Discussion Starters

Athlete
Salaries
Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions

1. How much money do you think

Tiger Woods earns each year?

2. Should athletes earn more money than doctors?

3. Do most professional athletes

“give back” to their communities?

4. What is more important to athletes, money or fame?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match up as many words and meanings as you can.

Check this exercise again after seeing the words in context on page 2.

1. salary a) the state of being well known

2. sponsorship b) to have enough money

3. appearance fee c) to give money or goods for a good cause

4. celebrity d) a story that is popular in the media

5. fame e) to earn from work

6. afford f) to show thankfulness by offering support to others

7. bring home g) a famous person

8. give back h) the amount of money earned each year

9. donate i) the giving of money, time, or support to those in need

10. charity j) money celebrities earn for showing up to an event

11. headline news k) money in exchange for promoting a product or service

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 Athlete Salaries
Discussion Starters

Reading
ATHLETE SALARIES
How much is too much?

1. In 2009, Tiger Woods became the first billion-dollar man in sports. “Money and fame
These days, professional athletes earn money without even picking made me believe I
up a golf club or hockey stick. Much of their earnings are from
sponsorship deals or appearance fees.
was entitled. I was
2. Tiger Woods’ personal life fell apart one year after he broke the
wrong and foolish.”
billion‑dollar record. Like many celebrities, he learned the hard —Tiger Woods
way that money can’t buy you love. Do your favorite athletes
love the fame more than the game?

3. Some fans cannot afford to pay for tickets to their favorite

sporting events. If athlete salaries were cut in half, could we all
afford to buy tickets? The highest-paid American baseball players
bring home over 20 million dollars per year. How much does the
average American doctor make?

4. Most professional athletes give back to their communities

in some shape or form. In 2010, Vancouver Canucks hockey stars
Daniel and Henrik Sedin donated 1.5 million dollars to a Canadian
children’s hospital. This donation equaled about 10% of the twins’
annual earnings. Why didn’t this act of charity make the world
headline news?

Comprehension
Discuss these questions in pairs, and write the answers in your notebook.

1. What record did Tiger Woods achieve in 2009?

2. Besides playing sports, how do professional athletes earn money?

3. How do athlete salaries affect fans?

4. What does the reading say about baseball players?

5. What did the Sedin twins do in 2010?

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 Athlete Salaries
Discussion Starters

Vocabulary Review
A. Choose the Correct Word

Choose the word or phrase with the closest meaning to

the underlined word or phrase in the following sentences.

1. The hockey players donated 3. Amateur players don’t 5. The baseball pitcher’s salary
their jerseys to a public school. bring home much money, was 15 million dollars this year.
but they still love their sport.
a) removed a) yearly income
b) paid for a) care about b) donation
c) gave away b) pay c) goal
d) purchased c) earn d) winnings
d) offer
2. We asked a few celebrities
to come to the charity event. 4. Some athletes care about
winning, while others care
a) famous people
more about fame.
b) players
c) actors a) skill
d) friends b) money
c) prizes
d) popularity

B. Complete the Sentences

Complete the sentences using vocabulary from page 1.

You may need to change the word forms.

1. Did you hear about the hockey players’ strike? It was in the .

2. Some of the school children cannot to go to the basketball game.

3. Tiger Woods receives an just for attending a tournament.

4. Popular athletes often get deals that are higher than their salaries.

5. The coach believes it is important to to the community.

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 Athlete Salaries
Discussion Starters

Discussion
1. Why do professional athletes earn so much money?

2. Which sport should have the highest-paid athletes? Why?

3. What is the best way for a professional

athlete to give back to his or her community?

4. Do you often buy products that are promoted by celebrities?

Class Survey
Walk around the class and ask your classmates questions.
Write their answers in the chart below.

Do you think What is the best Do high salaries

Classmate’s name: athletes are way for professional motivate athletes
paid too much? athletes to give back? to win?

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 Athlete Salaries
Discussion Starters

Listening
Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.

ATHLETE SALARIES
How much is too much?

1. In 2009, Tiger Woods became the first billion-dollar man in sports.

These days, professional athletes earn money without even picking
up a golf club or hockey stick. Much of their earnings are from
deals or .

2. Tiger Woods’ personal life fell apart one year after he broke the
billion‑dollar record. Like many , he learned
the hard way that money can’t buy you love. Do your favorite athletes
love the more than the game?

3. Some fans cannot to pay for tickets to their

favorite sporting events. If athlete were cut in half,
could we all afford to buy tickets? The highest-paid American baseball
players over 20 million dollars per year.
How much does the average American doctor make?

4. Most professional athletes

to their communities in some shape or form. In 2010,
Vancouver Canucks hockey stars Daniel and Henrik Sedin
1.5 million dollars to a Canadian children’s
hospital. This donation equaled about 10% of the twins’ annual
earnings. Why didn’t this act of make
the world headline news?

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 Athlete Salaries
Discussion Starters

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: TEACHING TIPS: LEVEL: Int

Students read about and discuss See Discussion Starters Teaching Guide TIME: 1.5–2 hours
athlete salaries and whether or not (https://esllibrary.com/courses/72/lessons/)
TAGS: discussion, athlete salaries,
they are justified. for a variety of ways to use the reading.
sports, Tiger Words, money

Pre-Reading Vocabulary Review

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS A. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Have students work in small groups or as a class. 1. c 2. a 3. c 4. d 5. a

B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW B. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

1. h 3. j 5. a 7. e 9. c 11. d 1. headline news 4. sponsorship

2. k 4. g 6. b 8. f 10. i 2. afford 5. give back

3. appearance fee

Reading (and/or Listening)

Discussion
Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. Discuss the quote.
You can also play the listening as your students read along. A gap- Answers will vary.

fill version of the reading is available on page 5. Help your students Can be done individually or in small groups or pairs.

with vocabulary and expressions that they are unfamiliar with.

Class Survey
Comprehension
Have students walk around the class and ask their classmates
1. Tiger Woods became the first questions. They should record their answers in the chart.
billion-dollar man in sports in 2009.
2. Professional athletes also earn money through Listening
sponsorship deals and appearance fees.
3. Athlete salaries drive the prices of tickets up for 1. sponsorship, appearance fees
sporting events. Some fans cannot afford tickets. 2. celebrities, fame
4. The top baseball players earn more 3. afford, salaries, bring home
than 20 million dollars per year. 4. give back, donated, charity
5. The Sedin twins donated 1.5 million
dollars to a Canadian children’s hospital.
SPELLING NOTE:

This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Favorite.

Most other English-speaking countries spell it this way: Favourite.
Make it a challenge for your students to find this word in the
lesson and see if they know the alternate spelling.

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