Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Ichiro Suzuki. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Ichiro Suzuki is probably the best-known and most successful Japanese baseball player to play outside of Japan. He moved to Major League Baseball in 2001 and immediately started breaking records and making history. He is the first MLB player to join the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also selected as the 2007 All-Star Game MVP.
Ichiro was born in Japan in 1973. From the age of seven he practiced for hours every day under the guidance of his father. He wrote the word ‘concentration’ on his glove. By the age of 12, Ichiro knew he could be a professional baseball player. Although many teams were put off by his small size, he turned professional aged 18.
Ichiro made his debut in 1992 with Kobe’s Orix Blue Wave. He spent most of his first two seasons fighting to get into the first team. The manager didn’t like his swing. In 1994, a new manager came and put Ichiro in the leadoff spot. He was a household name by the end of the year. Japan’s media dubbed him the "human batting machine”.
In 2000, Ichiro signed a three-year $14 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. He was the first Japanese position player ever to play in America. Many American baseball fans believed Ichiro was too small to make a mark. He proved them all wrong. Ichiro has broken dozens of MLB records and has established himself as one of baseball’s most outstanding players.
243 words
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
probably
a.
most valuable player
2
selected
b.
direction
3.
MVP
c.
chosen
4.
guidance
d.
discouraged
5.
concentration
e.
most likely
6.
put off
f.
focusing
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
fighting
g.
position
8.
spot
h.
incorrect
9.
dubbed
i.
wonderful
10.
contract
j.
called
11
wrong
k
battling
12
outstanding
l
deal
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
the best-known and most successful
a.
to make a mark
2
immediately started breaking
b.
of his father
3.
making
c.
name by the end
4.
under the guidance
d.
records
5.
many teams were put off
e.
"human batting machine"
6.
Ichiro made his
f.
Japanese baseball player
7.
He was a household
g.
all wrong
8.
Japan’s media dubbed him the
h.
history
9.
too small
i.
by his small size
10.
He proved them
j.
debut in 1992
LISTENING GAP FILL
Ichiro Suzuki ___________________ best-known and most successful Japanese baseball ___________________ of Japan. He moved to Major League Baseball in 2001 and immediately ___________________ and making history. He is the first MLB player to join the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He ___________________ the 2007 All-Star Game MVP.
Ichiro was born in Japan in 1973. From __________________ practiced for hours every day _________________ of his father. He wrote the __________________ on his glove. By the age of 12, Ichiro knew he could be a professional baseball player. Although many teams were ___________________ size, he turned professional aged 18.
Ichiro ___________________ 1992 with Kobe’s Orix Blue Wave. He spent most of his first two seasons ___________________ the first team. The manager didn’t like his swing. In 1994, a new manager came and put Ichiro ___________________. He was a household name by the end of the year. Japan’s ___________________ the "human batting machine”.
In 2000, Ichiro ___________________ $14 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. He was the first Japanese position player ever to play in America. Many American baseball fans believed Ichiro was too small ___________________. He proved ___________________. Ichiro has broken dozens of MLB records and has ___________________ one of baseball’s most outstanding players.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Ichiro Suzuki is probably / probable the best-known and most successful Japanese baseball player to play outside for / of Japan. He moved to Major League Baseball in 2001 and immediately started / starred breaking records and making history. He is the first MLB player to join / joint the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also selected as the 2007 All-Star Game MVP.
Ichiro was born in Japan in 1973. From / For the age of seven he practiced for hours every day under the guide / guidance of his father. He wrote the word ‘concentration’ on his glove. By the / an age of 12, Ichiro knew he could be a professional baseball player. Although many teams were put on / off by his small size, he turned professional aged 18.
Ichiro made / did his debut in 1992 with Kobe’s Orix Blue Wave. He spent most of his first two seasons fighting to for / get into the first team. The manager didn’t like his swing. In 1994, a new manager came and put Ichiro in the leadoff spot. He was a household / homemaker name by the end of the year. Japan’s media dubbed him the "human / humane batting machine”.
In 2000, Ichiro signed a three-year $14 million contact / contract with the Seattle Mariners. He was the first Japanese position player ever to play in America. Many American baseball fans believed / believing Ichiro was too small to make a grade / mark. He proved them all wrong / wrongly. Ichiro has broken dozens of MLB records and has established himself as one of baseball’s most outstanding players.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
yroblbap the best-known
2.
erkigabn records
3.
making rtyihso
4.
scdteeel as the 2007 All-Star Game MVP
Paragraph 2
5.
under the induecag of his father
6.
He wrote the word ‘nenicotantocr’ on his glove
7.
teams were put off by his llsma size
8.
he ternud professional aged 18
Paragraph 3
9.
The manager didn’t like his wnsig
10.
a hlosudohe name
11.
Japan’s eidma
12.
human batting eiamhcn
Paragraph 4
13.
Ichiro edisgn a three-year $14 million contract
14.
the first Japanese tinosopi player
15.
He dreovp them all wrong
16.
Ichiro has broken zeonsd of MLB records
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( 1 )
Ichiro Suzuki is probably the best-known and most successful Japanese baseball player to play outside
( )
fighting to get into the first team. The manager didn’t like his swing. In 1994, a new manager
( )
a mark. He proved them all wrong. Ichiro has broken dozens of MLB records and has established
( )
of his father. He wrote the word ‘concentration’ on his glove. By the age of 12, Ichiro knew he could be a professional
( )
baseball player. Although many teams were put off by his small size, he turned professional aged 18.
( )
Japanese position player ever to play in America. Many American baseball fans believed Ichiro was too small to make
( )
In 2000, Ichiro signed a three-year $14 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. He was the first
( )
history. He is the first MLB player to join the Japanese Baseball Hall of
( )
Ichiro was born in Japan in 1973. From the age of seven he practiced for hours every day under the guidance
( )
himself as one of baseball’s most outstanding players.
( )
came and put Ichiro in the leadoff spot. He was a household name by the end
( )
Fame. He was also selected as the 2007 All-Star Game MVP.
( )
Ichiro made his debut in 1992 with Kobe’s Orix Blue Wave. He spent most of his first two seasons
( )
of the year. Japan’s media dubbed him the "human batting machine”.
( )
of Japan. He moved to Major League Baseball in 2001 and immediately started breaking records and making
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
breaking started history making and records
2.
Game 2007 MVP All selected - as Star the
3.
practiced he seven From day every the age of hours for
4.
his word glove He ‘concentration’ wrote on the
5.
by teams his were small put size off many
6.
manager The swing his like didn’t
7.
a household name by the end of the year He was
8.
dubbed machine” media the batting Japan’s him “human
9.
to small too was Ichiro mark a make
10.
records has dozens MLB Ichiro broken of
ICHIRO SUZUKI DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Ichiro Suzuki?
2.
Would you like to meet Ichiro Suzuki?
3.
What would you like to know about Ichiro Suzuki and why?
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 more information about Ichiro Suzuki. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ICHIRO SUZUKI POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Ichiro Suzuki. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Ichiro Suzuki. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he does every day and what he thinks about.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER: Write a letter to Ichiro Suzuki. Ask him three questions about his life. Give him three suggestions on what he should do in his future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Ichiro Suzuki expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
probably
a.
most likely
2
selected
b.
chosen
3.
MVP
c.
most valuable player
4.
guidance
d.
direction
5.
concentration
e.
focusing
6.
put off
f.
discouraged
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
fighting
g.
battling
8.
spot
h.
position
9.
dubbed
i.
called
10.
contract
j.
deal
11
wrong
k
incorrect
12
outstanding
l
wonderful
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
the best-known and most successful
a.
Japanese baseball player
2
immediately started breaking
b.
records
3.
making
c.
history
4.
under the guidance
d.
of his father
5.
many teams were put off
e.
by his small size
6.
Ichiro made his
f.
debut in 1992
7.
He was a household
g.
name by the end
8.
Japan’s media dubbed him the
h.
"human batting machine"
9.
too small
i.
to make a mark
10.
He proved them
j.
all wrong
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
HELP SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE
Recommend the site on blogs,Twitter, Facebook, forums and other sites.
