SPORTS:

My favorite sport is badminton. There are four reasons why I like it. Firstly, It helps to improve my health . I
try playing it twice a week. It makes me feel energetic and with a better humour. Secondly, I enjoy the
feeling I have when the badminton flies though the air. I can change the movement of the badminton without
making much effort and it can make my opponent lose. Another reason is I can make many friends when I
play badminton. I often play it with different kinds of people.Our skills improve with exercise. When we on a
break, we talk about many interesting subjects. Finally, playing badminton is not as intense as other sports
such as basketball or soccer. This lessens the possibility of being hurt. So If you like to play badminton,
please feel free to contact me. From this experience, we can learn about each other.

Sports English.
Everyone loves some sport or the other. Some play it for fun and some play it
professionally, and sometimes people just watch them on TV.
You can always ask your friends about their favorite sports and play with them or
share the experience of watching it with them.
In this lesson we will learn how to talk about your favorite sport with your friends.
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Introduction
Richard : What's your favorite sport?
Roy : I like playing basketball and swimming.
Richard : How good are you at basketball?
Roy : Im not that bad, and I can swim pretty well too. What about you?
Richard : I enjoy swimming, but I prefer playing golf. Im pretty good at it.
Roy : Really? Whats your handicap?
Richard : Its 4 on our local golf course.
Roy : I am impressed.
Are You a Football Fan?
Carrie : Are you a football fan?
Hagrid : Yes, I go to the stadium whenever theres a good game, and if I can't buy a
ticket, I watch the game on TV.
Carrie : Is the ticket expensive? How much for one?
Hagrid : I paid about $25 last time.
Carrie : Okay. Thats not very expensive.
Hagrid : Yeah. We can go together sometime. Itll be fun!
Carrie : Sure. Let me know when.
Norman : I think Americans are crazy!
Victor : What? Why do you think so?
Norman : Well, they play football and they call it soccer.
Victor : You guys play football and call it rugby!
Norman : Well, your football is rugby, and your soccer is football.
Victor : Norman, its America. We dont follow the British rules.
Norman : And I dont understand baseball at all. Why is the bat like a stick? Have you
ever seen a cricket bat?
Victor : A cricket bat? Thats the silliest thing Ive ever heard.
Norman : Why?
Victor : A cricket cant bat, its an insect!
Norman : Oh Victor! (facepalm) You dont know anything about sports in the rest of
the world.
The Series.
Victor : Yo Sammy! Do you know were playing the qualifiers tomorrow?
Sammy : Really? I thought it was day after!
Victor : No man, its tomorrow, and if we win it, were gonna compete in the
statewide!
Sammy : Thats cool man! Youre on the team, arent you?
Victor : Yeah. I am the quarterback.
Sammy : Good luck homie! I hope you guys win the game.
Victor : Thanks man! Say what? You gonna be there watching us?
Sammy : Uh I dunno man. What time is the game?
Victor : 4.30
Sammy : Okay bro! Ill be there. See you!

Examiner: Do you do any sports?

Loiuse: Not really no I always say Im going to take up exercise and try to get into
shape but I never seem to get started I sometimes wonder whether I should get a personal
trainer someone who will sort out a fitness programme for me and make me train hard .
Examiner: How do you spend a typical weekend?
Stella: Im a big football fan and weekends always centre around a football match I support FC
Utrecht and have a season ticket so I go to most of the home games and quite a few of the away
games too Im really looking forward to the new football season starting soon
Examiner: Have you got any hobbies or interests?
Theo: Yes Im really keen on sports I do judo once a week and play tennis in the summer
I think its really important to keep fit it makes you feel good and energised for work and your
studies .
Part 2-style task
Describe a place you like going to in your leisure time. You should say:

what this place is

when you go there

what you do there

and say why you enjoy it there so much.

Maurice: Id like to talk about my local sports centre its a place I spend a lot of time in its
a new building with all the latest sports facilities I probably go there at least twice a week
sometimes more often its a huge place theres an outdoor athletics track and some football
pitches I play football so Im often out there there are several indoor squash and tennis
courts that I use occasionally a big swimming pool although I dont use that very often
Im not a very strong swimmer theres a gym lots of things really why do I enjoy going
there its just a really fun place to be theres a good social side to it all you can enter
competitions meet up with other people who want to do the same sports and because there are
so many activities on offer it gets you interested in different things for example I was listening to
some people talking about training to run the marathon and Ive decided I might even think about
that I go jogging a couple of times a week so it would give me something to aim for so yes
the sports centre thats the place I really like to visit
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Should people be encouraged more to take up sport?
Alejandro: I think young people should be given the chance to discover which sport they might like
watching sport is sometimes a good way to get people started not on TV but actually getting
out take athletics for example they could go to an athletics meeting there are so many
different sports on show one might interest them

Examiner: Why do some people enjoy participating in sport more than others?
Florrie: Thats a good question I suppose some people are more concerned about their health
they cant stand the thought of being out of condition other people might be driven to excel
they want to set records or get personal bests
Examiner: Which sports do you think are best for people who arent used to physical activity?
Julie: Well I think people like this should avoid strenuous exercise so things like circuit
training are definitely out of the question maybe just doing a brisk walk every day or
swimming is always a good way to get started
Definitions

an athletics meeting: an event where various athletics sports are held

an athletics track: a running track

an away game: a football match played in the opposing teams stadium

a brisk walk: a fast walk

to do judo: (not go or play)

a football fan: someone who likes football

a fitness programme: a schedule of activities to keep fit

a football match: a game of football

a football pitch: the surface on which you play football (as opposed to a stadium, which is
the building)

a football season: a period in the year when football is played

to get into shape: to become fit

to go jogging: to run around the streets

a home game: a football match played in the teams own stadium

to keep fit: to stay in good physically condition

to be out of condition: to not be physically fit

a personal best: to achieve the best personal result so far in a sport

a personal trainer: a sports coach that helps you on a one-to-one basis

to play tennis/football: (not do or go)

to run the marathon: to run a distance of 42.195 Kilometres

a season ticket: a ticket that gives you entry to most of a teams home games during the
sporting year.

to set a record: to achieve the best result in a sport

a sports centre: a public building where people can do various sports

sports facilities: the equipment and services needed to do a sport

a squash/tennis/badminton court: the surface where you play these sports

strenuous exercise: exercise that needs a lot of physical effort

a strong swimmer: a good swimmer

a swimming pool: the place where you swim

to take up exercise: to start doing exercise

to train hard: to train with a lot of effort

Lifestyle
'm going to speak about my lifestyle. ("going to" future)
I'm an evening / a morning person but I like sleeping! I usually sleep for eight hours, but
sometimes I sleep for ten hours! I love that!
I drink a lot of water -- well, two liters in winter, and more in summer. I don't usually drink
alcohol -- except when I go out with my friends!
I have a healthy diet. I eat a lot of fruit. I love fruit! And I always have vegetables or
salads in my meals. I use olive oil in my salad! Olive oil is very healthy. I also eat chicken
and fish. I hardly ever eat meat. I love bread and butter! / I'm a vegetarian. I never eat
meat, any kind of meat. / I'm a vegan. I never eat anything from animals. /Oh, and I
have cereals (for breakfast) and pulses, too: lentils and chickpeas are my favourite!
I smoke about three cigarettes a day. And I don't do much exercise, really. I just walk to
work. Well, nobody's perfect! / I don't smoke. I do exercise every day. I go swimming
three times a week. I go running every weekday. And at weekends I go trekking in the
mountain. When I stay here some Saturdays I play football with my friends.
The worst for me is rushing. Some days I rush everywhere! And then I'm stressed out!
Most days I don't rush. I have a good time with people, or on my own. And every day I try
to do something good for someone, including myself!
Well, that's it!
A lifestyle typically reflects an individual's attitudes, values or world view. Therefore, a lifestyle is a means of
forging a sense of self and to create cultural symbols that resonate with personal identity. Lifestyle may
include views on politics, religion, health, intimacy, and more. All of these aspects play a role in shaping
someone's lifestyle. In late nineties people used to categorize the term lifestyle somewhat like this,

Lifestyles based on Income or occupation

Lifestyles based on social and political status

Lifestyles based on royal class segments

Today we see the world has completely changed and lifestyle has become somewhat a very common
feature. In todays digital world every big brands focus on the middle and lower segments. Today I am going
to talk some basic lifestyle that any common to middle class person can adopt. This incident took place when
I was participating in a live event on lifestyle in Mumbai. I come from a small town in Jaipur and by profession
I am a fashion designer. I was amongst the five best fashion designer been chosen for creativity in lifestyle
for common man. I would like to share my experience here for you.
I have categorized the lifestyle concept into four phases,
1.

Health Consciousness (Keeping fit)

2. Clothing with the style trends (Dressing Sense)

3.

Updating your body language (Modernizing)

4.

Socializing with the crowd. (Social Networking)

I am sure following these four steps will lead you to a complete personality. I will now explain how? Lets get
started with the first step.
Health Consciousness (Keeping fit)
1.

Sleep Earlier: Go to bed earlier. You might be used to watching TV or surfing the net in the night, I
recommend you to skip this habit out of your daily life, sooner or later you will start waking up early in the
morning.

2.

Get out of your bed as early as possible: Getting out of your bed an hour early to your daily
routine schedule, can give you more time to exercise or take some yoga or meditation into practice.

3.

Keeping you to a healthy diet: By healthy diet doesnt mean costlier and tinned dietary foods. You
can keep healthy by absorbing common available foods. You dont have to visit a gym trainer or a
nutritionist to guide you through a healthy diet. The best person to do this is your mother. Yes she knows
you better anyone else. You can add some natural things like Fruits, vegetables, pulses, dry fruits, juices
and lots of water. Try to avoid fast foods, oily foods, coffee, tea and beverages. Avoid smoking and
boozing habits as these habits kills you day by day.

4.

Taking a nice shower: We all take shower before we move out to our school, college, work place,
participating in events, sports etc. I recommend that when you take shower make sure that it is not too
hot, for it will break your hair and hurt your skin. Anything from lukewarm to cold (if you like it that way) is
fine. Warm water opens up your pores while cold water closes them, so you may want to keep that in
mind.

How can I make my lifestyle healthier? Here are steps to take to be healthier and
reduce your risk of stroke: Dont smoke and avoid second-hand smoke. Improve
your eating habits. Eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and added sugars.
Be physically active. Take your medicine as directed. Get your blood pressure
checked regularly and work with your healthcare provider to manage it if its high.
Reach and maintain a healthy weight. Decrease your stress level. Seek emotional
support when its needed. Have regular medical checkups.
How do I stop smoking? The first and more important step is making a decision to
quit and commit to stick to it. Ask your healthcare provider for information,
programs and medications that may help. Fight the urge to smoke by going to
smoke-free facilities. Avoid staying around people who smoke. Keep busy doing
things that make it hard to smoke, like working in the yard. Remind yourself that
smoking causes many diseases, can harm others and is deadly. Ask your family and
friends to support you.
How do I change my eating habits? Ask your doctor, nurse or a licensed nutritionist
or registered dietician for help. Be aware of your special needs, especially if you
have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. Avoid foods like fatty meats,
butter and cream, which are high in saturated fat. Eat moderate amounts of food

and cut down on saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and salt. Bake, broil, roast and boil
foods instead of frying

Weather Vocabulary
This page shows words and expressions that we use when talking about the weather in
English.

Each weather expression is shown with a definition followed by an example sentence in italics. n.
= noun, adj. = adjective
airconditioner, airconditioning (n.)
an appliance that cools down the air in a home or building
The airconditioner keeps the office nice and comfortable even when it's very hot outside.
avalanche (n.)
a dangerous slide of snow down a mountain
The skiers were warned about a possible avalanche.
below freezing
temperature less than 0C or 32F
It's supposed to go below freezing before the weekend.
blizzard (n.)
a storm with lots of snow and wind
The airplane couldn't take-off because of the blizzard.
boiling hot
common expression for describing a very hot day
It was boiling hot, so we all jumped into the lake.
breeze (n.)
light wind
Don't bother with a hat. There's always a breeze near the ocean.
call for (v.)
predict or forecast the probable weather for a time in the future (N.Amer.)
Celsius, centigrade
measurement of temperature (0 degrees is freezing and 100 degrees is boiling)
In the summer, the average temperature here is 20 degrees Celsius (20C).
chilly (adj.)
cold
It's a bit chilly today, so I think you should wear a coat.
clear (adj.)
when there are no clouds in the sky
On a clear night you can see a lot of stars.
cloud (n.)
water in the sky that appears as a white or grey mass
I feel quite cold every time the sun goes behind a cloud.

cloudy (adj.)
when much of the sky is covered with clouds
It may be cloudy in the early morning, but the sun always comes out by afternoon.
cold spell
a period of colder-than-average weather
They're forecasting a cold spell, so we put off our camping trip.
cool (adj.)
temperature between warm and cold
The days were boiling hot, but the nights were cool and comfortable for sleeping.
cyclone - see hurricane
degrees (n.)
measurement for temperature
I don't feel the heat until it's about forty degrees Celsius (40C) outside.
drizzle (verb)
rain slightly
I think I'll take the dog for a walk. It's only drizzling now.
drought (n.)
a long period with no rainfall
Forest fires are a serious danger during a drought.
Fahrenheit
measurement of temperature (32F is freezing and 212F is boiling)
It was 100 degrees Fahrenheit (100F) when we got to San Francisco.
flood (n.)
overflow of rain water
The flood was so bad, our basement was full of water.

flurries (n.)
very light snowfall
There are a few flurries but the snow isn't sticking to the roads.
fog (n.)
thick water vapor that blocks one's vision
We couldn't see the bridge because there was too much fog.
foggy (adj.)
full of fog, with lots of fog
They say it's going to be foggy tomorrow.
forecast (v.): past tense is forecast OR forecasted
predict the likely weather for the future
Usually they forecast the weather accurately but sometimes they get it wrong.
forecast (n.)
a prediction of the weather for the future
According to the five-day forecast, it's going to rain on our wedding day.

forecaster (n.)
a person who forecasts
Why are the weather forecasters on this channel so boring?
freezing cold
common expression used to describe a very cold day
It was a freezing cold day for the Santa Claus parade.
frost (n.)
ice crystals on a frozen surface
Some flowers are so strong they can withstand frost.
frostbite (n.)
a bad skin condition caused by over-exposure to the cold
I lost my hat while I was skiing, and I ended up with frostbite on my ears.
hail (n.)
small pieces of ice that fall during a storm
There was so much hail that some of the trailer homes were destroyed.
heat stroke (n.)
a flu-like condition you can get after spending too long in the sun
Bring lots of water and wear a hat to avoid heat stroke in this weather.
heatwave (n.)
extremely hot weather that is much hotter than average and usually lasts a short time
During the heatwave we cooled our beds down with ice packs.
humid (adj.)
with a high amount of water vapour or moisture in the air
The weather here is so humid I have to take four or five showers a day.
humidity (n.)
moisture in the air
It feels a lot hotter than it actually is because of the humidity.
hurricane (n.)
a tropical storm with extremely strong winds and heavy rain
(NB: hurricanes, typhoons andcyclones are exactly the same - but they tend to be
called hurricanes in the Americas, typhoons in eastern Asia and cyclones in India)
Half of the buildings on the island were flattened by the hurricane.
ice (n.)
frozen water; solid water (below 0C)
The car's windscreen was covered with ice so we had to scrape it off first.
icy (adj.)
slippery because of ice
The roads are icy so take special care driving down any hills.
lightning (n.)
a huge natural electric flash between a cloud and the earth or between two clouds
The outdoor pool always closes when the lifeguards think lightning is coming.

mild (adj.)
temperature that is warmer than average (in a cold season)
It's quite mild out so I didn't bother with a hat or gloves.
meteorologist (n.)
a person who studies the weather
The meteorologist predicted that the cold spell would be over by now.
minus, negative (adj.)
indicates that a temperature is below zero
It was minus twenty degrees (-20) at the top of the ski slope.
overcast (adj.)
when clouds cover the sky and no sun is visible
The sky is overcast this morning, but the sun is supposed to come out by late afternoon.
partly cloudy
term often used in a weather forecast to indicate that the skies are sunny and cloudy at the same
time
Tomorrow's forecast is partly cloudy with clear skies by nightfall.
precipitation (n.)
rain or snow that falls on an area
There is very little precipitation in the desert.
puddle (n.)
a small pool of rainwater on the ground
Children love to splash in puddles when they are wearing rubber boots.
rain (n.)
water that falls to earth
My hair is all wet and messy from the rain.
rain (v.)
rain falls (always used with it)
It is raining so you'd better take an umbrella.
We had a terrible holiday because it rained every day.
rainy (adj.)
describing a time or place with lots of rain
It was a rainy afternoon.
raindrop (n.)
a single drop of rain
I love catching raindrops on my tongue.
rainbow (n.)
a curved band of colours sometimes seen in the sky after rain
According to legend you can find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
raining cats and dogs (idiom)
raining heavily
They cancelled the football game because it was raining cats and dogs.

scorcher (n.)
a period of very hot weather; a very hot day
It was a scorcher, so the whole family slept in the cool basement.
scorching (adj.)
very hot
I got burned by the scorching July sun.
season (n.)
time of year characterized by particular weather: winter, spring, summer, autumn (or fall)
My favorite season is fall, because I love to watch the leaves changing colours.
shower (n.)
quick, light fall of rain
They've been calling for showers all week, but so far it's been dry.
sleet (n.)
rain that freezes as it falls
All-weather-tires are best if you have to drive in sleet.
slush (n.)
snow on the ground that has been rained on
The snow turned to slush as soon as it started to rain.
smog (n.)
heavy, dark cloud cover caused by pollution
You really notice the smog downtown in this type of humidity.
snow (n.)
soft, white, frozen water that falls from the sky and covers the earth in a white layer
There's already lots of snow in the mountains, so the ski season should be great this year.
snow (v.)
snow falls (always used with it)
It's been snowing all day.
snowstorm (n.)
a heavy fall of snow with high winds
All of the schools were closed because of the snowstorm.
snowy (adj.)
describing a time or place with lots of snow
It was a snowy December.
shine (v.)
give out a bright light
The sun was shining through the window.

sun (n.)
the gassy star that warms the earth
The sun went behind a cloud.

sunshine (n.)
direct light from the sun
We hope to have sunshine at the beach.
sunny (adj.)
bright with light from the sun
It's usually sunny in Thailand.
sunburn (n.)
painful red skin caused by being in the sun too long
The bald man got sunburn on his head.
sunglasses, shades (n.)
dark glasses that protect your eyes from the sun
I forgot my shades and I was driving right into the sun.
suntan, tanned (adj.)
brown or golden skin caused by long periods of exposure to the sun
I got a suntan on the cruise, but it has already faded away.
sunscreen, suntan lotion (n.)
cream that protects your skin from sun damage
Don't forget to reapply your sunscreen when you get out of the lake.
temperature (n.)
a measure of how warm or cold the air is
Can you check the temperature before we get dressed for our walk?

thermometer (n.)
instrument for measuring the temperature of the air
When I checked the temperature this morning, the thermometer said it was already thirty degrees
Celsius.

thunder, thunderstorm (n.)

the crashing of clouds (often followed by a strike of lightning and heavy rain)
Let's close all of the windows. It looks like a thunderstorm is coming.

tornado (n.)
violently spinning windstorm
The tornado picked up everything in its path, including animals and cars.
typhoon - see hurricane

umbrella (n.)
held over one's head and body for protection from the rain
I always keep an umbrella in my car in case of rain.

UV (ultra-violet) rays (n.)

harmful rays from the sun
Ultra-violet rays can damage your eyes if you don't wear sunglasses.
wind (n.)
movement of air outside
The wind was so strong that the trees were swaying violently.
windy (adj.)
describing a time or place with lots of wind
It's too windy to play golf today.
windchill (n.)
an effect that makes the air feel colder than the real temperature
It's only minus two, but with the windchill factor it feels like minus fifteen.
Hi everyone!
Dont you think the weather in London is awful at the moment? I mean, its nearly
June and Im still wearing my winter jacket and a scarf! When is the sun going to
come out?

I know what youre thinking Shes talking about the weather, she must be
English! Youre right, in England people often start a conversation by discussing
the weather. Have you ever wondered why this is?
Well, weather is a very neutral topic of conversation its the perfect subject to
talk about when you dont want to have a serious or meaningful conversation with
someone. You can talk about the weather to anyone, anywhere with a stranger at
a bus stop, with your friends on the phone or when you bump into your boss in the
office kitchen!
However, talking about the weather can mean more than just trying to make
conversation with a stranger. It is also used as an ice-breaker in difficult situations
(for example, a job interview) or it can be used to find out more about someones
personality. If there is heavy rain one day and someone says to you, wow, its
been raining all day, how would you reply? If youre thinking, I know, I really hate
rain. I wish it would stop, its possible that youre quite a negative person. But, if
youre thinking, oh well, at least its good for my garden, there is a high chance
youre an optimistic person!
The weather is everywhere and it affects everyone so if you meet a stranger or if
you are introduced to someone, it is the perfect way to start a conversation! It also

changes every day so there is always something to mention. Imagine that youre
in a park and you spot a girl or boy that you like. Do you think its better to start a
conversation with, your eyes are really beautiful. Do you want to go on a date?
or, its a lovely day today, isnt it??
So, how can you start a conversation about the weather? Well, its actually quite
easy. Just remember a few of the phrases below and try them out on a stranger
next time youre waiting for a bus or in your next job interview!
Its a beautiful day today, isnt it?
What strange weather were having!
Theres not a cloud in the sky!
The suns come out!
We had a lot of rain this morning.
Were having a heatwave!
Or a very typical idiom that is used a lot in England to describe heavy rain:
Its raining cats and dogs!
(Dont forget to check our idiom of the week page for a list of common idioms with
their meanings, origins and example sentences!)
Good luck and let me know if you use any of these phrases to start a conversation
this week!
Lets hope the weather improves next week too! Last week, we arranged a picnic
in Hyde Park as a social activity for our students but they couldnt have a picnic
because the weather was too bad! Instead, they walked around the park and met
some funny squirrels!