English & the UK: Sheffield

Welcome - English & the UK - Sheffield

Introduction

Jack: Hello my name’s Jack

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

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

Rich: We recommend that you listen to this podcast on the Premier Skills English website because that is where we have the transcript, language examples, activities, quizzes and a discussion page to help you understand everything we talk about.

Jack: However, if you’re listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, you can leave answers to our questions in the review section. We do read all the reviews and would love to hear from you. 

Rich: In this week’s podcast, we’re continuing our series of podcasts that focus on English and the UK. In these podcasts, you will learn more about cities in the UK and at the same time lots of useful English words and phrases.

Jack: In each podcast, we focus on one Premier League city. In our last English and the UK episode, we spoke about Norwich and the countryside.

Rich: Oh yeah, it was a while ago now, in the roleplay we were on a farm and you were picking fruit.

Jack: That’s right - I was picking strawberries. We looked at words and phrases like ‘organic’, ‘harvest’ and ‘ripe’ and many different types of fruit and vegetables.

Rich: If you want to go back and do this lesson you can find it on the Premier Skills English website by clicking skills >  listen > podcasts. If you are on Spotify or Apple Podcasts you’ll find it in the playlist, it’s called ‘English & the UK: Norwich’. 

Jack: In this episode, we are going to talk about a Premier League city that’s in the north of England. It’s in the county called Yorkshire which is the biggest county in the UK - it covers nearly 3 million acres of land. The only Premier League city in Yorkshire is Sheffield and that’s the city we’re talking about this week. 

Rich: First, Jack and I will have a conversation about Sheffield. We will talk about some of the things that are special about Sheffield. This week we’re going to be talking about firsts.

Jack: Don’t forget that all the cities we focus on in this series are home to Premier League teams so listen out for the football connections in the podcast. There are lots in this one.

Rich: And don’t forget to listen to the end of the podcast because that’s when we ask you to guess our weekly football phrase.

Football Phrase 1 

Jack: Before we talk about firsts and Sheffield, let’s look at last week’s football phrase. If you didn’t hear it last week we’ll give you one more chance to guess now and give you the correct answer at the end of the show when we give you a new football phrase.

Rich: Jack chose the phrase last week and he usually chooses quite easy ones but last week’s wasn’t that easy. Let’s hear it again ...

Jack: The phrase is a game in hand. We use this phrase when a team has played one match fewer than another team or other teams. We might say City are two points behind United but they have a game in hand so could go above them if they win their game in hand.

Rich: We’ll give you the answer and I’ll have a new football phrase at the end of the show. It will be more difficult this week.

Jack: And a big well done to those of you who have already got the right answer. We got correct answers from Liubomyr in Ukraine, Tran from Vietnam, Lakerwang from China, Ali Vasheghani from Iran and Ahmed Abdalla from Egypt.

Introduction to conversation

Rich: You are now going to listen to us talking about Sheffield and interesting things to do and see in the city. 

Jack: While you listen, we want you to answer a question. The question is: 

Rich: What was invented in Sheffield?

Conversation

Jack: You’re from Sheffield, aren’t you? So, you can tell everyone a bit about the city.

Rich: I am and I can. So ... Sheffield is probably the best city in the world with the best people, the best food, the best music, the best football team, the best …

Jack: OK, ok, you’re proud of your city but I think you might be going a bit over the top there. Anyway, if it’s so good how come you don’t live there anymore, hey?

Rich: Yeah, alright. Still, I bet you didn’t know that Sheffield is England’s greenest city. It has more trees per person than any other city in Europe.

Jack: No, I didn’t. It’s more famous for its industry though, isn’t it?

Rich: Yes, Sheffield is also known as the Steel City and was one of the most important cities in the Industrial Revolution.

Jack: Ah, yes. It made lots of knives and forks, didn’t it?

Rich: You mean cutlery, yes it was a very important industry and in fact, Sheffield is home to stainless steel. It was made here for the first time in 1912. 

Jack: Stainless steel - like I said - knives and forks.

Rich: Not only. It’s used in bridges and buildings. The Chrysler Building in New York is made out of stainless steel.

Jack: Let’s move onto the football. The match between Sheffield’s two teams is called the Steel City Derby, isn’t it?

Rich: That’s right. There are two professional football teams you can watch in Sheffield. Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United.

Jack: United play in the Premier League - that’s the team you watched as a boy?

Rich: That’s right. They are known as the Blades - blades are the flat, sharp, metal part of knives so is linked to the city’s industry.

Jack: Where do they play?

Rich: The stadium is called Bramall Lane and it’s the oldest football stadium in the world - it was built in 1855. It was also the venue for the final of the world’s first-ever football tournament and the first-ever stadium to use floodlights.

Jack: Sheffield is quite important for football. It is also home to the world’s first football club, isn’t it?

Rich: That’s right, Sheffield FC. They are an amateur club and are recognised as the world’s oldest club. A few years ago they were given the FIFA Order of Merit which is FIFA’s top award for services to football. Only two clubs have ever received this award; Real Madrid and Sheffield FC.

Jack: Sheffield also developed many of the rules of football we use today, didn’t they?

Rich: That’s right. I’m not saying football was invented in Sheffield but there are definitely lots of firsts. These include the first corners, free kicks and penalties. The idea of heading the ball was also first seen in Sheffield Rules.

Introduction to dialogues 

Rich: Did you get the answer to the question: What was invented in Sheffield?

Jack: The answer according to Rich is: stainless steel.

Rich: In the conversation, we spoke a lot about firsts. We said that Sheffield FC was the first-ever football club, and said Sheffield football rules were the first time corners and free kicks were used.

Jack: We use lots of collocations with the word ‘first’ when we talk about football. 

Rich: The first team, the first-team coach, the first half, the first leg, the first division, first place or first goal/chance/ or win are some of the collocations we hear a lot.

Jack: In the next section, you are going to hear ten dialogues and in each dialogue we will use a phrase with the word ‘first’.

Rich: Do you know what they all mean?

Dialogues

Dialogue 1

Rich: First off, let's get started.

Jack: Firstly, we need to explain what the plan is.

Rich: Well first and foremost, it’s to present some language with first...

Jack: ...and at first, we’re going to perform some dialogues and then we’ll look at the language.

Rich: OK first thing’s first, who’s going to start?

Jack: You can go first.

Dialogue 2

Rich: “Going up”

Jack: Which floor?

Rich: First floor, please.

Dialogue 3

Jack: ... and believe it or not, that’s how he won the car

Rich: Really? I don’t believe you at all.

Jack: It’s true! I heard it firsthand; straight from the horse's mouth.

Dialogue 4

Rich: Just this parcel first.

Jack: Pop it on the scale. Do you want to send it first class or second class?

Rich: Erm ...

Jack: First class will arrive tomorrow and second class will arrive on Friday.

Rich: Erm ... 

Jack: First class is £3.70. Second class is £2.90.

Rich: First class, please.

Dialogue 5

Rich: I first met your mother at the doctor’s surgery.

Jack: Really?

Rich: Yes - I had chickenpox, I was covered with spots and she had a massive boil on her forehead.

Jack: So, was it love at first sight then?

Rich: Ha ha. We both looked pretty bad, but we did agree to meet again.

Dialogue 6

Jack: Mr. Smarmy, please come in and take a seat. 

Rich: Thanks. This is an interview for the internship, yes?

Jack: Yes. Please sit down. So, I see you went to Oxford.

Rich: Yes, Oxford Brookes, I read Communications Studies.

Jack: Oh, and it says here you got a first.

Rich: Does it? Ah, well... that must be a mistake. I actually got a 2:2 - should have studied more I suppose.

Dialogue 7

Jack: Your English is very good. 

Rich: Well, it should be. I was born here. It is my first language.

Jack: Oh, terribly sorry.

Dialogue 8

Child: Aaaagh!

Rich: Does anyone know any first aid?

Jack: Oh, it doesn’t look too bad. I think it’s just a graze. Let’s put a plaster on it.

Dialogue 9

Jack: Half-time. 0-0. We just haven’t got out of first gear.

Rich: We’re going to have to move up a gear in the second half if we want to win this one.

Dialogue 10

Jack: The tickets go on sale on Monday.

Rich: Great - I’ll nip down on Tuesday after work, then.

Jack: Ooh - they may have sold out by then. 

Rich: Can you reserve a couple?

Jack: No. it’s first come first served. 

Rich: OK - I’ll go on Monday.

Language Focus

Jack: Right, first and foremost we need to quickly explain what some of those phrases with ‘first’ mean. Then, we’ll ask you to listen to the dialogues again.

Rich: Dialogue one included first off, firstly, at first, first and foremost and first thing’s first. 

Jack: All of these phrases are used as discourse markers to introduce or say what you are going to do.

Rich: Dialogue two used the phrase first floor. 

Jack: In the dialogue, we were in a lift or in American English an elevator.

Rich: Floors are used to describe levels of buildings. In the UK, you have to go up to the first floor of a building, then the second floor and the third floor and so on. Street level is called the ground floor.

Jack: But, be careful, in the US the first floor is street level and then you up to the second floor, third level and so on.

Rich: Dialogue three used the phrase firsthand. This is usually used to describe things that you experience or information that you got yourself and didn’t hear through someone else.

Jack: Dialogue four used the phrase first class. If something is first class it means it’s of the highest standard and quality. In the UK, you get first class and second class stamps for letters and parcels. 

Rich: First class is also used for travel on trains and planes and it is also used as an expression to describe something that was done brilliantly. 

Jack: Dialogue five used the expression love at first sight. It basically means to fall in love with someone the first time you see them.

Rich: Dialogue six used the phrase a first. It was used to describe a degree at university. A first is the best mark or award you can receive at a UK university. The best is a first or a first class degree then a two-one then a two-two and then a third or a third class degree.

Jack: Dialogue seven used the phrase first language. Your first language is your native language or your mother tongue. The one you spoke first. 

Rich: Dialogue eight used the phrase first aid. First aid is basic medical treatment. Someone in a school or at work is usually trained in first aid.

Jack: Dialogue nine used the expression to get out of first gear. A bike or car has gears. A car usually has five gears. The expression is normally used in the negative and it means not to have got going or not to be very active.

Rich: Dialogue ten used the idiom first come, first served. The expression is quite literal, it basically means the first people to arrive somewhere will be the first people to get what is offered. 

Jack: Right, so there are ten phrases with the word ‘first’. Now that you know what they all mean we would like you to listen to the dialogues again. 

Rich: Listen carefully because in this week’s task we want you to use as many of the phrases with first as you can.

Dialogues

Dialogue 1

Rich: First off, lets get started.

Jack: Firstly, we need to explain what the plan is.

Rich: Well first and foremost, it’s to present some language with first...

Jack: ...and at first, we’re going to perform some dialogues and then we’ll look at the language.

Rich: OK first thing’s first, who’s going to start?

Jack: You can go first.

Dialogue 2

Rich: “Going up”

Jack: Which floor?

Rich: First floor, please.

Dialogue 3

Jack: ... and believe it or not, that’s how he won the car

Rich: Really? I don’t believe you at all.

Jack: It’s true! I heard it firsthand; straight from the horse's mouth.

Dialogue 4

Rich: Just this parcel first.

Jack: Pop it on the scale. Do you want to send it first class or second class?

Rich: Erm ...

Jack: First class will arrive tomorrow and second class will arrive on Friday.

Rich: Erm ... 

Jack: First class is £3.70. Second class is £2.90.

Rich: First class, please.

Dialogue 5

Rich: I first met your mother at the doctor’s surgery.

Jack: Really?

Rich: Yes - I had chickenpox, I was covered with spots and she had a massive boil on her forehead.

Jack: So, was it love at first sight then?

Rich: Ha ha. We both looked pretty bad, but we did agree to meet again.

Dialogue 6

Jack: Mr. Smarmy, please come in and take a seat. 

Rich: Thanks. This is an interview for the internship, yes?

Jack: Yes. Please sit down. So, I see you went to Oxford.

Rich: Yes, Oxford Brookes, I read Communications Studies.

Jack: Oh, and it says here you got a first.

Rich: Does it? Ah, well... that must be a mistake. I actually got a 2:2 - should have studied more I suppose.

Dialogue 7

Jack: You’re English is very good. 

Rich: Well, it should be. I was born here. It is my first language.

Jack: Oh, terribly sorry.

Dialogue 8

Child: Aaaagh!

Rich: Does anyone know any first aid?

Jack: Oh, it doesn’t look too bad. I think it’s just a graze. Let’s put a plaster on it.

Dialogue 9

Jack: Half-time. 0-0. We just haven’t got out of first gear.

Rich: We’re going to have to move up a gear in the second half if we want to win this one.

Dialogue 10

Jack: The tickets go on sale on Monday.

Rich: Great - I’ll nip down on Tuesday after work, then.

Jack: Ooh - they may have sold out by then. 

Rich: Can you reserve a couple?

Jack: No. it’s first come first served. 

Rich: OK - I’ll go on Monday.

Task

Jack: This week’s task is a simple one. We want you to look back at the words and phrases with ‘first’ and tell us a few things about yourself.

Rich: There were 10 phrases in total. We want you to choose three or four. Tell us what your first language is, tell us something you’ve heard firsthand, have you ever fallen in love at first sight?

Jack: Write your responses to this task in the comments section at the bottom of the page on the Premier Skills English website.

This week’s football phrase:

Jack: OK, it’s time for this week’s football phrase. You have a really tricky this one this week, don’t you?

Rich: I wouldn’t say it’s super difficult but it’s pretty difficult. This week’s phrase is *** ** * *****. The phrase is used to describe a team that starts a season or a match really well. If a team scores twice in the first ten minutes of a match you might say they’ve got *** ** * *****. Liverpool have got *** ** * ***** this season.

Jack: I’m not sure many people will get it from that so I’ll give everyone a clue. The keyword in this phrase is also used to describe a person that travels by plane.

Rich: You’re too nice. Before we forget, if you’re still thinking about last week’s football phrase - the answer was a game in hand.

Jack: Write your answers in the comments section on the Premier Skills English website and we’ll announce your name on next week’s show.

Rich: Right, that’s all we have time for this week. Bye for now and enjoy your football!