Pre-questions
1. How often do you eat junk food?
2. What places in your hometown have the best burgers/kebabs/chips/pizza?
3. When was the last time you had pizza? What is your favourite type of pizza?
4. Have you ever been to Italy and had pizza there? Was it as good as everyone says?
Tell your student they are going to read a short article called ‘Domino’s Out’ and then brainstorm some ideas what could be behind the article. Encourage more details on your students’ suggestions even if they aren’t correct.
As you can see, key words have been highlighted under each paragraph. You can get your student to read aloud and then go over the words together if needed after each paragraph.
Domino’s Out
Domino’s Pizza is without doubt one of the biggest brands of pizza in the world, but while many do enjoy a slice of Domino’s every now and then, the home of pizza, Italy has said “arrivederci’ to Domino’s as they close their final store.
To be without (a) doubt – to say something that you believe is true.
The home of – the place where something was first invented.
Domino’s arrived in Italy in 2015 with an arsenal of more than 120,000 stores worldwide. It setup its first operation in Milan and expanded into Rome, Bologna, and Turin. The aim to win over the pizza-loving Italians was to only use authentic Italian products. It had ambitious plans, it expected to open hundreds of stores nationwide by 2030, but then COVID struck!
An arsenal – a large number of weapons which make you a danger.
To strike – when something happens unexpectedly.
As COVID hit Italy and restricted many from dining out, local pizzerias who were also struggling turned to online delivery platforms. The competition for pizza delivery became too great for Domino’s as most people opted for the traditional family run pizzerias and as a result, started closing stores and had to admit defeat when trying to take on the home of pizza.
Online delivery platforms – apps and websites like Uber Eats.
Opted for – to choose an option. (quite formal).
Admit defeat – to say you can’t do something anymore after trying and quit.
Many people believe it was doomed to fail before it started, and Domino’s should have stayed out of Italy. One Milan resident said ‘The American’s don’t know jack about pizza and should stick to burgers’ while another said ‘I’m happy it’s gone. I tried once and it was revolting. If you want good pizza, you good to an Italian"
To fail before it starts - that there is no chance of something being successful.
Don't know jack - an informal way of something you don't know anything about something.
Stick to (something) - to ONLY focus on one thing.
Revolting - something that tastes very bad.
Post-questions
1. Do you think Domino’s were foolish trying to enter Italy?
2. Do you use any online delivery food platforms? Which?
3. What food do you think your country could try and sell in other countries?
4. How did you get your food during COVID?
5. Which do you prefer American food or Italian food?
Reading Vocab questions
Who do think is without doubt the biggest burger company?
Where is the home of noodles? Fish and chips?
If you were going to get a takeaway tonight what would you opt for?
What is a subject you don’t know jack about?
What food do you find revolting?
Need to print? Here is the DOC
Enjoy!
Luke - Native Speaker Online
