How well can you speak about sports? In this speech shadowing lesson, you will train to talk about this topic: a sport you like, live sports and sport audiences.
Step 1: Tune in to this week’s podcast episode (audio and video version available below).
| Part 1 Questions May I see your ID? Where are you from? What is the name of your hometown? What are some important features of your hometown? Can you describe your home? What kind of sports do you like? Do you watch live sports? Do you think sport audiences today have changed compared to the past? |
| 🧑🎓Target language: localised (adjective) -specific to a particular place “In the past, sporting audiences were very localised.” |
Step 2: Listen to the sample a few times to get more familiar with the language.
Step 3: Engage this week’s full speech shadowing lesson. (If you do not yet have access, click here to sign up for full lessons.)
Step 4: Below is Monday’s speech exercise. Post yourself saying this excerpt to your Whatsapp group. Exercises for Tuesday to Friday will be posted in the group by your instructor. (If you have not yet been added to a group, click here to sign up – select ‘Join a Whatsapp group’.)
| Post yourself saying this into your Whatsapp group!🗣️📲 “Well, like many cities in China, Suzhou is very old and has several ancient landmarks, such as the Humble Administrator Garden, which I believe is about a thousand years old now. We also have a district that is made up entirely of a network of canals. The area is understandably sometimes referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’. We also have a growing business district lined with skyscrapers, so I think a central feature of Suzhou is its blend of historical sites and contemporary architecture.” |
Step 5: It’s very important that you note any new language items or pronunciation points from this week’s lesson in your journal to help you chronicle your improvement.📝
Transcript
May I see your ID?
Here you are.
Where are you from?
I am from a city in China. It’s about an hour’s drive outside of Shanghai.
What is the name of your hometown?
It’s called Suzhou. There is actually more than one Suzhou in China. Mine is the one in Jiangsu province.
What are some important features of your hometown?
Well, like many cities in China, Suzhou is very old and has several ancient landmarks, such as the Humble Administrator Garden, which I believe is about a thousand years old now. We also have a district that is made up entirely of a network of canals. The area is understandably sometimes referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’. We also have a growing business district lined with skyscrapers, so I think a central feature of Suzhou is its blend of historical sites and contemporary architecture.
Can you describe your home?
I live in a simple one-bedroom apartment that has a large window in the living room with a view of the sunset. I really like the colour green, so I think most of the furniture has at least a little green in it. I also have several houseplants which help keep my apartment feeling fresh. Let’s talk about sports.
What kind of sports do you like?
I’m actually not a big sports person. Once in a while, I’ll play football with my friends in the park or hit a birdie back and forth with a badminton racket, but that’s about it. I do a lot of walking either on my own or with a friend, so if that counts I would say that’s my favourite sport.
Do you watch live sports?
I do but only when a really exciting sporting event is happening. For example, when the World Cup is on, I watch many of the matches live. I occasionally catch a Formula 1 race live too, but I don’t watch it enough to know much about the teams or drivers. I went to several basketball matches in Shanghai when I was a teenager, and I think these are the only live sporting events I’ve seen in person.
Do you think sport audiences today have changed compared to the past?
Yes, in many ways they have. In the past, sporting audiences were very localised. What I mean is you watched and discussed a sporting event with your friends or family, whereas now people watch sports streamed live online and discuss what’s happening with international viewers from around the world. I recently saw a sports commentator that was streaming his comments live while interacting with viewers from around the world. This is a clear difference compared to the past. However, I would say the audience’s spirit and passion for the game hasn’t changed, and I don’t think it ever will.
Thank you.