Starbucks is having problems because they made their drinks more expensive. Some people, like Andrew, don’t want to buy from Starbucks anymore. This has made their sales go down, especially in the US. People are also upset with Starbucks for other reasons, like how they treat their workers. The boss of Starbucks, Laxman, says they will try new things to get people to come back.

Other fast-food places like McDonald’s and Burger King are also seeing fewer sales. But experts think Starbucks’ problems are mostly about the company itself. People are mad at Starbucks for different reasons, including their views on big world issues. These problems have made people stop buying from Starbucks. Starbucks is trying to fix things by talking with worker groups and making new plans.

Original news source: Price hikes and boycotts: Is trouble brewing at Starbucks? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of cards with different actions written on them (e.g. drink coffee, work at Starbucks, protest). One student from each group will act out the action on the card without speaking, while the other students in the group try to guess what action it is. The group that guesses the most actions correctly wins.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “Starbucks” on the board. Ask the students to think of as many words as they can that are related to Starbucks (e.g. coffee, café, latte, barista). Have each student take turns saying a word out loud and write it on the board. Encourage students to think of both positive and negative words. After everyone has contributed, discuss the words as a class and ask students to explain why they chose those words.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of vocabulary cards related to the article (e.g. Starbucks, expensive, sales, workers). One student from each pair will draw a picture representing the word on a card, while the other student tries to guess what word it is. The pair that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 2 minutes. One student from each pair will read the article silently and then summarize it to their partner within the 2-minute time limit. After the time is up, have pairs switch roles. Discuss the main points of the article as a class.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Write the topic “Starbucks” on the board. Divide the class into two groups: one group will discuss the pros (advantages) of Starbucks, and the other group will discuss the cons (disadvantages). Give each group a few minutes to brainstorm their ideas. Then, have each group take turns sharing their ideas with the class. Encourage students to provide reasons and examples to support their points.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why are people not buying drinks from Starbucks anymore?
2. Who is the boss of Starbucks?
3. Why are people upset with Starbucks?
4. Are other fast-food places also having fewer sales?
5. What is Starbucks trying to do to fix their problems?
6. Who is McDonald’s and Burger King?
7. What are some of the reasons people are mad at Starbucks?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Starbucks is having problems because they (1)______ their drinks more expensive. Some (2)______, like Andrew, don’t want to buy from Starbucks anymore. This has made their sales go down, especially in the US. People are also upset with Starbucks for other reasons, like how they (3)______ their workers. The boss of Starbucks, Laxman, says they will try new things to get people to come back.

(4)______ fast-food places like McDonald’s and (5)______ King are also seeing (6)______ sales. But experts think Starbucks’ problems are mostly about the company itself. People are mad at Starbucks for different reasons, including their views on big world issues. These problems have made people stop buying from Starbucks. Starbucks is trying to fix things by (7)______ with worker groups and making new (8)______.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Starbucks?
2. How do you think people feel when the prices at Starbucks go up?
3. Do you like buying drinks from Starbucks? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if your favorite fast-food place started losing sales?
5. Do you think it’s fair for people to be upset with Starbucks for how they treat their workers? Why or why not?
6. What are some reasons why people might stop buying from Starbucks?
7. How do you think Starbucks can get people to come back and buy their drinks?
8. Do you know any other fast-food places like McDonald’s and Burger King?
9. Why do you think experts think Starbucks’ problems are mostly about the company itself?
10. What are some big world issues that Starbucks might have views on?
11. Do you think it’s important for companies to talk with worker groups? Why or why not?
12. What do you think Starbucks should do to fix their problems?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. expensive
2. sales
3. upset
4. treat
5. boss
6. experts
7. issues
8. views
9. fix
10. plans

Meanings:
(A) Ideas about what to do next
(B) People who know a lot about something
(C) The number of things sold
(D) What someone thinks about something
(E) Feeling sad or angry
(F) Problems or topics people talk about
(G) To make something better
(H) Costs a lot of money
(I) How you act towards someone
(J) The person in charge
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are people not buying from Starbucks anymore?
(a) Because they don’t like coffee
(b) Because they love Starbucks too much
(c) Because the drinks are more expensive
(d) Because they want to buy from McDonald’s instead

2. Who is upset with Starbucks?
(a) People who don’t like how they treat their workers
(b) People who love Starbucks
(c) People who work at Starbucks
(d) People who don’t like coffee

3. Who is the boss of Starbucks?
(a) Andrew
(b) McDonald
(c) Burger King
(d) Laxman

4. Why are other fast-food places like McDonald’s and Burger King also having fewer sales?
(a) Because people are not buying from them either
(b) Because their food is not tasty
(c) Because Starbucks is cheaper
(d) Because Starbucks has better coffee

5. What are experts saying about Starbucks’ problems?
(a) They think the problems are about the weather
(b) They think the problems are mostly about the company itself
(c) They think the problems are about the workers
(d) They think the problems are about the coffee

6. What is Starbucks doing to fix things?
(a) Closing all their stores
(b) Talking with worker groups and making new plans
(c) Making their drinks even more expensive
(d) Selling their coffee in different countries

7. Why are people mad at Starbucks?
(a) Because they have the best coffee
(b) Because they treat their workers well
(c) Because of their views on big world issues
(d) Because they are always closed

8. What is the main reason people have stopped buying from Starbucks?
(a) They don’t like coffee
(b) They want to buy from McDonald’s instead
(c) The drinks are more expensive
(d) They are mad at Starbucks for different reasons

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Starbucks is trying to fix things by talking with worker groups and making new plans.
2. McDonald’s and Burger King are also experiencing an increase in sales.
3. People are satisfied with Starbucks because of how they treat their workers.
4. The boss of Starbucks, Laxman, says they will stick to the same strategies to get people to come back.
5. Starbucks’ sales have gone down, especially in the US.
6. Starbucks made their drinks more expensive and now people don’t want to buy from them.
7. Experts believe Starbucks’ problems are mostly due to external factors.
8. Andrew doesn’t want to buy from Starbucks anymore.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why are some people not buying drinks from Starbucks anymore?
2. Are other fast-food places also having fewer sales?
3. Why are people upset with Starbucks?
4. What is the boss of Starbucks going to do to get people to come back?
5. How is Starbucks trying to fix their problems?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why are people not buying drinks from Starbucks anymore?
Because Starbucks made their drinks more expensive.

2. Who is the boss of Starbucks?
The boss of Starbucks is Laxman.

3. Why are people upset with Starbucks?
People are upset with Starbucks for different reasons, like how they treat their workers and their views on big world issues.

4. Are other fast-food places also having fewer sales?
Yes, other fast-food places like McDonald’s and Burger King are also seeing fewer sales.

5. What is Starbucks trying to do to fix their problems?
Starbucks is trying to fix their problems by talking with worker groups and making new plans.

6. Who is McDonald’s and Burger King?
McDonald’s and Burger King are other fast-food places.

7. What are some of the reasons people are mad at Starbucks?
Some of the reasons people are mad at Starbucks are how they treat their workers and their views on big world issues.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) made
(2) people
(3) treat
(4) Other
(5) Burger
(6) fewer
(7) talking
(8) plans
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. expensive
Answer: (H) Costs a lot of money

2. sales
Answer: (C) The number of things sold

3. upset
Answer: (E) Feeling sad or angry

4. treat
Answer: (I) How you act towards someone

5. boss
Answer: (J) The person in charge

6. experts
Answer: (B) People who know a lot about something

7. issues
Answer: (F) Problems or topics people talk about

8. views
Answer: (D) What someone thinks about something

9. fix
Answer: (G) To make something better

10. plans
Answer: (A) Ideas about what to do next
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are people not buying from Starbucks anymore?
Answer: (c) Because the drinks are more expensive

2. Who is upset with Starbucks?
Answer: (a) People who don’t like how they treat their workers

3. Who is the boss of Starbucks?
Answer: (d) Laxman

4. Why are other fast-food places like McDonald’s and Burger King also having fewer sales?
Answer: (a) Because people are not buying from them either

5. What are experts saying about Starbucks’ problems?
Answer: (b) They think the problems are mostly about the company itself

6. What is Starbucks doing to fix things?
Answer: (b) Talking with worker groups and making new plans

7. Why are people mad at Starbucks?
Answer: (c) Because of their views on big world issues

8. What is the main reason people have stopped buying from Starbucks?
Answer: (d) They are mad at Starbucks for different reasons
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Starbucks is trying to fix things by talking with worker groups and making new plans. (Answer: True)
2. McDonald’s and Burger King are also experiencing an increase in sales. (Answer: False)
3. People are satisfied with Starbucks because of how they treat their workers. (Answer: False)
4. The boss of Starbucks, Laxman, says they will stick to the same strategies to get people to come back. (Answer: False)
5. Starbucks’ sales have gone down, especially in the US. (Answer: True)
6. Starbucks made their drinks more expensive and now people don’t want to buy from them. (Answer: True)
7. Experts believe Starbucks’ problems are mostly due to external factors. (Answer: False)
8. Andrew doesn’t want to buy from Starbucks anymore. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧