Tom Kelsey, a 26-year-old YouTuber from Lincoln, made the decision to leave his job at the council to pursue his passion for playing the popular computer game Football Manager full time. Since making this career change, he claims to have doubled his salary. Kelsey started his YouTube channel while he was a student at Nottingham Trent University and now posts about three videos a week on average. He runs his channel from his bedroom at his parents’ house and enjoys the freedom that comes with being his own boss.

Football Manager is a game that allows players to take on the role of managing a football club. It first gained popularity in 2004 and has continued to grow ever since. Kelsey’s YouTube channel has gained over 100,000 subscribers and receives around one million views per month. He earns money from the advertisements that appear on his videos, which has allowed him to make more money than he did in his previous full-time job.

Kelsey left his job as a business support assistant at Lincolnshire County Council in August 2022 to focus on his YouTube career. He is now able to earn double the salary he was making before, while also enjoying the benefits of being his own boss. He spends around 50 to 60 hours a week playing Football Manager, which may seem excessive to some, but for him, it is a dream come true.

Despite the unconventional nature of his career, Kelsey’s family and friends have been supportive of his decision to pursue his passion for video games. He acknowledges that playing video games for a living is an unusual career path, but he is determined to continue doing it for as long as possible. His YouTube channel continues to grow in popularity, and he plans to make the most of this opportunity.

In conclusion, Tom Kelsey’s decision to leave his job and focus on playing Football Manager full time has paid off. He now earns double the salary he did before and enjoys the freedom and flexibility that comes with being his own boss. His YouTube channel has gained a significant following, and he plans to continue pursuing his passion for as long as possible.

Original news source: I left my job to play Football Manager full time’ (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Students pair up, with one student acting as a news reporter and the other as Tom Kelsey. The reporter conducts an interview, asking about Kelsey’s career change, experiences, and future plans. Encourage the use of reported speech and advanced vocabulary terms related to gaming and online careers.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a series of statements about career changes, pursuing passions, and the gaming industry. Students move around the room indicating their agreement or disagreement with each statement. Afterward, discuss the reasons for their opinions, practicing persuasive speaking and advanced adjectives.

– Article Timeline
Instructions: Students work in small groups to create a visual timeline of Tom Kelsey’s journey from working at the council to becoming a full-time YouTuber. They must include key events and dates, using past tenses and sequencing words. This activity practices narrative skills and timeline-related vocabulary.

– Mind Map
Instructions: Students individually create a mind map about the pros and cons of being self-employed, as exemplified in the article. Encourage them to use a range of vocabulary and to think critically about the topic. Share and compare the mind maps in small groups.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Discuss the future of careers in gaming and online content creation. Students write down their predictions about the industry and how it might evolve, using future tense constructs (e.g., will, is going to, might). They then share and debate their predictions with the class, practicing argumentative skills and future tense forms.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What motivated Tom Kelsey to leave his job at the council?
2. How often does Tom Kelsey post videos on his YouTube channel?
3. Where does Tom Kelsey run his YouTube channel from?
4. Since when has the game Football Manager been gaining popularity?
5. How many subscribers does Kelsey’s YouTube channel have, and how many views does it receive per month?
6. What was Tom Kelsey’s position at Lincolnshire County Council before he left?
7. Approximately how many hours a week does Kelsey spend playing Football Manager?
8. What are Tom Kelsey’s future plans regarding his YouTube channel and career in playing video games?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Tom Kelsey, a 26-year-old YouTuber from Lincoln, made the decision to leave his job at the council to pursue his passion for playing the (1)______ computer game Football Manager full time. Since making this career change, he claims to have doubled his salary. Kelsey started his YouTube (2)______ while he was a student at Nottingham Trent University and now posts about three videos a week on average. He runs his channel from his bedroom at his parents’ house and (3)______ the freedom that (4)______ with being his own boss.

Football Manager is a game that allows players to take on the role of managing a football club. It first gained (5)______ in 2004 and has continued to grow ever since. Kelsey’s YouTube channel has gained over 100,000 subscribers and receives around one million views per month. He earns money from the (6)______ that appear on his videos, which has allowed him to make more money than he did in his (7)______ full-time job.

Kelsey left his job as a business (8)______ assistant at Lincolnshire County Council in August 2022 to focus on his YouTube career. He is now able to earn double the salary he was making before, while also enjoying the (9)______ of being his own boss. He (10)______ around 50 to 60 hours a week playing Football (11)______, which may seem excessive to some, but for him, it is a dream come true.

Despite the unconventional nature of his career, Kelsey’s family and friends have been supportive of his decision to pursue his passion for video (12)______. He acknowledges that playing video games for a living is an unusual career path, but he is (13)______ to continue doing it for as long as possible. His YouTube channel (14)______ to grow in popularity, and he (15)______ to make the most of this opportunity.

In conclusion, Tom Kelsey’s decision to leave his job and focus on playing Football Manager full time has paid off. He now earns double the salary he did before and enjoys the freedom and flexibility that comes with being his own boss. His YouTube channel has gained a (16)______ following, and he plans to continue pursuing his passion for as long as possible.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your opinion on leaving a traditional job to pursue a passion, like Tom Kelsey did?
2. How would you feel if you had to work 50 to 60 hours a week on your hobby to make a living?
3. Do you think it’s sustainable to rely on a platform like YouTube for one’s primary income?
4. What are some risks and benefits of being your own boss, based on what you’ve observed or experienced?
5. How important do you believe it is to have the support of family and friends when making a major career change?
6. Do you think playing video games for a living can be considered a legitimate career? Why or why not?
7. What is your definition of a “dream job,” and does it involve turning a hobby into a career?
8. How would you handle the uncertainty that comes with unconventional career paths like that of a YouTuber?
9. Do you like the idea of working from home, as Tom Kelsey does from his bedroom at his parents’ house?
10. What are some challenges you think someone might face when doubling their salary but also doubling their workload?
11. Do you think the popularity of games like Football Manager reflects a change in what society values as entertainment?
12. How do you balance personal enjoyment with professional responsibilities when they start to overlap?
13. Do you believe that success on platforms like YouTube is mostly due to luck or hard work? Why?
14. What kind of impact do you think having a significant online following, like over 100,000 subscribers, has on a person’s life?
15. Do you think there is a stigma attached to adults playing video games as a full-time job, and if so, how can it be overcome?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. YouTuber
2. career
3. salary
4. videos
5. advertisements
6. job
7. decision
8. passion

Meanings:
(a) A regular activity that a person does to earn money
(b) A person who creates and posts videos on YouTube
(c) Short films or recordings that are posted online
(d) The amount of money that a person earns for their work
(e) The work or occupation that a person does for a living
(f) A strong and intense enthusiasm or interest in something
(g) A choice or resolution made after careful consideration
(h) Promotional messages or commercials that appear in videos
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is Tom Kelsey’s profession?
(a) Football player
(b) YouTuber
(c) Business support assistant
(d) Teacher

2. How often does Tom Kelsey post videos on his YouTube channel?
(a) Once a month
(b) About three videos a week on average
(c) Every day
(d) Only on weekends

3. How many subscribers does Tom Kelsey’s YouTube channel have?
(a) Over 100,000
(b) Over 1 million
(c) Less than 10,000
(d) None of the above

4. How does Tom Kelsey earn money from his YouTube channel?
(a) Through sponsorships
(b) Through donations from viewers
(c) Through selling merchandise
(d) Through advertisements on his videos

5. When did Tom Kelsey leave his job at the council?
(a) August 2021
(b) August 2020
(c) August 2022
(d) August 2019

6. How many hours a week does Tom Kelsey spend playing Football Manager?
(a) Around 50 to 60 hours
(b) Less than 10 hours
(c) More than 100 hours
(d) None of the above

7. How do Tom Kelsey’s family and friends feel about his career choice?
(a) Disappointed
(b) Indifferent
(c) None of the above
(d) Supportive

8. What are the benefits of Tom Kelsey being his own boss?
(a) Higher salary
(b) More vacation time
(c) Freedom and flexibility
(d) None of the above

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Kelsey plans to continue pursuing his passion for as long as possible.
2. Tom Kelsey remained in his job at the council despite his passion for playing Football Manager full time.
3. Kelsey’s YouTube channel has struggled to gain over 100,000 subscribers.
4. Kelsey started his YouTube channel after he completed his studies at Nottingham Trent University.
5. Kelsey earns money from advertisements on his videos.
6. Kelsey spends around 50 to 60 hours a week playing Football Manager.
7. Since leaving his job, Kelsey claims to have doubled his salary.
8. Kelsey’s family and friends have been critical of his decision to pursue his passion for video games.
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. What prompted Tom Kelsey to leave his job at the council and how has his income changed since then?
2. How often does Tom Kelsey post videos on his YouTube channel, and where does he run his channel from?
3. What is the source of Tom Kelsey’s income from his YouTube channel?
4. How many hours a week does Kelsey dedicate to playing Football Manager, and what is his perspective on this time commitment?
5. How has Tom Kelsey’s family reacted to his career change, and what are his future plans for his YouTube channel?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What motivated Tom Kelsey to leave his job at the council?
Tom Kelsey was motivated to leave his job at the council to pursue his passion for playing the popular computer game Football Manager full time.

2. How often does Tom Kelsey post videos on his YouTube channel?
Tom Kelsey posts about three videos a week on average on his YouTube channel.

3. Where does Tom Kelsey run his YouTube channel from?
Tom Kelsey runs his YouTube channel from his bedroom at his parents’ house.

4. Since when has the game Football Manager been gaining popularity?
Football Manager first gained popularity in 2004.

5. How many subscribers does Kelsey’s YouTube channel have, and how many views does it receive per month?
Kelsey’s YouTube channel has over 100,000 subscribers and receives around one million views per month.

6. What was Tom Kelsey’s position at Lincolnshire County Council before he left?
Tom Kelsey’s position at Lincolnshire County Council was a business support assistant before he left.

7. Approximately how many hours a week does Kelsey spend playing Football Manager?
Kelsey spends around 50 to 60 hours a week playing Football Manager.

8. What are Tom Kelsey’s future plans regarding his YouTube channel and career in playing video games?
Tom Kelsey plans to make the most of the opportunity and continue pursuing his passion for video games and growing his YouTube channel for as long as possible.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) popular
(2) channel
(3) enjoys
(4) comes
(5) popularity
(6) advertisements
(7) previous
(8) support
(9) benefits
(10) spends
(11) Manager
(12) games
(13) determined
(14) continues
(15) plans
(16) significant
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. YouTuber
Answer: (b) A person who creates and posts videos on YouTube

2. career
Answer: (e) The work or occupation that a person does for a living

3. salary
Answer: (d) The amount of money that a person earns for their work

4. videos
Answer: (c) Short films or recordings that are posted online

5. advertisements
Answer: (h) Promotional messages or commercials that appear in videos

6. job
Answer: (a) A regular activity that a person does to earn money

7. decision
Answer: (g) A choice or resolution made after careful consideration

8. passion
Answer: (f) A strong and intense enthusiasm or interest in something
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is Tom Kelsey’s profession?
Answer: (b) YouTuber

2. How often does Tom Kelsey post videos on his YouTube channel?
Answer: (b) About three videos a week on average

3. How many subscribers does Tom Kelsey’s YouTube channel have?
Answer: (a) Over 100,000

4. How does Tom Kelsey earn money from his YouTube channel?
Answer: (d) Through advertisements on his videos

5. When did Tom Kelsey leave his job at the council?
Answer: (c) August 2022

6. How many hours a week does Tom Kelsey spend playing Football Manager?
Answer: (a) Around 50 to 60 hours

7. How do Tom Kelsey’s family and friends feel about his career choice?
Answer: (d) Supportive

8. What are the benefits of Tom Kelsey being his own boss?
Answer: (c) Freedom and flexibility
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Kelsey plans to continue pursuing his passion for as long as possible. (Answer: True)
2. Tom Kelsey remained in his job at the council despite his passion for playing Football Manager full time. (Answer: False)
3. Kelsey’s YouTube channel has struggled to gain over 100,000 subscribers. (Answer: False)
4. Kelsey started his YouTube channel after he completed his studies at Nottingham Trent University. (Answer: False)
5. Kelsey earns money from advertisements on his videos. (Answer: True)
6. Kelsey spends around 50 to 60 hours a week playing Football Manager. (Answer: True)
7. Since leaving his job, Kelsey claims to have doubled his salary. (Answer: True)
8. Kelsey’s family and friends have been critical of his decision to pursue his passion for video games. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧