Bite an English per day

Just start being a novice Football fan?

During this hottest football season, some friends (like me) start to watch FIFA World Cup Game. However, when watching the LIVE game through FIFA.com, there are a lot terms that we may not understand.

Here, I'd like to share some of the basics of football that I had learnt:

Terms (Source: Wikipedia.org)

• Kick-off: a kick to start each period of play from the center-spot of the field; of a or a goal has been scored.
• Throw-in: awarded to opposing team to that which last touched the ball when the ball has crossed the touchline; over the head back onto field or with both feet on the ground.
• Goal kick: awarded to defensive team when the ball has crossed the goal line without a goal having been scored and having last been touched by a player of the attacking team.
• Corner kick: awarded to attacking team when the ball has crossed the goal line without a goal having been scored and having last been touched by a player of the defensive team.
• Direct free kick: awarded to opposing team when a player commits a penalty foul. A goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick.
• Penalty kick: awarded to the fouled team resulted from a contact foul or hand ball by the defending team within the penalty area. The ball is placed on the penalty spot in front of the center of the goal. All players must remain outside the penalty area and the penalty arc until the ball is kicked.
  

Foul (Source: Wikipedia.org)

• occurs when a player commits an offense (listed in the Laws of the Game) while the ball is in play
• e.g of "penal fouls": hand ball, tripping, holding, pushing, jumping at, tackling from behind, striking an opponent
• punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick.
• Yellow card(Caution): the player violates a soccer rule obviously. A second caution at the same game results in a red card (sent off from the game). A player given a yellow card is said to have been "booked" by the referee.
• Red card(Sending-off): the player is sent off the field for serious offense and cannot be replaced by a substitute. The team must finish the match with one player fewer.

Players

• A match is played by two teams.
• Each team consists of not more than eleven players including the goalkeeper.
  

Duration

• A football match consists of two periods (known as halves) with 45 minutes each .
  
• Each half runs continuously, the clock is not stopped when the ball is out of play.
  
• Players are entitled to half-time interval which is about 15 minutes.

Matches (FIFA world cup)

• First Stage: Group matches
• Second Stage: Round of 16
• Second Stage: Quarter final
• Second Stage: Semi-final
• Second Stage: Match for the third place
• Second Stage: Final
  

Referee and Assistant Referee Signals (Source: FIFA.com)
Referee Signals


Assistant Referee Signals


Last sweet reminder:
the best way to learn about the football match is to watch the football matches.


Credits to the following Sources:
Wikipedia.org
FIFA.com

My favourite tools / sites:

1. howjsay.com
-It's a free online Talking Dictionary of English Pronunciation with Instant Sound
-How does it work?
#Enter the word you want and click Submit
#When it appears in pink, mouse over it to hear it spoken as often as you want

2. Dictionary.com
-It's a free online Dictionary with meaning provided
-How does it work?
#Enter the word you want and click Search
Then, the meaning of the word will appear. You can click on the 'speaker' icon to listen to its pronunciation.
The special thing of this site is its 'Word of the Day'. You can learn a word per day.

Here, let me share a fun material designed and created by me.

It's a board game. Two players are needed to play the game.
#To download it, just click the image below, then right click and save target as, lastly print it.


It is specific for advanced students. The topic is about counseling (You may adapt it to other topics if necessary). It focuses on grammar practice, that is, asking questions or answering (using the words given). The students are required to use different word forms in correct context. It is a fun and communicative activity. Hope you enjoy it.

Read the rules given before playing.
#To download it, just click the image below, then right click and save target as, lastly print it.

The hottest 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa now, starting from 11/6-11/7/10.

Here, we've the 2010 FIFA World Cup Anthem. Sign of A Victory by R. Kelly.

It's really a motivating, inspiring song that is going to accompany us throughout the matches of this World Cup Season.

Here's the lyric:
Let's learn the song together:

Sign of A Victory by R. Kelly

I can see the colors of the rainbow,
and I can feel the sun on my face,
I see the light at the end of the tunnel,
and I can feel heaven in its place,

and that's the sign of a victory (x2)

I can feel the spirit of the nations
and I can feel my wings ridin' the winds, yeah
I see the finish line just up ahead na
and I can feel it risin' deep within

and that's the sign of a victory (x2)

Now I can see the distance of the journey,
high and fought with all your might,
you open your eyes to global warming,
been through it all, sacrifice your life

and that's the sign of a victory (x2)

If we believe, we can achieve anything
including the impossible
this I know
so let's lift up our heads and
raise the flag yeah yeah
and scream like you're born to win
now let the games begin!

that's the sign of a victory (x4)

when you keep on fightin' ,
after you lost your strength

that's the sign of a victory

when darkness is all around you,
you still find your way

that's the sign of a victory

You've got the victory

come on and sing,
lift up your voice and sing,
stand up, fight it down (x2)
sign of a victory
ooooohh ohh ohhhh
That's the sign of victory

#Highlight:
In this song, there are really a lot of signs/symbols of 'Victory' that bring the positive messages and hope.
At the beginning we have the Natural images of Hope, like rainbow, sun, light and heaven.
Then, we can see, sense and even touch Hope, such as "feel my wings ridin’ the winds", "see the finish line just up ahead", etc.
The mood is getting inspiring when People are called to fight for Victory "with all your might", "been through it all", "sacrifice your life".
It leads to the key message "If we believe, we can achieve anything, including the impossible".

Be brave to HOPE, BELIEVE, FIGHT, SACRIFICE to achieve VICTORY!

I like to search and explore sites that provide free English materials:

1. Very CD Sharing Site [in mandarin Very CD分享互联网]

-Go to Material[资料], then foreign language[外语].
There are a lot of free e-books, software, magazines, etc to be downloaded.


2. ESL-Free Material For Teachers

There are free instructional materials for teachers. Learners can also download. Links to other English sites are also available.

3. Onestopenglish

It is part of Macmillan Education Group. There are worksheets, audio, video, lesson plans, flashcards, etc available.

4. Oxford Bookworms: Read Your Way to Better English

There are free reading resources for teachers or learners.

5. ESL Printables

It's a platform for instructors to exchange lesson plans, materials, worksheets, activities, etc.

6. UsingEnglish.com

You need to be member of this site before you do anything like downloading. Don't worry, registration as member.

7. Sites For Teachers

There are 100++ sites for teachers. You can explore each of the sites linked.

#To me, it's a humourous poem (read with mysterious tone, creating mischievous mood)


Mr. Nobody

by Anonymous

I know a funny little man,
As quiet as a mouse,
Who does the mischief that is done
In everybody’s house!
There’s no one ever sees his face,
And yet we all agree
That every plate we break was cracked
By Mr. Nobody.

’Tis he who always tears our books,
Who leaves the door ajar,
He pulls the buttons from our shirts,
And scatters pins afar;
That squeaking door will always squeak,
For prithee, don’t you see,
We leave the oiling to be done
By Mr. Nobody.

He puts damp wood upon the fire,
That kettles cannot boil;
His are the feet that bring in mud,
And all the carpets soil.
The papers always are mislaid,
Who had them last but he?
There's no one tosses them about
But Mr. Nobody.

The finger marks upon the door
By none of us are made;
We never leave the blinds unclosed,
To let the curtains fade.
The ink we never spill; the boots
That lying round you see
Are not our boots,—they all belong
To Mr. Nobody.

Glossary
mischief-damage
cracked-broken
ajar-slightly open
scatters-put here and there
afar-at a distance away
squeak-make a short and high-pitched sound
damp-slightly wet
mislaid-misplaced
tosses-throws carelessly

I Wonder
by Jeannie Kirby

I wonder why the grass is green,
And why the wind is never seen?

Who taught the birds to build a nest,
And told the trees to take a rest?

And when the moon is not quite round,
Where can the missing bit be found?

Who lights the stars, when they blow out,
And makes the lightning flash about?

Who paints the rainbow in the sky,
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?

Why is it now, do you suppose,
That Dad won’t tell me if he knows?

Glossary
wonder-feel curious about
flash-sudden bright burst of light
fluffy-soft and light
suppose-assume

Analysis of poem

[I Wonder by Jeannie Kirby]

Literal meaning
A child is wondering about the natural happenings, asking why the grass is green (instead of the other colours) and why the wind is invisible. He or she continues to ponder the person who teaches the birds to build nest and the trees stop growing. He or she also wonders when the moon is in crescent shape, where the other part of the moon is.
He or she proceeds to question about the person who makes the stars shining and how the lightning flash about. He or she keeps on asking who colours the rainbow and puts the clouds high in sky. He or she cannot get the answers, thus, directs the questions to the other. Lastly, the child wonders why father doesn’t tell him or her if he knows the answers.

Persona(Speaker)
-a naive child
Point of view
-First person (‘I’ Wonder)

Setting
-Day to night, outdoor

Theme
-Curiosity
-The Power of Creator

Structure
-6 stanzas (6 couplets)
Rhyme Scheme
-regular (aa bb cc dd ee)
Tone
-questioning, curiosity
Mood
-reflective

Language
-simple, Wh-words/questions
Imagery
-nature (grass, wind, bird, moon, stars, lightning, rainbow, clouds)
Poetic Devices
-Personification ("trees...take a rest")
-Alliteration ("grass is green", "birds to build")

Moral Values
-We should be observant and sensitive to out surroundings
-We should always cultivate a sense of wonder in our heart
-We should appreciate and take care of the nature created by our Creator

#Bite Eng's Review
Reading through the poem, the questions are those common questions asked by most children. These questions are identical to our questions that we asked when we were child. For example, "Why the sky and sea are blue?", "Why I can smell it but can't touch it?", "Why we grow taller each day", "Can I pluck the shining star?", "Why the sky is bright during daytime and yet dark at night?", etc. Most children are curious in nature. Adults might find their questions naive and funny. However, the sense of wonder is essential as the motivation to drive them to seek for the answer. With the questions in mind, their curiosity urges them on finding the solution. Thus, they are those scientists-to-be, doctors-to-be, geologists-to-be, astronomers-to-be, teachers-to-be, etc. Thus, the message here is to cultivate the sense of wonder in our children's heart and avoid killing their interest to know about their surroundings.

Reading the questions posed, effort is made to answer the questions:

I wonder why the grass is green, (The grass has chlorophyll which is green pigment.)
And why the wind is never seen? (The wind is moving air [gas] which cannot be seen.)

Who taught the birds to build a nest,
And told the trees to take a rest? (Our creator of nature did that.)

And when the moon is not quite round,
Where can the missing bit be found?
(We have Phases of moon. As the moon circles the Earth, its shape seems to change depending on the sunlight.)

Who lights the stars, when they blow out,
And makes the lightning flash about? (Again, our creator of nature did that.)

Who paints the rainbow in the sky,
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?
(These are the art of work done by our creator of nature.)

Why is it now, do you suppose,
That Dad won’t tell me if he knows?
(Our Father..Almighty Lord would want us to be self-aware and able to appreciate his hard work.)

The message is that Our Father (The Creator) is almighty. We, as human being, are naive to understand the hard work done by Him. Instead of asking Him for answers for our doubts, we are obliged to carry on our mission to seek and gain the borderless knowledge and message conveyed by Our Father. Our Father may not give the whole knowledge directly, but He will guide us. One day, we will be enlightened with His knowledge for us.