M_t_rs. Gh_sn t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "_'m st_pp_ng d_wn _s th_ C__ b_c__s_ _t's th_ r_ght m_m_nt _nd _ h_v_ th_ r_ght t__m. _ th_nk _ft_r 16 y__rs _s C__ _nd 18 y__rs t_k_ng c_r_ _f N_ss_n, _ c_n s_y t_d_y th_t wh_t _ c_n br_ng t_ N_ss_n, _ h_v_ _lr__dy br__ght." H_ _dd_d: "N_ss_n _s pr_f_t_bl_, f_n_nc__lly h__lthy, w_th _ cl__r str_t_gy."

    C_rl_s Gh_sn j__n_d N_ss_n _s Ch__f _p_r_t_ng _ff_c_r (C__) _n 1999, _ft_r R_n__lt p_rch_s_d _ st_k_ _n th_ J_p_n_s_ __t_m_k_r. H_ b_c_m_ pr_s_d_nt _n 2000 _nd w_s n_m_d C__ th_ f_ll_w_ng y__r. H_ _s cr_d_t_d w_th t_rn_ng _r__nd N_ss_n by pr_d_c_ng _ttr_ct_v_ n_w c_rs _nd m_d_ls _nd c_tt_ng c_sts. H_s c_st-c_tt_ng str_t_g__s __rn_d h_m th_ n_ckn_m_ "Th_ C_st K_ll_r". F_ll_w_ng th_ t_rn_r__nd _f N_ss_n, F_rt_n_ m_g_z_n_ _w_rd_d h_m _s__ B_s_n_ssm_n _f th_ Y__r _n 2002. _ y__r l_t_r, th_ m_g_z_n_ n_m_d h_m _s _n_ _f th_ 10 m_st p_w_rf_l p__pl_ _n b_s_n_ss __ts_d_ th_ _S_. H_ b_c_m_ _ c_l_br_ty _n J_p_n, wh_r_ h_s l_f_ st_ry h_s b__n d_p_ct_d _n _ m_ng_ c_m_c b__k.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    carlos ghosn one of the best-known leaders in the automotive industry has announced that he will step down as nissan motor's president and ceo effective april 1 the hugely successful mr ghosn will remain with the company as chairman to oversee a wider group of carmakers that in addition to nissan includes france's renault and japan's mitsubishi motors ghosn told reporters "i'm stepping down as the ceo because it's the right moment and i have the right team i think after 16 years as ceo and 18 years taking care of nissan i can say today that what i can bring to nissan i have already brought" he added "nissan is profitable financially healthy with a clear strategy"

    carlos ghosn joined nissan as chief operating officer (coo) in 1999 after renault purchased a stake in the japanese automaker he became president in 2000 and was named ceo the following year he is credited with turning around nissan by producing attractive new cars and models and cutting costs his cost-cutting strategies earned him the nickname "the cost killer" following the turnaround of nissan fortune magazine awarded him asia businessman of the year in 2002 a year later the magazine named him as one of the 10 most powerful people in business outside the usa he became a celebrity in japan where his life story has been depicted in a manga comic book

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    CarlosGhosn,oneofthebest-knownleadersintheautomotiveindustr
    y,hasannouncedthathewillstepdownasNissanMotor'spresidentandC
    EO,effectiveApril1.ThehugelysuccessfulMrGhosnwillremainwiththe
    companyaschairmantooverseeawidergroupofcarmakersthat,inaddi
    tiontoNissan,includesFrance'sRenaultandJapan'sMitsubishiMotors.
    Ghosntoldreporters:"I'msteppingdownastheCEObecauseit'stherigh
    tmomentandIhavetherightteam.Ithinkafter16yearsasCEOand18ye
    arstakingcareofNissan,IcansaytodaythatwhatIcanbringtoNissan,Ih
    avealreadybrought."Headded:"Nissanisprofitable,financiallyhealth
    y,withaclearstrategy."CarlosGhosnjoinedNissanasChiefOperatingO
    fficer(COO)in1999,afterRenaultpurchasedastakeintheJapaneseaut
    omaker.Hebecamepresidentin2000andwasnamedCEOthefollowing
    year.HeiscreditedwithturningaroundNissanbyproducingattractiven
    ewcarsandmodelsandcuttingcosts.Hiscost-cuttingstrategiesearn
    edhimthenickname"TheCostKiller".FollowingtheturnaroundofNissa
    n,FortunemagazineawardedhimAsiaBusinessmanoftheYearin2002.
    Ayearlater,themagazinenamedhimasoneofthe10mostpowerfulpeop
    leinbusinessoutsidetheUSA.HebecameacelebrityinJapan,wherehisli
    festoryhasbeendepictedinamangacomicbook.

    Free writing

    Write about Carlos Ghosn for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    A CEO is the most important person in the company. Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    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: Search the Internet and find out more about Carlos Ghosn. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. CEO: Make a poster about CEOs. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. CEO PAY: Write a magazine article about CEO pay. Argue that it should be no more than two times that of other workers. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on CEOs. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how they can be more effective. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You