Stories for English Learners

06. Back in the Day

Aprende expresiones idiomáticas y phasal verbs con las historias de este detective.

This English mystery course features 11 lessons full of expressions (idioms, phrasal verbs, etc.) and characters that your intermediate to advanced students will grow to love. Each episode features a dialogue between the famous Detective Bossley and one of his prime suspects. 06. Back in the Day.

Juan Carlos Martinez
December 1, 2022
Idioms Course
More stories

Detective’s Log

Clarissa and her brother have been through a lot. Aaron isn’t a big fan of school. He sure knows how to play pool, though. I played pool back in the day, but I’m pretty rusty now. Aaron thinks I should have a word with Danny, the captain of the football team. Mountain Berry is playing an away game today, so I’ll try to catch him on the sidelines.

Exercise A

Vocabulary for the story

Audio

Difficulty: Intermediate (B2)

Audio

Transcript

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Good game, Danny. It’s always tougher to win an away game.

DANNY: What do you know about football?

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Don’t jump to conclusions. I played football back in the day

DANNY: You? What made you trade your helmet for that ugly hat?

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Let’s just say I’m better at catching bad guys than spirals.

DANNY: Oh, really? Then why haven’t you solved this mystery yet? Another alarm went off today, in case you didn’t get the memo.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: I didn’t, actually. I was too busy watching your game. How did you hear about it?

DANNY: My girlfriend texted me.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Your girlfriend, huh? What’s her name?

DANNY: Don’t waste your time. Ella’s a language whiz. She doesn’t know the first thing about technology. She couldn’t pull this off.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Is that right?

DANNY: Why aren’t you questioning the tech-savvy kids? The rest of us wouldn’t have a clue how to get by the security cameras.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: You make a good point. Do you know any of those kids by name?

DANNY: Me? Ha. You should pay a visit to Mr. Murphy, the computer teacher

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: That’s not a bad idea. Hey, wanna throw the ball around for a bit?

DANNY: With you? Not a chance! Besides, I can’t be late for class. The last thing I need is to be in a teacher’s bad books. I’m counting on a football scholarship.

Exercise B

Comprehension

Why does the captain mention the detective’s hat?
Which of the following is true about the captain of the football team?
a) He just won the home opener.
b) He’s single.
c) He has a cell phone.
d) He’s tech-savvy.
Why does the football captain recommend talking to the computer teacher?
a) This teacher has a bad reputation with the principal.
b) Back in the day, this teacher was a fireman.
c) This teacher should know who the tech-savvy kids are.
d) The football captain is in this teacher’s bad books.
True or False? Detective Bossley now has a good reason to believe that the captain is behind the prank.
How does the captain react when the detective asks him if he wants to throw the ball around?

Exercise C - Writing

Writing Task: “The Role of Sports in Shaping Student Discipline and Academic Success”

Instructions:

Carefully read the provided story about the conversation between Detective Bossley and Danny, a football player at Mountain Berry High.
Write an essay discussing the role of sports in shaping student discipline and academic success, using Danny as an example.
Be sure to include at least 3 phrasal verbs from the story or any others you have learned in class. The phrasal verbs from the story include:
- jump to conclusions
- get the memo
- be in someone’s bad books
In your essay, address the following points:
- How can sports participation contribute to a student’s discipline, time management, and teamwork skills?
- In what ways can sports involvement influence a student’s academic performance and aspirations, such as aiming for a scholarship?
- How can schools and coaches support student-athletes to achieve a balance between their academic and sports commitments?
- What role should parents and the wider community play in encouraging students to engage in sports and maintain a balanced approach to their education?
Write a minimum of 250 words and a maximum of 500 words.

Remember to check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation before submitting the task. Use appropriate academic language and structure your essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Good luck!