Advanced Whistle-blowing ESL Lesson Plan: Warm-up
1) What was the worst thing you did as a child? Did you get caught?
2) What does it mean if someone is a rat in your language?
3) Have you ever taken a complaint to your boss or the police?
4) What does it mean to blow the whistle?
Topic: Jeffrey Wigand the Whistle-blower
Jeffrey Wigand began working as a researcher at Brown & Williamson (B&W), an American
tobacco company, in 1989. He and other scientists put forward the idea of developing a safer
cigarette that would be less likely to cause cancer. His boss, however, told him to abandon the
idea because a safer cigarette would highlight the harmful effects of other cigarettes. Wigand bit
his tongue and gave up the project. He turned his attention to investigating the ingredients in
his company’s products and found harmful additives that were poisonous and highly addictive.
He also uncovered documents that showed company executives knew the truth about these
additives, despite having made public statements to the contrary. Wigand asked to have these
additives removed from their products. He was dismissed shortly after in March 1993.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) began an investigation of the tobacco industry in
1994. They contacted Wigand, who agreed to talk with investigators. Afterwards, Wigand says
he received two death threats at his home. He claims one anonymous telephone caller stated
"Leave tobacco alone or else you'll find your kids hurt." Despite this, Wigand testified in the
criminal investigation against the industry. He also participated in a TV interview in which he
accused his former company of intentionally lying to the public and using chemicals to boost the
effects of nicotine, an addictive chemical found in cigarettes.
In response, B&W launched a smear campaign against Wigand to undermine his credibility in
the eyes of the public. They combed through Wigand’s past to find lies that would make him
appear untrustworthy. Their efforts were to no avail. Wigand’s testimony helped forty-six
American states win a lawsuit against the tobacco industry. The industry was forced to pay $368
billion for the burden it had placed on the country’s health care system. (303)
[Research sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Wigand, http://www.jeffreywigand.com/wallstreetjournal.php,
http://www.jeffreywigand.com/60minutes.php, http://users.cba.siu.edu/melcher/mgmt474/Melcher%20structure/chapter5/Chap5Whistle.htm]
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Whistle-blowing ESL Lesson Plan: Comprehension Questions
1) Why did Wigand’s boss tell him to cancel his project to make a safer cigarette?
2) True or False: Wigand was fired for giving private documents to the media.
3) How does Wigand claim he was threatened?
4) What is a smear campaign? Who does Wigand claim started such a campaign? Why?
5) What was the result of the lawsuit?
Match the words with their meaning as used in the article.
put forward (an idea, etc)
bite your tongue
contrary
dismiss (verb)
testify
smear (verb)
undermine (verb)
credibility
comb through (verb)
no avail
suggest, propose
state sth is true in a court of law
examine thoroughly
fire, sack, give someone their notice
opposite
make sth appear dirty or damage sb’s reputation by telling lies
of no use, useless
make sth (e.g. sb’s authority) weaker and less effective
believability, trustworthiness, integrity
stop yourself from speaking although you want to
Master the language: Connect the below ideas to form a sentence. (note: possible homework)
government / crush / uprising
put forward / proposal
bite your tongue / boss
dismiss / whistleblower
scandal / undermine / credibility
testify / mafia
politician / smear / reputation
comb through / newspaper
efforts / no avail
e.g. The government crushed the uprising
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Whistle-blowing ESL Lesson Plan: Idiom Focus:
1a) On the contrary
Definition:
used to state that the opposite of what sb said is true
Example:
A: Cobras are the deadliest animals on Earth.
B: On the contrary, mosquitoes cause far more human deaths than cobras.
1b) to the contrary
Definition:
showing or suggesting the opposite
Example:
“Regardless of what people say to the contrary, I know Alan would never steal.”
Read and complete the below sentences where necessary.
A: You spent your vacation at HOME?? It must have been terrible.
B: On the contrary, ___________________________________________________________.
Although B&W had made public statements to the contrary, ___________________________.
2) of/to (little/no) avail
Definition:
of no use, producing no benefit. (*usually used in the negative)
Example:
Efforts by workers to fix the crack were of no avail. / They worked to no avail.
Read and complete the below sentences where necessary.
Peter’s charisma was of no avail because he wasn’t given a chance to speak.
The doctor tried to ___________________________________, but his efforts were of no avail.
I argued to no avail. My wife ____________________________________________________.
_______________________________________________________________, but to no avail.
Whistle-blowing ESL Lesson Plan: Brainstorming
Why might someone NOT blow the whistle on his or her employer? Think of reasons for 1-2
minutes and then discuss your ideas with the class.
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Whistle-blowing ESL Lesson Plan: Debate (Pair Work)
Background (read aloud):
You and your partner are board members of the XYZ Company. Some members of the company
believe it should adopt a whistle-blowing policy. The policy would include:
–
a clearly-defined procedure for reporting issues.
–
trained people to receive and investigate reports.
–
a commitment to take appropriate action.
–
guaranteed protection for whistleblowers against retaliation (punishment).
Roles (each student reads his/her role to himself/herself):
Student A
Your support this policy. Think of reasons why adopting this policy would be
beneficial (1-2 minutes). Start the debate when you’re ready by presenting your
ideas to your partner.
Student B
You are against this. Think of reasons why such a policy might harm the company
[for example, it may contribute to an environment of mistrust, it might make it hard
to fire bad employees, etc]. Your partner will begin the debate.
Whistle-blowing ESL Lesson Plan: Discussion Questions
1) Is Jeffrey Wigand a hero?
2) What are some questions a person should consider before deciding to whistle-blow?
3) LOYALTY: should employees be loyal to their company or the public good?
4) COMPENSATION CULTURE: do smokers have the right to sue tobacco companies for
damages?
5) WIKILEAKS: Wikileaks publishes private information, often obtained from
whistleblowers, to the public. Do you support Wikileaks?
6) What whistle-blower cases do you know of?
7) What kind of protection does your government provide for whistleblowers?
8) Do you believe the company really made death threats to Wigand?
--Lesson plan copyright Matthew Barton of Englishcurrent.com
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