blog 11 final blog: English outside of class

This is your final blog assignment! Again the reason, I assign blogs is to give you the chance to use English outside of class. Writing on your blogs forces you to think more deeply about topics we discussed in class. This also helps you to recycle new vocabulary, etc.

For your final blog, please answer the following question: "What are some good ways to use English outside of the classroom?" Please give any advice that you can to your classmates. That will help you all to learn from each other. For example, if you know some good websites that you use, please tell your classmates.

blog #10: choose classmates' article OR John Lennon

This week in class, two groups presented their articles to the class. From the topics, choose ONE of the discussion questions (or make your own) and write your opinion on that. Even though you have already discussed this in class, writing about it on your blog helps you to think more deeply about it and practice writing. Post your assignment by the end of next week (12/15).
OR
This Friday (12/8) is the 26th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. Lennon's death shocked the world, as he was more than just a musician. He was a cultural icon who went on to use his fame to try to spread the message of peace. Think of someone who is more than just a musician to you--someone who uses their message to spread some special message. Write about this person.

Blog #9: bully video game or food

Since we talked about different topics in class again this week, I will give you three choices for your blog. Just choose one:
1) bully video game: summarize your opinion about this game. Do you think it's appropriate or inappropriate? Why?
2) bullying in Japan: this is in the news a lot these days. Do you have any solutions? How can we make Japanese schools a safer place for all students?
3) food in different countries: we watched a video about the history of pizza. As I told you, American pizza can be quite different from Japanese pizza. Think of some foods you have tried in both Japan and other countries. What were the differences? Which did you like better?

Post your blog by 12/7 OR 12/8.

Blog #8: free blog

Since there was a holiday this week (11/23), I will make this week a free blog. Write about anything you wish and post it by 11/30 (Mon/Th. class) or 12/1 (Wed/Fri. class).

Blog #7: pick a question

Since we talked about a variety of different topics last week, just choose one question below and answer it:
1) D-Mat: What is your reaction to the bid ($51.1 million) for Matsuzaka? Is any athlete worth that much money? Do you think Matsuzaka will succeed or fail in MLB? Why?
2) exotic foods: What are some interesting foods you have tried in your life? How were they? Please write about them so that more classmates can hear your experience!
3) pet-cloning: Are you for or against cloning pets? If you are for it, give some reasons. If you are against it, also give some reasons.

* Actually, I posted this assignment a little late, so you have until next Monday, November 27th to post your blog. I will post next week's blog on time!

Blog #6: Who was most impressive?

This week in class, you listened to many presentations about great Japanese athletes. Out of all the groups you heard, however, who do you think was most impressive? Based on the contents of the presentation, which athlete do you think is the most inspirational or outstanding? DO NOT CHOOSE YOUR OWN ATHLETE--you must choose someone presented by another group. Post your blog by Thursday November 16th (class 7/10) or Friday November 17th (class 11).

Sports Unit Quiz

In the class after your presentations, you will have a short Sports Unit Quiz. I have put all the materials on the blog in case you are missing anything. The only materials that will be covered on the quiz are: 1) Sports Idioms: Dating 2) Controversial Sports Stars (Pete Rose, Bobby Knight, and Lance Armstrong 3) Jackie Robinson Story

Sports Idioms I: Dating

Sports Idioms

I. Dating. Read the dialogue below. Underline any expressions you see that come from sports. Also, try to choose which sport each expression comes from.

Speaker B had a date with the girl of his dreams last night, but it didn’t go so well. Now he’s discussing the situation with his friend.

A: So, how was your date with Angelina last night?
B: Not so good. I struck out again.
A: Really? Did you finally get to first base?
B: No, she wouldn’t even let me hold her hand! The problem is that she’s very picky. She wants someone rich, macho, and funny, but I don’t have money or muscles, so that’s two strikes against me.
A: Well, are you going to see her again?
B: Sure. It might be a no-win situation, but I can’t throw in the towel already.
A: But don’t you think she’s out of your league?
B: Of course not. It may be a long shot, but next time I see her I’m going to plan a really romantic evening and try to win her over.
A: Well, that sounds like a good game plan. I hope you can score next time!
B: I’ll do what I can. It ain’t over until it’s over.
A: And if not, that’s just the way the ball bounces…

II. Matching. Match the definition with the expression.

___ to strike out

___ to get to first base

___ have two strikes against you

___ no-win situation

___ throw in the towel

___ That’s the way the ball bounces

___ out of your league

___ a long shot

___ a game plan

___ to score

___ It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.

a) To be close to failing; have only one more chance
b) To give up
c) To feel that someone is better than you
d) A strategy; option
e) To achieve something; get something good
f) To kiss a girl
g) To have little chance of winning or succeeding
h) You always have a chance until something is officially finished
i) To be hopeless; there’s nothing you can do to get what you want
j) To fail
k) To have no control over something

III. Practice. Repeat the bold-faced expressions as you practice.

1) How do you feel when you strike out at something? Do you get really upset? Or do you get ready to try again?
2) How many dates do you think a young couple should have before the guy can get to first base?
3) If you think you are in a no-win situation, do you throw in the towel? Or do you never give up?
4) Do you sometimes say “That’s the way the ball bounces?” Or do you think you have control over EVERYTHING in life?
5) If you think someone is out of your league but you really like him/her, will you still try to get them?
6) Do you think Japan is a long shot to win the Soccer World Cup someday soon? Or do they have a good chance?
7) Do you have a good game plan for after you graduate? Or are you still thinking about what to do?
8) When is the last time you thought, “I scored”? What was something good that happened to you recently?
9) If you are watching sports on TV and your team is losing badly, do you throw in the towel and turn off the TV? Or do you say “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over”?

Controversial Sports Stars

Pete Rose: the Rise and Fall of Charlie Hustle

Pete Rose is one of the most famous, competitive, and hardworking baseball players in American history. Yet, he is not even in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Why not? More on that later.

Rose was nicknamed Charlie Hustle for his hard-nosed style of play and enthusiastic approach to baseball. He always gave 100% when on the field. Because of his hard work and dedication, Rose was one of the most consistent hitters in baseball throughout his 23-year playing career. He also appeared in 17 All-Star games!

Rose’s most shining moment on the field, however, occurred on September 11^th, 1985. On this night in Cincinnati, Rose broke the all-time hits record by getting his 4, 192^nd hit. This was a record that most baseball fans had thought would never be broken, and the fans that night gave Rose a seven-minute standing ovation.

Of course Rose retired many years ago. But, he is no longer involved with baseball. In fact, Rose isn’t even allowed to have anything to do with Major League Baseball. Why is this? And why isn’t Charlie Hustle in the Hall of Fame? Despite his greatness, Rose destroyed everything with his greatest weakness—gambling. Rose is rumored to have bet up to $10,000 a day on baseball. This doesn’t seem so bad, but the problem is that Rose was gambling on baseball while he was the manager of a pro baseball team! Some people think that Rose might have even bet against his own team.

Because of his gambling addiction, Rose was banned from baseball in 1989. Although he has fought for years to reverse this lifetime ban, he is still not allowed to have any relationship with Major League Baseball. And that is why one of the greatest baseball players of all time is not in the Hall of Fame and may never be…

Glossary:

1) Baseball Hall of Fame: a kind of museum in Cooperstown, New York where only the greatest players can be voted in.
2) hard-nosed: tough; aggressive
3) consistent: steady; always good
4) rumored to be: has not been proven to be true, but many people think
5) bet: to gamble
6) addiction: something you cannot stop doing; i.e. drugs, gambling

Lance Armstrong: Hero or Cheater?

Lance Armstrong is a modern American hero. He put the sport of cycling on the map. Although Americans usually prefer team contact sports like football or baseball, Armstrong is now a household name in the US. Armstrong’s amazing cycling feat was winning the prestigious Tour de France seven years in a row.

Armstrong, however, almost lost his life before even getting his first victory. In late 1996, Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which had also spread to his lungs and brain. Doctors told him he had a less than 40% chance of surviving, but he miraculously beat cancer and then returned to professional cycling in 1998! Armstrong is also greatly respected for what he has done outside of cycling. After beating cancer, Armstrong established the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars for cancer victims and survivors.

Despite being a hero for his cycling achievements and charity work, Armstrong also has many critics. Many people believe that Armstrong has used performance enhancing drugs, as cycling is known for many doping incidents. Although he claims he has never used steroids, many people say otherwise. For example, his former masseuse claims that he asked her to throw away his used syringes and she gave him make up to cover needle marks on his arms. In addition, a former teammate says that he saw boxes of drugs while cleaning Armstrong’s apartment. Finally, some French newspapers claim that Armstrong has tested positive for steroids.

Did Lance Armstrong use steroids to help him become the world’s greatest cyclist? Only he knows the answer for sure. Until he is found guilty, he will remain an American hero.

Glossary:
1) put…on the map: make something well-known
2) a household name: someone who is well-known by all kinds of people
3) prestigious: high-level, respected
4) testicular cancer: a type of cancer that only men can get (usually younger men)
5) critics: people who say bad things about another
6) performance enhancing drugs: drugs like steroids which athletes use to help them get stronger or faster, etc.
7) masseuse: a person who gives massages professionally
8) syringes: needles for doing drugs

Bobby Knight: General or a Jerk?

Bobby Knight is one of the most successful and respected coaches in American college basketball history. Despite all his success, in 2000 he was fired by Indiana University, where he had coached for nearly 30 years. Why was such a legendary coach fired? More on that later…

Bobby Knight is nicknamed “The General,” probably because of his disciplinarian style. When he coaches, he looks like a drill sergeant with his intimidating presence. His old school style has had great results in getting the most out of his players. These days, many college basketball players leave college early for the big bucks of the NBA. As a coach, however, Knight’s players have one of the highest graduation rates among American schools. Many players’ parents have praised Knight for turning their sons into men with strong work ethics. Knight has also been successful, leading his teams to three national titles, including an undefeated 32-0 record in 1976. He also led the American team to a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.

Despite all this success as a coach, Knight’s downfall has always been his quick temper. His temper has gotten him into trouble countless times over the years. During a game, he once slapped another coach in the back of the head. Another time, he got so angry at a referee that he threw a chair across the court. Even in the office, a former secretary claims that Knight once threw a plant at her. Because of all these embarrassing moments, the university put Knight on a “zero tolerance policy.” This meant that if he had just one more problem, he would be fired. He didn’t last long. In 2000, after a student shouted at him, “Hey Knight, what’s up?” Knight grabbed the student by the arm and gave him a lecture about manners. This was the last straw, and Knight was soon fired, despite being one of the most successful coaches in college basketball history.

Glossary:

1) disciplinarian: someone (like a teacher or coach) who is tough and strict and often punishes students or coaches
2) drill sergeant: a member of the army who trains new recruits—usually by shouting at them (in the old days, anyway)
3) intimidating: someone who is big or strict that makes others afraid of him/her
4) old school: refers to an old-fashioned style; usually means strict or conservative
5) big bucks: lots of money
6) downfall: weakness or reason for failure
7) zero tolerance policy: a situation where someone will, for example, be fired if they make just one more mistake
8) the last straw: a final mistake that gets someone into big trouble

Jackie Robinson Story

THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947. He was the first African-American to play in the Major Leagues. Upon the 50^th anniversary of this occasion, then President Bill Clinton said that Robinson “changed the face of baseball, and America forever.”

Jackie was an amazing athlete who starred in baseball, football, basketball, and track at the University of California at Los Angeles. Despite his success at UCLA, it was still difficult for Robinson to find work or prove his talents. At the end of WWII, America was still a very segregated society. (Segregated means that black and white were separated.) In addition to baseball, the military, public schools, and public transportation were still segregated.

While waiting for a job, Robinson was drafted by the US Army. (drafted=the army chooses you to join.) In the military, black and white troops were still segregated. (segregated=separated) Although Robinson worked hard and advanced through the army ranks, he also had some trouble. When he was asked to move to the back of the bus, he was refused. He was almost kicked out of the army for this.

After leaving the army, Jackie got a job playing baseball in the Negro League. Although he loved playing baseball, salaries and conditions in the Negro League were terrible. It was described as “playing baseball, getting on the bus, eating, sleeping, and playing baseball again.” No matter how tired or hungry the players were, there were still some many restaurants in the South which wouldn’t serve them.

While playing in the Negro League, Robinson was noticed by a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers (now the L.A. Dodgers). Branch Rickey was the president and general manager of the Dodgers. It had long been his dream to hire a black player to play for the Dodgers. Forty years earlier, Rickey was coaching a minor league team with one black player. When the team checked into a hotel, the black player was not allowed to stay at the hotel. The player broke down in tears and Rickey vowed (=promised) that one day he would end such injustice in America.

Rickey and Robinson met in 1945. They had a long and intense three-hour meeting. It took so long because Rickey wanted to make sure Robinson was the right player to break the color barrier. He needed someone with the right character to make such a historic move. After talking with Robinson, he was finally convinced that Robinson was the right man.

When Robinson joined the Dodgers, it was just the beginning of his struggle. Some of his teammates didn’t want to play with a black player. They started signing a petition (=a paper you sign to try to stop some action) saying that they wouldn’t play if Robinson joined the team. Finally, the manager of the Dodgers stopped this by saying, “I don’t care if he’s black or yellow or has stripes like a zebra. I’m the manager and I say he’s playing!”

Grammar Point: Before I die!

Just a quick grammar point. In your presentations and one your blogs, some people have written sentences like this:

" I want to visit Disneyland until I die."

X...until I die O before I die

"Before I die" means you will do that thing at least one time BEFORE you die. "Until I die" means you will continue to do that thing until you die.

Therefore:

"I want to visit Disneyland until I die"="I want to stay at Disneyland from now UNTIL I die!"