28-29 March
Your Life
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Where were you 10 years ago?
What do you think about your life? Are you pleased with what is going on or not?
What is something important you have learned in life?
What is one thing you would like to change about your life?
What is your biggest achievement so far?
What is your daily routine like?
What is one thing you are working on to improve your life?
What do you enjoy doing the most in your life?
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
The Stories Behind Popular Brand Names: IKEA, Adidas, MAC, Skype, and H&M
Here are the interesting stories behind some popular brand names:
IKEA
IKEA’s name comes from the initials of its founder, Ingvar Kamprad, along with the first letters of the farm he grew up on, Elmtaryd, and his hometown, Agunnaryd. It’s a blend of personal and geographical references rather than an actual word.
Adidas
The famous sportswear brand, founded by Adolf “Adi” Dassler, takes its name from a combination of his nickname “Adi” and the first three letters of his last name, Dassler. Contrary to a popular myth, it doesn’t stand for “All Day I Dream About Soccer.”
MAC
The cosmetics company MAC stands for Make-up Art Cosmetics, reflecting its focus on artistic makeup products for professionals and the beauty industry.
Skype
Skype was originally intended to be called “Sky Peer-to-Peer,” inspired by its cloud-based technology. But when the name “Skyper” was already taken for domain registration, the company shortened it to Skype, keeping the essence of the original idea while making it more unique and memorable.
H&M
Initially named Hennes, meaning “her” in Swedish, the brand sold only women’s clothing. After acquiring Mauritz Widforss, a company selling hunting and fishing equipment, in 1968, the name was changed to Hennes and Mauritz. In 1974, it was rebranded as H&M, becoming the global fashion giant we know today.
Each name reflects a piece of the company’s history or its founder’s legacy, often resulting in brand identities that carry a unique backstory.
READ/SPEAK
Do you know any interesting company names and their stories?
If you could create your brand, what would you name it and why?
Do you prefer sportswear brands like Adidas or Nike? What’s your favourite brand for sports?
What is the most interesting brand name you know? Why do you think it’s interesting?
Do you know any other brand names that have interesting or unusual stories behind them?
said to emphasise that people like different things.
LEARN THE IDIOM AND SPEAK
Do you sometimes envy other people’s lives? Whose life do you envy the most, and why do you feel that way?