English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language and Culture in the U.S. » Unit 5: Get Moving
Sometimes it may seem like it, but eating, and waiting for the bus aren’t the only fun (!) activities that Americans enjoy. Americans love their sports. They play sports, and they watch sports; their kids play sports, and they watch their kids play sports… you get the idea. Organized sports make it easy for adults and children to join local teams and play their favorite sports competitively. Local towns have sign-ups each season for various teams. Heck, our husbands think they’re superstars of the over-40 soccer team! (They still think they’re 21, but that’s a topic for another book.) Many companies sponsor teams, and their employees practice and play after work. On weekends, lots of people love to catch a game, either on TV or at the stadium.
Although Americans enjoy almost every sport, major league baseball is often considered the allAmerican sport. Couch potatoes enjoy watching every game on TV. The season’s high point is the championship series between the top two professional teams. Yes, even though the teams only come from the U.S. or Canada, the championship is called the World Series. I guess the baseball “world” is smaller than the real world.
When the seasons change, so do the sports. Soccer (yes, we know the rest of the world calls it football) is becoming very popular, and a pickup game of basketball is always fun. Some U.S. presidents even shoot hoops on the White House basketball court. But in the winter, Americans love their football! (Yes, we know the rest of the world calls it American football.) And what could be better than combining two favorites: football and food. The concession stands at any sports activity are always crowded. No health food here; the favorites are hot dogs, fries, hot pretzels, peanuts, and beer. In fact, the last football game of the season, the Super Bowl, is a hugely popular event with lots of parties and, of course, plenty of junk food. Yum!
LIA: Wow, look at that guy. He can really move!
ALAN: What’s the big deal? I can do that!
LIA: Ha! You want me to believe that you can run like a football player?
ALAN: You don’t think I can? Of course I can! Okay, maybe I can’t. But I sure could run when I was in high school. I was a star of the school track team.
LIA: Wow, you can remember all the way back to high school? Well, let’s just watch the pros. Woo hoo! Touchdown!
JAE: I don’t know about anyone here running, but both of you sure can eat. You’re hogging all the snacks. If you guys don’t stop pigging out, there won’t be any left for the next half. Pass the nachos.
LIA: Here, dig in.
ALAN: Not me! I guess that’s a hint that I should watch my weight, haha!
| Tip 1 | During the Super Bowl is the perfect time to go to a restaurant or go shopping. The place will be empty! Everyone will be home watching the game. |
Can is what we call a modal verb. It’s followed by another “regular” verb in its base form (without any other changes made to it). Can is used to show (among other things) ability in the present. When you use a modal verb, do not add the letter -s on the third-person singular form.
| Correct Examples: | Not: |
| I can swim/He can swim. | He cans swim. |
| I can’t swim. | |
| Can you swim? | He can swims. |
So you’ve decided that watching TV sports is fine for Saturday afternoons, but instead of becoming a couch potato, you’d like to do something active to stay in shape. Maybe you prefer building muscle strength to improving your grip on the snack bowl... If you can’t work a sports team into your schedule, you can always join a gym. There you’ll find all the fitness equipment you need to work out. Most gyms have special pricing plans that allow you to come in as many times as you’d like. You can do your own thing or join classes.
You can even get a personal trainer to help with an individual plan. Many gyms even have a pool, and, of course, they all have locker rooms for changing and storing your stuff, as well as showers. Believe us: the people sitting next to you on the bus will be very happy you took a shower after your workout!
LARRY: Hi. Fitness World Gym. Larry speaking. How can I help you?
LIA: Yes, I’d like some information on your gym memberships, please.
LARRY: Sure. We have two different types of membership: You can pay as you go, where you pay $5 every time you want to use the facilities and $5 for every class you attend. Then there’s the monthly plan where you pay a flat rate of $45 per month. With the monthly plan, you can come in as often as you want and go to as many classes as you want. Both plans require an annual fee.
LIA: Sounds good. What equipment do you have?
LARRY: All the usual stuff. We have a cardio room with treadmills, ellipticals, all that kind of stuff; a weight room with all sorts of weight machines and free weights.
LIA: What classes can I take?
LARRY: We have yoga, pilates, aerobics . . . There’s a whole bunch of them. Check out our website for information on the class schedules.
LIA: Is there a pool?
LARRY: No, but we do have a sauna, café, and babysitting facilities.
LIA: That’s great! What about the hours?
LARRY: We’re open every day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Would you like me to schedule a tour for you?
LIA: Hey great. Can you throw in a free day pass too?
LARRY: Sure. Drop in anytime, and I’ll give you a day pass.
| Tip 2 | Lots of places will give you a free day pass to try out their facilities. Just ask! |
| Tip 3 | When thinking about a gym membership, remember to read the fine print in the contract. You may find out that there are penalties if you decide to quit before the contract is over. |
Are TV sports and fitness workouts still too tame? If you have an adventurous streak, you’ll be able to find something more exciting. In fact, you’ll be able to find just about any exciting adventure you can imagine. How about scuba diving or sailing? Many rivers are perfect spots for whitewater rafting or tubing through the rapids. There are commercial operations where you’ll be able to take helicopter flights or rides in a small plane over popular attractions. Have you ever thought about a soaring adventure? A glider plane will quietly drift high over a scenic area. Maybe a ride in a hot air balloon at dawn is just what you need for a special relaxing experience. For the opposite of relaxation, try skydiving—just don’t ask us to jump out of that plane with you. In some mountain areas, you’ll be able to take a cable car ride to the top of the mountain. And who doesn’t want to jump off a bridge? Bungee jumping is just the thing. In many forested areas, you’ll be able to enjoy a zipline above the trees. We don’t know about you, but a nap on the couch is sounding better and better . . .
LIA: Hey, do you guys feel like heading up the Delaware River next weekend? The weather should be great, so we’ll be able to go canoeing.
ALAN: You know me; I’m up for anything.
LIA: Cool. My brother has a boat on a lake nearby. We’ll be able to spend a day on the river and then go waterskiing the next day.
JAE: A boat? Count me out. I get really seasick.
LIA: Oh, don’t be such a chicken. It’s a small boat on a small lake.
JAE: Seriously, if it moves on the water, and I’m in it, I will throw up!
ALAN: Okay, Lia, it looks like it’s just you and me for waterskiing. Do you think you’ll be able to handle it?
LIA: What, put two pieces of wood on my feet and glide across the water? Of course I can!
JAE: Sorry I won’t be able to join you, though I bet it will be pretty funny to watch! Maybe I’ll just watch a game on TV.
ALAN: It’s your loss! You’ll miss seeing your two friends water-ski like pros!
| Tip 4 | There’s a reason some of these are called “extreme” sports. They can be dangerous. Companies that provide the experiences are very serious about safety precautions. Always follow the safety rules. |
| Tip 5 | A gift certificate for an adventure experience is a great idea for a special holiday occasion for a very special person. |
Usage Reminder: Feel like is a really informal way of saying would like to do something.
- Hey, I feel like ordering a pizza. Do you want some?
- Yeah, I feel like a pizza, too. Count me in.
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