Many gamers dream of turning their hobby into a career. Jordan Smith, also known as Peeceful, did just that by starting with Call of Duty 4 on a laptop and working his way up through competitive gaming, streaming, and leading a games company. To follow in his footsteps, aspiring gamers should focus on building a strong portfolio, staying consistent, and networking with others in the industry.

To make the leap from gaming for fun to gaming for a living, it’s important to have a diverse portfolio. This means showing off your skills through streaming, competing in gaming events, and collaborating with other gamers or industry pros. By showcasing what you can do across different platforms, you can catch the eye of a larger audience and create more opportunities for career growth.

Consistency is key when it comes to turning gaming into a job. Keeping in touch with your audience through regular streaming, content uploads, or tournament participation helps you build a loyal fan base. By sticking to a reliable schedule and consistently delivering top-notch content, you can boost your visibility in the gaming world and attract potential sponsors or partners.

Networking is a big deal in the gaming industry. It lets you connect with fellow gamers, content creators, and industry insiders. Whether you attend gaming events, join online communities, or team up with other gamers, expanding your professional network can open doors to new opportunities. By forming strong relationships within the gaming community, you can pave the way for partnerships, sponsorships, and career advancement.

Original news source: Five tips for turning gaming from a hobby to a job (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the students into two teams. Have them take turns acting out gaming-related words or phrases from the article (e.g., Call of Duty, streaming, competitive gaming) without speaking. The other team must guess the word or phrase being acted out within a time limit. This activity will help students improve vocabulary retention and non-verbal communication skills.

– News Summary
Instructions: Ask students to summarize the key points of the article in their own words. They should focus on the main idea, important details, and the overall message. Encourage them to practice paraphrasing and using appropriate vocabulary. This activity will help students enhance their reading comprehension and summarizing skills.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article (e.g., “Building a strong portfolio is essential for a career in gaming”). Have students move around the room and indicate their level of agreement with each statement (e.g., strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree). Afterward, facilitate a discussion where students can explain their opinions. This activity will help students practice expressing and defending their opinions in English.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down gaming-related vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper. Divide the students into pairs. One student from each pair will choose a word and draw it while their partner tries to guess the word. Students cannot use letters, numbers, or symbols in their drawings. This activity will help students reinforce vocabulary retention and improve their drawing and guessing skills.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about a time when they turned a hobby into a potential career or considered doing so. Then, have them pair up and discuss their experiences or thoughts. Finally, encourage a few pairs to share their discussions with the whole class. This activity will help students practice speaking about personal experiences, exchanging ideas, and engaging in group discussions.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How did Jordan Smith, also known as Peeceful, turn his gaming hobby into a career?
2. What are some ways aspiring gamers can build a strong portfolio?
3. Why is consistency important when trying to make a career out of gaming?
4. How can staying in touch with your audience help you in the gaming industry?
5. Why is networking considered crucial in the gaming world?
6. What are some ways aspiring gamers can expand their professional network?
7. How can forming strong relationships within the gaming community benefit gamers?
8. Why is it important for gamers to showcase their skills across different platforms?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Many gamers dream of (1)______ their (2)______ into a career. Jordan (3)______, also known as Peeceful, did just that by starting with Call of Duty 4 on a laptop and working his way up through (4)______ gaming, streaming, and leading a games company. To follow in his footsteps, aspiring gamers should focus on building a strong portfolio, staying consistent, and networking with others in the industry.

To make the leap from (5)______ for fun to gaming for a living, it’s important to have a diverse portfolio. This means (6)______ off your skills through streaming, competing in gaming events, and collaborating with other gamers or industry pros. By showcasing what you can do across (7)______ platforms, you can catch the eye of a (8)______ audience and create more opportunities for career growth.

Consistency is key when it comes to turning gaming into a job. Keeping in touch with your audience through (9)______ streaming, content (10)______, or tournament participation helps you build a loyal fan base. By (11)______ to a reliable schedule and consistently delivering top-notch content, you can boost your visibility in the gaming world and attract (12)______ sponsors or partners.

Networking is a big deal in the gaming industry. It lets you connect with fellow (13)______, content creators, and industry insiders. Whether you attend gaming events, join online communities, or team up with other gamers, expanding your professional network can open (14)______ to new opportunities. By (15)______ strong relationships within the gaming community, you can pave the way for partnerships, (16)______, and career advancement.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a portfolio in the gaming world?
2. How would you feel if you could turn your hobby into a career like Jordan Smith did?
3. Do you like the idea of networking with others in the gaming industry? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are the benefits of showcasing your skills through streaming and competing in gaming events?
5. How important do you think consistency is when trying to make a career out of gaming?
6. Do you believe that building a loyal fan base is crucial for success in the gaming industry? Why or why not?
7. Why is networking considered a big deal in the gaming industry?
8. How do you think attending gaming events can help aspiring gamers?
9. What are some ways aspiring gamers can expand their professional network?
10. Do you think forming strong relationships within the gaming community is essential for career advancement? Why or why not?
11. How do you think collaborating with other gamers can benefit your gaming career?
12. What challenges do you think aspiring gamers might face when trying to turn their hobby into a career?
13. Why is it important for gamers to keep in touch with their audience through regular streaming and content uploads?
14. How do you think the gaming industry has changed over the years in terms of career opportunities?
15. Do you believe that anyone can make a career out of gaming with the right approach and dedication? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. aspiring
2. portfolio
3. consistent
4. networking
5. diverse
6. showcasing
7. platforms
8. visibility
9. sponsors
10. collaborating
11. opportunities
12. advancement
13. industry
14. reliable
15. partnerships

Meanings:
(A) Wanting to achieve something or become successful
(B) Always behaving or happening in the same way
(C) A particular area of business or activity
(D) Chances for progress or success
(E) Different types of media or technology used for communication
(F) Agreements or cooperation between people or groups
(G) The state of being easily seen or noticed
(H) Moving forward or improving in a career or skill
(I) Working together with others to achieve something
(J) People or companies that provide support, often financial
(K) Dependable and trustworthy
(L) Including many different types or kinds
(M) A collection of work or achievements that show your skills
(N) Displaying or presenting something to be noticed
(O) Making connections with people for professional purposes
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How did Jordan Smith, also known as Peeceful, start his gaming career?
(a) By competing in a chess tournament
(b) By playing Call of Duty 4 on a laptop
(c) By watching gaming videos on YouTube
(d) By reading books about gaming history

2. What is one important tip for aspiring gamers mentioned in the article?
(a) Ignoring networking opportunities
(b) Playing games sporadically
(c) Avoiding consistency in content creation
(d) Building a strong portfolio

3. How can gamers showcase their skills to a larger audience?
(a) By playing games alone at home
(b) By avoiding social media
(c) By never participating in gaming events
(d) Through streaming, competing, and collaborating

4. What is emphasized as key to turning gaming into a job?
(a) Randomness
(b) Consistency
(c) Isolation
(d) Lack of communication with the audience

5. How can gamers build a loyal fan base?
(a) By keeping in touch with their audience regularly
(b) By never interacting with their fans
(c) By changing their schedule often
(d) By delivering low-quality content

6. What is highlighted as a crucial aspect of advancing in the gaming industry?
(a) Avoiding connections with others
(b) Staying in isolation
(c) Networking
(d) Refusing to attend gaming events

7. How can networking benefit gamers?
(a) By limiting their career growth
(b) By avoiding collaborations
(c) By opening doors to new opportunities
(d) By never interacting with other gamers

8. What can forming strong relationships within the gaming community lead to?
(a) Partnerships, sponsorships, and career advancement
(b) Isolation and lack of opportunities
(c) Decreased visibility in the industry
(d) Stagnation in career growth

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Having a limited portfolio in gaming involves hiding your skills through streaming, avoiding events, and avoiding collaborating with other gamers or industry professionals.
2. Networking is unimportant in the gaming industry to disconnect from fellow gamers, content creators, and industry insiders to miss out on new opportunities.
3. Destroying relationships within the gaming community can lead to missed partnerships, sponsorships, and career advancement opportunities.
4. By changing your schedule frequently and delivering mediocre content, gamers can repel potential sponsors or partners in the industry.
5. Jordan Smith, also known as Peeceful, turned his gaming hobby into a career starting with Call of Duty 4 on a laptop.
6. Attending gaming events, joining online communities, and teaming up with other gamers can help expand your professional network in the gaming industry.
7. Being consistent in gaming by regularly streaming, uploading content, or participating in tournaments helps build a loyal fan base and increases visibility in the gaming world.
8. To become a professional gamer like Peeceful, aspiring gamers should focus on building a strong portfolio, staying consistent, and networking with others in the industry.
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 did Jordan Smith, also known as Peeceful, turn his gaming hobby into a career?
2. Why is it important for aspiring gamers to have a diverse portfolio?
3. What role does consistency play in building a career in gaming?
4. Why is networking important in the gaming industry?
5. How can forming strong relationships within the gaming community help gamers advance their careers?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How did Jordan Smith, also known as Peeceful, turn his gaming hobby into a career?
Jordan Smith, also known as Peeceful, turned his gaming hobby into a career by starting with Call of Duty 4 on a laptop and working his way up through competitive gaming, streaming, and leading a games company.

2. What are some ways aspiring gamers can build a strong portfolio?
Aspiring gamers can build a strong portfolio by showcasing their skills through streaming, competing in gaming events, and collaborating with other gamers or industry professionals.

3. Why is consistency important when trying to make a career out of gaming?
Consistency is important when trying to make a career out of gaming because it helps in building a loyal fan base, boosting visibility in the gaming world, and attracting potential sponsors or partners.

4. How can staying in touch with your audience help you in the gaming industry?
Staying in touch with your audience by regular streaming, content uploads, or tournament participation can help in building a loyal fan base, increasing visibility, and attracting sponsors or partners in the gaming industry.

5. Why is networking considered crucial in the gaming world?
Networking is considered crucial in the gaming world because it allows gamers to connect with fellow gamers, content creators, and industry insiders, opening doors to new opportunities for partnerships, sponsorships, and career advancement.

6. What are some ways aspiring gamers can expand their professional network?
Aspiring gamers can expand their professional network by attending gaming events, joining online communities, teaming up with other gamers, and connecting with industry professionals through social media platforms.

7. How can forming strong relationships within the gaming community benefit gamers?
Forming strong relationships within the gaming community can benefit gamers by paving the way for partnerships, sponsorships, and career advancement opportunities within the industry.

8. Why is it important for gamers to showcase their skills across different platforms?
It is important for gamers to showcase their skills across different platforms to catch the eye of a larger audience, create more opportunities for career growth, and increase their visibility in the gaming world.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) turning
(2) hobby
(3) Smith
(4) competitive
(5) gaming
(6) showing
(7) different
(8) larger
(9) regular
(10) uploads
(11) sticking
(12) potential
(13) gamers
(14) doors
(15) forming
(16) sponsorships
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. aspiring
Answer: (A) Wanting to achieve something or become successful

2. portfolio
Answer: (M) A collection of work or achievements that show your skills

3. consistent
Answer: (B) Always behaving or happening in the same way

4. networking
Answer: (O) Making connections with people for professional purposes

5. diverse
Answer: (L) Including many different types or kinds

6. showcasing
Answer: (N) Displaying or presenting something to be noticed

7. platforms
Answer: (E) Different types of media or technology used for communication

8. visibility
Answer: (G) The state of being easily seen or noticed

9. sponsors
Answer: (J) People or companies that provide support, often financial

10. collaborating
Answer: (I) Working together with others to achieve something

11. opportunities
Answer: (D) Chances for progress or success

12. advancement
Answer: (H) Moving forward or improving in a career or skill

13. industry
Answer: (C) A particular area of business or activity

14. reliable
Answer: (K) Dependable and trustworthy

15. partnerships
Answer: (F) Agreements or cooperation between people or groups
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How did Jordan Smith, also known as Peeceful, start his gaming career?
Answer: (b) By playing Call of Duty 4 on a laptop

2. What is one important tip for aspiring gamers mentioned in the article?
Answer: (d) Building a strong portfolio

3. How can gamers showcase their skills to a larger audience?
Answer: (d) Through streaming, competing, and collaborating

4. What is emphasized as key to turning gaming into a job?
Answer: (b) Consistency

5. How can gamers build a loyal fan base?
Answer: (a) By keeping in touch with their audience regularly

6. What is highlighted as a crucial aspect of advancing in the gaming industry?
Answer: (c) Networking

7. How can networking benefit gamers?
Answer: (c) By opening doors to new opportunities

8. What can forming strong relationships within the gaming community lead to?
Answer: (a) Partnerships, sponsorships, and career advancement
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Having a limited portfolio in gaming involves hiding your skills through streaming, avoiding events, and avoiding collaborating with other gamers or industry professionals. (Answer: False)
2. Networking is unimportant in the gaming industry to disconnect from fellow gamers, content creators, and industry insiders to miss out on new opportunities. (Answer: False)
3. Destroying relationships within the gaming community can lead to missed partnerships, sponsorships, and career advancement opportunities. (Answer: False)
4. By changing your schedule frequently and delivering mediocre content, gamers can repel potential sponsors or partners in the industry. (Answer: False)
5. Jordan Smith, also known as Peeceful, turned his gaming hobby into a career starting with Call of Duty 4 on a laptop. (Answer: True)
6. Attending gaming events, joining online communities, and teaming up with other gamers can help expand your professional network in the gaming industry. (Answer: True)
7. Being consistent in gaming by regularly streaming, uploading content, or participating in tournaments helps build a loyal fan base and increases visibility in the gaming world. (Answer: True)
8. To become a professional gamer like Peeceful, aspiring gamers should focus on building a strong portfolio, staying consistent, and networking with others in the industry. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧