Would you prefer to be rich, famous or both? Explain why.

Can you name any of these sports personalities? Where are they from?

Why are people so fascinated by 11 players running after a ball?

What countries pay the highest salaries?

Give your opinion. Do research.

How much are they paid?

Why are sports celebrities paid so much?

Apart from salaries, how else do big names make their money?

Do these extremely well-paid stars have any right to privacy at all?

What do you know about the private lives of these athletes?

Are entrance tickets to major games affordable where you live? Why (not)?

Can you recall any scandals some of these sports stars were involved in?

Should a football player be making 100 times more than the US president?

Can you think of any of their TV commercials, ads or product endorsements?

How does someone become a top athlete?

Could you become one?

Who are the highest paid sports players in your country? Are their salaries justified?

What sports clothes and equipment is needed to play these sports?

Are $100,000 a week salaries obscene when more than 1 billion people are hungry?

Lewis Hamilton (UK)

Pick a photo and describe it as thoroughly as you can.

Should women get the same salaries or prizes as men? Why (not)?

Tiger Woods (USA)

Answers may vary.

Teacher Notes

• This answer key is deliberately kept concise since the idea of these Conversation Corners is to talk rather informally and share information, not being given all the information by the teacher. BTW, the conversation should focus more on expressing opinions than giving correct answers

• Students could be given the opportunity to do some research on the Internet to find more information and answers to the questions.

• Also, students could prepare questions they were unable to answer and give a short presentation during the next lesson.

• Have a dictionary at hand (or an Internet connection) if possible so students can look up new vocabulary.

Yao Ming (Chinese)

Roger Federer (Swiss)

Wayne Rooney (UK)

Maria Sharapova (Russian)

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Advertising, product endorsement, TV commercials, own products (e.g. perfume) etc.

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Do Internet research.

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See above

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