Why Do CEOs Make So Much Money?

Business English

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ESL-SPEAK-EASY

In this ESL business lesson plan, discover why CEOs earn high salaries. Engage students in conversations about business dynamics, market factors, and executive roles. Enhance language skills while exploring the reasons behind CEO pay in the corporate world.

1

Pre-Lesson Work.

Instructions:

Download and send the pre-lesson work to your students for class preparation.

Download

Pre-Lesson Work Why Do CEOs Make So Much Money

2

Name the CEO.

Activity Instructions

Can you identify the CEO shown in each picture?

Activity Aim

Introduce the topic through an engaging exercise.

Activity Time

5 minutes.

ESL-SPEAK-EASY

Who is the CEO shown in the picture?

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Elon Musk. He is the CEO of Tesla.

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ESL-SPEAK-EASY

Who is the CEO shown in the picture?

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Satya Nadella. He is the CEO of Microsoft.

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ESL-SPEAK-EASY

Who is the CEO shown in the picture?

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Mark Zuckerberg. He is the CEO of Meta.

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ESL-SPEAK-EASY

Who is the CEO shown in the picture?

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Tim Cook. He is the CEO of Apple.

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ESL-SPEAK-EASY

Who is the CEO shown in the picture?

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Sundar Pichai. He is the CEO of Alphabet Inc (Google).

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ESL-SPEAK-EASY

Who is the CEO shown in the picture?

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Brian Chesky. He is the CEO of Airbnb.

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3

Warm Up.

Activity Instructions

Discuss the following lead-in questions as a class.

Activity Aim

Introduce the topic through engaging lead-in questions.

Activity Time

5 minutes.

What does the term "CEO" stand for?

Can you name some well-known CEOs from your country, and the companies they lead?

How does a CEO's role differ from other positions in a company?

What qualities do you think make a successful CEO?

How do CEOs contribute to the overall success of a company?

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4

Video.

Activity Instructions

Watch the video before or during the class.

Activity Aim

Explore the reasons behind high CEO pay through an awesome video.

Activity Time

5 minutes.

5

Comprehension.

Activity Instructions

Choose the correct answer to each video-based comprehension question.

Activity Aim

Ensure students understand the ideas and concepts presented in the video.

Activity Time

5 minutes.

According to the video, how does CEO pay in the 1950s compare to today's CEO pay in terms of the multiple of the typical worker's salary?

Who was mentioned as the most unequal CEO in terms of pay compared to their typical worker in the last year?

What is stated as one of the reasons for the increase in CEO pay in the last two decades?

How does the video explain the increase in the complexity of the CEO's role over the years?

According to the video, what accounts for half of the typical pay package of America's leading CEOs?

In the 1990s, why did more companies start paying CEOs with stock options?

How did the stock market boom in the 1990s impact CEO pay?

What does the video suggest about the difficulty of determining the true value of CEOs?

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6

Video Quotes.

Activity Instructions

Complete the quotes by choosing the correct words.

Activity Aim

Improve reading and comprehension skills, and expand vocabulary.

Activity Time

5 minutes.

7

Discussion.

Activity Instructions

Discuss the following questions as a class.

Activity Aim

Learn through speaking and making errors. Have fun!

Activity Time

25 minutes.

Thinking about the CEO of your company, can you identify any challenges they may face in their roles?

How have your CEO’s decisions impacted the company’s direction?

What skills do you think are crucial for a CEO in your industry to possess?

Do you think the CEO of your company is paid fairly?

How has CEO pay compared to regular workers changed over time, and why?

Do you think it's fair that CEOs make a lot more money than regular workers? Why or why not?

What role does the increased size and complexity of corporations play in the rise of CEO pay?

If you were the CEO of a big company, how would you decide your own salary in comparison to the average worker?

Why do CEOs often get paid with stock options, and how does it impact their overall pay?

Imagine you're a CEO and are offered stock options as part of your pay. How would that influence your decisions and motivation?

Do you think normal employees should be given stock options? Discuss the pros and cons of this idea.

Do you agree that it is difficult to figure out how much CEOs are really worth, and what's the result of paying them a lot?

Discuss the negative consequences of having a big difference in pay between CEOs and regular workers.

If there's a big difference in pay between you and your co-workers, how might it affect the workplace atmosphere?

Are there ways to fix the issue of CEOs getting paid too much, and what would be the consequences of your proposed solution for the business, culture, and economy?

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8

Debate.

Activity Instructions

State if you agree or disagree with each statement, explaining why. Use the language from the pre-lesson work PDF.

Activity Aim

Improve speaking skills, critical thinking, and persuasive communication.

Activity Time

15 minutes.

I believe excessive CEO salaries highlight a broken system that values profit over fairness.

In my opinion, all workers' salaries should be disclosed internally to ensure equality and fairness in the workplace.

I strongly believe that CEO pay steals from workers who do the real work, creating an unfair society where the rich get richer while the rest struggle.

In my view, CEO pay should inspire workers to work harder and achieve more for the success of the company.

From my perspective, it seems that workers should vote on CEO bonuses to make sure they're fair and transparent.

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9

Case Studies.

Activity Instructions

Read each situation, then decide what you would do if you were CEO. Use the tips and language from the lesson when possible.

Activity Aim

Allow students to practically use the information about CEOs that they have learned in the class.

Activity Time

15 minutes.

The CEO discovers that their major supplier engages in unethical practices, including child labour or environmental violations. The supplier offers the most cost-effective and high-quality materials, contributing significantly to the company's success. What should the CEO do?

The CEO faces a crisis when it's revealed that a product they manufacture has a serious defect, causing harm to consumers. The media coverage is intense, and the share price is falling dramatically. How should the CEO respond to protect the company's reputation, and share price?

The CEO is criticised for a lack of diversity in the workforce. The board and employees are demanding change, but the industry is highly competitive, and hiring skilled employees from diverse backgrounds is challenging. How can the CEO address these concerns without negatively impacting the company's performance?

The CEO of a manufacturing company is thinking about introducing automation to increase efficiency and reduce costs. However, this change could result in significant job losses. How should the CEO approach the implementation of automation while considering the impact on employees and the community?

The CEO of an energy company is under pressure to use more sustainable and eco-friendly practices. However, this change involves huge upfront costs that will negatively impact profitability. How can the CEO balance the company's financial interests with the increasing demand for environmental responsibility?

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10

Money Idioms.

Activity Instructions

Match the definition to the correct idiom related to the topic of today's class.

Activity Aim

Teach and revise common idioms to expand student's vocabulary and topic mastery.

Activity Time

5 minutes.

To rely on one’s monthly income to cover essential expenses without the ability to save for the future.

To pay a high price for something, often more than it's worth.

To manage one's finances to cover basic expenses.

To make a lot of money, but related to questionable or unethical means.

To earn a very low wage, usually considered inadequate pay for the work performed.

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11

Idiom Questions.

Activity Instructions

Practice using the idioms in a natural way by answering the following questions.

Activity Aim

Allow students to practically use the idioms and talk about the topic of today's class.

Activity Time

5 minutes.

Have you ever experienced living paycheck to paycheck? What strategies do you use to manage your finances in such situations?

Can you share a time where you had to pay through the nose for something?

What are some practical ways you've found to make ends meet when facing financial challenges?

Do you think the majority of CEOs only care about lining their pockets, or do some genuinely care about the company and wider society?

Have you ever felt like you were working for peanuts? How do you cope with situations where you feel your efforts are not adequately compensated?

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12

Homework.

Instructions:

Download the homework PDF and send to the student.

Download

Homework Why Do CEOs Make So Much Money

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