English Lesson 49
Sports and sporting events
Sports and school, a sports event you watched, and sport on TV and technology.
How to practise
- Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
- Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
- Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
- Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
- Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Part 1 · Interview
Sports
Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.
Do you like sports? What sports do you like the most?
Yes, I love sports. I like football the most, both playing and watching. I play with my friends every Thursday evening. I also like swimming, because it's relaxing and good for my back.
- I like … the mostsay your favourite
- both playing and watchingdoing both things
- good for my backhealthy for my back
Are sports necessary in schools? Why?
Yes, I think they're very necessary. Children sit at desks for many hours, so they need to move. Sports keep them healthy, and they also teach important things, like teamwork and how to deal with losing.
- very necessaryreally needed
- keep them healthyhelp them stay healthy
- how to deal with losinghow to accept not winning
Are sports competitions necessary in schools?
I think they're useful, but they shouldn't be too serious. Competitions make sport more exciting, and children try harder. But for young children, the most important thing is to have fun, not to win.
- useful, but they shouldn't be too seriousa balanced answer
- try hardermake more effort
- the most important thing is to…give the main idea
Should schools also have competitions in cultural activities, like music and art?
Yes, I think so. Not every child is good at sport. Some children are talented at music, painting or writing. Competitions in these areas give them a chance to shine and feel proud of their skills.
- Not every child is good at sportchildren are different
- talented atnaturally good at
- a chance to shinean opportunity to show how good they are
Part 2 · Cue card
A recent sports event you watched and enjoyed
You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Follow the four points on the card in order.
Candidate task card
Describe a recent sports event you have watched and enjoyed very much.
You should say:
- what the event was
- when and where it took place
- whether you enjoyed it or not
- and describe your experience of watching it
Start
I'd like to talk about a volleyball match I watched in a stadium last month. It was one of the most exciting games I've ever seen.
What the event was
It was a match in the national volleyball league, between the team from my city and the team from the capital. It was a very important game, because the winner would go to the final.
When and where
It took place on a Friday evening in the big indoor stadium in my city. About ten thousand people were there, and the tickets sold out in one day.
Did you enjoy it
Yes, I enjoyed it so much. The match went to five sets, and it lasted almost three hours. Our team lost the first two sets, but then they came back and won the next three. The last point was unbelievable.
Your experience
The atmosphere was amazing. Everyone was singing, clapping and waving flags. I went with my brother, and we shouted so much that we both lost our voices. When our team won, strangers were hugging each other. I'll remember that night for a long time.
- one of the most exciting games I've ever seena strong opening
- the tickets sold outall tickets were bought
- they came backthey recovered after losing
- The atmosphere was amazingthe feeling in the place was great
- we both lost our voiceswe couldn't speak after shouting
- strangerspeople you don't know
Part 3 · Discussion
Sport in society
Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.
What kinds of sporting events are popular in your country?
Football is by far the most popular. When the national team plays, the whole country watches. Volleyball and wrestling are also very popular, because our teams are often successful internationally.
- by far the most popularmuch more popular than others
- the whole country watcheseveryone watches
- successful internationallywinning in other countries
Why is sport important for people in your country?
Sport brings people together. When our team wins, everyone feels happy and proud, even people who don't usually watch sport. Sport is also a way for young people to stay healthy and to dream of a better future.
- Sport brings people togetherit unites people
- happy and prouddescribe the feeling
- to dream of a better futurehope for something better
Do you think there are too many sports channels on TV? Are they all popular?
There are quite a lot, but I don't think they're all popular. Football channels are very popular, but channels for smaller sports have fewer viewers. Also, many young people now watch sports highlights online instead of on TV.
- quite a lotmany
- have fewer viewersfewer people watch them
- sports highlightsshort videos of the best moments
What are the differences between sporting events in the past and now?
Today, sporting events are much bigger businesses. There's a lot of money from advertising and TV. Stadiums are more modern and comfortable. Also, technology like video replays helps referees make better decisions.
- much bigger businessesthey make a lot of money
- video replayswatching the action again on video
- refereesthe people who control a game
How has technology helped more people take part in sport or watch it?
Now, you can watch almost any game live on your phone, wherever you are. Fitness apps and smart watches also help people exercise and track their progress. And online videos teach people new sports at home, like yoga.
- watch … livewatch while it is happening
- wherever you arein any place
- track their progresscheck how they improve
Are prizes and trophies necessary in primary school sports?
I don't think they're necessary, but small prizes can be nice. Children love getting a medal or a certificate. But it's better to give something to every child who takes part, so nobody feels like a loser.
- trophiescups or prizes for winners
- a medal or a certificatea metal prize or an official paper
- nobody feels like a loserno one feels bad
Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.