Beep Baseball
I will send out some handy tips and useful exercises for adults learning to navigate and use the English language each week. Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues.
Beep Baseball was created in 1976 in Chicago, Illinois to allow the blind and visually impaired to participate in this home-grown American sport. The balls emit a beeping sound so the players can find the ball and spotters can call out a number to signify which part of the field a ball is traveling toward. There are over 200 teams across the U.S. and the sport has been adopted in France, German, Italy and England.
Reading Tip
Language Level – B2
Learn more about the rules and how to play Beep Baseball through Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beep_baseball
Listening Tip
Language Level – B1
Watch this video about the 2023 World Series of Beep Baseball. Turn on the CC to read along.
Grammar Tip
Language Level – B2
Discourse Markers – Discourse markers are very important to structure text or speech to connect sentences in a meaningful and logical way. They express contrast, reason, purpose, result, etc. Here are a few:
By the way / incidentally
Used to change the subject, to say something you have just thought about that doesn’t have to be connected to what was being said before.
- Well, it has been a very productive meeting, don’t you think? By the way/Incidentally, what time is it?
- I’ll try to fix my car this afternoon. By the way/Incidentally, do you still have that screwdriver that I lent you?
Actually / in fact / as a matter of fact
Used to introduce information that might be in some way surprising or unexpected.
- I don’t like chicken. Actually/In fact/As a matter of fact, I have only ever eaten chicken once.
- Everybody thinks he has a terrible temper, but actually/in fact/as a matter of fact, he is very kind.
Anyway / in any case
Used to return to an earlier subject after a digression or to get to the most interesting point.
- It’s not so strange to lose documents. It happens to lots of people all the time. Anyway/In any case, we finally found the passports in …
Used to give a more important reason for something you are saying.
- I’m too tired to go, and it’s too late, and anyway/in any case, it’s too expensive.
As I was saying
Used to return to an earlier subject in the conversation after an interruption or digression.
- As I was saying, we could get up early and spend the whole day there.
After all
Used to introduce an additional point that supports or explains what you have just said.
- I might understand her better than you; after all, she is my wife.
- Don’t be too hard on him. After all, he is just a kid.
Used to say that something is true despite what is believed or said.
- He is not such a bad professional, after all.
At least
Used to introduce positive information when talking about something negative.
- Lots of people got injured in the accident, but at least nobody died.
- I finished last in the race, but at least I finished.
Used to reduce the effect of something we have said or to make something less certain or definite.
- He knows the president, or at least that’s what he says.
Let’s Practice!
Use one of the discourse markers above (or another one not listed) to change the meaning of each of the sentences below:
- I think we can declare the meeting closed. ________, who is going to have lunch at the cafe today?
- ___________ the most qualified candidates get the promotions regardless of race or gender.
- I will help him. __________ he has always been there for me.
- _________ our objective to to improve productivity and quality at the same time.
- __________ we had better find a quick solution to this crisis.
- ______________ our customers might lose faith in us.
- I think John needs to talk to you about something. ______________ he has lost a few pounds and looks fantastic!
- _______________ the termites have infested the entire building.
Vocabulary Tip
Language Level – B2
We continue to add to our vocabulary words from the Oxford 3000.
A list of 3000 words someone should know if they are taking the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) language tests.
- Commission (n,v)
- Commitment (n)
- Committee (n)
- Commonly (adv)
- Complex (n)
- Complicated (adj)
- Component (n)
- Concentration (n)
- Concept (n)
- Concern (n, v)
Study these words with this quizlet.
Each week new words are added to the same quizlet, so all of the B2 level words will be in one list for practice.
Weekly Challenge
Language Level – C1
Spelling Test!
Choose the correct spelling in each of the sentences below:
- I find it difficult to (loath/ loathe) a professional sportsman, but he makes it easier.
- You must wear earplugs (too/to) soften the gunshot.
- A cat takes 20-40 (breaths/breathes) per minute.
- John, are you taking Simon to watch (you’re/your) sister sing in that show?
- It is found by experience that admirable laws and right (precedence/precedents) among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others. (Cornelius Tacitus, AD 55-117)
- My wife will have (too/to) find a new job.
- This is the perfect time of year to (appraise/apprise) our values.
- My daughter tells me that it is fashionable to wear jeans that are very (loose/lose) around the waist.
Questions?
