Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a sponsor
    • ex. The organization thanked its sponsors for their help in past events.
  2. a partnership
    • ex. Two IT companies started a partnership to develop a new AI tool.
  3. rooted
    • ex. The town’s traditions are deeply rooted in its 100-year history.
  4. suffer
    • ex. During spring, many people suffer from allergies.
  5. departure
    • ex. The manager’s departure from the company made the staff members feel sad.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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McDonald’s will be the sponsor of Ligue 1, the top French soccer league, for the next three seasons starting in July. This deal is happening after Uber Eats and Ligue 1 ended their agreement. According to the league, the partnership between McDonald’s and Ligue 1 is deeply rooted in the daily lives of the French people. The two companies did not share the financial details of the partnership.

But according to L’Equipe newspaper, McDonald’s will pay $33 million (about ¥4.8 billion) per season. Vincent Labrune, the French league president, welcomed McDonald’s as a sponsor. He said the partnership is a positive sign for Ligue 1 because the league can suffer from the departure of star player Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé’s departure may affect the league’s negotiations for the sale of television rights for 2024-2029.

McDonald’s is highly popular among the French people although France is known globally for its excellent food and culture. Since its opening in France in 1979, McDonald’s has had more than 1,500 restaurants in the country. And around 78,000 people work at McDonald’s in France.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Sponsors and Partnerships

  • In your opinion, what would be the impact of the partnership between McDonald’s and Ligue 1? Why? Discuss.
  • Why do you think sports leagues like Ligue 1 partner with sponsors? Discuss.
  • Imagine that a sports league you like is having a new sponsor. Would you support the business of the sponsor company? Why or why not? Discuss.

McDonald’s and Food Culture

  • In your opinion, is McDonald’s popular in your country? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Do you think McDonald’s popularity has affected the food culture of people in your country? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, should foreign restaurants like McDonald’s add local food to their menu (ex. serve rice meals, use flavors from a specific country)? Why or why not? Discuss.