Part One
Discuss the following questions with a group or partner:
- What do you know about the Super Bowl? (What, When, Where, Why?)
- Do you know much about football?
- What is the biggest sports event every year in your opinion?
Part Two
You are going to listen to a conversation about the American tradition of Super Bowl parties.
Exercise
Please listen to this recording at ELLLO and click the Exercise link to continue. Please listen to the recording below and click the Exercise link to continue.
Transcript
Melissa: So, the Super Bowl is coming up, and what do you think about football?
Person 1: I think it's really interesting. This Japanese guy recently told me it was the most interesting sport to watch because of the rules, but unfortunately, I don't really know the rules, so I have a hard time following it.
Melissa: Really? But you're American. You don't like American football?
Person 1: I'm more of a basketball fan, because when I watch it, I can easily understand what's going on, and when I'm watching football, everyone around me just screams and they don't really tell me what's going on.
Melissa: Right. But the Super Bowl, that's like the biggest game of the year, right? So you go to Super Bowl parties, right?
Person 1: Yeah, my sister's crazy about football, and she has Super Bowl parties, but I haven't really lived in America for the past three years, and before that, I was in college, and I never really went to one. How about you?
Melissa: Oh, yeah, I'm huge. I mean, it's the biggest, biggest day of the year for me. What's your favorite team?
Person 1: Well, my team is terrible now, the 49ers, so they're never, ever in the Super Bowl.
Melissa: Oh, okay.
Person 1: Yeah. Yeah, that's cool. San Francisco. But the thing I think is great about Super Bowl Sunday is it's really, it's like the silent American holiday.
Melissa: Yes. You know what I mean?
Person 1: Yeah. Like, it's the one day where everybody gets together and watches the game and has a good time.
Melissa: Yeah.
Person 1: Philadelphia and Philadelphia fans of all sports are totally wild and crazy, and they just go all out, so a lot of my family members and friends go crazy about the Eagles games.
Melissa: So, have you ever been to a professional game?
Person 1: I haven't. I haven't been to a professional football game.
Melissa: Now, what about college? Did you have a big college team?
Person 1: No, I don't think so. We had a good basketball team at the University of Arizona, the Wildcats, but football, I don't really recall having a good football team.
Melissa: So when you watch the Super Bowl, I mean, usually the best part is the commercials, right?
Person 1: Oh, yeah. So they have the commercials. So you watch those, don't you?
Melissa: To be honest, I can't remember watching the Super Bowl in recent years.
Person 1: Wow.
Melissa: Yeah.
Person 1: Here it is. It's the best day of the year, and you don't remember ever seeing it?
Melissa: I mean, I remember watching it, but I remember being more into the food that was all around me.
Person 1: Right, right. Fair enough. Sorry.
Melissa: But if you invite me this year, I'll come.
Person 1: Oh, cool.