Views #258 | Intermediate 4

Football

Sarah shares a few thoughts about football.
image

Todd: Sarah, so what sports do you like?

Sarah: My favorite spectator sport is football. I support Newcastle United in England.

Todd: Newcastle United.

Sarah: Newcastle United, yeah.

Todd: Are they a good team?

Sarah: Yeah, I think they're pretty good. They finished fifth in the premiership this year, so they're near the top.

Todd: OK, so right now we have the Euro cup and last night England played.

Sarah: They did.

Todd: Yeah, did you see the game?

Sarah: No, I was going to watch it tonight actually in Shibuya but I'm thinking maybe not now because we lost on penalties.

Todd: Yeah, what was the score?

Sarah: The final score was 2 all (2-2) and then it went to penalties and I think it was 6-4. So England always lose on penalties.

Todd: They always lose on penalties?

Sarah: Yeah.

Todd: Well, sorry. Maybe in the World Cup, next time.

Sarah: Maybe. Yeah.

Todd: Now do you ever play football?

Sarah: No, I've never played.

Todd: Never?

Sarah: Never played, no.

Todd: OK. Do you ever go and watch games in Newcastle?

Sarah: It's very difficult to watch games in Newcastle because it's a big club and it's Premiership and you have to book in advance quite a few years but I've seen some first division football clubs
play against each other.

Todd: You have to get tickets two years in advance?

Sarah: For the big clubs, yeah. They're booked up.

Todd: That's pretty intense. So when there's a game on TV then what do you do? Do you watch it at home? Do you go to a pub?

Sarah: It depends on the game. I like it and I like Premiership football and I like World Cup football and Euro 2000 but I wouldn't watch particularly a first division game on the television but normally I would go to the pub with friends and watch the game.

Todd: Do you think that athletes make too much money?

Sarah: I think footballers do. Yeah, I think they do. I think they do a good job but I think they're incredibly overpaid.

Todd: Yeah, I think it is the same thing in the States. I think they make too much money.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

spectator sport

My favorite spectator sport is football.

A 'spectator sport' is a sport that you watch.  The example is specifically referring to a game that is fun to watch, but not necessarily play.  Notice the following:

  1. Some sports are fun to play, but really boring spectator sports.
  2. Boxing is her favorite spectator sport.

premiership

The Newcastle United finished fifth in the premiership this year.

A 'premiership' is a championship competition in which people or teams from a number of different sporting clubs compete. Notice the following:

  1. Have you ever been to a premiership?
  2. We are having a party to watch the premiership game.

book

To be able to watch games in Newcastle, you have to book in advance.

When used like this 'book' is a verb that means to reserve something. Notice the following:

  1. When do I have to book my flight?
  2. We need to make some decisions about this vacation because I want to book a hotel.

make

Do you think athletes make too much money?

In this case 'make' can be replaced with 'earn' or 'receive.' Notice the following:

  1. It isn't polite to ask someone how much they make.
  2. He is looking for a way to make a little extra money.

overpaid

Football players do a good job, but I think they're overpaid.

Someone who is 'overpaid' receives too much money for what it is that they do. Notice the following:

  1. All of the executives here are overpaid.
  2. He is definitely overpaid considering I do most of his work.

Vocabulary Quiz

spectator • premiership • book
made • overpaid
  1. Many lawyers are very .
  2. He over a million dollars last year.
  3. Tennis is a good sport.
  4. I need to two double rooms.
  5. The city is very busy for the game today.
Answer the following questions about the interview.

Free Courses from ELLLO

One Minute English Videos

Free Courses from ELLLO