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Mesut Ozil signs autographs for Arsenal fans at the Barclays Asia Trophy in Singapore.

Premier Skills English Podcast 10

Premier Skills English Podcast 10

Premier League badge.

In this week's podcast, Rich and Jack are talking about the Barclays Asia Trophy which is taking place in Singapore for the first ever time. Jack also tells us a little about passive sentences as they talk about pre-season in the Premier League.

You can read all about the difference between the active and passive voice in the Learn English - English Grammar section.

How much did you understand?

Activity 1: Were there any words in the podcast that you didn't understand? Try this activity and learn more vocabulary.
Match the words to their definitions.

Everton fans in Singapore before the opening match of the Barclays Asia Trophy.

Activity 2: How much did you understand? Listen again and have a go at this activity.
Complete the gaps with words from the podcast.

Arsenal fans in Singapore before the opening game of the Barclays Asia Trophy.

If the listening was a bit difficult, you can listen again and read the transcript at the same time.

Singapore's National Stadium was full to see Arsenal v a Singapore XI.

Jack: Hello my name’s Jack and welcome to this week’s Premier Skills English podcast.

Rich: Hi everyone. I’m Rich and every week we talk about football and help you with your English.

Jack: So, what’s happening this week, Rich? Are Premier League players back at work yet?

Rich: Yes, most of the players at most of the clubs have been back in training for nearly two weeks.

Jack: It doesn’t give many of them a long break, does it?

Rich: Well, some players like Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal or Sergio Aguero at Manchester City have a bit longer.

Jack: Why's that?

Rich: They were playing in the Copa America, weren’t they? So they’ve been given a bit of extra time off.

Jack: So, I imagine this is a bit of a boring time for players.

Rich: Maybe, they have a lot of training to do to get back to peak fitness.

Jack: What do you mean by peak fitness, Rich?

Rich: Well, peak fitness is when a player’s body is the fittest it can be. So there’s lots of running in pre-season as players need to get their strength and stamina back after a couple of weeks on holiday.

Jack: What’s the difference between strength and stamina?

Rich: Your strength shows how strong you are. Strong is the adjective and strength is the noun. Stamina is how long you can use your strength.

Jack: So players want to be as strong as possible for as long as possible. But just training all the time must be boring.

Rich: It’s not just training at the moment.

Jack: So, what else are they doing?

Rich: Many clubs are also on pre-season tours.

Jack: That’s true. Premier League teams are all over the world at the moment. Do you know about the Barclays Asia Trophy?

Rich: No, what’s that?

Jack: It’s a four-team competition in Asia. It takes place every 2 years and in the past it’s been held in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Thailand.

Rich: And where is it this year?

Jack: For the first time it’s being held in Singapore.

Rich: What’s this word ‘held’ that you keep using, Jack?

Jack: Ahh! This is the past participle of the verb hold. To hold something means to have something like a competition in a specific place. I used the past participle because I was using the passive voice.

Rich: Come on Jack, these podcasts are about football and vocabulary, not grammar.

Jack: You’re right Rich, but if anyone’s interested, there’s a link to the learn english grammar pages about the passive below. Can you come up with another example?

Rich: How about: the World Cup was held in Brazil.

Jack: Yes, and the Olympics were held in London in 2012

Rich: and the next World Cup will be held in Russia.

Jack: Yes, exactly.

Rich: And who’s in the Asia Trophy this year?

Jack: A Singapore XI (eleven), Everton, Stoke City and Arsenal.

Rich: Well, I think Arsenal will take the trophy home.

Jack: We’ll have to wait and see, but I think you’re right... Pre-season isn’t a boring time for the players.

Rich: Yeah, I wouldn’t mind flying out to Singapore for a week or two!

Jack: Well that’s all for now. Thanks for listening.

Rich: If you’re listening to this on itunes or elsewhere, come back to Premier Skills English for some language activities, a quiz and lots more. You can find us at www.britishcouncil.org/premierskillsenglish.

Jack: Don’t forget if you sign in, you can score points to see if you can get your club, your country and your name to the top of our leaderboard.

Rich:  Bye for now and enjoy your football.

Quiz

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What do you think?

Is your team on a pre-season tour at the moment?

Do you think it's good that Premier League teams visit other countries?

Has a Premier League team visited your country?

Let us know your answers in the comments section below.

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Comments

Najib
26/12/2020
ID
124
points

I think my team is on an end-year holiday because it's in the middle of the season. My team might do a pre-season tour when the season ends in the middle of 2021. Who knows.
It's good for Premier League teams to visit other countries. Either players or fans get many benefits from this tour. For players, it's like a new journey visiting a country that they might have never been there before. For fans, it's also great because they can meet and maybe play with their favorite players.
I don't know whether a Premier League team has ever visited Indonesia. I need to check it.


Najib
26/12/2020 01:12
Indonesia
Arsenal
124

I think my team is on an end-year holiday because it's in the middle of the season. My team might do a pre-season tour when the season ends in the middle of 2021. Who knows.
It's good for Premier League teams to visit other countries. Either players or fans get many benefits from this tour. For players, it's like a new journey visiting a country that they might have never been there before. For fans, it's also great because they can meet and maybe play with their favorite players.
I don't know whether a Premier League team has ever visited Indonesia. I need to check it.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
02/05/2020
TR
6510
points

yeah Manchester United is in the USA tour

Definately to learn to play in different conditions and increase their merchandise. Also , fans travel and watch the world

Yes , Manchester United visited Istanbul 3 years ago to play against Fenerbahce in Europa League and I watched the game from the stands


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
02/05/2020 23:56
Turkey
Manchester United
6510

yeah Manchester United is in the USA tour

Definately to learn to play in different conditions and increase their merchandise. Also , fans travel and watch the world

Yes , Manchester United visited Istanbul 3 years ago to play against Fenerbahce in Europa League and I watched the game from the stands

heinerrene
07/03/2019
CO
112
points

Yes, Arsenal is on the Barclays Asia Trophy.
Yes, it is a good idea. It is a chance people from other countries can see PL teams.
No, I hope some PL teams go to Colombia soon.


heinerrene
07/03/2019 23:02
Colombia
Arsenal
112

Yes, Arsenal is on the Barclays Asia Trophy.
Yes, it is a good idea. It is a chance people from other countries can see PL teams.
No, I hope some PL teams go to Colombia soon.

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
08/08/2016
GH
4768
points

The Olympic games are been held in Brazil


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
08/08/2016 03:23
Ghana
Manchester United
4768

The Olympic games are been held in Brazil

englishman
28/06/2016
DZ
1734
points

yes it's very good


englishman
28/06/2016 16:03
Algeria
Manchester City
1734

yes it's very good

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016
GH
4768
points

Yes my team is on pre-season at the moment


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016 08:25
Ghana
Manchester United
4768

Yes my team is on pre-season at the moment

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
07/06/2016
GH
4768
points

No premier league team has visited my country before.


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
07/06/2016 08:44
Ghana
Manchester United
4768

No premier league team has visited my country before.

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
07/06/2016
GH
4768
points

Its best for premier league teams to visit other countries to get exposed to other countries way of playing knowing that they might meet such teams in international club games.


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
07/06/2016 08:43
Ghana
Manchester United
4768

Its best for premier league teams to visit other countries to get exposed to other countries way of playing knowing that they might meet such teams in international club games.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/04/2016
PS
3705
points

No.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/04/2016 20:53
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

No.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/04/2016
PS
3705
points

Yes it is.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/04/2016 20:52
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Yes it is.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/04/2016
PS
3705
points

Yes they are.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/04/2016 20:52
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Yes they are.

HakanUslu1881's picture
HakanUslu1881
08/03/2016
TR
1761
points

Yes,the people who like watching from different country have a chance to see the Premier League teams.
Yes,Chelsea visited Turkey in summer of 2014.


HakanUslu1881's picture
HakanUslu1881
08/03/2016 05:03
Turkey
Leicester City
1761

Yes,the people who like watching from different country have a chance to see the Premier League teams.
Yes,Chelsea visited Turkey in summer of 2014.

Josefigo7's picture
Josefigo7
26/01/2016
ES
21
points

Hello / Hola ¡¡¡ My team (Barcelona) is now competing a lot, because is the leader of Spain and it could win the Champions League again.
It's good for anyone to visit each country
I dont know if a english team has visited my country for a pre-season tour.


Josefigo7's picture
Josefigo7
26/01/2016 12:14
Spain
Leicester City
21

Hello / Hola ¡¡¡ My team (Barcelona) is now competing a lot, because is the leader of Spain and it could win the Champions League again.
It's good for anyone to visit each country
I dont know if a english team has visited my country for a pre-season tour.

haydi's picture
haydi
06/01/2016
TN
3189
points

"peak fitness", this expression makes me laugh, hhhhhhhh, it's a long time, may be 10 years when my body was in it's peak fitness. What I need is stamina, but not with (with: it's the right preposition here ?) this course meaning, I need stamina to keep exercising a long period of time, to lose some weight!
Yes, I think it's good that Premier League teams visit other countries, to know "the others" (not the meaning of that movie starring Nicole Kidman ;) )
No, there is no Premier League team visited my country?


haydi's picture
haydi
06/01/2016 23:12
Tunisia
Newcastle United
3189

"peak fitness", this expression makes me laugh, hhhhhhhh, it's a long time, may be 10 years when my body was in it's peak fitness. What I need is stamina, but not with (with: it's the right preposition here ?) this course meaning, I need stamina to keep exercising a long period of time, to lose some weight!
Yes, I think it's good that Premier League teams visit other countries, to know "the others" (not the meaning of that movie starring Nicole Kidman ;) )
No, there is no Premier League team visited my country?

haydi's picture
haydi
08/05/2016
TN
3189
points

And I’m still not in my peak fitness, and the good news that I have lost 7 kg, not so much, but it encourages me to continue! At least, I have stamina to learning English more and more.


haydi's picture
haydi
08/05/2016 23:33
Tunisia
Newcastle United
3189

And I’m still not in my peak fitness, and the good news that I have lost 7 kg, not so much, but it encourages me to continue! At least, I have stamina to learning English more and more.

Rich's picture
Rich
07/01/2016
ES
594
points

Yes, you can say 'with' the right meaning :)


Rich's picture
Rich
07/01/2016 09:14
Spain
Liverpool
594

Yes, you can say 'with' the right meaning :)

haydi's picture
haydi
07/01/2016
TN
3189
points

thank you Rich, why prepositions are so hard in all languages?!, even my tongue language is not so easy!


haydi's picture
haydi
07/01/2016 21:00
Tunisia
Newcastle United
3189

thank you Rich, why prepositions are so hard in all languages?!, even my tongue language is not so easy!

MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
16/11/2015
RW
2320
points

I can be more happy when Arsenal will visit East Africa


MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
16/11/2015 14:22
Rwanda
Arsenal
2320

I can be more happy when Arsenal will visit East Africa

elghoul's picture
elghoul
28/10/2015
DZ
3988
points

It will be good that Arsenal or Man U visits my country.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
28/10/2015 13:13
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

It will be good that Arsenal or Man U visits my country.

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
23/10/2015
ME
3557
points

I think it's good idea because players can get know each other better and also a club works on its popularity round the world. No, I have never seen a Premier league team in my life. Sincerely, I hope that will change soon.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
23/10/2015 16:41
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

I think it's good idea because players can get know each other better and also a club works on its popularity round the world. No, I have never seen a Premier league team in my life. Sincerely, I hope that will change soon.

alimiloud's picture
alimiloud
15/10/2015
DZ
160
points

ALGERIA


alimiloud's picture
alimiloud
15/10/2015 02:18
Algeria
Chelsea
160

ALGERIA

Abdallah
20/09/2015
KW
1814
points

Chelsea had a pre season in USA and it was bad because they had bad result .

I think it's very good to have this tour for the manager to know the weakest points in the team plus it benefits the club financially .


Abdallah
20/09/2015 13:21
Kuwait
Chelsea
1814

Chelsea had a pre season in USA and it was bad because they had bad result .

I think it's very good to have this tour for the manager to know the weakest points in the team plus it benefits the club financially .

hachani mostapha
18/09/2015
DZ
241
points

yes hope to visit algeria


hachani mostapha
18/09/2015 15:00
Algeria
Tottenham Hotspur
241

yes hope to visit algeria

gilbers51
12/09/2015
BR
44
points

It is important that Premier League teams visit other countries. It is a chance to experience new conditions, temperatures, teams, etc.


gilbers51
12/09/2015 20:11
Brazil
Chelsea
44

It is important that Premier League teams visit other countries. It is a chance to experience new conditions, temperatures, teams, etc.

mimou vara's picture
mimou vara
24/07/2015
DZ
0
points

premie league team has never visit algeria but i wish that happend, is our honer .


mimou vara's picture
mimou vara
24/07/2015 16:04
Algeria
Chelsea
0

premie league team has never visit algeria but i wish that happend, is our honer .

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1mobeckham6510
2Alex_from_Ukraine6278
3hsn5523
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4768
6Liubomyr4408
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia71475
2Ukraine33291
3Spain28255
4Serbia27289
5Brazil23810
6Albania20578
7Vietnam19937
8Turkey19811
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United141606
2Liverpool110031
3Chelsea88513
4Arsenal85635
5Manchester City56723
6Tottenham Hotspur19214
7Newcastle United10457
8West Ham United7447
9AFC Bournemouth4454
10Crystal Palace4234

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Practise your listening skills.

Learn more about how and when to use passive sentences.

Glossary

Tour - a journey which includes different cities or countries

Stamina - the quality of being very strong for a long period of time

To hold an event - to have a meeting or competition in a specific place

Extension

If you want to learn more about passive sentences then check out the grammar pages on the British Council's LearnEnglish website. You'll find lots of practice activities and explanations there.