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GENERAL ENGLISH · GENERAL ISSUES · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

THINK
PINK!
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1 Warm up

One of the hot movie trends of summer 2023 was the Barbie movie. Watch this trailer and answer
the questions.

1. If you’ve seen the film, can you summarise the story in one or two sentences? If you haven’t seen
it, say what you think the main themes are.

2. According to the trailer, who is the target audience? Do you agree?

3. Merchandise is a collection of themed items relating to a film for fans to buy. Have you seen any
Barbie-themed merchandise for sale that promotes this movie?

4. A franchise is a series of movies that share the same setting and characters. What other movie
franchises can you think of that are strongly associated with popular toys?

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2 Watch for main idea

You are going to watch a short news report (~3 mins) about how toymaker Mattel and the Warner
Brothers film studio have marketed Barbie during the summer 2023 release of the film of the same
name.

Match these people from the report with the summaries of what they said or did. Each person has
one match and one item is extra.

1. Richard Dickson, Mattel Chief Operating Officer

2. Moshe Issacian, brand strategist

3. Ynon Kreiz, Mattel Chief Executive Officer

4. Joel Flynn, the reporter

5. Moshe Issacian, brand strategist (again)

6. Extra

a. ... gives information about the film’s costs and profits.

b. ... says that Mattel has provided pink Barbie stuff for every category of person to buy and enjoy.

c. ... says that people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy the story of the film.

d. ... gives a simple definition of marketing.

e. ... describes how Barbie has changed over the years.

f. ... collected a huge range of Barbie stuff and shared the list on social media.

3 Focus on vocabulary
Part A: The items in italics were included in the news report. Match the sentence halves for each
group.

Group 1:

1) It is said that the Star Wars franchise’s collaboration with fast-food restaurants
2) The exciting fight scenes in the original Star Wars films impacted and
3) The marketing of these films was so comprehensive that everyone on the planet
4) All of the stars attended the film’s launch and

a. ... inspired a whole generation of kids.

b. ... walked on the red carpet in costume.

c. ... has been hugely profitable for both sides over the years.

d. ... must have been aware of them.

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Group 2:

1) I feel overcome with nostalgia for my childhood when I watch

2) The character of Buzz Lightyear is synonymous with the
3) The Toy Story franchise resulted in soaring profits for
4) The Toy Story films target both boys and girls by including

a. ... a range of engaging characters.

b. ... Toy Story with my nieces and nephews.

c. ... phrase, "To infinity and beyond!"

d. ... Pixar Studios and their parent company, Disney.

Group 3:

1) LegoLand has curated and displayed a range of items

2) Lego has certainly transcended its original purpose
3) Visitors to LegoLand generate enormous profits for the company
4) You can buy modern Lego sets which have tie-ins and licensing deals

a. ... through the price of entry and spending on food, drink and
souvenirs.

b. ... from their various film franchises.

c. ... with various other film characters like Harry Potter or Batman.

d. ... as a simple building toy for young children.

Part B: Now complete the gaps with the word in bold from the previous part.

Which adjectives in bold in these sentences have the following meanings?

1. describing two things that are so closely connected in everyone’s mind that
recalling one immediately results in recalling the other
2. rising very quickly and reaching extremely high levels

3. thorough, including everything possible

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Which nouns in bold in these sentences have the following meanings?

1. a mixed feeling of happiness and sadness that you get when you remember
the past
2. a process of cooperation between two or more parties

3. an event to introduce something new

4. arrangements between two companies to make a connection between and

sell their products

Which verbs in bold in these sentences have the following meanings? Write the base infinitive.

1. collect and display related items or documents

2. direct a product towards a specific group of people

3. go further than a limit

4. influence something

5. produce or create something

4 Watch for detail

Read the sentences from the report and use the correct forms of the items from the vocabulary
exercise to complete them. Listen to check your ideas.

1
a. Our colour is obviously with a big movement right now and there’s
2
not a category out there that we haven’t carefully as an opportunity
for everyone to play with Barbie.

b. I think what they’ve done here is trying to make Barbie culturally relevant again, bring it to life,
3
make it a piece that is just not about , not about toys, but really a
universe that you can really feel, touch and feel a part of, right?
4 5
c. Isaacian compiled all the ’Barbie’ brand ,
6
he noticed leading up to the film’s into a viral Twitter thread. But
while Barbie the toy has traditionally been aimed at young girls, the film and much of its marketing
7
strategy has instead adults.
8
d. ... so it is about a story that ... generations and appeals to audiences
all over the world.
9
e. The opening weekend at the US box office already 162 million
10
dollars in ticket sales. But Mattel are also expected to see sales for
11
Barbie dolls and other related products. Some have said such a
12
marketing campaign hasn’t been seen in decades – and could
how marketing is taught in the future.

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5 Language in context

Read these sentences from the report and use the context to explain the meanings of the items in
bold.

1. Wherever you are in the world right now, chances are that – like Trafalgar Square in London this
month - there’s a corner of it near you that’s pink. And that’s likely thanks to a pop culture sensation
from toymaker Mattel that’s been 64 years in the making.

2. Not content with setting box office records for this year, Barbie is also rewriting the playbook for
how to market a film.

3. It’s timeless and timely at the same time so it is about a story that covers... transcends generations
and appeals to audiences all over the world.

Work in pairs. Think of examples of these things from your own life:

• something that’s been at least a year in the making

• someone who has rewritten the playbook for something
• a timeless product
• a timely event

6 Talking point

Answer these questions in pairs or small groups. Give reasons and examples in your answers and try
to use language from the lesson.

1. The new report suggests that the marketing campaign associated with the Barbie film is extremely
innovative. In what ways is this true?
2. To what extent do you agree with Moshe Isaacian when he says, "And that’s what marketing is all
about, it’s just bringing stuff to life and making people aware of it."
3. What do you imagine could be the future of the Barbie movie franchise?
4. Movies about toys have been very popular. Why do you think this type of nostalgia appeals to us
right now?
5. What do you think are some of the silliest tie-ins and licensing deals for this film? What about for
other films?
6. Many people have expressed concern about the damage that gender stereotyping causes in children.
Do you think this film addresses these issues? What sort of further action might be needed?
7. Do you think there is a dominant partner in collaborations between toy companies and film producers?

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7 Optional extension

Read this sentence from the report. What do you understand the word in bold to mean? Have you
heard any other words with the same suffix?

From a life-sized Dreamhouse, to a hot pink café, the brand has been everywhere in 2023. It’s
led to talk of something Mattel have called ‘Barbiecore’ - a world awash with pink.

• This suffix is probably related to an older adjective, hardcore, which describes a

combination of strong interest and determination related to a particular activity, style
or genre. Substituting the first part of the word with other words, usually nouns, is the
perfect way to hashtag an interest on social media and connect with like-minded people.

Here are some -cores that you should know about. Be warned - some of these interests are pretty
unusual. For each one, try to complete the word from the description, using the first letter you are
given. Write one letter on each line.

1. a core: a style featuring those heavenly beings with wings, sitting

on clouds, with a pale colour palette.

2. b core: this aesthetic celebrates all things related to gardening, from

flowers to fruit, and even vegetables and tools.

3. c core: this one is for people who have a lot of stuff and like to
display their collections in their home. Not minimalist, that’s for sure!

4. c core: rural fantasies of old-fashioned romantic country living is

what this style is all about.

5. f core: if you’re into small mystical, magical creatures, this is your

thing, and its influence will be seen in your hairstyle, makeup, clothes and accessories.

6. g core: this unexpected aesthetic is based on an appreciation of

everyday items not normally considered beautiful, like mushrooms, snails or frogs.

7. m core: you know those small independent films with low production
values where you can barely hear the characters speak? Strangely, this is one of the oldest cores.

8. n core: this one’s a bit contradictory, as it describes the trend of

rejecting trendiness in favour of more neutral classic styles.

• Have you heard of any of these?

• Do you know any others?
• What’s a -core that you’d like to invent?

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