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Olivier Giroud celebrating his scorpion kick against Crystal Palace.

Happy New Year - 16/17 ep.21

Happy New Year - 16/17 ep.21

In this week's Premier Skills English podcast, Rich and Jack talk about two fantastic 'scorpion' kicks by Arsenal's Olivier Giroud and Manchester Utd's Henrikh Mkhitaryan. They also discuss Rich's New Year's resolutions and the language focus this week is on 'going to' and how we can talk about our own New Year's resolutions. We also have a new football phrase for you to guess and a Premier League prediction for you to make. Enjoy!

How much did you understand?

Vocabulary

In the podcast, Rich and Jack used some words and phrases that might be new for you. You can see two examples here: 

That's 13 wins in a row for The Blues.

Manchester Utd are starting to click.

There were a few more tricky words in the podcast. Can you remember all of them? Try the activity below, then, listen to the podcast again to hear how we used the words in context. This can really help with understanding.

Activity 1: In this activity, have a look at the vocabulary and try to match it to the correct definition.
Can you match the words to their definitions?

Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored an amazing 'scorpion' kick against Sunderland.

Language - New Year's resolutions

New Year's resolutions are promises people make to themselves on January 1st. It is a common tradition in many countries in the world. Resolutions usually involve taking an action or changing a behaviour that will improve their lives. Some common New Year's resolutions are: losing weight, getting fit, saving money, giving up smoking or alcohol and spending more time with family. In the podcast, Rich spoke about two New Year's resolutions that he has made:

To lose weight.

To spend more time with his two little boys.

When we describe how we are going to keep our resolutions (our promises) we are talking about intentions. To talk about intentions we often use 'going to' and Rich used 'going to' to talk about how he will keep to his New Year's resolutions. Take a look at these examples:

I'm going to use my bicycle more often.

I'm not going to buy any desserts for at least a month.

We're going to play board games and build cities out of lego.

Making resolutions is only one way to talk about the future. We talk about the future in many different ways and use different structures depending on what we want to say. In this activity, think about the form you should use to speak about the future. If you want to learn more about this, try our LearnEnglish grammar pages

Activity 2: In this activity, check your understanding of how to speak about the future.
Which form is correct?

Can anyone stop Chelsea?

Learning English - New Year's Resolutions

In the podcast, Jack and Rich asked you to make 'becoming a better English learner' one of your New Year's resolutions. We asked you to think of three things that you can do to become a better English learner. You can think of your own ideas but here are some to get you thinking about it:

  • watch films in English (without subtitles)
  • work out lyrics for your favourite English songs
  • sign up for an online English course
  • join a face to face to face English class
  • create a vocabulary book to help remember new words
  • speak in English with friends and family every day
  • switch your phone, computer, Facebook profile to English
  • read an online newspaper or magazine in English
  • listen to the Premier Skills English podcast every week and do the activities and write comments!!

In the comments section at the bottom of the page, write the three things that you will do to keep your New Year's resolution - to become a better English learner! Also, click the button that says 'send me emails when someone leaves a comment'. If you do this, you will receive lots of good advice from other listeners and Jack or Rich will contact you in a month or two to see if you are keeping up with your New Year's resolution!

Paul Pogba celebrates with a dance for Manchester Utd fans.

Transcript

If the listening was a little difficult, then listen again and read at the same time.
Is it easier to listen and read?

Welcome

Rich: Hello my name’s Rich

Jack: and I’m Jack

Rich: and welcome to this week’s Premier Skills English podcast

Jack: Where we talk about football and help you with your English.

Rich: First of all this week we’d like to say Happy New Year to all our listeners!

Jack: Yes, we hope that 2017 will be a great year for all of you. What’s happening in the podcast this week, Rich?

Rich: In this week’s show, we’re going to talk about all the latest news from the festive fixtures in the Premier League, we’re going to talk about New Year’s resolutions and take a look at future tenses which we use to talk about resolutions.

Jack: Have you made any New Year’s resolutions, Rich?

Rich: I have but I will tell everybody a little later, anything else happening, Jack?

Jack: We also have a new football phrase for you to guess and a Premier League prediction for you to make - we will have all of that later.

Headlines

Rich: Chelsea equal the Premier League record for consecutive wins!

Jack: Chelsea’s latest win was a 4-2 win against Stoke and that’s 13 wins in a row for the Blues. This equals the Premier League record for successive victories set by Arsenal in 2002!

Rich: Liverpool lead the chasing pack.

Jack: Liverpool are six points behind Chelsea after a 1-0 win against Manchester City. Georginio Wijnaldum got the winner and the Reds are now four points ahead of City who have dropped out of the Champions League places.

Rich: Mkhitaryan and Giroud score amazing scorpion kicks.

Jack: First Manchester Utd’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan and now Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud. Both players have scored amazing scorpion kicks in the last two weeks. Jose Mourinho described Mkhitaryan’s goal against Sunderland as phenomenal and Olivier Giroud said his goal against Crystal Palace was the best he’s ever scored and maybe Mkhitaryan’s goal had inspired him.

Rich: Chelsea are playing fantastically well and Manchester Utd are starting to click but before we move on we have to ask ‘What is a scorpion kick?’

Jack: It’s a strange phrase and it’s also a strange action on the pitch. It’s definitely one that you don’t see very often so to have two players scoring with a scorpion kick is very strange.

Rich: It’s called a scorpion kick because a player looks like a scorpion when he kicks the ball. The player dives forward and bends his knees to kick the ball. The player’s legs in the air look like the tail of a scorpion.

Jack: Have you ever scored a scorpion kick, Rich?

Rich: No, I’ve never even tried. I was never that flexible!

Player of the Week

Jack: There have been some fantastic goals and performances over the festive fixtures. We just mentioned Olivier Giroud and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Rich: There have also been good performances by Tottenham’s Harry Kane who has 3 goals in his last two matches and WIllian who has returned to the Chelsea first team with some great performances.

Jack: But our player of the week this week is Manchester Utd’s Paul Pogba.

Rich: Pogba is starting to look like the player Manchester Utd paid a world record transfer fee for. He has been in great form recently and is one of the main reasons the Red Devils have won their last 5 matches and are now unbeaten in 10.

Jack: Yes, Pogba is definitely playing well for Jose Mourinho’s team at the moment.

Language Focus: New Year’s Resolutions

Jack: It’s the beginning of the year and one tradition in the UK and I think in other parts of the world is to make New Year’s resolutions.

Rich: A New Year’s resolution is a decision that is made on the first of January to do something or not do something. It is often because people want to change something about their behaviour or actions.

Jack: Some common New Year’s resolutions are to give up smoking, to do more exercise, to eat more healthily, to study more, or to learn a foreign language like English!

Rich: Some others are spending more time with family, trying something new or saving money.

Jack: You said earlier that you had made some New Year’s resolutions, Rich. What are they?

Rich: I’ve made two New Year’s resolutions. This year I’m going to lose weight and I’m going to spend more quality time with my two little boys.

Jack: They are good resolutions, Rich. You need to lose some weight and it’s always good to spend more time with family.

Rich: Thanks, Jack.

Jack: The problem with New Year’s resolutions is that they are often quickly forgotten. What are you going to to do to make sure you keep to them?

Rich: You’re right. Well, I have a bike in my garage and I’m going to use that more and I’ve bought a child seat for the bike, too. So, this will combine my two New Year’s resolutions because we will go out on the bikes together - family time and exercise.

Jack: That’s a good idea. What else are you going to do?

Rich: Well, I’m not going to buy any desserts for at least a month. I have a sweet tooth so I’m going to try to avoid things with sugar in them. And I’m not going to turn on the TV when I’m playing with the boys.

Jack: Why not?

Rich: I don’t think watching TV is quality time. I’m going to play with them in the garden or if it’s raining we’re going to play board games or build cities out of lego.

Jack: It all sounds really good, Rich. I’ll ask you in a couple of months how it’s going.

Rich: When we talk about New Year’s resolutions and how we are going to keep them we are talking about our intentions - which are in the future. When we talk about our intentions we often use ‘going to’.

Jack: Rich said he was going to play with his children in the garden more and he was going to use his bike more.

Rich: We all know that you are listening to this podcast because you love the Premier League but also because you are learning English and we want you to think a bit more about how you can improve your English.

Jack: And we thought it would be a good idea if one of your New Year’s resolutions was to be an even better English learner.

Rich: We want you to think of three things you can do to keep to your New Year’s resolution.

Jack: You might say that you’re going to watch a film in English every week or that you are are going to study an online English course or go to face to face classes.

Rich: You might say that you are going to create a vocabulary book to help you remember new words or that you are going to chat with family or friends in English for an hour a day.

Jack: Of course, you might also say that you're going to listen to the Premier Skills podcast once a week and do all the activities and write in the comments section.

Rich: Anyway, we want to hear what you are going to do to improve your English in 2017. Tell us three things in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Jack: Also, press the button that says ‘send me emails when someone leaves a comment’. You will then see everybody else's advice for learning English and either Rich or I will reply to you in a couple of months to see if you keeping to your New Year’s resolution!

Can you work out this week’s football phrase?

Rich: Have you got a football phrase for us this week, Jack?

Jack: Yes, of course, but first I need to give you a couple of answers from our previous podcast.

Rich: Ah yes we had a football phrase and a Christmas word for you to guess.

Jack The Christmas clues were; everybody is happy when they get one, they come down a chimney and they are put under a tree. The word was present and well done to Alex, Pavlo and Liubomyr from Ukraine, Poui from Laos, Aleksandr from Uzbekistan, Shobonenok from Russia, Emir from Bosnia, Kwesimanifest from Ghana, Elghoul from Algeria and AssemJuve from Palestine.

Rich: And last week’s football phrase was fixture. A fixture is a sports event that is scheduled or fixed for a specific time and date. Recently we have been talking about the Boxing Day fixtures on the 26th of December and the festive fixtures at this time of year.

Jack: Again well done to Alex, Kwesimanifest, Aleksandr, Liubomyr and Emir - yu got the right answer.

Jack: Right, this week’s football phrase is ******* ******. The ******** ****** opened on the 1st of January and it means football clubs are now able to buy and sell players. The ******* ****** closes on the 31st of January.

Rich: It’s an exciting time - we might say a few new players coming into the Premier League in the next few weeks.

Premier League Prediction

Rich: Our prediction last time was Liverpool against Manchester City. It finished 1-0 to Liverpool. I predicted a 2-0 win for Liverpool so that’s one point for me but Jack went with City so nothing for him.

Jack: And our listeners?

Rich: Ah yes. I forgot to put a vote on the page last time so you couldn’t make a prediction - sorry. Luckily, Aleksandr from Uzbekistan wrote his prediction in the comments section so Aleksandr’s prediction was for all of our listeners and he got you all a point because he thought it would finish 3-1 to Liverpool.

Jack: Thanks, Aleksandr! We will remember the vote this week! What match are you going to talk about, Rich?

Rich: There are no Premier League fixtures this weekend because it’s the third round of the FA Cup. It’s an exciting round because this is when all Premier League clubs enter the competition and there is often a shock or two with Premier League teams losing to teams from lower divisions. Many of the Premier League teams have home fixures but Arsenal have a difficult looking away match at Preston who play in the Championship and I think this will be the shock of the round. Final score: Preston 2-1 Arsenal

Jack: No way are we going to lose to a team from the Championship. Final score: Preston 0-3 Arsenal.

Rich: Right that’s all from us. Don’t forget to write your answers to our questions and make a guess at our football phrase in the comments below.

Jack: Bye for now and enjoy your football!

Quiz

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Premier League Prediction - The Cup - Preston v Arsenal

In Gameweek 19, Liverpool beat Man City 1-0, and our listeners, as well as Rich, predicted the right result!  Well done to Aleksandr from Uzbekistan who predicted for our listeners last time! Rich stays on 8 points and our listeners move up to 9 points and second place 8 but Jack stays in the lead on 10 points. Remember, it's one point for the correct result and two additional points for the correct score. The big match this week is in the FA Cup  - Preston North End from the Championship take on Premier League Arsenal. Can you predict the right score?

  Gameweek 19 Total Points Preston North End v Arsenal
Jack 0 10 0-3
Podcast Listeners 1 10 ?
Rich 1 9 2-1

Make your prediction now!

What do you think?

In this week’s podcast, Jack and Rich spoke about New Year's resolutions and 'scorpion' kicks.

  1. Did you see the 'scorpion kicks' scored by Manchester Utd's Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Arsenal's Olivier Giroud? Which one was better?

  2. Do you think that Rich made good New Year's resolutions? Do people in your country make New Year's resolutions? Did you make any?

  3. Can you think of any New Year's resolutions that Premier League players and managers should make?

In the podcast, we asked you to make a resolution to be a better English learner. Write your resolutions below and click 'send me emails when someone leaves a comment'; you will receive from other listeners and in a couple of months, we will ask you if are keeping up your New Year's resolution!

Remember to write your guess at this week's football phrase and the questions above in the comments section below.

If you want us to correct your English, just write 'correct me' at the beginning of your comment.

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Komentar

hsn's picture
hsn
16/08/2021
TR
5525
points

What do you think?
1-Yes. Mkhitaryan’s kick was breathtaking like commentator said.
2-For all of them, my answer is yes.
3-They should continue to play football that pleased to eyes.
Phrases (All these sentences are fictitious-:)
• I had to dropped out post graduate program because it coincided with the business hours.
• Although this scenery inspired me I didn't paint a tableau.
• I've tried a scorpion kick and instead of goal the ball went to far away in the sky.


hsn's picture
hsn
16/08/2021 13:43
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5525

What do you think?
1-Yes. Mkhitaryan’s kick was breathtaking like commentator said.
2-For all of them, my answer is yes.
3-They should continue to play football that pleased to eyes.
Phrases (All these sentences are fictitious-:)
• I had to dropped out post graduate program because it coincided with the business hours.
• Although this scenery inspired me I didn't paint a tableau.
• I've tried a scorpion kick and instead of goal the ball went to far away in the sky.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
16/05/2020
TR
6510
points

This week's football phrase is ( Transfer window )


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
16/05/2020 06:47
Turkey
Manchester United
6510

This week's football phrase is ( Transfer window )

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
16/05/2020
TR
6510
points

In this New Year's resolution I want to be a better English teacher by :
1. I'm going to apply for CELTA course to get more experience about new techniques and methodologies in active learning
2. I'm going to attend more seminars to enhance myself by varieties of ideas and to keep myself updated to the latest news about teaching
3. I'm going to continue listening to the Premier English Podcasts because it provides me with lots of information and ways of teaching that I really need so I appreciate the efforts made by everyone working in this successful project


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
16/05/2020 06:44
Turkey
Manchester United
6510

In this New Year's resolution I want to be a better English teacher by :
1. I'm going to apply for CELTA course to get more experience about new techniques and methodologies in active learning
2. I'm going to attend more seminars to enhance myself by varieties of ideas and to keep myself updated to the latest news about teaching
3. I'm going to continue listening to the Premier English Podcasts because it provides me with lots of information and ways of teaching that I really need so I appreciate the efforts made by everyone working in this successful project

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
16/05/2020
TR
6510
points

I like Rich's New Year's resolutions because they are very healthy personally and socially
We do make New Year's resolutions here in Turkey too but it's not quite famous though
I always make one or two wishes and they have been successful so far :)


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
16/05/2020 06:40
Turkey
Manchester United
6510

I like Rich's New Year's resolutions because they are very healthy personally and socially
We do make New Year's resolutions here in Turkey too but it's not quite famous though
I always make one or two wishes and they have been successful so far :)

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
16/05/2020
TR
6510
points

I saw both goals and they were absolutely sensational but I will go to Mkhitaryan's goal because he plays for United and it was assisted by Zlatan :)


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
16/05/2020 06:37
Turkey
Manchester United
6510

I saw both goals and they were absolutely sensational but I will go to Mkhitaryan's goal because he plays for United and it was assisted by Zlatan :)

MES's picture
MES
29/01/2017
AM
684
points

The phrase is TRANSFER WINDOW


MES's picture
MES
29/01/2017 11:26
Armenia
Manchester United
684

The phrase is TRANSFER WINDOW

MES's picture
MES
30/01/2017
AM
684
points

correct me, the phrase is 'transfer window'


MES's picture
MES
30/01/2017 15:14
Armenia
Manchester United
684

correct me, the phrase is 'transfer window'

Rich's picture
Rich
30/01/2017
ES
594
points

Hi MES

You're right! the correct phrase was 'transfer window'. Well done!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
30/01/2017 16:17
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi MES

You're right! the correct phrase was 'transfer window'. Well done!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

FuruTaku's picture
FuruTaku
09/01/2017
JP
19
points

Oh sorry I forgot writing "correct me".


FuruTaku's picture
FuruTaku
09/01/2017 11:15
Japan
Manchester City
19

Oh sorry I forgot writing "correct me".

admin's picture
admin
09/01/2017
GB
560
points

OK - 


admin's picture
admin
09/01/2017 12:21
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

OK - 

FuruTaku's picture
FuruTaku
09/01/2017
JP
19
points

1 I think mkhitaryan was better because the cross was faster than time of the giroudo.
2 My resoiution is Continuing studying in this site because I want to be English speaker.And I want to go to Europe and watching football games there. but I can never speak English.what should I do? By the way,I'm 15
3 Jose must not take Griezmann! I love Atlético


FuruTaku's picture
FuruTaku
09/01/2017 06:09
Japan
Manchester City
19

1 I think mkhitaryan was better because the cross was faster than time of the giroudo.
2 My resoiution is Continuing studying in this site because I want to be English speaker.And I want to go to Europe and watching football games there. but I can never speak English.what should I do? By the way,I'm 15
3 Jose must not take Griezmann! I love Atlético

admin's picture
admin
09/01/2017
GB
560
points

Hi FuruTaku

Here are some corrections:

1 I think mkhitaryan ^ was better because the cross was faster than time of the giroudo.
2 My resoiution is Continuing studying in this site because I want to be English speaker.And I want to go to Europe and watching football games there. but I can never speak English.what should I do? By the way, I'm 15.
3 Jose must not take Griezmann! I love Atlético! Manchester City.

a. Names should start with a capital letter.

b. There is a missing word here - Mkhitaryan's goal - would be better.

c. It was a shot and not a cross - there is a Football Vocabulary page on Actions here.

d. I think it would be better to say that his shot was more powerful.

e. Spelling - resolution, from the verb: resolve.

f. OK - it's good to use a gerund here. However, it would be even better to use an infinitive - My resolution is to continue...

g. You need an article here - to be an English speaker

h. I want to go to Europe and watch...

i. I understand what you mean here, but it would be better to say: I don't ever have the chance to speak English.

j. We begin sentences with capital letters.

I hope that these corrections are helpful. I'm not sure what you can do to practise speaking English. As you are 15 years old, you have to be really careful online. 

All the best

Jack - The Premier Skills English Team

 


admin's picture
admin
09/01/2017 12:34
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Hi FuruTaku

Here are some corrections:

1 I think mkhitaryan ^ was better because the cross was faster than time of the giroudo.
2 My resoiution is Continuing studying in this site because I want to be English speaker.And I want to go to Europe and watching football games there. but I can never speak English.what should I do? By the way, I'm 15.
3 Jose must not take Griezmann! I love Atlético! Manchester City.

a. Names should start with a capital letter.

b. There is a missing word here - Mkhitaryan's goal - would be better.

c. It was a shot and not a cross - there is a Football Vocabulary page on Actions here.

d. I think it would be better to say that his shot was more powerful.

e. Spelling - resolution, from the verb: resolve.

f. OK - it's good to use a gerund here. However, it would be even better to use an infinitive - My resolution is to continue...

g. You need an article here - to be an English speaker

h. I want to go to Europe and watch...

i. I understand what you mean here, but it would be better to say: I don't ever have the chance to speak English.

j. We begin sentences with capital letters.

I hope that these corrections are helpful. I'm not sure what you can do to practise speaking English. As you are 15 years old, you have to be really careful online. 

All the best

Jack - The Premier Skills English Team

 

shobonenok's picture
shobonenok
08/01/2017
RU
989
points

Correct me.
1. I've recently seen both kicks and sure Giroud's one was better. Firstly, his goal wasn't scored from offside and, secondly, the pathway of his kick made it impossible for a goalkeeper not to concede a goal.
2. I definitely agree with Jack who thinks Rich made wonderful resolutions. Children are usually feel happy when their fathers spend time with them. Overweight can cause different deseases, so, Rich, I wish you to be patient on your way to lose several kilos. In Russia people often make wishes, not resolutions. And it's considered that it's forbidden to tell anyone about your wish if you want it to be fulfilled.
3. I'm not sure that most of Premier League players and managers make their resolutions about football. Players and managers have families and another challenges and wishes not related to football. Some of them, for example, Marcus Rashford could made a resolution to finish a school :)

It's a shame for me but I've never watched any films in English. 2 or 3 years I try to make myself read at least several articles in english newspapers or magazines every week but I didn't. It's time to do it.

The football phrase is "******* ******".


shobonenok's picture
shobonenok
08/01/2017 09:10
Russia
Manchester City
989

Correct me.
1. I've recently seen both kicks and sure Giroud's one was better. Firstly, his goal wasn't scored from offside and, secondly, the pathway of his kick made it impossible for a goalkeeper not to concede a goal.
2. I definitely agree with Jack who thinks Rich made wonderful resolutions. Children are usually feel happy when their fathers spend time with them. Overweight can cause different deseases, so, Rich, I wish you to be patient on your way to lose several kilos. In Russia people often make wishes, not resolutions. And it's considered that it's forbidden to tell anyone about your wish if you want it to be fulfilled.
3. I'm not sure that most of Premier League players and managers make their resolutions about football. Players and managers have families and another challenges and wishes not related to football. Some of them, for example, Marcus Rashford could made a resolution to finish a school :)

It's a shame for me but I've never watched any films in English. 2 or 3 years I try to make myself read at least several articles in english newspapers or magazines every week but I didn't. It's time to do it.

The football phrase is "******* ******".

admin's picture
admin
09/01/2017
GB
560
points

1. I've recently seen both kicks and ^ sure Giroud's one was better. Firstly, his goal wasn't scored from offside and, secondly, the pathway of his kick made it impossible for a goalkeeper not to concede a goal.
2. I definitely agree with Jack who thinks Rich made wonderful resolutions. Children are usually feel happy when their fathers spend time with them. Overweight can cause different deseases, so, Rich, I wish you to be patient on your way to lose several kilos. In Russia people often make wishes, not resolutions. And it's considered that it's forbidden to tell anyone about your wish if you want it to be fulfilled.
3. I'm not sure that most of Premier League players and managers make their resolutions about football. Players and managers have families and another challenges and wishes not related to football. Some of them, for example, Marcus Rashford could made a resolution to finish a school :)

It's a shame for me but I've never watched any films in English. 2 or 3 years I try to make myself read at least several articles in english ^ newspapers or magazines every week but I didn't. It's time to do it.

The football phrase is "******* ******".

a. Missing words - 'I am sure...'

b. Pathway is OK, but not very natural. 'Trajectory' is usually used to describe the path of a flying object, but it's too technical for talking about football. I think I would simply say his shot was impossible to save.

c. Children usually feel happy - you don't need an auxilliary verb here. Or you could say Children are happy when they spend... but not 'are' and 'feel'

d. spelling - diseases

e. You could say I wish for you to be patient

f. Some people don't like it if you start a sentence with 'and'. 'And' is a coordinating conjunction so can be used to join two clauses together.

g. I understand what you mean here and grammatically, it's fine. However, I would have said that you have to keep your wishes a secret or they don't come true.

h. This is also OK, but I would have said I don't know 'if'...

i. could is followed by the bare infinitive - 'could make'

j. school or university when used in a general sense (when you're talking about learning and going to class, seeing teachers, etc.) doesn't take an article. If you use an article, it sounds like you're talking about the place, not the activity. Compare these sentences:

I went to school in Sheffield.

The school was small and didn't have many classrooms.

Can you see the difference?

Thanks

Jack - The Premier Skills English Team

 


admin's picture
admin
09/01/2017 12:20
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

1. I've recently seen both kicks and ^ sure Giroud's one was better. Firstly, his goal wasn't scored from offside and, secondly, the pathway of his kick made it impossible for a goalkeeper not to concede a goal.
2. I definitely agree with Jack who thinks Rich made wonderful resolutions. Children are usually feel happy when their fathers spend time with them. Overweight can cause different deseases, so, Rich, I wish you to be patient on your way to lose several kilos. In Russia people often make wishes, not resolutions. And it's considered that it's forbidden to tell anyone about your wish if you want it to be fulfilled.
3. I'm not sure that most of Premier League players and managers make their resolutions about football. Players and managers have families and another challenges and wishes not related to football. Some of them, for example, Marcus Rashford could made a resolution to finish a school :)

It's a shame for me but I've never watched any films in English. 2 or 3 years I try to make myself read at least several articles in english ^ newspapers or magazines every week but I didn't. It's time to do it.

The football phrase is "******* ******".

a. Missing words - 'I am sure...'

b. Pathway is OK, but not very natural. 'Trajectory' is usually used to describe the path of a flying object, but it's too technical for talking about football. I think I would simply say his shot was impossible to save.

c. Children usually feel happy - you don't need an auxilliary verb here. Or you could say Children are happy when they spend... but not 'are' and 'feel'

d. spelling - diseases

e. You could say I wish for you to be patient

f. Some people don't like it if you start a sentence with 'and'. 'And' is a coordinating conjunction so can be used to join two clauses together.

g. I understand what you mean here and grammatically, it's fine. However, I would have said that you have to keep your wishes a secret or they don't come true.

h. This is also OK, but I would have said I don't know 'if'...

i. could is followed by the bare infinitive - 'could make'

j. school or university when used in a general sense (when you're talking about learning and going to class, seeing teachers, etc.) doesn't take an article. If you use an article, it sounds like you're talking about the place, not the activity. Compare these sentences:

I went to school in Sheffield.

The school was small and didn't have many classrooms.

Can you see the difference?

Thanks

Jack - The Premier Skills English Team

 

shobonenok's picture
shobonenok
09/01/2017
RU
989
points

Thank you, Jack!

Ohh, I'm sorry for lots of mistakes in my comment. You haven't written anything about the last 2 bold green phrases. Could you explain me please those mistakes?


shobonenok's picture
shobonenok
09/01/2017 13:44
Russia
Manchester City
989

Thank you, Jack!

Ohh, I'm sorry for lots of mistakes in my comment. You haven't written anything about the last 2 bold green phrases. Could you explain me please those mistakes?

admin's picture
admin
09/01/2017
GB
560
points

You're welcome! We're always glad to try to correct people. Don't worry about making mistakes - that's how you learn!

I'm sorry I missed those last bits... Here you are: 

It's a shame for me but I've never watched any films in English. 2 or 3 years I try to make myself read at least several articles in english ^ newspapers or magazines every week but I didn't. It's time to do it.

a. I'm not quite sure what you mean here because shame has two uses. 'It's a shame' means the same thing as 'It's a pity' or basically 'it's a bad thing that I wanted to avoid', but it wasn't my responsibility.

My shame is something else. 'I'm ashamed to say' is quite a common phrase and it means something like 'I'm sorry about this' and this time, it's more of a confession - more personal responsibility. I think I would say: I'm ashamed to sat that I've never watched any films in English. 

b. I think that here, you are trying to say: 'For the last 2 or 3 years...' If that's the case, then the following verb should be the present perfect because you're talking about a time period that includes the present.

Thanks Shobonenok - keep up the good work!


admin's picture
admin
09/01/2017 14:08
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

You're welcome! We're always glad to try to correct people. Don't worry about making mistakes - that's how you learn!

I'm sorry I missed those last bits... Here you are: 

It's a shame for me but I've never watched any films in English. 2 or 3 years I try to make myself read at least several articles in english ^ newspapers or magazines every week but I didn't. It's time to do it.

a. I'm not quite sure what you mean here because shame has two uses. 'It's a shame' means the same thing as 'It's a pity' or basically 'it's a bad thing that I wanted to avoid', but it wasn't my responsibility.

My shame is something else. 'I'm ashamed to say' is quite a common phrase and it means something like 'I'm sorry about this' and this time, it's more of a confession - more personal responsibility. I think I would say: I'm ashamed to sat that I've never watched any films in English. 

b. I think that here, you are trying to say: 'For the last 2 or 3 years...' If that's the case, then the following verb should be the present perfect because you're talking about a time period that includes the present.

Thanks Shobonenok - keep up the good work!

FuruTaku's picture
FuruTaku
08/01/2017
JP
19
points

This week's phrase is ******** ******.


FuruTaku's picture
FuruTaku
08/01/2017 03:16
Japan
Manchester City
19

This week's phrase is ******** ******.

Rich's picture
Rich
08/01/2017
ES
594
points

Well done, Furutaku! You're right! Welcome to Premier Skills English, we hope you enjoy the website.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
08/01/2017 06:23
Spain
Liverpool
594

Well done, Furutaku! You're right! Welcome to Premier Skills English, we hope you enjoy the website.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Emir Veličanstveni's picture
Emir Veličanstveni
06/01/2017
BA
1449
points

This week's phrase is ******** ******!


Emir Veličanstveni's picture
Emir Veličanstveni
06/01/2017 22:55
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Arsenal
1449

This week's phrase is ******** ******!

Rich's picture
Rich
07/01/2017
ES
594
points

Well done, Emir! You're right!


Rich's picture
Rich
07/01/2017 05:02
Spain
Liverpool
594

Well done, Emir! You're right!

M.s. Aboelsafa's picture
M.s. Aboelsafa
05/01/2017
EG
738
points

The phrase is "******** ******".


M.s. Aboelsafa's picture
M.s. Aboelsafa
05/01/2017 20:55
Egypt
Arsenal
738

The phrase is "******** ******".

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
05/01/2017
UA
6278
points

This week’s football phrase is ******** ******.


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
05/01/2017 20:46
Ukraine
Liverpool
6278

This week’s football phrase is ******** ******.

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
05/01/2017
UA
4408
points

The phrase is a '******** ******'.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
05/01/2017 17:53
Ukraine
Watford
4408

The phrase is a '******** ******'.

Ghigo's picture
Ghigo
05/01/2017
IT
962
points

Happy new Year


Ghigo's picture
Ghigo
05/01/2017 14:27
Italy
Liverpool
962

Happy new Year

Ghigo's picture
Ghigo
05/01/2017
IT
962
points

correct me I didnt see the 'scorpion kiks' scored by MKhitaryan and Giroud. it will be my first resolution about the new year. I'm going to lose little weight, not more about 1,5 kilos, I'm goint to do sport like swimming pool, jogging and improve my ski skill i'm a beginner so above all i'de like very much improve my english and why not meet Rich and Jack in person. The football phrase is ******** ******


Ghigo's picture
Ghigo
05/01/2017 14:24
Italy
Liverpool
962

correct me I didnt see the 'scorpion kiks' scored by MKhitaryan and Giroud. it will be my first resolution about the new year. I'm going to lose little weight, not more about 1,5 kilos, I'm goint to do sport like swimming pool, jogging and improve my ski skill i'm a beginner so above all i'de like very much improve my english and why not meet Rich and Jack in person. The football phrase is ******** ******

admin's picture
admin
05/01/2017
GB
560
points

Hello Ghigo

Happy New Year to you too! 

Here are some corrections:

I didnt see the 'scorpion kiks' scored by Mkhitaryan and Giroud. it will be my first resolution about the new year. I'm going to lose ^ little weight, not more about 1,5 kilos, I'm goint to do sport like swimming pool, jogging and improve my ski skill i'm a beginner so above all i'de like very much improve my english and why not meet Rich and Jack in person. 

1. didn't - I think that this is just a typo and you know that there should be an apostrophe in didn't.

2. Kicks - I'm sure this is a typo

3. 'This' is better than 'it' here. 

4. about - We make resolutions for the New Year - if you want to describe the content of the resolution, you can use about.

5. I think that 'much' is better here. "Not much... about 1.5 kilos" In English, we use a full stop as a decimal point. I think I need to lose about 10 times as much weight as you. :)

6. going - type again

7. A swimming pool is a place - swimming is the activity. You have done well to use the -ing form (the gerund) which is how we make nouns out of verbs.

8. ski - oops. This one should also be a gerund: skiing (looks weird but it's OK)

9. The order of this phrase is not quite right. You could say: I'd very much like to... or I'd like to improve my English very much.

We would be very happy to meet you in person. However, I rarely get to see Rich in person - we do everything online. It's almost as good - sometimes better, in fact. 


admin's picture
admin
05/01/2017 16:10
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Hello Ghigo

Happy New Year to you too! 

Here are some corrections:

I didnt see the 'scorpion kiks' scored by Mkhitaryan and Giroud. it will be my first resolution about the new year. I'm going to lose ^ little weight, not more about 1,5 kilos, I'm goint to do sport like swimming pool, jogging and improve my ski skill i'm a beginner so above all i'de like very much improve my english and why not meet Rich and Jack in person. 

1. didn't - I think that this is just a typo and you know that there should be an apostrophe in didn't.

2. Kicks - I'm sure this is a typo

3. 'This' is better than 'it' here. 

4. about - We make resolutions for the New Year - if you want to describe the content of the resolution, you can use about.

5. I think that 'much' is better here. "Not much... about 1.5 kilos" In English, we use a full stop as a decimal point. I think I need to lose about 10 times as much weight as you. :)

6. going - type again

7. A swimming pool is a place - swimming is the activity. You have done well to use the -ing form (the gerund) which is how we make nouns out of verbs.

8. ski - oops. This one should also be a gerund: skiing (looks weird but it's OK)

9. The order of this phrase is not quite right. You could say: I'd very much like to... or I'd like to improve my English very much.

We would be very happy to meet you in person. However, I rarely get to see Rich in person - we do everything online. It's almost as good - sometimes better, in fact. 

poui
05/01/2017
LA
129
points

This week's phrase is ******** ******.


poui
05/01/2017 10:54
Laos
Manchester United
129

This week's phrase is ******** ******.

poui
05/01/2017
LA
129
points

Happy New Year to you guys. especially both of our co-host Rich and Jack. and all members here.
1. Yes, I did. I think both of them are special. but If I choose i will choose Manchester Utd's Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
2. Rich made such a good resolution and I think he will done it for sure. There are many people in My country also made their solution as well. for me I am going to be better in English and playing football.


poui
05/01/2017 10:51
Laos
Manchester United
129

Happy New Year to you guys. especially both of our co-host Rich and Jack. and all members here.
1. Yes, I did. I think both of them are special. but If I choose i will choose Manchester Utd's Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
2. Rich made such a good resolution and I think he will done it for sure. There are many people in My country also made their solution as well. for me I am going to be better in English and playing football.

admin's picture
admin
05/01/2017
GB
560
points

Thanks Poui! I hope you had a fun New Year's Eve!


admin's picture
admin
05/01/2017 12:31
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Thanks Poui! I hope you had a fun New Year's Eve!

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/01/2017
GH
4768
points

My new year resolution is to go the extra mile in all endeavours of my life and not just be an okay person.
For instance, if there is an assignment to be executed i need to probe and ask the necessary questions even beyond what am required to so so i can make good and informed decisions


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/01/2017 00:27
Ghana
Manchester United
4768

My new year resolution is to go the extra mile in all endeavours of my life and not just be an okay person.
For instance, if there is an assignment to be executed i need to probe and ask the necessary questions even beyond what am required to so so i can make good and informed decisions

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/01/2017
GH
4768
points

I think Mkhitaryan's scorpion kick was better than Giroud's.


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/01/2017 00:24
Ghana
Manchester United
4768

I think Mkhitaryan's scorpion kick was better than Giroud's.

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/01/2017
GH
4768
points

This week's phrase is ******** ******


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/01/2017 00:07
Ghana
Manchester United
4768

This week's phrase is ******** ******

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/01/2017
PS
3705
points

The phrase is ******* ******.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/01/2017 17:23
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

The phrase is ******* ******.

Rich's picture
Rich
04/01/2017
ES
594
points

Well done, AssemJuve! You guessed the phrase correctly!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
04/01/2017 22:01
Spain
Liverpool
594

Well done, AssemJuve! You guessed the phrase correctly!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/01/2017
PS
3705
points

I think managers and players have to make a resolution and it is to play a clean football with respect.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/01/2017 17:21
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

I think managers and players have to make a resolution and it is to play a clean football with respect.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/01/2017
PS
3705
points

Yes he did,no they do not,no i did not make any resolution.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/01/2017 17:20
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Yes he did,no they do not,no i did not make any resolution.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/01/2017
PS
3705
points

I saw Giroud goal and it was amazing,i did not see henrich goal so i can not say which one is better.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/01/2017 17:18
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

I saw Giroud goal and it was amazing,i did not see henrich goal so i can not say which one is better.

elghoul's picture
elghoul
04/01/2017
DZ
3988
points

1.I was just strolling about in Algiers street when a seller shouted over his friend to see Giroud goal in live on shopper tv. "It is the 2016 best goal " he said.
2.My resolution is to improve my English while studying a MOOC Course on Tao culture.
3.Players should make resolutions like not injurying or not being angry when the referee whistles against them.
Football phrase , winter mercato.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
04/01/2017 16:39
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

1.I was just strolling about in Algiers street when a seller shouted over his friend to see Giroud goal in live on shopper tv. "It is the 2016 best goal " he said.
2.My resolution is to improve my English while studying a MOOC Course on Tao culture.
3.Players should make resolutions like not injurying or not being angry when the referee whistles against them.
Football phrase , winter mercato.

Rich's picture
Rich
04/01/2017
ES
594
points

Hi Elghoul

Yes, it was a brilliant goal. You must have been happy as an Arsenal fan! Enrolling on a MOOC (massive open online course) is a brilliant idea to improve your English. There are so many topics to choose from and you can nearly always find one that you are interested in. I think it's important to remember that to improve your English a course doesn't always have to be about English language learning. 

The football phrase is not correct. I think you are using an Italian word but in English we use a different phrase for this period of the season.

Good luck with the MOOC on Tao culture!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
04/01/2017 21:58
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Elghoul

Yes, it was a brilliant goal. You must have been happy as an Arsenal fan! Enrolling on a MOOC (massive open online course) is a brilliant idea to improve your English. There are so many topics to choose from and you can nearly always find one that you are interested in. I think it's important to remember that to improve your English a course doesn't always have to be about English language learning. 

The football phrase is not correct. I think you are using an Italian word but in English we use a different phrase for this period of the season.

Good luck with the MOOC on Tao culture!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
04/01/2017
ME
3557
points

They both scored amazing goals. But Giroud's goal was not expected. Usually he scores late header after a corner kick and this time he surprised all the spectators and proved that Wenger could consider not leaving him on the bench but pairing him with Alexis as a starter. Nice resolution Rich. This year I've made only one small resolution. I decided to train and eat on a regular base. I often used to skip breakfast, have a coffee in the morning etc. This year I want to eat more healthy food, drink more tea, train every day and think positive. As about english language, I'll try to speak live with native speakers and continue listening to these educative podcasts.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
04/01/2017 14:46
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

They both scored amazing goals. But Giroud's goal was not expected. Usually he scores late header after a corner kick and this time he surprised all the spectators and proved that Wenger could consider not leaving him on the bench but pairing him with Alexis as a starter. Nice resolution Rich. This year I've made only one small resolution. I decided to train and eat on a regular base. I often used to skip breakfast, have a coffee in the morning etc. This year I want to eat more healthy food, drink more tea, train every day and think positive. As about english language, I'll try to speak live with native speakers and continue listening to these educative podcasts.

admin's picture
admin
04/01/2017
GB
560
points

That sounds like a good set of resolutions. I'm the same as you. I'm trying to do some exercise every day - running and riding my bike. 

How will you speak with native speakers? Do you think that it helps if you speak with non-native speakers?


admin's picture
admin
04/01/2017 14:53
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

That sounds like a good set of resolutions. I'm the same as you. I'm trying to do some exercise every day - running and riding my bike. 

How will you speak with native speakers? Do you think that it helps if you speak with non-native speakers?

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
05/01/2017
ME
3557
points

My brother's wife and her family come from London. Every time they pay us a visit and I'm looking forward speaking to them and hearing their english. If not, we can talk over Skype. I believe it helps in both cases, but it is better to speak with native speaker since you can hear some words and phrases you don't hear that often. Not to mention the accents and dialects:-)


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
05/01/2017 08:04
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

My brother's wife and her family come from London. Every time they pay us a visit and I'm looking forward speaking to them and hearing their english. If not, we can talk over Skype. I believe it helps in both cases, but it is better to speak with native speaker since you can hear some words and phrases you don't hear that often. Not to mention the accents and dialects:-)

admin's picture
admin
05/01/2017
GB
560
points

That's great that you have a family connection and you get the chance to practice. I agree that talking to native speakers is good because you'll get to hear new words and phrases; the sort of language that people use naturally, but I think that practice is so important for fluency that it's a good idea to take advantage of any opportunity and for most people, that means practice with non-natives. 

I'm not sure that the accents and dialects always help. My wife is from Indonesia and a few years ago we went to Glasgow on a work trip. My wife scored something like 8.5 on her IELTS listening but had real problems with basic conversation in Scotland. By the end of the week, she was getting it and couldn't stop imitating the phrases she heard. All good fun!


admin's picture
admin
05/01/2017 12:30
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

That's great that you have a family connection and you get the chance to practice. I agree that talking to native speakers is good because you'll get to hear new words and phrases; the sort of language that people use naturally, but I think that practice is so important for fluency that it's a good idea to take advantage of any opportunity and for most people, that means practice with non-natives. 

I'm not sure that the accents and dialects always help. My wife is from Indonesia and a few years ago we went to Glasgow on a work trip. My wife scored something like 8.5 on her IELTS listening but had real problems with basic conversation in Scotland. By the end of the week, she was getting it and couldn't stop imitating the phrases she heard. All good fun!

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
05/01/2017
ME
3557
points

I believe you that. My brother told me that he couldn't understand big part of conversation when he visited Isle of Skye last year.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
05/01/2017 17:42
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

I believe you that. My brother told me that he couldn't understand big part of conversation when he visited Isle of Skye last year.

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
04/01/2017
ME
3557
points

This week's phrase is '********* ******'.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
04/01/2017 14:26
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

This week's phrase is '********* ******'.

admin's picture
admin
04/01/2017
GB
560
points

Well done!


admin's picture
admin
04/01/2017 14:51
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Well done!

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1mobeckham6510
2Alex_from_Ukraine6278
3hsn5525
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4768
6Liubomyr4408
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia71478
2Ukraine33300
3Spain28277
4Serbia27289
5Brazil23896
6Albania20578
7Vietnam19939
8Turkey19810
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United141846
2Liverpool110282
3Chelsea88559
4Arsenal85713
5Manchester City56951
6Tottenham Hotspur19169
7Newcastle United10457
8West Ham United7454
9AFC Bournemouth4454
10Crystal Palace4240

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Skills: Listening

Language: New Year's resolutions

Language: Football English