[wonderplugin_audio id=”40″]
Welcome to our Daily English Listening Practice with this week’s series:
Free Time Vocabulary: Talking about Sports
It’s a beautiful day, let’s get outside! In this advanced English vocabulary post, we talk about spending your time being active outside and playing sports – casually or seriously. Enjoy!
Please listen to the audio files for explanations.
Transcripts unavailable.
Notes from the Audio Files
The Outdoors
- Outdoorsy: enjoy the outdoors, being outside
- Crave the outdoors
- Getting out there
- The outdoors
- Aspects
- Nature: surrounded by nature, not a specific place, we use “outdoors” instead
- In the middle of a natural area
How to use it:
“I’m quite an outdoorsy person, if I get stuck inside for too long I start to get restless.”
“I don’t consider myself a “great outdoors” kind of person, but I do love picnics in the park!”
At the Gym
- Avoid: “I work out” Try instead: I’m really into working out
- Kinda cocky: **informal overly confident
- Going to classes: gym classes could be aerobics, zumba, pilates, yoga
- I prefer working out: using weights and equipment to get stronger or lose weight
- Pretty hardcore – quite intense
How to use it:
“When I was at university I was really into working out – I probably went to the gym about 6 times a week. “
“I’ve signed up for 3 different work-out classes at the gym this week: aerobics, pilates and zumba.”
Playing Sports – Casually
- Casually speaking: talking about it doing something in a casual way
- Sand pit: an area with sand
- Lighthearted: not competitive, easy going
- Pro players: professional players
- Make fun of them: tease or joke with them
- Blow off some steam: use it to let go of stress
- Chill out: hang out with friends
- A Kickabout (football/soccer only): a pick up or casual game
- A local pitch: A nearby football field – ‘Pitch’ is common in the UK
- Sports club: A sports centre or leisure centre
- Keep score: count points or goals
How to use it:
“I’m not very good at football, but it’s still fun to have a friendly kickabout when we get the chance.”
“I don’t really take sports too seriously, but I like getting out and playing a pick up game every now and again.”
Playing Sports – Seriously
- Leagues: an organized sports club or group
- Train: practice for your sport
- Going pro: becoming a professional
- Amateur leagues: not professional, but pretty serious
- Pay your dues: pay fees associated with the sport like field fees, trophy fees, tournament fees
- Tournaments: A competition between a large group of teams, with one eventual winner
How to use it:
“We’re looking for serious players to join our amateur league team. We’re competing in a lot of tournaments this year, and we want to win.”
“Those guys take it too seriously, they train 4 times a week and barely get home before midnight. I mean, I like volleyball, but I’d rather play it casually without all the competition.”
Look the Part
- All the gear: all the equipment or clothing you need
- Decked out: Wearing or owning all the professional equipment
- Basic equipment: the minimum you need to participate
- Fork out: pay for something you may not want to
- Looking the part: Looking professional or experienced
- Validates: Makes something worth it
- Accumulate: Gather, or build up
How to use it:
“We were just wearing shorts and t-shirts and we passed them on the hiking trail – they certainly looked the part though!”
“I was really impressed by all the gear, jerseys and equipment at the cycling show. Too bad I can’t really afford to look the part.”
Your brain is like a muscle, if you don’t use it – it won’t get any stronger (yes, yes we know so cliche!) Good to see that you’re giving your English a work out! Hope the English listening practice has helped train your ear to listen to better, more natural English conversation!
Thanks,
Kat and Mark
