| Front |
Football
Listen to the Entire Lesson
Football is referred to as soccer in most countries,
but in America, football is different than soccer. That is why I sometimes
refer to football as American football. American football is not popular
worldwide yet, but it's very popular in America. The Superbowl is the most
watched sports event. To buy commercial time during the Superbowl is the most
expensive.
In this lesson, I'll give you some pointers on having a football conversation,
and I will also explain some rules. Let's start with the rules first because
not everyone will know them. I will not be too specific because this isn't a
lesson on football rules. Rather, I will give a brief description so you have
an understanding of the game before we move on to the conversation aspect.
There are eleven players on the field for each side. That means you need 22
people to play an official football game. The point of the game is to reach the
other side, which is called the end zone, with the ball. A player can run with
the ball, or they can throw the ball to another person.
Touchdown is worth 6 points.
If you are close enough but not quite in the end zone, you can kick the ball.
That is called a field goal.
Field goals are worth 3 points.
After you make a touchdown, you can either kick a ball, similar to a field goal
for 1 point or you can run or pass it for 2 points. This is called a two point
conversion.
Quarterback always starts with the ball. He either passes it to a wide
receiver, hands off to a running back, or runs the ball himself.
Offense positions:
Center - The person hiking the ball to the quarterback each play.
Quarterback - The main person starting with the ball each play. Either passes,
hands off, or runs.
Running back - The person who runs with the ball. Running backs can catch
passes as well.
Wide Receivers - The people who run out and catch balls from the quarterback.
Tight End - Similar to a wide receiver but blocks a lot as well.
Full back - Like a running back who runs with the ball, but mostly blocks for
the main running back.
Offensive Guard - blocks for the quarterback positioned right next to the
Center on each side
Offensive Tackle - same as the guard and standing right next to the guard
Defense positions:
Nose Tackle - Person in the middle facing the center
Defensive Guard and Tackle - Opposite the offensive guard and tackle
Linebacker - People right behind the front line.
Cornerbacks - People on the sides of linebackers. Primarily covers the wide
receivers and outside running plays.
Saftey - People behind the cornerbacks who covers wide receiver and passing
plays
The object for the offense is to get in the endzone. The goal of the defense is
to prevent the offense from getting in the endzone. A defensive person is
always trying to tackle the person who has the ball. If the person goes down to
the ground with the ball, then that play is over.
There are four downs. After four downs, your team no longer has possession of
the ball. If you gain 10 yards before the four downs are used, then you start
with four downs again.
Usually on first down, they call it first and ten. That means it is the first
down, and I need ten yards to regain first down. If on the first play I only
get one yard, then the next down is called second and nine. It is the second
play and I need 9 yards more. On the second down, I get 5 yards, then it is
third and 4. And on third down if I get 5 more yards, I have succeeded in
getting 10 yards, and it is first and 10 once again. You continue to do this
until you either get a touch down or get a field goal or fail to reach 10 yards
in four plays.
On the fourth down, your team can punt the ball. Punting the ball is used
because you do not think you can get first down and punting the ball would move
the other team further away from their end zone, making it harder for them. To
punt the ball, a punter grabs the football and kicks it as high and as far as
possible.
There are many other rules, but I think this much explanation will be
sufficient to understand a little about American football. Let's move on to
speaking about this topic now.
Football - General Statements
Do
you like football?"
What
do you think about football?"
Do
you keep up with the NFL?"
Do
you keep up with football?"
Who
is your favorite team?"
Did
you play football when you were young?"
Which
player do you like the most?"
Who
is your favorite player?"
Football
is a brutal sport. It seems so dangerous."
Most
of the people in football are so big."
There
are too many injuries in football."
Football
is so fun to watch."
I
just started watching football on TV. I kind of get it, but I'm still learning
all the rules."
In
my country we don't have football so I really don't know how to play."
We
don't have football in my country so I never learned the game."
I
only watch the Superbowl."
I'm
from Seattle, and because the Seahawks suck so bad, I don't really keep up with
them."
I
love the Miami Dolphins."
Joe
Montana was my favorite player. I don't have a current one right now."
My
favorite player is Priest Holmes. He is such a great running back."
Football - Topics
Talking about people you see
I
saw a guy in a restaurant. He was huge man. Towering over everyone. I got the
nerve to ask him if he played football, and he ended up being a professional
football player for the Seahawks."
I
saw a professional football player last week at a night club. All the girls
were around him."
College
football is very popular in America. It's almost as popular as the NFL."
My
brother had class with a football player in college named Cortez Kennedy. He's
now playing for the Raiders."
Even
though a lot of football players are huge, most of them are really nice."
Steroids
I
heard that about ninety percent of football players have used steroids before."
Steroids
is a big problem in the NFL."
I
think the problem with the NFL is the steroid abuse."
I
heard people say that you have to use steroids to be competitive. That's
primarily because everyone else is using it, so if you don't, then it's your
disadvantage."
Football - Interactive Practice
Click on Listen
All and follow along. After becoming comfortable with the entire conversation,
become Person A by clicking on the Person A button. You will hear only Person B
through the audio file. There will be a silence for you to repeat the sentences
of Person A. Do the same for Person B. The speed of the conversation is native
speed. Use the pause button if the pause between each sentence is too fast for
you. After practicing several times, you will be able to speak as fast as a
native.
|
1
|
|
Listen All |
Person A |
Person B
|
|
A: "What
are you watching?"
B: "A football game. Packers are playing the Chiefs."
A: "I never understood this game."
B: "It's not that hard. If you watch a couple of games, you'll start to
understand it."
A: "Do you watch a lot of football?"
B: "I like the Packers, so I watch all their games."
A: "Did you play football before?"
B: "Only in high school. I was too small to play for college."
A: "What position did you play?"
B: "I was the corner back."
A: "Is that the main guy in offense?"
B: "No. That's the quarterback. The corner back is a defensive player
covering passing plays and outside running plays."
A: "I see. Do you think it is more fun than baseball?"
B: "It's hard to compare the two because they're so different. I like
both baseball and football. How about you? You like baseball a lot?"
A: "Yeah. I'm a big baseball fan."
B: "Baseball is fun, but you should also learn football. I'll explain as
we watch."
A: "Cool."
|
|
2
|
|
Listen All |
Person A |
Person B
|
|
A:
"What sports do you like to play?"
B: "I like baseball and basketball."
A: "How about football?"
B: "In my country football is brand new, so I never learned the game when
I was younger."
A: "It's a very popular game in America."
B: "Yeah. I heard a lot about it. Is it really that fun?"
A: "For me, it's one of those games that are fun to both watch and
play."
B: "Are you a football player?"
A: "No, just for fun with my friends. We play two hand touch or flag
football. We're too old to play tackle football."
B: "What is two hand touch and flag football?"
A: "Instead of tackling somebody, you just have to touch them with two
hands, or if it is flag football, grab the flag that the ball carrier is
wearing."
B: "I see. It's safer then right?"
A: "Exactly. We play every Saturdays on the field by the tennis courts.
If you want to learn and play a little, you're welcome to join us."
B: "I'll give it a try. Give me a call and let's go down together."
A: "Ok. I'll call you Saturday morning."
B: "Great." | |