Specialized English: Courses for Journalists

I was asked to teach a short EFL for some journalists a while back. Here is one activity we did that I like a lot. It is taken from a more general English language learning page but can be used in the context of interview preparation, an essential part of a journalist's work. 

My dad always wanted me to be a sports writer, perhaps because he hoped to get free tickets to see his beloved Boston Celtics. So this is dedicated to his memory. 

Reporter A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show to Reporter B)

1)	What images spring to mind when you hear the word ‘sport’?
2)	Why do so many people like sport?
3)	Why are some people not interested in sport?
4)	How often do you read sports news?
5)	Do you prefer playing or watching sports?
6)	Do you have good or bad experiences with sports at school?
7)	Do you think sports stars have the best life?
8)	Who is your favourite all-time sport star?
9)	Richard M. Nixon said: "I don't know anything that builds the will to win better than competitive sports." Do you agree?
10)	George Orwell said: "Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words, it is war minus the shooting." Do you agree?

Reporter B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show to Reporter A)

1)	What’s your favourite sport?
2)	Do you prefer watching sports at the stadium, at home on TV, or in a bar on a giant screen?
3)	Would you like to play sport for a living?
4)	How many hours of sport a week should children do at school?
5)	Is European football (or soccer) THE world sport?
6)	What is your country’s national sport? Do you like it?
7)	What are blood sports? Do you like them?
8)	What are extreme sports? Have your ever tried any of these sporting activities? Describe your experience.
9)	Howard Cosell said: "Sports is the toy department of human life." Do you agree?
10)	John Wooden said: "Sports do not build character. They reveal it." Do you agree?

This activity is adapted from a useful ESL web site, see http://esldiscussions.com/s/sport.html
for further details.