The Reading / Listening - Disney - Level 3

The Walt Disney Company is cutting hundreds of jobs. Since 2023, Disney has cut more than 8,000 jobs worldwide. The job cuts are the company's attempt to reduce costs by $7.5 billion a year. The latest job losses are in the marketing departments for film and television. A Disney spokesperson spoke to the Fox Business website. She said: "As our industry transforms at a rapid pace, we continue to evaluate ways to efficiently manage our businesses, while fuelling the…creativity and innovation that consumers value  and expect from Disney." The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, said the cuts would keep the company healthy. He said: "We remain optimistic about the direction of the company." Disney is one of the most famous companies in the world. It was founded in 1923 as an animation studio by brothers Walt and Roy Disney. In 1928, the studio produced a short film called "Steamboat Willie," which was one of the first cartoons with sound. The film was the debut of Mickey Mouse, who became Disney's mascot. Disney is now a huge mass media and entertainment company. It owns the animation companies Pixar and Marvel Studios, as well as household names like ESPN, National Geographic, and ABC News. It also operates theme parks in the USA, France, Japan and China. It recently announced plans to build a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Disney - Level 0,  Disney - Level 1   or  Disney - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/disney-cuts-hundreds-tv-film-jobs-amid-streaming-expansion
  • https://finance.yahoo.com/news/disney-to-lay-off-several-hundred-employees-globally-193146536.html
  • https://www.aol.com/disney-lays-off-hundreds-employees-181740241.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. DISNEY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Disney. 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?
       Disney / jobs / job cuts / costs / marketing / film / television / creativity / optimistic /
       famous / animation / studio / Mickey Mouse / mass media / household names / park
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. THE BEST COMPANY: Students A strongly believe Disney is the best company in the world; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DISNEY MOVIES: What do you think of these Disney movies? What are the characters like? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Think

Characters

The Lion King

 

 

Finding Nemo

 

 

Frozen

 

 

The Avengers

 

 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

 

 

Cinderella

 

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

5. CARTOON: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "cartoon". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. DISNEY COMPANIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best Disney Companies at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Pixar
  • Marvel Studios
  • ABC News
  • National Geographic
  • Hollywood Records
  • Disneyland
  • Disney Cruise Line
  • Walt Disney Studios

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. cut  (verb) a. Make something smaller by taking a part away.
      2. attempt  (verb) b. A new idea or way of doing something.
      3. costs  (noun) c. An action of trying to do something.
      4. transform d. Look at something carefully to decide if it is good or bad.
      5. evaluate e. The money you need to pay for something.
      6. innovation f. Change something completely.
      7. optimistic g. Thinking that good things will happen.

    Paragraph 2

      8. founded h. Very, very big.
      9. produced i. A person, animal, or thing used as a symbol for a team or company.
      10. debut j. Started a company, group, or organization.
      11. mascot k. Have something that is yours.
      12. huge l. Made or created something.
      13. own  (verb) m. A famous person or thing that many people know.
      14. household name n. The first time something is shown or someone performs.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. In 2023, the Walt Disney Company cut 8,000 jobs.     T / F
  2. Disney is cutting jobs because it wants to cut costs.     T / F
  3. A Disney spokesperson said people expect Disney to be creative.     T / F
  4. Disney's boss said he is worried about the future of the company.     T / F
  5. Disney is over 100 years old.     T / F
  6. Mickey Mouse is over 100 years old.     T / F
  7. Disney owns National Geographic.     T / F
  8. Disney will open a new theme park in Dubai in the UAE.     T / F

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

  1. cutting
  2. worldwide
  3. latest
  4. transforms
  5. optimistic
  6. famous
  7. produced
  8. debut
  9. operates
  10. build
  1. most recent
  2. well known
  3. construct
  4. globally
  5. runs
  6. positive
  7. slashing
  8. made
  9. changes
  10. first appearance

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

  1. The Walt Disney Company is cutting
  2. reduce costs
  3. in the marketing
  4. creativity and
  5. We remain optimistic about the direction
  6. Disney is one of the most famous companies
  7. It was founded
  8. The film was the debut
  9. mass
  10. It also operates
  1. in the world
  2. departments
  3. theme parks
  4. of the company
  5. in 1923
  6. hundreds of jobs
  7. media
  8. innovation
  9. of Mickey Mouse
  10. by $7.5 billion

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
rapid
worldwide
departments
direction
manage
healthy
costs
expect

The Walt Disney Company is cutting hundreds of jobs. Since 2023, Disney has cut more than 8,000 jobs (1) ______________________________________________. The job cuts are the company's attempt to reduce (2) ______________________________________________ by $7.5 billion a year. The latest job losses are in the marketing (3) ______________________________________________ for film and television. A Disney spokesperson spoke to the Fox Business website. She said: "As our industry transforms at a (4) ______________________________________________ pace, we continue to evaluate ways to efficiently (5) ______________________________________________ our businesses, while fuelling the...creativity and innovation that consumers value  and (6) ______________________________________________ from Disney." The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, said the cuts would keep the company (7) ______________________________________________. He said: "We remain optimistic about the (8) ______________________________________________ of the company."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
debut
plans
founded
mass
sound
household
short
animation

Disney is one of the most famous companies in the world. It was (9) ______________________________________________ in 1923 as an animation studio by brothers Walt and Roy Disney. In 1928, the studio produced a (10) ______________________________________________ film called "Steamboat Willie," which was one of the first cartoons with (11) ______________________________________________. The film was the (12) ______________________________________________ of Mickey Mouse, who became Disney's mascot. Disney is now a huge (13) ______________________________________________ media and entertainment company. It owns the (14) ______________________________________________ companies Pixar and Marvel Studios, as well as (15) ______________________________________________ names like ESPN, National Geographic, and ABC News. It also operates theme parks in the USA, France, Japan and China. It recently announced (16) ______________________________________________ to build a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Since 2023, Disney has cut more than ______
     a.  8,000 jobs world width
     b.  8,000 jobs world widen
     c.  8,000 jobs worldly wide
     d.  8,000 jobs worldwide
2)  we continue to evaluate ways to efficiently ______
     a.  manages our businesses
     b.  manage our businesses
     c.  managed our businesses
     d.  man age our businesses
3)  creativity and innovation that consumers value  and ______
     a.  except from Disney
     b.  accept from Disney
     c.  expect from Disney
     d.  respect from Disney
4)  The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, said the cuts would keep ______
     a.  the companion healthy
     b.  the company health
     c.  the companion healthily
     d.  the company healthy
5)  He said: "We remain optimistic about the direction ______."
     a.  of the company
     b.  off the company
     c.  of a company
     d.  of accompany

6)  "Steamboat Willie," which was one of the first ______
     a.  cartoons with sounded
     b.  cartoons with sounding
     c.  cartoons with sound
     d.  cartoons with sounder
7)  The film was the debut of Mickey Mouse, who ______
     a.  became Disney's mass cot
     b.  became Disney's massed cot
     c.  became Disney's mascot
     d.  became Disney's mast cot
8)  Disney is now a huge mass media ______
     a.  and entertaining company
     b.  and entertain meant company
     c.  and entertain company
     d.  and entertainment company
9)  Pixar and Marvel Studios, as well as household ______
     a.  names likes ESPN
     b.  names like ESPN
     c.  names liked ESPN
     d.  names liken ESPN
10)  It recently announced plans to build a new theme ______
     a.  perk and resort
     b.  park and retort
     c.  pork and report
     d.  park and resort

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Walt Disney Company is (1) __________________________________________________ jobs. Since 2023, Disney has cut more than 8,000 jobs worldwide. The job cuts are the company's attempt (2) __________________________________________________ by $7.5 billion a year. The latest job losses are in the marketing departments for film and television. A Disney (3) __________________________________________________ the Fox Business website. She said: "As our industry transforms at (4) __________________________________________________, we continue to evaluate ways to efficiently manage our businesses, while fuelling the...creativity and innovation that consumers (5) __________________________________________________ from Disney." The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, said the cuts would keep the company healthy. He said: "We remain optimistic about (6) __________________________________________________ the company."

Disney is (7) __________________________________________________ most famous companies in the world. It was founded in 1923 as an animation studio by brothers Walt and Roy Disney. In 1928, the studio produced (8) __________________________________________________ called "Steamboat Willie," which was one of the first cartoons with sound. The film was (9) __________________________________________________ Mickey Mouse, who became Disney's mascot. Disney is now a huge mass media and entertainment company. (10) __________________________________________________ animation companies Pixar and Marvel Studios, as well as (11) __________________________________________________ ESPN, National Geographic, and ABC News. It also operates theme parks in the USA, France, Japan and China. It recently announced (12) __________________________________________________ a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Comprehension questions

  1. How many jobs has the Walt Disney Company cut since 2023?
  2. In what departments are the latest cuts?
  3. How quickly did a spokesperson say Disney's industry is transforming?
  4. What did a spokesperson say consumers expect from Disney?
  5. How does Disney's CEO feel about the future of the company?
  6. When was Disney founded?
  7. Who was in the cartoon "Steamboat Willie"?
  8. What animation studio does the article say Disney owns besides Pixar?
  9. In how many countries does Disney currently operate theme parks?
  10. Where will Disney's new theme park be?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many jobs has the Walt Disney Company cut since 2023?
a) just fewer than 8,000
b) around 8,000
c) exactly 8,000
d) more than 8,000
2) In what departments are the latest cuts?
a) finance departments
b) marketing departments
c) creative departments
d) cartoon-writing departments
3) How quickly did a spokesperson say Disney's industry is transforming?
a) at a good pace
b) at a snail's pace
c) at a rapid pace (quickly)
d) very slowly
4) What did a spokesperson say consumers expect from Disney?
a) creativity and innovation
b) action and comedy
c) entertaining cartoons
d) beautiful graphics
5) How does Disney's CEO feel about the future of the company?
a) He's unsure.
b) negative
c) optimistic (positive)
d) OK

6) When was Disney founded?
a) 1922
b) 1923
c) 1928
d) 1929
7) Who was in the cartoon "Steamboat Willie"?
a) Bambi
b) Ariel
c) Walt Disney
d) Mickey Mouse
8) What animation studio does the article say Disney owns besides Pixar?
a) Marvel Studios
b) DreamWorks Animation
c) Netflix Animation Studios
d) Studio Ghibli
9) In how many countries does Disney currently operate theme parks?
a) 6
b) 5
c) 4
d) 3
10) Where will Disney's new theme park be?
a) Mexico City
b) Abu Dhabi, UAE
c) Jakarta
d) Australia

Role play

Role  A – Pixar
You think Pixar is the best Disney company. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their companies. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): National Geographic, Disneyland or Walt Disney Studios.

Role  B – National Geographic
You think National Geographic is the best Disney company. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their companies. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Pixar, Disneyland or Walt Disney Studios.

Role  C – Disneyland
You think Disneyland is the best Disney company. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their companies. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): National Geographic, Pixar or Walt Disney Studios.

Role  D – Walt Disney Studios
You think Walt Disney Studios is the best Disney company. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their companies. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): National Geographic, Disneyland or Pixar.

After reading / listening

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

'Disney'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'job'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • more
    • latest
    • spoke
    • continue
    • CEO
    • remain
    • famous
    • 1928
    • debut
    • huge
    • also
    • build

    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 - Disney

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'Disney'?
    3. What do you know about the Walt Disney Company?
    4. Would you like to work for Disney?
    5. Why is Disney so popular?
    6. What do you think of Mickey Mouse?
    7. What's your favourite Disney character?
    8. Is Disney the best entertainment company in the world?
    9. Should Disney find ways to keep the workers?
    10. How might AI change Disney?

    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 'job'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think about the Walt Disney Company?
    5. What's your favourite Disney movie?
    6. What do you think of old Disney movies?
    7. What do you think of Pixar and Marvel Studios?
    8. What do you think of National Geographic?
    9. What do you think of Disney theme parks?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Disney workers?

    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)

    The Walt Disney Company is (1) ____ hundreds of jobs. Since 2023, Disney has cut more than 8,000 jobs (2) ____. The job cuts are the company's attempt to reduce costs by $7.5 billion a year. The latest job (3) ____ are in the marketing departments for film and television. A Disney spokesperson spoke to the Fox Business website. She said: "As our industry transforms (4) ____ a rapid pace, we continue to evaluate ways to efficiently manage our businesses, while fuelling the...creativity and innovation that consumers (5) ____ and expect from Disney." The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, said the cuts would keep the company healthy. He said: "We remain optimistic (6) ____ the direction of the company."

    Disney is (7) ____ of the most famous companies in the world. It was founded in 1923 as an animation studio by brothers Walt and Roy Disney. In 1928, the studio (8) ____ a short film called "Steamboat Willie," which was one of the first cartoons with sound. The film was the debut (9) ____ Mickey Mouse, who became Disney's mascot. Disney is now a huge mass media and entertainment company. It (10) ____ the animation companies Pixar and Marvel Studios, as well as (11) ____ names like ESPN, National Geographic, and ABC News. It also operates theme parks in the USA, France, Japan and China. It recently announced plans (12) ____ build a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     cutting     (b)     cut     (c)     cuts     (d)     cutter    
    2. (a)     global     (b)     worldly     (c)     worldwide     (d)     globalize    
    3. (a)     loses     (b)     lost     (c)     losses     (d)     loss    
    4. (a)     for     (b)     as     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    5. (a)     price     (b)     worth     (c)     value     (d)     cost    
    6. (a)     at     (b)     about     (c)     up     (d)     towards    
    7. (a)     once     (b)     one     (c)     ones     (d)     only    
    8. (a)     produces     (b)     produced     (c)     production     (d)     producing    
    9. (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    10. (a)     gowns     (b)     towns     (c)     downs     (d)     owns    
    11. (a)     houses     (b)     homely     (c)     home     (d)     household    
    12. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     for     (d)     to

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. cut more than 8,000 jobs olidwewrd
    2. the company's ptetamt to reduce costs
    3. our idytrusn transforms at a rapid pace
    4. creativity and onniviaont
    5. We remain icmitipost
    6. the irecoidnt of the company

    Paragraph 2

    1. It was nddfeuo in 1923
    2. The film was the tbdue of Mickey Mouse
    3. a huge mass ediam and entertainment company
    4. atmoniina companies Pixar and Marvel Studios
    5. as well as loeodsuhh names like ESPN
    6. build a new emthe park and resort

    Put the text back together

    (    )    $7.5 billion a year. The latest job losses are in the marketing departments for film
    (    )     and innovation that consumers value  and expect from Disney." The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, said the cuts would
    (    )     and television. A Disney spokesperson spoke to the Fox Business website. She said: "As our industry transforms at a rapid
    (    )     brothers Walt and Roy Disney. In 1928, the studio produced a short film called "Steamboat Willie," which was one
    (    )     companies Pixar and Marvel Studios, as well as household names like ESPN,
    (    )     Disney is one of the most famous companies in the world. It was founded in 1923 as an animation studio by
    (    )     keep the company healthy. He said: "We remain optimistic about the direction of the company."
    (    )     mascot. Disney is now a huge mass media and entertainment company. It owns the animation
    (    )     National Geographic, and ABC News. It also operates theme parks in
    (    )     of the first cartoons with sound. The film was the debut of Mickey Mouse, who became Disney's
    (    )     pace, we continue to evaluate ways to efficiently manage our businesses, while fuelling the...creativity
    (    )     the USA, France, Japan and China. It recently announced plans to build a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
    (  1  )     The Walt Disney Company is cutting hundreds of jobs. Since 2023, Disney has cut more than 8,000 jobs
    (    )     worldwide. The job cuts are the company's attempt to reduce costs by

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Disney   jobs   than   cut   8000   more   has   worldwide   .
    2. Latest   departments   marketing   job   the   in   are   losses   .
    3. The   Disney   expect   that   from   innovation   consumers   .
    4. The   healthy   cuts   the   keep   would   company   .
    5. We   of   company   the   optimistic   direction   the   remain   about   .
    6. Disney   the   of   companies   famous   most   one   is   .
    7. One   sound   cartoons   first   with   of   the   .
    8. As   names   household   well   ESPN   as   like   .
    9. It   in   theme   parks   USA   operates   the   also   .
    10. It   theme   new   build   a   plans   to   park   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The Walt Disney Company is cut / cutting hundreds of jobs. Since 2023, Disney has cut more than 8,000 jobs worldwide. The job cuts / cut are the company's attempt to reduce cost / costs by $7.5 billion a year. The latest job losses are in / on the marketing departments for film and television. A Disney spokesperson spoke at / to the Fox Business website. She said: "As our industry transforms at a / the rapid pace, we continue to evaluate ways for / to efficiently manage our businesses, while fuelling the...creativity and innovation what / that consumers value  and except / expect from Disney." The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, said the cuts would keep the company healthy. He said: "We remaining / remain optimistic about the direction of the company."

    Disney is once / one of the most famous companies in the world. It was founded / fond of in 1923 as an animation studio by brothers Walt and Roy Disney. In 1928, the studio produced / production a short film called "Steamboat Willie," which was one of the first cartoons within / with sound. The film was the debut of / at Mickey Mouse, who became Disney's mascot. Disney is now a hug / huge mass media and entertainment company. It owns the animation / animated companies Pixar and Marvel Studios, as well / good as household names like ESPN, National Geographic, and ABC News. It also operates theme parks in the USA, France, Japan and China. It recent / recently announced plans to build a new theme park and resort / report in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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

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

    Th_  W_lt  D_sn_y  C_mp_ny  _s  c_tt_ng  h_ndr_ds  _f  j_bs.  S_nc_  2023,  D_sn_y  h_s  c_t  m_r_  th_n  8,000  j_bs.  w_rldw_d_  Th_  j_b  c_ts  _r_  th_  c_mp_ny's  _tt_mpt  t_  r_d_c_  c_sts  by  $7.5  b_ll__n  _  y__r.  Th_  l_t_st  j_b  l_ss_s  _r_  _n  th_  m_rk_t_ng  d_p_rtm_nts  f_r  f_lm  _nd  t_l_v_s__n.  _  D_sn_y  sp_k_sp_rs_n  sp_k_  t_  th_  F_x  B_s_n_ss  w_bs_t_.  Sh_  s__d:  "_s  __r  _nd_stry  tr_nsf_rms  _t  _  r_p_d  p_c_,  w_  c_nt_n__  t_  _v_l__t_  w_ys  t_  _ff_c__ntly  m_n_g_  __r  b_s_n_ss_s,  wh_l_  f__ll_ng  th_...cr__t_v_ty  _nd  _nn_v_t__n  th_t  c_ns_m_rs  v_l__   _nd  _xp_ct  fr_m  D_sn_y."  Th_  C__  _f  D_sn_y,  B_b  _g_r,  s__d  th_  c_ts  w__ld  k__p  th_  c_mp_ny  h__lthy.  H_  s__d:  "W_  r_m__n  _pt_m_st_c  _b__t  th_  d_r_ct__n  _f  th_  c_mp_ny."

    D_sn_y  _s  _n_  _f  th_  m_st  f_m__s  c_mp_n__s  _n  th_  w_rld.  _t  w_s  f__nd_d  _n  1923  _s  _n  _n_m_t__n  st_d__  by  br_th_rs  W_lt  _nd  R_y  D_sn_y.  _n  1928,  th_  st_d__  pr_d_c_d  _  sh_rt  f_lm  c_ll_d  "St__mb__t  W_ll__,"  wh_ch  w_s  _n_  _f  th_  f_rst  c_rt__ns  w_th  s__nd.  Th_  f_lm  w_s  th_  d_b_t  _f  M_ck_y  M__s_,  wh_  b_c_m_  D_sn_y's  m_sc_t.  D_sn_y  _s  n_w  _  h_g_  m_ss  m_d__  _nd  _nt_rt__nm_nt  c_mp_ny.  _t  _wns  th_  _n_m_t__n  c_mp_n__s  P_x_r  _nd  M_rv_l  St_d__s,  _s  w_ll  _s  h__s_h_ld  n_m_s  l_k_  _SPN,  N_t__n_l  G__gr_ph_c,  _nd  _BC  N_ws.  _t  _ls_  _p_r_t_s  th_m_  p_rks  _n  th_  _S_,  Fr_nc_,  J_p_n  _nd  Ch_n_.  _t  r_c_ntly  _nn__nc_d  pl_ns  t_  b__ld  _  n_w  th_m_  p_rk  _nd  r_s_rt  _n  _b_  Dh_b_,  ___.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the walt disney company is cutting hundreds of jobs since 2023 disney has cut more than 8000 jobs worldwide the job cuts are the companys attempt to reduce costs by 75 billion a year the latest job losses are in the marketing departments for film and television a disney spokesperson spoke to the fox business website she said as our industry transforms at a rapid pace we continue to evaluate ways to efficiently manage our businesses while fuelling the creativity and innovation that consumers value and expect from disney the ceo of disney bob iger said the cuts would keep the company healthy he said we remain optimistic about the direction of the company

    disney is one of the most famous companies in the world it was founded in 1923 as an animation studio by brothers walt and roy disney in 1928 the studio produced a short film called steamboat willie which was one of the first cartoons with sound the film was the debut of mickey mouse who became disneys mascot disney is now a huge mass media and entertainment company it owns the animation companies pixar and marvel studios as well as household names like espn national geographic and abc news it also operates theme parks in the usa france japan and china it recently announced plans to build a new theme park and resort in abu dhabi uae

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheWaltDisneyCompanyiscuttinghundredsofjobs.Since2023,Disne
    yhascutmorethan8,000jobsworldwide.Thejobcutsarethecompany's
    attempttoreducecostsby$7.5billionayear.Thelatestjoblossesareinth
    emarketingdepartmentsforfilmandtelevision.ADisneyspokesperson
    spoketotheFoxBusinesswebsite.Shesaid:"Asourindustrytransforms
    atarapidpace,wecontinuetoevaluatewaystoefficientlymanageourbu
    sinesses,whilefuellingthe...creativityandinnovationthatconsumersv
    alue andexpectfromDisney."TheCEOofDisney,BobIger,saidthecuts
    wouldkeepthecompanyhealthy.Hesaid:"Weremainoptimisticaboutt
    hedirectionofthecompany."Disneyisoneofthemostfamouscompanie
    sintheworld.Itwasfoundedin1923asananimationstudiobybrothersW
    altandRoyDisney.In1928,thestudioproducedashortfilmcalled"Stea
    mboatWillie,"whichwasoneofthefirstcartoonswithsound.Thefilmwas
    thedebutofMickeyMouse,whobecameDisney'smascot.Disneyisnowa
    hugemassmediaandentertainmentcompany.Itownstheanimationco
    mpaniesPixarandMarvelStudios,aswellashouseholdnameslikeESPN,
    NationalGeographic,andABCNews.Italsooperatesthemeparksinthe
    USA,France,JapanandChina.Itrecentlyannouncedplanstobuildanew
    themeparkandresortinAbuDhabi,UAE.

    Free writing

    Write about Disney job cuts for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Disney is the best company in the world. Discuss.

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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: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. DISNEY: Make a poster about Disney. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NO JOB CUTS: Write a magazine article about companies finding ways to keep staff and not cut jobs. 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 Disney. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions of Disney. 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.)

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