The Reading / Listening - Colin Kaepernick - Level 6

The sportswear maker Nike has announced it will use American football player Colin Kaepernick in its advertising campaign to celebrate its "Just Do It" 30th anniversary. Mr Kaepernick ignited controversy in 2016 while playing as quarterback for his team the San Francisco 49ers. He refused to stand for the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice and social issues. Instead he knelt down on one knee. This started a trend of other players "taking the knee" in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Kaepernick's actions caused heated debate. In September 2017, President Donald Trump tweeted that NFL players should be either fired or suspended if they failed to stand up for the national anthem.

Nike will use a close-up image of Kaepernick's face with the caption: "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." Nike supplies the uniforms for all the NFL's 32 teams and is a corporate sponsor of the NFL. The company knows it will receive a backlash for using Mr Kaepernick in its ads. However, it said: "We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward." Yahoo Sports said: "It's an interesting decision for Nike. No other athlete produces the same emotional response as Kaepernick." Many on social media applauded Nike for its decision. One person tweeted: "Time to throw away all my Nike crap."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Colin Kaepernick - Level 4  or  Colin Kaepernick - Level 5

Sources
  • https://sports.yahoo.com/nike-makes-colin-kaepernick-face-just-30th-anniversary-campaign-200029766.html
  • https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2162612/nike-defies-trumps-ire-embracing-nfls-kneeling-colin
  • https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/american-sports/nfl-outcast-colin-kaepernick-chosen-13188901


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

WARM-UPS 1 -4

1. NIKE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Nike. 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?
       sportswear / football / advertising / celebrate / controversy / injustice / heated debate
       a close-up image / sacrificing / uniform / sponsor / backlash / generation / emotional
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. STAND: Students A strongly believe everyone should stand for a national anthem; Students B strongly believe people shouldn't have to stand. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PATRIOTISM: How important are these things? How much do you respect them? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

 

Importance

Respect

National anthem

 

 

Flag

 

 

Leader

 

 

History

 

 

Culture

 

 

Police

 

 
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5. FOOTBALL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "football". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. INSPIRATIONAL: Rank these with your partner. Put the most inspirational people at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • actors
  • singers
  • business leaders
  • religious leaders
  • athletes
  • astronauts
  • nurses
  • teachers

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. announced a. A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or government, in which opposing arguments are put forward.
      2. campaign b. The date on which an event took place in a previous year.
      3. anniversary c. Disagreement, often when prolonged, public, and heated.
      4. ignited d. Made a public statement about a fact, happening, or plan.
      5. controversy e. A general direction in which something is developing or changing.
      6. trend f. An organized course of action to achieve a particular goal.
      7. debate g. Made an emotion or situation heated.

    Paragraph 2

      8. caption h. An person or company that pays some or all of the costs involved in putting on a sporting or artistic event in return for advertising.
      9. sacrificing i. A strong and negative reaction by a large number of people, especially to a social or political development.
      10. corporate j. Showed strong approval or praise.
      11. sponsor k. An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.
      12. backlash l. Providing or showing creative or spiritual examples to do something.
      13. inspirational m. Relating to a large company or group.
      14. applauded n. A title or brief explanation put on an article, illustration, cartoon, or poster.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Nike is celebrating its 30th "Just Do It" anniversary.     T / F
  2. Colin Kaepernick first created controversy in 2016.     T / F
  3. Kaepernick took the knee to highlight racial injustice.     T / F
  4. President Trump tweeted against Kaepernick's actions in 2016.     T / F
  5. Nike supplies the uniforms to half of the NFL teams.     T / F
  6. Nike doesn't expect to receive a backlash for its ad campaign.     T / F
  7. Nike said Kaepernick used sport to move the world forward.     T / F
  8. The article says a person tweeted he/she would buy more Nike products. T / F

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

  1. maker
  2. campaign
  3. ignited
  4. injustice
  5. heated
  6. caption
  7. supplies
  8. backlash
  9. inspirational
  10. applauded
  1. discrimination
  2. adverse reaction
  3. passionate
  4. provides
  5. strategy
  6. motivating
  7. title
  8. manufacturer
  9. praised
  10. sparked

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

  1. advertising
  2. stand for the national
  3. a protest against racial
  4. Kaepernick's actions caused heated
  5. players should be either fired
  6. use a close-
  7. Even if it means sacrificing
  8. a corporate sponsor
  9. one of the most inspirational
  10. Many on social media
  1. everything
  2. injustice
  3. or suspended
  4. applauded Nike
  5. up image
  6. campaign
  7. athletes
  8. debate
  9. of the NFL
  10. anthem

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
controversy
support
suspended
maker
stand
heated
campaign
knelt

The sportswear (1) ____________ Nike has announced it will use American football player Colin Kaepernick in its advertising (2) ____________ to celebrate its "Just Do It" 30th anniversary. Mr Kaepernick ignited (3) ____________ in 2016 while playing as quarterback for his team the San Francisco 49ers. He refused to (4) ____________ for the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice and social issues. Instead he (5) ____________ down on one knee. This started a trend of other players "taking the knee" in (6) ____________ of the Black Lives Matter movement. Kaepernick's actions caused (7) ____________ debate. In September 2017, President Donald Trump tweeted that NFL players should be either fired or (8) ____________ if they failed to stand up for the national anthem.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
inspirational
uniforms
response
image
crap
sacrificing
backlash
decision

Nike will use a close-up (9) ____________ of Kaepernick's face with the caption: "Believe in something. Even if it means (10) ____________ everything." Nike supplies the (11) ____________ for all the NFL's 32 teams and is a corporate sponsor of the NFL. The company knows it will receive a (12) ____________ for using Mr Kaepernick in its ads. However, it said: "We believe Colin is one of the most (13) ____________ athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward." Yahoo Sports said: It's an interesting (14) ____________ for Nike. No other athlete produces the same emotional (15) ____________ as Kaepernick." Many on social media applauded Nike for its decision. One person tweeted: "Time to throw away all my Nike (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Mr Kaepernick ignited ______ 2016
     a.  controversial in
     b.  contra verse in
     c.  contra versing
     d.  controversy in
2)  He refused to stand for the national anthem as a protest against ______
     a.  racially injustice
     b.  racialism injustice
     c.  racist injustice
     d.  racial injustice
3)  other players "taking the knee" in support of the Black Lives ______
     a.  Matter movement
     b.  Matter move meant
     c.  Matter move mend
     d.  Matter moved meant
4)  Kaepernick's actions caused ______
     a.  heated the bait
     b.  heat it debate
     c.  heated debate
     d.  heat it the bait
5)  Donald Trump tweeted that NFL players should be either ______
     a.  filed or suspended
     b.  fired or suspended
     c.  fried door suspended
     d.  field or suspend it

6)  Nike will use a close-up image of Kaepernick's face ______
     a.  with the caps on
     b.  with the caption
     c.  with the cap shun
     d.  with the clap shun
7)  Believe in something. Even if it means ______
     a.  sacrifice in everything
     b.  sacrifice in every thing
     c.  sacrificing every thing
     d.  sacrificing everything
8)  The company knows it will receive ______
     a.  a black lash
     b.  a back clash
     c.  a backlash
     d.  a black clash
9)  We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes ______
     a.  off this generation
     b.  of this generation
     c.  of these generation
     d.  of this generations
10)  One person tweeted: "Time to throw away all ______."
     a.  my Nike crap
     b.  may Nike crap
     c.  my Nike clap
     d.  may Nike clap

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The sportswear maker Nike has (1) ___________________ use American football player Colin Kaepernick in its advertising campaign to celebrate its "Just Do It" 30th anniversary. Mr Kaepernick (2) ___________________ 2016 while playing as quarterback for his team the San Francisco 49ers. He (3) ___________________ for the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice and social issues. Instead he knelt down on one knee. This started a trend of other players "taking the knee" (4) ___________________ the Black Lives Matter movement. Kaepernick's actions (5) ___________________. In September 2017, President Donald Trump tweeted that NFL players should be either (6) ___________________ if they failed to stand up for the national anthem.

Nike will use (7) ___________________ of Kaepernick's face with the caption: "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." Nike supplies (8) ___________________ all the NFL's 32 teams and is a corporate sponsor of the NFL. The company knows it will (9) ___________________ for using Mr Kaepernick in its ads. However, it said: "We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes (10) ___________________, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward." Yahoo Sports said: It's an interesting decision for Nike. No (11) ___________________ the same (12) ___________________ Kaepernick." Many on social media applauded Nike for its decision. One person tweeted: "Time to throw away all my Nike crap."

Comprehension questions

  1. What "Just Do It" anniversary will Nike be celebrating?
  2. When did Colin Kaepernick first become controversial?
  3. What movement did Colin Kaepernick kneel to support?
  4. When did Donald Trump tweet about athletes taking the knee?
  5. What did Mr Trump say NFL teams should do to those who kneel?
  6. What does a Nike caption believe people should believe in?
  7. What does the company know it will receive?
  8. What did Nike say Mr Kaepernick helped to move forward?
  9. How did many people on social media react to Nike?
  10. What will a person throw away, according to a tweet they made?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What "Just Do It" anniversary will Nike be celebrating?
a) 10th
b) 30th
c) silver
d) platinum
2) When did Colin Kaepernick first become controversial?
a) 2017
b) 2014
c) 2015
d) 2016
3) What movement did Colin Kaepernick kneel to support?
a) Black Lives Matter
b) Tea Party Movement
c) Animal Rights
d) Occupy
4) When did Donald Trump tweet about athletes taking the knee?
a) 2015
b) 2016
c) 2017
d) 2018
5) What did Mr Trump say NFL teams should do to those who kneel?
a) fine them
b) fire or suspend them
c) nothing
d) name and shame them

6) What does a Nike caption believe people should believe in?
a) the future
b) football
c) something
d) God
7) What does the company know it will receive?
a) e-mails
b) money
c) an award
d) a backlash
8) What did Nike say Mr Kaepernick helped to move forward?
a) the world
b) football
c) the future
d) social media
9) How did many people on social media react to Nike?
a) they applauded Nike
b) with horror
c) they held a party
d) they blogged about it
10) What will a person throw away, according to a tweet they made?
a) a Nike chap
b) Nike "crap"
c) a Nike cap
d) a Nike clasp

Role play

Role  A – Athletes
You think athletes are the most inspirational people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people aren't as interesting. Also, tell the others who are the least inspirational of these (and why): astronauts, actors or nurses.

Role  B – Astronauts
You think astronauts are the most inspirational people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people aren't as interesting. Also, tell the others who are the least inspirational of these (and why): athletes, actors or nurses.

Role  C – Actors
You think actors are the most inspirational people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people aren't as interesting. Also, tell the others who are the least inspirational of these (and why): astronauts, athletes or nurses.

Role  D – Nurses
You think nurses are the most inspirational people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people aren't as interesting. Also, tell the others who are the least inspirational of these (and why): astronauts, actors or athletes.

After reading / listening

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

'national'

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

    • and 'anthem'.

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

    • • 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:

    • face
    • 32
    • believe
    • power
    • forward
    • social
    • maker
    • 2016
    • social
    • started
    • other
    • either

    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 - Nike uses NFL protest player in ad campaign

    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 "national"?
    3. What do you know about Colin Kaepernick?
    4. What do you think of Nike's sportswear?
    5. What do you think of your national anthem?
    6. Should we always have to stand for a national anthem?
    7. What do you think of Nike using Colin Kaepernick in its campaign?
    8. What do you think of the "taking the knee" trend?
    9. Should sports players be fired for "taking the knee"?
    10. Should Donald Trump stay quiet on issues like this?

    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 "anthem"?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What advice do you have for Colin Kaepernick?
    5. What do you believe in?
    6. What things do you have to sacrifice in life?
    7. Which athletes are the most inspirational?
    8. How can sport help the world move forward?
    9. Do you understand why people are angry with Nike?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Colin Kaepernick?

    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 sportswear maker Nike has (1) ____ it will use American football player Colin Kaepernick in its advertising campaign to celebrate (2) ____ "Just Do It" 30th anniversary. Mr Kaepernick ignited controversy in 2016 (3) ____ playing as quarterback for his team the San Francisco 49ers. He refused to stand for the national anthem as a protest against (4) ____ injustice and social issues. Instead he knelt down on one knee. This started a trend of other players "taking the knee" in support (5) ____ the Black Lives Matter movement. Kaepernick's actions caused heated debate. In September 2017, President Donald Trump tweeted that NFL players should be either fired or (6) ____ if they failed to stand up for the national anthem.

    Nike will use a (7) ____ image of Kaepernick's face with the caption: "Believe in something. Even if it means (8) ____ everything." Nike supplies the uniforms for all the NFL's 32 teams and is a corporate sponsor of the NFL. The company knows it will receive a (9) ____ for using Mr Kaepernick in its ads. However, it said: "We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has (10) ____ the power of sport to help move the world forward." Yahoo Sports said: It's an interesting decision for Nike. No (11) ____ athlete produces the same emotional response as Kaepernick." Many on social media applauded Nike for its decision. One person tweeted: "Time to throw away all my Nike (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     announces     (b)     announced     (c)     announcement     (d)     announce    
    2. (a)     this     (b)     its     (c)     that's     (d)     it    
    3. (a)     whiles     (b)     whiling     (c)     awhile     (d)     while    
    4. (a)     racism     (b)     racial     (c)     racist     (d)     racially    
    5. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    6. (a)     suspension     (b)     suspend     (c)     suspended     (d)     suspender    
    7. (a)     closed-up     (b)     closed-off     (c)     close-up     (d)     closure    
    8. (a)     sacrificial     (b)     sacrificed     (c)     sacrificing     (d)     sacrifices    
    9. (a)     black clash     (b)     back clash     (c)     black lash     (d)     backlash    
    10. (a)     leveraged     (b)     beverage     (c)     averaged     (d)     outraged    
    11. (a)     other     (b)     others     (c)     another     (d)     the other    
    12. (a)     clap     (b)     chap     (c)     crap     (d)     cap

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. aonenucdn it will use American
    2. advertising gamnpiac
    3. its "Just Do It" 30th viayrennasr
    4. Kaepernick ignited recnvosorty
    5. protest against racial stiicnjue
    6. be either fired or nuedspesd

    Paragraph 2

    1. Kaepernick's face with the onitpac
    2. it means gnfciirsiac everything
    3. The company knows it will receive a khcblaas
    4. one of the most ionpiaairnstl athletes
    5. the same emotional onpersse
    6. social media edlpudaap Nike

    Put the text back together

    (...)  in 2016 while playing as quarterback for his team the San Francisco 49ers. He refused to stand
    (...)  other athlete produces the same emotional response as Kaepernick." Many on
    (...)  Nike will use a close-up image of Kaepernick's face with the caption: "Believe in something. Even if it means
    (...)  on one knee. This started a trend of other players "taking the knee" in support of the Black Lives Matter
    (...)  the world forward." Yahoo Sports said: "It's an interesting decision for Nike. No
    (...)  should be either fired or suspended if they failed to stand up for the national anthem.
    (...)  for the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice and social issues. Instead he knelt down
    (...)  sacrificing everything." Nike supplies the uniforms for all the NFL's 32 teams and is a corporate sponsor
    (...)  movement. Kaepernick's actions caused heated debate. In September 2017, President Donald Trump tweeted that NFL players
    (...)  one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move
    (  1  ) The sportswear maker Nike has announced it will use American football player Colin Kaepernick in its advertising
    (...)  of the NFL. The company knows it will receive a backlash for using Mr Kaepernick in its ads. However, it said: "We believe Colin is
    (...)  social media applauded Nike for its decision. One person tweeted: "Time to throw away all my Nike crap."
    (...)  campaign to celebrate its "Just Do It" 30th anniversary. Mr Kaepernick ignited controversy

    Put the words in the right order

    1. anniversary   .   its   "Just   Do   It"   Celebrate   30th
    2. racial   and   against   injustice   issues   .   social   A   protest
    3. "taking   A   the   knee"   .   trend   players   of   other
    4. or   suspended   .   NFL   either   fired   should   be   players
    5. national   up   stand   anthem   .   the   to   Failed   for
    6. Kaepernick's   will   close-up   a   image   face   .   use   of   Nike
    7. all   for   the   NFL's   uniforms   32   Supplies   the   teams   .
    8. most   generation   .   athletes   of   inspirational   this   The
    9. athlete   No   the   produces   emotional   same   other   response   .
    10. to   all   my   Nike   Time   away   throw   crap   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The sportswear maker Nike has announced / announcement it will use American football player Colin Kaepernick in its advertising campaign to celebrate that / its "Just Do It" 30th anniversary. Mr Kaepernick ignition / ignited controversy in 2016 while / awhile playing as quarterback for his team the San Francisco 49ers. He refused to stand / stood for the national anthem as a protest against racial / racially injustice and social issues. Instead he knelt down on one knee. This started a trend / trendy of other players "taking the knee" in / on support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Kaepernick's actions caused heat / heated debate. In September 2017, President Donald Trump tweeted that NFL players should be either fired or suspended if they failed for / to stand up for the national anthem.

    Nike will use a close-up imagery / image of Kaepernick's face with the caption: "Believe in something. Even if it meaning / means sacrificing everything." Nike supplies the uniforms from / for all the NFL's 32 teams and is a corporate sponsorship / sponsor of the NFL. The company knows it will receive a whiplash / backlash for using Mr Kaepernick in its ads. However, it said: "We believe Colin is once / one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged / beverage the power of sport to help move the world forward." Yahoo Sports said: It's an interesting / interested decision for Nike. No other athlete produces / productions the same emotional response as Kaepernick." Many on social media applauded Nike for its decision. One person tweeted: "Time to throw away all my Nike clap / crap."

    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)

    T h_ s p_r t s w__ r m_k_r N_k_ h_s _n n__ n c_d _t w_l l _s_ A m_r_c_n f__ t b_l l p l_y_r C_l_n K__ p_r n_c k _n _t s _d v_r t_s_n g c_m p__ g n t_ c_l_b r_t_ _t s " J_s t D_ I t " 3 0 t h _n n_v_r s_r y . M r K__ p_r n_c k _g n_t_d c_n t r_v_r s y _n 2 0 1 6 w h_l_ p l_y_n g _s q__ r t_r b_c k f_r h_s t__ m t h_ S_n F r_n c_s c_ 4 9_r s . H_ r_f_s_d t_ s t_n d f_r t h_ n_t__ n_l _n t h_m _s _ p r_t_s t _g__ n s t r_c__ l _n j_s t_c_ _n d s_c__ l _s s__ s . I n s t__ d h_ k n_l t d_w n _n _n_ k n__ . T h_s s t_r t_d _ t r_n d _f _t h_r p l_y_r s " t_k_n g t h_ k n__ " _n s_p p_r t _f t h_ B l_c k L_v_s M_t t_r m_v_m_n t . K__ p_r n_c k ' s _c t__ n s c__ s_d h__ t_d d_b_t_. I n S_p t_m b_r 2 0 1 7 , P r_s_d_n t D_n_l d T r_m p t w__ t_d t h_t N F L p l_y_r s s h__ l d b_ __ t h_r f_r_d _r s_s p_n d_d _f t h_y f__ l_d t_ s t_n d _p f_r t h_ n_t__ n_l _n t h_m .

    N_k_ w_l l _s_ _ c l_s_-_p _m_g_ _f K__ p_r n_c k ' s f_c_ w_t h t h_ c_p t__ n : " B_l__ v_ _n s_m_t h_n g . E v_n _f _t m__ n s s_c r_f_c_n g _v_r y t h_n g . " N_k_ s_p p l__ s t h_ _n_f_r m s f_r _l l t h_ N F L ' s 3 2 t__ m s _n d _s _ c_r p_r_t_ s p_n s_r _f t h_ N F L . T h_ c_m p_n y k n_w s _t w_l l r_c__ v_ _ b_c k l_s h f_r _s_n g M r K__ p_r n_c k _n _t s _d s . H_w_v_r , _t s__ d : " W_ b_l__ v_ C_l_n _s _n_ _f t h_ m_s t _n s p_r_t__ n_l _t h l_t_s _f t h_s g_n_r_t__ n , w h_ h_s l_v_r_g_d t h_ p_w_r _f s p_r t t_ h_l p m_v_ t h_ w_r l d f_r w_r d . " Y_h__ S p_r t s s__ d : I t ' s _n _n t_r_s t_n g d_c_s__ n f_r N_k_. N_ _t h_r _t h l_t_ p r_d_c_s t h_ s_m_ _m_t__ n_l r_s p_n s_ _s K__ p_r n_c k . " M_n y _n s_c__ l m_d__ _p p l__ d_d N_k_ f_r _t s d_c_s__ n . O n_ p_r s_n t w__ t_d : " T_m_ t_ t h r_w _w_y _l l m y N_k_ c r_p . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the sportswear maker nike has announced it will use american football player colin kaepernick in its advertising campaign to celebrate its just do it 30th anniversary mr kaepernick ignited controversy in 2016 while playing as quarterback for his team the san francisco 49ers he refused to stand for the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice and social issues instead he knelt down on one knee this started a trend of other players taking the knee in support of the black lives matter movement kaepernicks actions caused heated debate in september 2017 president donald trump tweeted that nfl players should be either fired or suspended if they failed to stand up for the national anthem

    nike will use a closeup image of kaepernicks face with the caption believe in something even if it means sacrificing everything nike supplies the uniforms for all the nfls 32 teams and is a corporate sponsor of the nfl the company knows it will receive a backlash for using mr kaepernick in its ads however it said we believe colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward yahoo sports said its an interesting decision for nike no other athlete produces the same emotional response as kaepernick many on social media applauded nike for its decision one person tweeted time to throw away all my nike crap"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThesportswearmakerNikehasannounceditwilluseAmericanfootballpl
    ayerColinKaepernickinitsadvertisingcampaigntocelebrateits"JustDo
    It"30thanniversary.MrKaepernickignitedcontroversyin2016whilepl
    ayingasquarterbackforhisteamtheSanFrancisco49ers.Herefusedtos
    tandforthenationalanthemasaprotestagainstracialinjusticeandsocia
    lissues.Insteadhekneltdownononeknee.Thisstartedatrendofotherpl
    ayers"takingtheknee"insupportoftheBlackLivesMattermovement.K
    aepernick'sactionscausedheateddebate.InSeptember2017,Preside
    ntDonaldTrumptweetedthatNFLplayersshouldbeeitherfiredorsuspe
    ndediftheyfailedtostandupforthenationalanthem.Nikewilluseaclose
    -upimageofKaepernick'sfacewiththecaption:"Believeinsomething.E
    venifitmeanssacrificingeverything."Nikesuppliestheuniformsforallt
    heNFL's32teamsandisacorporatesponsoroftheNFL.Thecompanykno
    wsitwillreceiveabacklashforusingMrKaepernickinitsads.However,its
    aid:"WebelieveColinisoneofthemostinspirationalathletesofthisgene
    ration,whohasleveragedthepowerofsporttohelpmovetheworldforwa
    rd."YahooSportssaid:"It'saninterestingdecisionforNike.Nootherathl
    eteproducesthesameemotionalresponseasKaepernick."Manyonsoci
    almediaapplaudedNikeforitsdecision.Onepersontweeted:"Timetoth
    rowawayallmyNikecrap."

    Free writing

    Write about national anthem for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    People don't have to stand for their national anthem. 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. NIKE: Make a poster about Nike. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NATIONAL ANTHEMS: Write a magazine article about having to stand for the national anthem. 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 national anthems. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on what to do during the playing of a national anthem. 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

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    Answers

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

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