Topic: Spreading Your Bets Online

Written by Chris Titus, CFA

Language: English
Level: Intermediate+

Summary: We will discuss how people get paid to blog

Warm Up Questions:

• Do you take risks in life or play it safe?
• If 'no', why not?
• If 'yes', what kind of risks do you take?  Do you play poker or the stock market?  
• Do most people win when they gamble? If 'no', why not?

Vocabulary and Definitions:

• spread betting - to wager on the outcome of an event (often sports).  The 'spread' is the amount by which the favored team must win in order for the gambler to win if betting on the favored team.
• high roller - someone who bets a lot of money at a casino.
• blog - (n) blog is short for "web log".  Originally an online personal diary, blogs have changed to become more of advertising and political vehicles.
• blog - (v) to write about something in a blog
• 
  
• blog hosting service - companies that provide server space and software for maintaining blogs
• AdSense - a Google advertising program that allows website owners to display advertisements and earn money each time an ad is clicked.

Article:

Geoffrey Weinstein, the famous spread betting advice blogger, earns the majority of his money these days from subscriptions and advertising.  Only a few short years ago, before Geoffrey had heard of blogging, he was a regular at the casinos that offered spread betting in Las Vegas.  Widely considered an expert in spread betting, he earned huge sums of money offering spread betting tips and classes to high rollers for a hefty fee.  

His introduction to blogging came two years ago when his nephew returned from college for the holidays.  He helped Geoffrey set up a blog with a free blog hosting service.  He also added Google's AdSense code to display advertising.  Each time someone clicks advertisements displayed on his blog, Geoffrey earns between $0.50 and $20.00.  

Geoffrey rarely visits a casino these days.  He no longer places bets and feels much more relaxed without the constant excitement of bright flashing lights and screaming fans.  On occasion, he remarks that his blood pressure is considerably lower and that "blogging just may have saved my life."

Discussion Questions:

• How did blogging save Geoffrey's life?
  - Lower blood pressure due to less stress
• How does Geoffrey earn money?
  - Subscriptions and when people click on the advertisements on his blog
• How does Geoffrey get companies to advertise on his blog?
  - He uses AdSense.  Google matches advertisers' ads with the content on Geoffrey's blog.
• Does Geoffrey have a relationship with the companies that advertise on his blog?
  No. The ads are constantly changing
• What types of blogs have you seen?
  Personal, corporate, political, education, etc.

Role Play or Activity:

You want to earn extra money and think blogging is the answer.  Describe what you want to blog about.  

• What topic do you know very well? Is it something that will appeal to many readers?  
• Next, you need to develop a name for your website.  Think of something catchy.  
• Now that you know the topic (example: skiing), take a minute to think about your first post. (skiing moguls, ski deals, skiing out west)  When you decide, tell us about your first post and why it would appeal to your readers.
• In the article above, Geoffrey earned between $0.50 and $20.00 per click on his advertisement.  Clicks related to certain keywords are more valuable than others.  What keywords related to your article do you think would earn more money? (Interesting Fact: "South America skiing" generated the highest cost per click of $4.98 at the time of writing this lesson plan)

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LingoPass! LLC

http://www.lingopass.com/blogs/

Topic: Childhood Obesity is Big Business

Written by Chris Titus, CFA

Date:   Tuesday, December 22
Time:   15:00 GMT

Language:   English
Level:   Pre-Intermediate to Intermediate
Summary - We will discuss food marketing trends in the United States 

Warm Up

• Describe some food related television commercials that are for children in your country

Vocabulary and Definitions (difficult words in video or article):

• word:  to curb / to limit
  
• word:  obesity
  
• word:  saturated fat
  
• word:  to influence
  
• word:  binding
  

Article (Except)

Officials from many federal agencies recommend curbing advertising of foods and beverages that have a lot of sugar, sodium and saturated fat.  The recommendation is related to the growth in childhood obesity.

The proposal says that food companies should only market healthy foods to children.  Congress created the group of agencies to change current marketing standards that influence children's eating habits.  Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Jon Leibowitz says that the food industry isn't doing enough to limit the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

David C. Vladeck, director of the FTC's consumer protection bureau, said that the proposals aren't regulations and aren't binding.  He said companies should pay attention because if they don't change food marketing standards, "Congress may decide for all of us."

Discussion Questions (used to keep the conversation going):

• What do the federal agencies want to change?
• Why do they want to change it?
• How will they change it?
• Do the agencies want the food companies to regulate themselves?
• If the food companies can\'t make changes, what will Congress do?
• Do regulations exist in your country for this type of marketing?
• Should similar changes be made in your country?

Role Play or Activity:   

You are a food company executive.  Your best selling product has too much sugar relative to the proposed regulations.  Will you change your product, marketing, both, or do nothing?  Why?

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