Baseball star Shohei Ohtani has made history by signing a record-breaking $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This 10-year deal is the largest ever in Major League Baseball (MLB) and solidifies Ohtani’s status as one of the highest-earning athletes in the world. Ohtani, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the game, was highly sought after by teams across the league.
After weeks of speculation about his future, Ohtani chose to join the Dodgers, sparking a bidding war among teams vying for his signature. He became a free agent after his contract with the Los Angeles Angels expired, following a successful six-year tenure with the team. The reported value of his contract is comparable to the astronomical sums commanded by superstars like Lionel Messi and LeBron James.
Ohtani, at 29 years old, has already made a significant impact on the sport and is considered a transformative figure in modern baseball. Unlike most players who specialize in either batting or pitching, Ohtani excels in both disciplines. He was named the American League MVP in 2021 and repeated this achievement last month, despite his 2023 season being cut short due to injury.
In addition to his success in the MLB, Ohtani led Japan to a historic victory over the United States in the final of the World Baseball Classic championship. This win was a major milestone for a country where baseball is the most popular sport. Ohtani’s talent and accomplishments have earned him widespread praise from fans and experts, and he is well on his way to being considered one of the all-time greats.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Ohtani expressed his gratitude to the Angels, stating that they will always hold a special place in his heart. He also expressed his commitment to continue striving for excellence, not only for the Dodgers but for the entire baseball world, until the end of his playing career.
Original news source: Shohei Ohtani: Baseball star joins LA Dodgers in record $700m deal (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article silently. Then, ask them to work together to write a summary of the article in their own words. Encourage them to focus on the main points and key details. After a set amount of time, have each group share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the students form pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and share their opinions on the following questions related to the article:
1. What are your thoughts on Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking contract?
2. Do you think Ohtani made the right decision by joining the Los Angeles Dodgers?
3. What impact do you think Ohtani’s success has had on the sport of baseball?
After giving students time to discuss, have each group share their opinions with the class.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Provide the students with drawing materials (paper and pencils or markers). Ask them to choose a scene or moment from the article and create a sketch representing it. Encourage them to include details and captions to explain their drawings. After a set amount of time, have the students share their sketches with the class and explain their choices.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g., contract, bidding war, free agent). Divide the class into two teams. Choose one student from each team to come to the front of the class. Give them a vocabulary word from the list and ask them to draw a picture representing that word. The rest of their team must guess the word based on the drawing. The team that guesses correctly earns a point. Repeat with new students and words until all the vocabulary words have been used.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have the class discuss and make predictions about Shohei Ohtani’s future in baseball. Encourage them to consider factors such as his performance, injuries, and impact on the sport. Ask the students to share their predictions with the class and explain their reasoning. Encourage them to use modal verbs (e.g., will, might, could) to express degrees of certainty.
Comprehension Questions:
1. How much was Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers worth?
2. Why did teams engage in a bidding war for Ohtani’s signature?
3. How did Ohtani become a free agent?
4. Who are some other athletes that command astronomical sums for their contracts?
5. What makes Ohtani unique compared to other baseball players?
6. What awards has Ohtani won in his career?
7. What was significant about Japan’s victory in the World Baseball Classic championship?
8. What did Ohtani express in his statement on Instagram?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
(1)______ star (2)______ Ohtani has made (3)______ by signing a record-breaking $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This 10-year deal is the largest ever in Major League Baseball (MLB) and solidifies Ohtani’s status as one of the highest-earning athletes in the world. Ohtani, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the game, was highly sought after by teams across the (4)______.
After weeks of speculation about his future, Ohtani chose to join the Dodgers, (5)______ a bidding war among teams vying for his signature. He became a free agent after his contract with the Los Angeles Angels expired, (6)______ a successful six-year (7)______ with the team. The reported value of his contract is comparable to the astronomical sums commanded by superstars like Lionel Messi and LeBron James.
Ohtani, at 29 years old, has already made a significant impact on the sport and is considered a transformative figure in modern (8)______. Unlike most players who specialize in either batting or pitching, Ohtani excels in both disciplines. He was named the American League MVP in 2021 and (9)______ this achievement last month, despite his 2023 season being cut short due to injury.
In addition to his success in the MLB, Ohtani led Japan to a historic victory over the United States in the (10)______ of the World Baseball Classic championship. This win was a (11)______ milestone for a (12)______ where baseball is the most popular sport. Ohtani’s talent and accomplishments have earned him widespread praise from fans and (13)______, and he is well on his way to being considered one of the all-time greats.
In a statement shared on (14)______, Ohtani expressed his gratitude to the Angels, stating that they will always hold a special (15)______ in his heart. He also expressed his commitment to continue (16)______ for excellence, not only for the Dodgers but for the entire baseball world, until the end of his playing career.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What do you think about Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers?
2. How would you feel if you were a professional athlete and had teams bidding for your signature?
3. Do you think the amount of money athletes earn is justified? Why or why not?
4. What do you think it takes for a player to be considered one of the all-time greats in a sport?
5. How important is versatility in sports? Do you think it’s better for a player to specialize in one area or be skilled in multiple areas?
6. What is the significance of Ohtani’s victory in the World Baseball Classic championship for Japan?
7. How do you think Ohtani’s success in both batting and pitching has impacted the game of baseball?
8. Do you think Ohtani’s injury in the 2023 season will affect his future performance? Why or why not?
9. How do you think Ohtani’s success and popularity in the MLB has influenced the popularity of baseball in Japan?
10. What do you think it means to strive for excellence in a sports career? How can athletes continue to improve even after achieving great success?
11. How do you think Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers will affect the team’s performance and dynamics?
12. Do you think Ohtani’s contract sets a precedent for future contracts in the MLB? Why or why not?
13. How do you think Ohtani’s success and fame will impact young aspiring baseball players?
14. What challenges do you think Ohtani will face in his career moving forward?
15. Do you think Ohtani’s success and wealth will change him as a person? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the value of Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking contract?
(a) $500 million
(b) $1 billion
(c) $700 million
(d) $200 million
2. Which team did Shohei Ohtani choose to join?
(a) New York Yankees
(b) Los Angeles Dodgers
(c) Boston Red Sox
(d) San Francisco Giants
3. How long is Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers?
(a) 10 years
(b) 5 years
(c) 15 years
(d) 20 years
4. What is Shohei Ohtani’s age?
(a) 25 years old
(b) 29 years old
(c) 35 years old
(d) 20 years old
5. In which league did Shohei Ohtani win the MVP award in 2021?
(a) National League
(b) Japanese League
(c) World Baseball Classic
(d) American League
6. What other sport do Lionel Messi and LeBron James play?
(a) Baseball and basketball
(b) Soccer and baseball
(c) Basketball and baseball
(d) Soccer and basketball
7. In which championship did Japan defeat the United States?
(a) World Baseball Classic
(b) World Cup
(c) Olympics
(d) Super Bowl
8. What did Shohei Ohtani express in his statement on Instagram?
(a) Disappointment with the Dodgers and plans to retire
(b) Excitement about joining a new team and future success
(c) Gratitude to the Angels and commitment to excellence
(d) Indifference towards his playing career and the baseball world
True or False Questions:
1. Shohei Ohtani has not signed a $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making it the smallest deal in MLB history.
2. Ohtani expressed gratitude to the Angels and a commitment to continue striving for excellence with the Dodgers.
3. He was named the American League MVP in 2021 and repeated the achievement last month.
4. Ohtani is considered one of the greatest players in baseball.
5. His contract value is not comparable to top athletes like Lionel Messi and LeBron James.
6. Ohtani did not lead Japan to a historic victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic championship.
7. Ohtani chose to join the Dodgers after his contract with the Los Angeles Angels expired.
8. Ohtani is not known for excelling in both batting and pitching, a rarity in the sport.
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. How much was Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers?
2. Why did Ohtani choose to join the Dodgers?
3. What makes Ohtani a transformative figure in modern baseball?
4. What other achievements has Ohtani had in his baseball career?
5. What did Ohtani express in his statement on Instagram?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. How much was Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers worth?
$700 million.
2. Why did teams engage in a bidding war for Ohtani’s signature?
Ohtani is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the game and excels in both batting and pitching, making him a highly sought-after player.
3. How did Ohtani become a free agent?
His contract with the Los Angeles Angels expired.
4. Who are some other athletes that command astronomical sums for their contracts?
Lionel Messi and LeBron James.
5. What makes Ohtani unique compared to other baseball players?
Ohtani excels in both batting and pitching, unlike most players who specialize in one discipline.
6. What awards has Ohtani won in his career?
He was named the American League MVP in 2021 and repeated this achievement last month.
7. What was significant about Japan’s victory in the World Baseball Classic championship?
It was a historic victory for Japan over the United States, and it showcased Ohtani’s talent and accomplishments.
8. What did Ohtani express in his statement on Instagram?
He expressed his gratitude to the Angels and his commitment to continue striving for excellence, not only for the Dodgers but for the entire baseball world, until the end of his playing career.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) Baseball
(2) Shohei
(3) history
(4) league
(5) sparking
(6) following
(7) tenure
(8) baseball
(9) repeated
(10) final
(11) major
(12) country
(13) experts
(14) Instagram
(15) place
(16) striving
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is the value of Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking contract?
Answer: (c) $700 million
2. Which team did Shohei Ohtani choose to join?
Answer: (b) Los Angeles Dodgers
3. How long is Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers?
Answer: (a) 10 years
4. What is Shohei Ohtani’s age?
Answer: (b) 29 years old
5. In which league did Shohei Ohtani win the MVP award in 2021?
Answer: (d) American League
6. What other sport do Lionel Messi and LeBron James play?
Answer: (d) Soccer and basketball
7. In which championship did Japan defeat the United States?
Answer: (a) World Baseball Classic
8. What did Shohei Ohtani express in his statement on Instagram?
Answer: (c) Gratitude to the Angels and commitment to excellence
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Shohei Ohtani has not signed a $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making it the smallest deal in MLB history. (Answer: False)
2. Ohtani expressed gratitude to the Angels and a commitment to continue striving for excellence with the Dodgers. (Answer: True)
3. He was named the American League MVP in 2021 and repeated the achievement last month. (Answer: True)
4. Ohtani is considered one of the greatest players in baseball. (Answer: True)
5. His contract value is not comparable to top athletes like Lionel Messi and LeBron James. (Answer: False)
6. Ohtani did not lead Japan to a historic victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic championship. (Answer: False)
7. Ohtani chose to join the Dodgers after his contract with the Los Angeles Angels expired. (Answer: True)
8. Ohtani is not known for excelling in both batting and pitching, a rarity in the sport. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
