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The Liverpool squad taking a knee before training.

This Week: Taking a knee

This Week: Taking a knee

Welcome to This Week from Premier Skills English, a weekly review of football action for learners of English from across the globe. In This Week, Laura, Rich and Jack talk about the latest action from the Premier League and have lots of football English for you to learn. Following the suspension of the Premier League, Rich, Jack and Laura take a look at some stories which are making the news this week.

Transcript

If the listening is a bit difficult, try listening and reading at the same time.
Read the transcript and listen at the same time.

Introduction

Laura: Hello my name’s Laura and welcome to our weekly round-up section called ‘This Week’ on Premier Skills English.

Rich: Hi there. I’m Rich. We’ve got lots of interesting words and phrases to help you talk about football in English.

Jack: And I’m Jack and we hope you are all staying well whether you are staying home or still going to work.

Laura: We’ve looked high and low for three news stories that we want to share with you.

Rich: This week, we are going to focus on the Black Lives Matter movement and how Premier League clubs and players have been showing their support.

Jack: We have chosen these stories because they are topical and also so we can focus on some useful bits of vocabulary that have been in the news a lot over the past week.

Laura: And we want you to use and practise these words and phrases by interacting with Premier League fans from around the world in our comments section.

Rich: If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, you can leave your comments in the review section. We do read all the reviews and would love to hear from you.

Jack: You can find all our latest content on the Premier Skills English homepage or the Premier Skills-British Council Facebook page. 

Laura: Don’t forget that we also have our weekly Premier Skills English podcast that is released every Friday. Every week we help you with some different vocabulary or an aspect of grammar.

Rich: Our latest podcast is called Modas of deduction: Who stole the oranges? 

Jack: In the roleplay, there is a theft at our local football club. The only person who can solve the crime is Geoff, the groundsman, who is a part-time detective.

Laura: We look at lots of different modal verbs to express different levels of certainty. You can find the lesson on the homepage on the Premier Skills English webs. 

Rich: You’re now going to hear our three headlines. After each headline, we’ll have a little discussion and look at some vocabulary. The words and phrases we are looking at this week are: to take a knee, movement, solidarity, protest, justice, to speak out. 

Jack: After the headlines, we’ll have another fitness challenge and a language challenge for you to have a go at.

Headline 1

Rich: Premier League clubs take a knee.

Jack: Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester City and Newcastle Utd are some of the clubs that have taken a knee at the start of training sessions to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement has been the focal point for the protests that have taken place across the USA and in many cities across the world following the death of George Floyd.

Laura: This story has been dominating the news in many countries and is something that many in the sports world are supporting, too.

Rich: I think it’s something that is very important to support and to take action where possible. Many players and sports teams have been taking a knee. 

Jack: To take a knee is a phrase that is used to describe the act of kneeling on one knee as an act of protest, especially when most other people are standing.

Laura: This act of protest became more famous when it was used by Colin Kaepernick in American football. He would take a knee while the national anthem was played to protest against racism.

Rich: The other bit of vocabulary we want to take a look at here is a movement. In the headline, we spoke about the Black Lives Matter movement.

Jack: A movement in its most common meaning describes something that moves from one position to another. 

Laura: Another meaning of movement is to describe an organisation or a group of people who share the same aims and want to work together to achieve those aims.

Rich: We can talk about the peace movement, the civil rights movement or the trade union movement. The people in these groups wanted to achieve the same things.

Jack: The people involved in the Black Lives Matter movement want to achieve the same thing. They are fighting for freedom, liberation and justice for black communities.

Rich: Let’s move on to our next headline.

Headline 2

Laura: Players show solidarity and support.

Rich: Many Premier League players have been speaking out about racism. Manchester’s City’s Raheem Sterling and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford are amongst players to send out powerful anti-racism messages and Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings joined one protest in Birmingham.

Jack: That Premier League players are using their positions as role models with millions of fans has got to be a good thing. 

Laura: Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings said he joined the protests because he was standing up for what he believes in. That’s a good phrase to stand up for what you believe in.

Rich: To stand up for something means to defend something that is being attacked or criticised. You can stand up for your rights, stand up for yourself or others and stand up for what you believe in. Let’s look at another couple of words from the headline.

Jack: We said that players are showing solidarity. To show solidarity means to show support to another person or group of people.

Laura: Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has shown solidarity by saying that we have to eradicate racism and everybody has to play a part.

Rich: Tyrone Mings joined a protest. A protest can be a verb or a noun. A protest can be an action or a statement which expresses dislike of something. A protest can be many people in the streets like what we have seen this week or can be one person taking a knee.

Jack: It can also be a verb. We can all protest against racism.

Laura: Let’s move on to our final headline.

Headline 3

Jack: Applause not punishment for showing support. 

Laura: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that common sense should prevail after England’s Jadon Sancho was given a yellow card for removing his shirt to reveal a ‘justice for George Floyd message’. The Borussia Dortmund winger had just completed his first-ever professional hat-trick but said afterwards that there were more important things in the world today and shouldn’t fear speaking out for what is right.

Rich: I think using common sense is a good thing in this situation. If you’re not sure, common sense is the ability to think about things in a practical way and make sensible decisions. Common sense was something that my mum said I never had!

Jack: Yes, common sense is often a good thing that too few people have sometimes. Let’s look at another couple of words from that headline. Jadon Sancho’s t-shirt said ‘justice for George Floyd’.

Laura: When we talk about justice we are talking about the fair treatment of people - often when their treatment is not or has not been fair.

Rich: We can seek justice and fight for justice for individuals or groups of people. We often talk about social justice and people often want to bring others to justice if we feel they have avoided justice.

Jack: The final phrase we want to look at this week is to speak out. Jadon Sancho said we shouldn’t be afraid to speak out for what is right.

Laura: To speak out is a phrasal verb and means to talk about something publicly that often takes courage or bravery.

Rich: Many people, including footballers, have been speaking out about racism in the past few weeks.

Laura: OK. We’ve looked at three stories and six bits of vocabulary in our headlines. The words and phrases we’ve looked at are: to take a knee, movement, solidarity, protest, justice, to speak out. 

Jack: Have a listen to the headlines again and see if you understand the vocabulary we’ve looked at. 

TASK - Fitness Challenge

Rich: Each week we’re trying to set you a fitness challenge and this week’s challenge comes from Chelsea football club.

Laura: The exercises this week are for kids so if you’ve got children in your house have a look at the video and get them involved.

Jack: The exercises are fun but it’s still a good work out for adults too. I can promise you that it’s not child’s play!

Rich: There are squats, jumps and runs and some ball work too.

Laura: The link to the video is on the lesson page for this podcast on the Premier Skills English website. Let us know if you or anyone in your house does the exercises in the comments section.

Language Challenge

Jack: To finish up the show we’ve got a quick language challenge connected to this week’s vocabulary.

Rich: Earlier we used the phrasal verb to speak out. To speak out about something which means to speak publicly about something with courage. 

Laura: There are plenty of phrasal verbs with the word speak. We are going to give you three sentences and we want you to complete the sentence with the missing word.

Jack: What did you say? No, I can’t hear you. Can you speak ____ a bit?

Rich: I’m not only speaking ____ myself when I say racism is something that everyone should fight against.

Laura: I’ve had to speak ____ him a few times about his punctuality.

Jack: We want you to write the correct answers on the Premier Skills English website where we have some more questions and activities connected to this week’s show for you.

Rich: Or write your answer on Apple Podcasts if that’s where you listen to us. Just write the answers in the review section and say hi.

Laura: Before we finish we just wanted to say that we hope you found this lesson useful and we hope that all of you stay fit and healthy and we’ll be back watching Premier League football very soon.

Jack: Bye for now and enjoy your football.

Headlines

Premier League clubs take a knee

The Liverpool squad take a knee at the start of training.

Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester City and Newcastle Utd are some of the clubs that have taken a knee at the start of training sessions to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement has been the focal point for the protests that have taken place across the USA and in many cities across the world following the death of George Floyd.

Headlines

Players show solidarity and support

Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings attended a march in Birmingham.

Many Premier League players have been speaking out about racism. Manchester’s City’s Raheem Sterling and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford are amongst players to send out powerful anti-racism messages and Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings joined one protest in Birmingham.

Headlines

Applause not punishment for showing support

England's Jadon Sancho revealed a message of support.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that common sense should prevail after England’s Jadon Sancho was given a yellow card for removing his shirt to reveal a ‘justice for George Floyd message’. The Borussia Dortmund winger had just completed his first-ever professional hat-trick but said afterwards that there were more important things in the world today and we shouldn’t fear speaking out for what is right.

Vocabulary Alert

Language in the headlines

Colin Kaepernick is a civil rights activist as well as an American football quarterback.

We looked at six words and phrases in our headlines that you can learn to improve your English. Take a look at the phrases in bold. Do you understand what they mean?

Premier League clubs have taken a knee at the start of training sessions.

Clubs have been showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Players show solidarity and support.

Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings joined one protest in Birmingham.

Jadon Sancho was given a yellow card for removing his shirt to reveal a ‘justice for George Floyd message’. 

Jadon Sancho said we shouldn’t fear speaking out for what is right.

Fun

The Fitness Challenge

Chelsea captain, Cesar Azpilicueta has shown his support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

This week’s challenge comes from Chelsea FC. The exercises are intended to be fun and both children and adults should enjoy them.

Can you do the fitness challenge? Let us know in the comments section if you felt energised or exhausted after the session and if you managed to get anyone else to join in with you.

Try this week's fitness challenge from Chelsea football club.

Vocabulary

Language Challenge

Jack, Rich and Laura set you a language challenge. We looked at the phrasal verb speak out in this week's headlinesHere are three more phrases that use speak. Can you complete the sentences using the correct preposition?

What did you say? No, I can’t hear you. Can you speak ____ a bit?

I’m not only speaking ____ myself when I say racism is something that everyone should fight against.

I’ve had to speak ____ him a few times about his punctuality.

Write the correct answer in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Discuss

Talk about the headlines

Marcus Rashford has spoken out about racism.

Jack, Laura and Rich looked at three stories in the news and some vocabulary that might be new to you. Now it's your turn! Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments section below.

  1. Have there been protests in your country or city? What were they about?
  2. Is there a problem with racism in your country? What should we do about it?
  3. What can we do about racist fan behaviour?
  4. Can you do our fitness challenge?
  5. Can you do our language challenge?

Write your comments and answers in the section below.

Leave a comment

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Comments

hsn's picture
hsn
04/12/2021
TR
5557
points

Discuss
• There are protests related to labour rights,environment issues, working conditions, corruption of politician etc.
• Generally, there is no racism problem here because religion İslam bans racism and discrimination. Racism is very dangerous for humanity. Lots of people have been suffering from racism such as Palestinians in Israel, black people in the USA, gipsies all over the world, Arakan muslims in Myanmar, Uighur muslims in China nowadays. Only way for solution to educate people about racism.
• Racist fans should be banned to enter to the stadiums.Afterwards they should be sent to recovery centers because it’s an illness.
• Fitness challenge-I do different fitness exercises hard than these.
• Language Challenge
What did you say? No, I can’t hear you. Can you speak UP a bit?
I’m not only speaking FOR myself when I say racism is something that everyone should fight against.
I’ve had to speak WITH him a few times about his punctuality.
Phrases
• The focal point of researching vaccine was how to stop mutation of virüs afterwards eradicate it.
• When common sense of a society have been abolished extremism and fear prevail and falling down starts.
Notes
• Taking a knee is a very good gesture to protest racism and should be spreaded in all sort of the sports activities.
• I like this quote, If a most vulnerable person in a society has opportunity to seek justice by be treated fairly or without being offended or then it will be understood that there is justice .


hsn's picture
hsn
04/12/2021 18:01
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5557

Discuss
• There are protests related to labour rights,environment issues, working conditions, corruption of politician etc.
• Generally, there is no racism problem here because religion İslam bans racism and discrimination. Racism is very dangerous for humanity. Lots of people have been suffering from racism such as Palestinians in Israel, black people in the USA, gipsies all over the world, Arakan muslims in Myanmar, Uighur muslims in China nowadays. Only way for solution to educate people about racism.
• Racist fans should be banned to enter to the stadiums.Afterwards they should be sent to recovery centers because it’s an illness.
• Fitness challenge-I do different fitness exercises hard than these.
• Language Challenge
What did you say? No, I can’t hear you. Can you speak UP a bit?
I’m not only speaking FOR myself when I say racism is something that everyone should fight against.
I’ve had to speak WITH him a few times about his punctuality.
Phrases
• The focal point of researching vaccine was how to stop mutation of virüs afterwards eradicate it.
• When common sense of a society have been abolished extremism and fear prevail and falling down starts.
Notes
• Taking a knee is a very good gesture to protest racism and should be spreaded in all sort of the sports activities.
• I like this quote, If a most vulnerable person in a society has opportunity to seek justice by be treated fairly or without being offended or then it will be understood that there is justice .

Gulmira Kenzhik's picture
Gulmira Kenzhik
19/06/2020
KZ
63
points

What did you say? No, I can’t hear you. Can you speak ** a bit?

I’m not only speaking out myself when I say racism is something that everyone should fight against.

I’ve had to speak ** him a few times about his punctuality.


Gulmira Kenzhik's picture
Gulmira Kenzhik
19/06/2020 06:43
Kazakhstan
Arsenal
63

What did you say? No, I can’t hear you. Can you speak ** a bit?

I’m not only speaking out myself when I say racism is something that everyone should fight against.

I’ve had to speak ** him a few times about his punctuality.

elghoul's picture
elghoul
11/06/2020
DZ
3988
points

1. No protests in our country after Georg Floyd killing  but our neighbours had shown last week end some hundreds of protesters in their capital.

2. Racism is sometimes difficult to express socially. Some different cultures or even skin coloured mankinds may suffer from their condition.

3. In the heat of football games and when fans are mass gathered in is hard to stay quiet when listening for some obscenities.

4. The fitness challenge is highly set standed.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
11/06/2020 14:04
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

1. No protests in our country after Georg Floyd killing  but our neighbours had shown last week end some hundreds of protesters in their capital.

2. Racism is sometimes difficult to express socially. Some different cultures or even skin coloured mankinds may suffer from their condition.

3. In the heat of football games and when fans are mass gathered in is hard to stay quiet when listening for some obscenities.

4. The fitness challenge is highly set standed.

elghoul's picture
elghoul
10/06/2020
DZ
3988
points

What did you say? No, I can’t hear you. Can you speak ***** a bit?

I’m not only speaking ***** myself when I say racism is something that everyone should fight against.

I’ve had to speak ***** him a few times about his punctuality.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
10/06/2020 15:07
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

What did you say? No, I can’t hear you. Can you speak ***** a bit?

I’m not only speaking ***** myself when I say racism is something that everyone should fight against.

I’ve had to speak ***** him a few times about his punctuality.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
10/06/2020
TR
6539
points

Language challenge :
1. What did you say? No, I can’t hear you. Can you speak ***** a bit?
2. I’m not only speaking ***** myself when I say racism is something that everyone should fight against.
3. I’ve had to speak ***** him a few times about his punctuality.


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
10/06/2020 00:10
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

Language challenge :
1. What did you say? No, I can’t hear you. Can you speak ***** a bit?
2. I’m not only speaking ***** myself when I say racism is something that everyone should fight against.
3. I’ve had to speak ***** him a few times about his punctuality.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
10/06/2020
TR
6539
points

1. As far as I know there were individual speak out messages from different people in Turkey about racism but there wasn't any official protests
2. In Turkey most people respect each other and respect diversity and different races but of course we are not angels here. You can find individual cases everywhere. We should stand up and speak up altogether to help the Black Lives Matter movement get their full rights as we are all equal
3. Racist fan should be warned at first and if s/he is accused again practicing this behaviour , they should be sentenced and banned from football forever
4. I will practice the fitness challenge with my sister tomorrow morning


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
10/06/2020 00:04
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

1. As far as I know there were individual speak out messages from different people in Turkey about racism but there wasn't any official protests
2. In Turkey most people respect each other and respect diversity and different races but of course we are not angels here. You can find individual cases everywhere. We should stand up and speak up altogether to help the Black Lives Matter movement get their full rights as we are all equal
3. Racist fan should be warned at first and if s/he is accused again practicing this behaviour , they should be sentenced and banned from football forever
4. I will practice the fitness challenge with my sister tomorrow morning

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6574
2mobeckham6539
3hsn5557
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74670
2Ukraine33837
3Spain29439
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23439
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20437
8Turkey20098
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United146589
2Liverpool111307
3Chelsea90125
4Arsenal86333
5Manchester City58756
6Tottenham Hotspur19418
7Newcastle United10560
8West Ham United7667
9AFC Bournemouth4915
10Everton4533

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Improve your vocabulary.

Practise your listening skills.

Complete our language and fitness challenges.