Simple Past Tense (Regular and Irregular Verbs)

Start here. Almost every conversation about sports and exercise uses the simple past. This lesson covers regular verbs (walked, jogged, trained) and irregular verb forms (ran, went, won, fell) so you can follow and join discussions about past athletic experiences with confidence.

A Hiking Family

Randall describes taking his four children hiking and camping in Utah as a way to stay close as a family. He talks about telling stories on long desert hikes and working through problems together. A warm introduction to the outdoor theme of this path, and good early practice for following a personal narrative in English at natural speed.

Cycling

Randall talks about cycling as a popular outdoor activity, covering the equipment you need (bike, helmet, lights, tool kit, portable pump, CO2 cartridge) and the importance of knowing your abilities before heading out on the road. A short, practical video that introduces vocabulary around cycling gear and safety, and invites you to compare it to other activities like running and swimming.

Exercise Program

Michael describes an elaborate weekly exercise program to his friend Josh, including early morning jogs, weightlifting sessions, and weekend hikes, but Josh knows none of it is true. A lively, humorous exchange that builds vocabulary around exercise routines and fitness goals and gives you practice following fast, natural conversation between two speakers.

Martial Arts

A man attempts to rob a woman as she walks out of a karate studio, unaware that she is a fifth-degree black belt with 25 years of training. A short, dramatic scene with a humorous ending that gives you practice following fast, high-stakes dialogue.

Comparatives (faster than, as strong as, less tiring than)

Comparatives are essential for talking about sports and fitness. This lesson covers all three forms: greater (faster than), equal (as strong as), and lesser (less tiring than), so you can understand and use comparisons in natural conversation.

World Cup Soccer

A frustrated soccer fan explains to a friend why his team was knocked out of the World Cup. A humorous exchange that builds vocabulary around soccer, tournament play, and sports commentary.

Running Shoes

A man needs running shoes to impress a woman he is dating who has completed 20 marathons, all under three hours. The sales associate gives him some very direct advice. Good practice for following a natural two-person conversation and for building vocabulary around running and honesty.

Passive Voice (All Tenses)

Sports reporting and race narration often use the passive voice to focus on what happened rather than who did it: “the record was broken,” “the race was held on mountain trails,” “the award was given for the most injured runner.” The grammar pays off directly in the next activity, where Randall describes his race in exactly this style.

Hiking Safety

Randall talks about trail running and hiking in Utah, where eight species of rattlesnakes live. He explains that rattlesnakes are important to the environment because they control rodent populations, and that since 1989 it has been illegal to kill them unless your life is threatened. His advice: stay calm, walk around the snake, give it space, and leave it alone. A short, practical video that builds vocabulary around outdoor safety and wildlife awareness.

Trail Running

Randall recounts a trail race in Provo Canyon, Utah, where things go wrong almost immediately. The most demanding listening on this path, with passive voice constructions used naturally throughout.

American Pastimes

Randall stands in front of a baseball field and talks about why Americans play sports like baseball and basketball — for exercise, to build relationships, and to learn teamwork. He shares a personal story about playing outfield as a child when his father coached the team, admitting that he spent most of his time picking flowers rather than watching the game. A lighthearted close to the path that connects individual fitness to the social side of sports culture in the United States.