http://languagecaster.com Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:13:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Welcome to all English language learners and teachers to languagecaster.com and its free football podcast. Every week a new soccer show complete with language support for students who wish to improve their English language skills. languagecaster.com no languagecaster.com admin@languagecaster.com admin@languagecaster.com (languagecaster.com) Copyright © by languagecaster 2006-2011 Free football podcast for learners of English brought to you by Damian and Damon. Interviews, match reviews, predictions all with full language support for soccer fans around the world who wish to improve their English language skills. football, soccer, free football podcast, English language, football language, soccer vocabulary, learn English, Learning English football language http://www.languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/site_images/languagecasteritunes.jpg http://languagecaster.com/category/teaching-ideas/ http://languagecaster.com/listening-worksheet-history-of-the-copa-america/ http://languagecaster.com/listening-worksheet-history-of-the-copa-america/#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:42:13 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=15739 http://languagecaster.com/listening-worksheet-history-of-the-copa-america/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/history-of-womens-football-worksheet/ http://languagecaster.com/history-of-womens-football-worksheet/#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:02:15 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=15653 http://languagecaster.com/history-of-womens-football-worksheet/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/the-language-of-predictions/ http://languagecaster.com/the-language-of-predictions/#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:18:25 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=9344 http://languagecaster.com/the-language-of-predictions/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/reading-comprehension-fernando-torres-says-liverpool-want-to-beat-man-united-for-fans/ http://languagecaster.com/reading-comprehension-fernando-torres-says-liverpool-want-to-beat-man-united-for-fans/#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 22:09:37 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=10609 • Torres pinpoints Wayne Rooney as United\'s main threat]]> http://languagecaster.com/reading-comprehension-fernando-torres-says-liverpool-want-to-beat-man-united-for-fans/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/reading-comprehension-bundesliga-2010-11-season-preview/ http://languagecaster.com/reading-comprehension-bundesliga-2010-11-season-preview/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:51:12 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=10573 http://languagecaster.com/reading-comprehension-bundesliga-2010-11-season-preview/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/6-world-cup-talking-points-week-1/ http://languagecaster.com/6-world-cup-talking-points-week-1/#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:20:56 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=9400 http://languagecaster.com/6-world-cup-talking-points-week-1/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-the-transfer-window-2010/ http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-the-transfer-window-2010/#comments Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:59:29 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=7481 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-the-transfer-window-2010/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/video-report-world-cup-final-1966/ http://languagecaster.com/video-report-world-cup-final-1966/#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:37:56 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=6770 http://languagecaster.com/video-report-world-cup-final-1966/feed/ 0 1966,England,Germany,Video,video report,World Cup In this video worksheet post we use a clip from the excellent The History Of Football [2002] [DVD] on the 1966 World Cup final between Germany and England. There is also a worksheet, transcript and answer sheet below. In this video worksheet post we use a clip from the excellent The History Of Football [2002] [DVD] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001XLWBW?ie=UTF8&tag=languagcomlea-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B0001XLWBW)(http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=languagcomlea-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B0001XLWBW) on the 1966 World Cup final between Germany and England. There is also a worksheet, transcript and answer sheet below. The report lasts for 3 minutes 30 seconds. 1966 Worksheet | 1966 Transcript Transcript Bobby Moore and Uwe Seeler were out in the middle exchanging international compliments and meeting the referee Dienst of Switzerland. The West German attack had bite and purpose, on they came again. An English defensive lapse gave the ball to Haller… and that was it. One down after 12 minutes spurred the English attack. This time a chance came to West Ham's Geoff Hurst - it's the equaliser!! It's there. Peters has scored. If only they could keep the lead for a few desperate minutes against the West Germans, now a team playing their hearts out to keep in the running. Germany would not let up then seconds before the final whistle, agony for England. Webber scored. It had to be extra time. Then Geoff Hurst, cool and collected, had the ball in the net. No! It bounced out. ‘Goal!’ claimed England. ‘No goal!’ protested the Germans. The referee consulted the linesman who'd been in line with the posts and goal it was. When there was only a minute to go England still had no thought of being content with that one goal lead racing to beat the whistle, Geoff Hurst saw an opening in the defence and achieved a hat trick. Bobby Moore lead England up to the Royal Box to receive the Jules Rimet Cup and the winners' medals. To be here as winners of the FA Cup has often been described as the summit of a footballer's ambition, how much greater is the triumph they enjoy now. Three years go Alf Ramsey set out on the hard road that lead to the World Cup. Only the optimists thought he could possibly succeed, certainly not West Germany whose team now ran a lap of honour. They were very sporting losers. Finally it was England that the whole world of sport was now cheering. languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/main-report-14-ireland-vs-france/ http://languagecaster.com/main-report-14-ireland-vs-france/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:24:18 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=6585 http://languagecaster.com/main-report-14-ireland-vs-france/feed/ 2 France,ireland,trap,World Cup | Subscribe: Main Report This week's main report looks at the World Cup play-off match between Ireland and France. Listen to our Irish football correspondent, Brendan, discussing whether Ireland can cause a huge upset and make it to South Africa 2010. | (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/feed-icon-28x281.png) Subscribe: Main Report This week's main report looks at the World Cup play-off match between Ireland and France. Listen to our Irish football correspondent, Brendan, discussing whether Ireland can cause a huge upset and make it to South Africa 2010. The transcript can be found below, while vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post. (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/lc.jpg) Listen to the report here Once FIFA decided to move the goalposts late in the World Cup qualifier campaign and seed the play-off draw, football fans here in Ireland greeted the draw with fear and trepidation. In the end those fears were realised when Stephen Piennar drew the name of France out of the bowl, made more difficult when we discovered that we'd have to play the second leg in Paris. The French squad was announced during the week and the names in it trip off the tongue... Gallas, Sagna, Evra at the back... Diarra, Toulalon in midfield and the likes of Anelka, Henry, Benzema up front. What chance do we have when you compare players? If we did qualify for the World Cup, there'd hardly be a slew of kids around the world, rushing to get their Sean St Ledger, Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan stickers for their shiny new World Cup albums. And yet and yet... we clutch at straws. Firstly, because we're football fans and that's part of the contract. But also because we look at the respective dugouts. In the green corner, Signour Trappatonni, the man who's been around as long as St Patrick and who has done it all before...and in the blue corner... Monsieur Domenech, the French coach who picks his players based on their zodiac signs and whose most significant act during their dismal showing in the European Championships was to propose to his girlfriend live on TV - he's still waiting for a reply by the way. Spies at Irelands training camp this week say that Trappatonni is making his players practice penalties. We know that no stone will be left unturned, and we know that the level of organisation that the Italian has brought to the squad so far has enabled us to go unbeaten throughout the campaign. Will it be enough? Well, it shouldn't be and the super-power that is France should progress but the beauty of sport is that nobody fully knows. It's a leap of faith, so off we go to Croke Park this Saturday night and in Trap we trust. Vocabulary to move the goalposts: To change the rules trepidation: Extreme worry, fear the second leg: The second of two matches to decide the winning team trip off the tongue: The names are so well known a slew of: A lot of, many we clutch at straws: To be very optimistic, hopeful (with little reason) respective dugouts: Here: the two managers St Patrick: The patron saint of Ireland no stone will be left unturned: he will make sure that nothing is left to chance, be well prepared Croke Park: The national stadium of Ireland languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/video-worksheet-folk-football/ http://languagecaster.com/video-worksheet-folk-football/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:37:06 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=6437 http://languagecaster.com/video-worksheet-folk-football/feed/ 0 folk football,Video,worksheet In this video worksheet post we use a clip from the excellent The History Of Football [2002] [DVD]on the topic of Folk Football. There is also a worksheet, transcript and answer sheet below. The report lasts for 2 minutes 10 seconds. In this video worksheet post we use a clip from the excellent The History Of Football [2002] [DVD] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001XLWBW?ie=UTF8&tag=languagcomlea-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B0001XLWBW)(http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=languagcomlea-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B0001XLWBW)on the topic of Folk Football. There is also a worksheet, transcript and answer sheet below. The report lasts for 2 minutes 10 seconds. Folk Football Worksheet (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Folk-Football-Worksheet.pdf) | Transcript (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Folk-football-transcript.pdf) (for audio only, click here (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/FolkFootball.Video.aduioclip.m4a)) Transcript The legend, whether true or not, is still enacted year in, year out by the people of Kirkwall, Scotland, making it one of the last strongholds of the game, which for hundreds of years dominated Britain. The game itself is remarkably similar to other long-abandoned folk matches played on the island. The pitch is the entire town; the players number in their hundreds; the goals are local landmarks a mile apart. One goal was generally all it took to win the game, although that could take a whole day. In Kirkwall, two sides compete: the ‘up-the-gates’ and the ‘down-the-gates’. Their struggle for the ball, or ‘baa’, is deeply symbolic. The tradition was for a long time that if the ‘down-the-gates’ managed to get the ‘baa’, which was a fertilising influence of the sun - it was the sun and its fertilising influence - and they threw it into the waters of the harbour then that would bring good fishing. And if the ‘up-the-gates’ got the ‘baa’ to their goal, and they were mostly farmers, that would bring good crops, particularly good potatoes. And there was a small town in Norway that until recently phoned every New Year’s Day to see which way the ‘baa’ had gone so that they could assess whether or not there was going to be good fishing in the months ahead. In terms of roughness, there are no rules, it’s hard, a hard physical contest. Perhaps sometimes old scores are settled but generally speaking there is little gratuitous violence. // languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-check-week-12/ http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-check-week-12/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:42:53 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=6334 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-check-week-12/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-check-week-11/ http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-check-week-11/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:46:39 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=6230 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-check-week-11/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-check-week-10/ http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-check-week-10/#comments Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:29:35 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=5946 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-check-week-10/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/week-8-main-report-paraguayan-football/ http://languagecaster.com/week-8-main-report-paraguayan-football/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:11:06 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=5661 http://languagecaster.com/week-8-main-report-paraguayan-football/feed/ 0 This week's main report looks at one of the countries that has already qualified for the 2010 World Cup - Paraguay. The transcript of the report is below. Try our online  listening quiz. Listen to the report here Transcript - (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/5_8.jpg) This week's main report looks at one of the countries that has already qualified for the 2010 World Cup - Paraguay. The transcript of the report is below. Try our online  listening quiz. (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/lc.jpg)Listen to the report here (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/pod8.main.with.music.m4a) Transcript Bigger than Japan but smaller than Spain, a population slightly larger than Denmark, but smaller than Hong Kong, and looking forward to their eighth appearance in the World Cup Finals, more than Portugal but fewer than Hungary - which country am I talking about? South Americans, Paraguay, qualified for the 2010 World Cup on the 9th of September, just after England and Spain. They booked their tickets after being guaranteed a top four spot in the South America group and on the way beat Argentina and Brazil. This is also their fourth appearance in a row. But what else can we say about football in Paraguay? Well, it starts with a Dutchman, William Paats, and the team he founded, Olimpia Football Club, now Club Olimpia. That was back in 1902, and four years later the Paraguayan Football League was founded, 13 years after the first league to be established in South America, the Argentine league. The power base of football in Paraguay is in Ascuncion, with nine of the 12 top-flight teams playing here. Teams which play outside Acunsion, like 2 (segundo) de Mayo and 3 (tercero) de Febrero, seem to be banished to the border areas with Brazil and Brazil and Argentina, respectively. The most successful team in Paraguay  is Olimpia followed by Cerro Porteno, "el club del pueblo" - the people's club. Olimpia, as mentioned are the oldest club, but Cerros Porteno are the most popular. Olimpia play in black and white stripes, have won the title a record 38 times, 10 more than Porteno, and are currently third in the Clausura season after 10 games. Cerro Porteno, also from Asuncion have , play in blue and red stripes, representing two political parties that were rivals when the club was formed - the strip is a symbol of how all Paraguayans should unite in friendship. So far this season, they could do with some friendly results, as they are in the bottom half of the table. When these two teams meet it is the biggest match of the season - Paraguay's El Clásico. But back to the national team. they are ranked 23rd in the world by FIFA, and will be hoping to repeat and perhaps better their run in 1998, where they got to the last 16 only to be defeated by France with the first 'Golden Goal' in world cup history. Players to look out for include their experienced captain, who came out of retirement to join the side again, Denis Caniza; Roque Santa Cruz, playing in the premier League for Manchester City, although not a regular in the qualifying campaign so far, should have an impact along with his strike partner, Nelson Haedo Valdez. All that remains is to congratulate Paraguay on their qualification. Now try the online quiz. (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/quizzes/paraguay/index.html) languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/latest-football-cliches-2/ http://languagecaster.com/latest-football-cliches-2/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:51:47 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=5629 http://languagecaster.com/latest-football-cliches-2/feed/ 0 cliche,Football Cliches This post gives explanations of two more footballing clichés. You can find many more examples by going to our football cliché page here. - To run your socks off | Listen to the cliché here This cliché is used when a team or an individual player i... This post gives explanations of two more footballing clichés (http://languagecaster.com/football-language-resources/football-cliches/). You can find many more examples by going to our football cliché page here (http://languagecaster.com/football-language-resources/football-cliches/). To run your socks off | Listen to the cliché here This cliché is used when a team or an individual player is seen to work very hard during a game. The expression is often used with the verb 'work' as in he worked his socks off throughout the game. Indeed, this phrase is synonymous with certain types of battling midfield players such as Steven Gerrard or formerly Roy Keane who often run their socks off to get their teams back into a game. If a team works their socks off it means that they battled hard and did not give up. To work your socks off. A great advert (for the game) | Listen to the cliché here A great advert for the game is a cliché used by commentators and fans to describe an exciting match that usually represents the best of something or somewhere. Sometimes a match can be described as being a great advert for the Premier League, that is, it represents all that is good from the English league, such as battling skills, bravery, attacking play and so on. When it is used to describe a game from the lower leagues it is praising the standards of the two teams involved - thus, West Brom versus Newcastle was a great advert for the Championship - it was of a Premier League standard despite being played in a lower division. languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/week-7-main-report-the-bundesliga-200910/ http://languagecaster.com/week-7-main-report-the-bundesliga-200910/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:07:03 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=5508 http://languagecaster.com/week-7-main-report-the-bundesliga-200910/feed/ 0 This week's main report looks at the Bundesliga with Hans guiding us through the German league. The transcript of the report is below and includes vocabulary in bold which is explained at the foot of the post. Listen to the report here - Transcript (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/images2.jpeg) This week's main report looks at the Bundesliga with Hans guiding us through the German league. The transcript of the report is below and includes vocabulary in bold which is explained at the foot of the post. (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/lc.jpg)Listen to the report here (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/bundesliga.mp3) Transcript Hans: Hello and welcome to the Bundesliga. My name is Hans and I'm delighted this season because my team SC Freiburg are back in the top flight after several seasons in the second league. However, as always with the Bundesliga, everybody is talking about Bayern München. Other leagues in Europe have two or three contenders for the title but it seems in the Bundesliga there is only one team at the beginning of the year. And who can argue, Bayern München have loads of money, they've bought great players: Mario Gomes, Robben, they have Franck Ribery, a new coach Van Gaal and they seem to be finding their stride; after six games they're sitting in third and slowly coming to grips with each other's play. So what makes the Bundesliga so exciting? It's when Bayern München don't win. When they fall other teams have a chance to pick up the scraps. Last year it was Wolfsburg, a few years ago Stuttgart and this year, Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen are the two teams tipped to be right on their heels at the end of the season. At the moment Hamburg is playing beautifully and sit on top of the table. Bayer Leverkusen are sitting in second. But there are many other teams in the league that people don't talk about. Hoffenheim, last year's dream team, are sitting in fourth and are playing extraordinarily well. Mainz, just promoted, have already performed above what people expected of them. And my team Freiburg sit in 11th having beaten Schalke away from home and that's right, in the Bundesliga the big teams are finding it hard at the moment: Schalke, Moenchengladbach, Dortmund, Stuttgart, Köln have all started very slowly. Of course, Bayern München will be there at the end but all the neutrals, myself included, will hope they fall so that we see another champion of the Bundesliga come July 2010. Vocabulary top flight : the top division to be finding their stride: To get into a rhythm; to start playing well they're sitting in third: They are in 3rd position in the league coming to grips with: getting used to scraps: pieces to be right on their heels: To be chasing them; to push them all the way languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/main-report-week-5-champions-league-preview/ http://languagecaster.com/main-report-week-5-champions-league-preview/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:34:13 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=5218 http://languagecaster.com/main-report-week-5-champions-league-preview/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/week-4-main-report-world-cup-stars-maradona/ http://languagecaster.com/week-4-main-report-world-cup-stars-maradona/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:18:03 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4656 http://languagecaster.com/week-4-main-report-world-cup-stars-maradona/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/latest-football-cliches/ http://languagecaster.com/latest-football-cliches/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:10:04 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=5045 http://languagecaster.com/latest-football-cliches/feed/ 0 cliche,Football Cliches This post gives explanations of two more footballing clichés. You can find many more examples by going to our football cliché page here. - Can’t win the title in August but you can certainly lose it | Listen here This post gives explanations of two more footballing clichés (http://languagecaster.com/football-language-resources/football-cliches/). You can find many more examples by going to our football cliché page here (http://languagecaster.com/football-language-resources/football-cliches/). Can’t win the title in August but you can certainly lose it | Listen here This cliché is a classic example of stating the complete obvious to make a point. As most European leagues start in August and finish in May it is mathematically impossible for a team to win the title so early in the season. So no matter how well a team begins the season it is far too early to predict that they will become champions. However, if a team that is tipped to do well has a bad start to the season then it might be difficult for them to recover and go on to win the title, meaning that a winning start is vital. To gatecrash the top 4 | Listen here To gatecrash a party is to attend a party that you have not been invited to. Many football fans in England feel that Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, known as the top 4 in the Premier League, have become so big and powerful that it seems as if they have their own mini league, or private party. Thus, any team that attempts to finish in the top four, that wishes to make a breakthrough, is seen as a gatecrasher – an unwanted guest in an elite or powerful group. This year, Manchester City have been tipped to gatecrash the top four thanks to their incredible wealth. To gatecrash the top four. languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/week-3-main-report-la-liga-or-the-premier-league/ http://languagecaster.com/week-3-main-report-la-liga-or-the-premier-league/#comments Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:38:30 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=5100 http://languagecaster.com/week-3-main-report-la-liga-or-the-premier-league/feed/ 0 | Listen to the report here La Liga kicks off this weekend and on this week's main report we ask whether the Spanish League is now better than the Premier League. Explanations of key terms are explained in bold at the end of the transcript below. - (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/_45833540_barca1.jpg) | Listen to the report here (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/file0085.mp3) La Liga kicks off this weekend and on this week's main report we ask whether... languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/week-2-main-report-world-cup-stars-pele/ http://languagecaster.com/week-2-main-report-world-cup-stars-pele/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:55:37 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=4726 http://languagecaster.com/week-2-main-report-world-cup-stars-pele/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/6-reasons/ http://languagecaster.com/6-reasons/#comments Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:48:30 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4578 http://languagecaster.com/6-reasons/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/reading-sir-bobby-robson/ http://languagecaster.com/reading-sir-bobby-robson/#comments Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:04:35 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4790 http://languagecaster.com/reading-sir-bobby-robson/feed/ 1 http://languagecaster.com/the-championship-2009-10-preview/ http://languagecaster.com/the-championship-2009-10-preview/#comments Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:11:35 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4815 http://languagecaster.com/the-championship-2009-10-preview/feed/ 2 http://languagecaster.com/online-listening-liverpool-200910-season-preview/ http://languagecaster.com/online-listening-liverpool-200910-season-preview/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:11:55 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=4792 http://languagecaster.com/online-listening-liverpool-200910-season-preview/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-the-language-of-transfers-part-2/ http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-the-language-of-transfers-part-2/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:30:58 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4764 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-the-language-of-transfers-part-2/feed/ 2 http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-manchester-city-20092010-season-preview/ http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-manchester-city-20092010-season-preview/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:20:41 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=4753 http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-manchester-city-20092010-season-preview/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/how-to-learn-english-with-languagecastercoms-podcasts/ http://languagecaster.com/how-to-learn-english-with-languagecastercoms-podcasts/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:20:04 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=4734 http://languagecaster.com/how-to-learn-english-with-languagecastercoms-podcasts/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/david-beckham-and-the-half-time-dance/ http://languagecaster.com/david-beckham-and-the-half-time-dance/#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:30:29 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4697 http://languagecaster.com/david-beckham-and-the-half-time-dance/feed/ 1 http://languagecaster.com/i-just-dont-like-football-part-1/ http://languagecaster.com/i-just-dont-like-football-part-1/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:42:52 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4687 http://languagecaster.com/i-just-dont-like-football-part-1/feed/ 1 Celtic,Fans,Free printable worksheets,Hate football,listening,Vocabulary | Teaching Ideas Though it's hard to believe not everyone is a fan of football. In the first of our series of interviews with people who just don't like the game, Alan from Scotland tells us why a 5-4 'thriller' left him completely bored. (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/images3.jpg) | (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/feed-icon-28x281.png) Teaching Ideas Though it's hard to believe not everyone is a fan of football. In the first of our series of interviews with people who just don't like the game, Alan from Scotland tells us why a 5-4 'thriller' left him completely bored. Listen here (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/alan1.m4a) to the interview. To help you understand there are some comprehension questions, as well as a vocabulary list containing the words in bold at the foot of this post. * Listen to the interview here (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/alan1.m4a) DF: So continuing in our series of people who just don't like football we have Alan. How are you doing Alan? Alan: Very well thank you. DF: Alan, can you tell us where you are from? Alan: From Scotland. DF: And tell us why don't you like football? Alan: It's a completely pointless game. What is the point of seeing 22 grown men running around a field kicking a ball into a net and being happy about it? I really don't get that, now that's a superficial reason. There's a deeper reason to it as well, it's like, you... you have these teams that represent cities and they're all saying 'my city's better than your city or my area is better than your area'. It's kind of like the old ancient argument of 'our women are more beautiful than your women'. It's just stupid, pointless, boyish, rubbish. DF: So Alan, have you ever seen a game live? Have you ever been to a stadium to watch a game? Alan: Once. DF: Can you remember who was playing? Alan: I petitioned my father, he didn't want to take me because he knew that I didn't like the game but I wanted to go with my dad and see a football match just for the hell of it when I was a young kid, I was probably less than 10 years old I think, about 9, 8 or 9. He took me to Aberdeen versus Celtic. Now, at the time Aberdeen was a very big team in Scotland and Celtic still is. The score was 5-4. I was pleading to go home at half-time because I thought it was incredibly boring and I really didn't understand what the big fuss was about and this thing called 'scoring goals', which as far as I could see was some little man on a pitch hitting a ball into a net at some point and I really didn't find that that was very interesting. DF: So do you think in the future there's any chance of you returning to watch another game of football? Alan: Absolutely none. __________________________________________________________________ Comprehension Questions Listen here to the interview (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/alan1.m4a) 1. Where is Alan from? 2. Alan uses 4 adjectives to describe football. What are they? 3. What age was he when he went to see his first game? 4. Which two teams were involved and what was the final score? 5. Aberdeen are no longer a big team in Scotland. True or False 6. What was Alan doing at half-time in the game? 7. Why? 8. Will Alan ever go and watch another game again? Answers below Vocabulary Pointless: Having no reason to it, no point, can't understand why I really don't get that: I just don't understand it Superficial: Not deep Represent: To play or perform for a particular area (He represented England on 25 occasions) Ancient: Extremely old, from very earlier times Live: To be physically at the game, watch the game in the stadium Petitioned: Asked (suggestions here that he asked quite a lot) Just for the hell of it: No real reason just decided to go or do something Pleading: Begging, really asking to do something Didn't understand what the big fuss was about: He didn't know why everyone was talking about the game (why people were excited with football) __________________________________________________________________ Answers 1. Where is Alan from? languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-listening-being-a-fan-manchester-city/ http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-listening-being-a-fan-manchester-city/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:56:34 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4645 http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-listening-being-a-fan-manchester-city/feed/ 0 | Teaching Ideas In this teaching ideas post we listen to Manchester City fan Dave explain why he supports the Blues and not the Reds from his hometown of Manchester. Vocabulary in bold is explained at the end of the post - | (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/feed-icon-28x281.png) Teaching Ideas (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/images2.jpg) In this teaching ideas post we listen to Manchester City fan Dave explain why he supports the Blues and not the Reds from his hometown of Manchester. Vocabulary in bold is explained at the end of the post * Download the worksheet here * Listen to the interview here Why Manchester City? That’s a very good question. I know that in Japan and in many other countries most people know or have heard about Manchester United of course – a very famous team. However, you may be interested to know that there is another team in Manchester and the team is called Manchester City. The main difference between United and City - apart from the fact that United are far more famous and successful - is that City wear sky blue, sky blue shirts and white shorts. I mention that because when I was a kid, when I was about maybe 10 or 11 years old that’s the main reason why I chose to support Man City, as opposed to Man Utd. Or at least one of them. And the other main reason was not so much the team but the supporters of the club. For a lot of football fans in England it’s not only the actual team and the players who are on the pitch that you support but you also become involved in the atmosphere of a club and it used to be when the stands were all standing - that means no sitting, you could go there and have a really, really good time, not so much watching the game but having a laugh, listening to some of the other fans and the comments that they made. The main difference between United and City was that at United all the fans just completely adored the team at the time, which as I remember was Bobby Charlton, George Best, Denis Law. On the other hand, City, which had a very good team at that time, whenever they lost the crowd used to really criticise them and attack them and so on. For me as a young boy of 10 or 11, I just found that rather more interesting to be critical of the team rather than just showing adulation all the time. And I think even now there is ... that is a big difference maybe between the fans of City and United and that’s why that it’s very difficult for a City fan to switch over to supporting United. That may be similar in ... with other cities which have two teams, like Liverpool and Everton maybe, or even in ...with the London teams, Arsenal – Spurs, Chelsea – Fulham, and so on. But really that is the main reason why, even though I do agree that United have a great team at the moment and play great football, I still hate them. It’s mostly because of the fans. __________________________________________________________________ Vocabulary Here are explanations of some of the words and phrases from the reading. Download the worksheet here atmosphere: The feeling surrounding the club the stands: Where fans go to sit or stand and watch the game having a laugh: To have some fun, to be relaxed adored: To really love someone or something to switch over to: To change the team you support languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/listening-being-a-fan-arsenal/ http://languagecaster.com/listening-being-a-fan-arsenal/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:22:44 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4628 http://languagecaster.com/listening-being-a-fan-arsenal/feed/ 0 Arsenal,listening,listening ideas,printables,worksheet | Teaching Ideas - In this teaching ideas post we have an interview with Arsenal fan Andy who tells us about some of his memories while supporting the Gunners. Vocabulary in bold is explained at the end of the post Download the worksheet here | (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/feed-icon-28x281.png) Teaching Ideas (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/images1.jpg) In this teaching ideas post we have an interview with Arsenal fan Andy (http://www.recessioncafe.co.uk/) who tells us about some of his memories while supporting the Gunners. Vocabulary in bold is explained at the end of the post * Download the worksheet here * Listen to the interview here Damian: Right, today we have got an Arsenal season ticket holder giving us his views on all things Gunners. Hello, how are you doing? Could you please introduce yourself. Andy: Hi yes, my name is Andy Robertson, I have been an Arsenal fan for life and I started supporting Arsenal when I was very young, mainly because my mother came from north London. Damian: Can you remember your first game? Andy: I can remember my first couple of games, there were a few at Highbury and some of the Champions League games in the late '90s when we played at Wembley against clubs like RC Lens. They weren't great experiences because they were all draws. Damian: So, when you were younger, who were your heroes at Arsenal? Andy: The guys who really stick out for me were, particularly, like Ian Wright (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY__dxYVH9c) in the mid-90s and as we went towards the end of the '90s the sort of 'golden era' for me was the amazing back four of Bould, Winterburn, Seaman ... Parlour on the wing and when we had players like Bergkamp and Viera ... Overmars who came in, it was just an amazing time. Damian: Now, tell us a little about your best and your worst memory. Let's start with the worst memory. Andy: Worst memory was probably Champions League final in Paris (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nALx3M16Mhk), I have to say. (Ed: Lost 1-2 to Barcelona in 2006) Damian: How about the best memory as an Arsenal fan? Andy: Er, couple of good memories was winning the double in the '98 season (http://www.arseweb.com/history/faq/faq98.html) and probably Robin Van Persie's goal against Charlton (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbTSkIJQvwg). Damian: Thank you very much __________________________________________________________________ Vocabulary * Download theworksheet here * Listen to the interview here season ticket holder: a fan that holds a ticket for all the home matches for the season Gunners: The nickname of Arsenal north London: Arsenal are from this part of the country (as are rivals Tottenham) Highbury: The name of the previous Arsenal stadium Wembley: The national stadium of England draws: When neither team wins a game, e.g. 1-1; 2-2 stick out: To be easily remembered, to stand out back four: The collective name for the four defenders in a team the double: When a team wins both the domestic league and cup languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-europes-top-10-nationality-adjectives/ http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-europes-top-10-nationality-adjectives/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:20:20 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=4604 http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-europes-top-10-nationality-adjectives/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/the-language-of-football-transfers-in-4-easy-steps/ http://languagecaster.com/the-language-of-football-transfers-in-4-easy-steps/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:12:49 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4489 http://languagecaster.com/the-language-of-football-transfers-in-4-easy-steps/feed/ 1 http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-reading-the-confederations-cup/ http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-reading-the-confederations-cup/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:31:30 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4447 http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-reading-the-confederations-cup/feed/ 9 http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-reading-manchester-united-review-of-the-season/ http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-reading-manchester-united-review-of-the-season/#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 07:38:13 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4144 http://languagecaster.com/teaching-ideas-reading-manchester-united-review-of-the-season/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-playing-the-game/ http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-playing-the-game/#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 11:06:38 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=3866 http://languagecaster.com/football-vocabulary-playing-the-game/feed/ 2