Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
The best basketball games come down to one shot in the final seconds of the game. In games that close, the Houston Rockets often give the ball to Shane Battier, because when they do, they tend to win.
Shane is very cool-headed, so not only does he make a good go-to guy when the stakes are high, he’s also a strong leader for his team. Shane brings his team together and helps make sure everyone does what they have to do to play the best game they can. But sometimes, it all comes down to Shane, the ball, and one final shot. That’s what we met up with Shane to talk about after a recent practice.
3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
![]() |
![]() Shane |
Jason: I’m Jason. This is English, baby! and I’m here with Shane Battier. Shane, how are you today?
Shane: I’m doing great, Jason.
Jason: According to some stat reports, you are the best last-second shooter in the NBA. Can you tell us what a buzzer beater means?
Shane: Well, a buzzer beater is a shot in basketball that comes right before the clock hits zero and the buzzer goes off. So, a true buzzer beater, you release the ball and while the ball is in the air, the buzzer sounds, and then you make the shot.
Jason: Nice.
Shane: And it still counts because the ball was shot before the buzzer went off.
Jason: What goes into throwing up a buzzer beater? What’s different about a last second-shot than a regular shot?
Shane: You have to have awareness. You have to know what the clock is at because the clock may hit zero and the ball has to leave your hand before the buzzer goes off. So, you just have to have awareness…
Jason: OK.
Shane: ...and concentration.
Jason: And so…Are you a last-second guy in other aspects of your life? Like, it’s the holiday season. Are you gonna be a last-second shopper?
Shane: I work better under pressure.
Jason: OK.
Shane: When I have a time constraint, when I know I have to get something done, I usually work a little harder. So, I’m a guy who works better under pressure.
Jason: Cool. You speak some Chinese. You go over to China frequently. Do you ever speak Chinese with Yao or with the other players in the league?
Shane: I speak Chinese with Yao sometimes, especially after my trips, but he looks at me like I’m crazy.
Jason: Really?
Shane: And he asks me what I’m trying to say. And so my Chinese isn’t very good, but it’s improving every year. I just want to say, Nǐ hǎo” to all my friends in China and go Rockets and I’ll see you guys next summer.
Jason: Alright. And can I get you to give me a high-five and say, “English, baby!” in the air?
Shane: English, baby!
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Modal Verbs" from this lesson
Quizzes
Lesson MP3
The iTEP® test
-
Sponsored by
Discussion
Shane Battier explains that in basketball, a last-second shot is when you shoot the ball at the basket, and while it’s in the air time runs out and the game ends. But since you shot it before the buzzer, if it goes in, it counts.
Shane is better at buzzer beaters than anyone else in the NBA. That’s because he works well under pressure. If he waits until the last second to buy his Christmas gifts, he’s likely to buy better stuff!
Every year, Shane visits China. He appears in ads for Peak shoes. He’s learning Chinese, but he can’t quite hold down a conversation with Yao Ming in Mandarin yet.
Do you like to do things at the last-second? Do you work well under pressure?
To learn more about Shane Battier and see some of his shoe commercials, visit our blog.
Comments
Indonesia |
Taiwan |
China |
China |
China |
Ukraine |
Germany |
China |
United Arab Emirates |
Turkey |
Brazil |
Colombia |
Saudi Arabia |
Thailand |
Colombia |
Mexico |
Sudan |
Costa Rica |
Costa Rica |
Egypt |