English speaking lesson · Learning & Leisure
Joining a sports club
You're at a local sports club asking about joining one of their teams. You practise it as a real conversation, at whichever of the four levels fits you — the room and the steps stay the same, only the words get harder.
A local sports club · you talk to the club secretary
Free plan: 10 messages a day. No card needed.
What you have to do
Say you'd like to join, describe your ability, find out about training, and sign up. You finish the lesson by getting there in conversation — not by answering questions about it. Nothing is corrected while you talk; the corrections are collected and handed to you at the end.
How it opens
Hi! Are you looking to join us?
Spoken aloud by the tutor playing the club secretary.
The 5 steps that finish it
A step clears when you say the thing that clears it. The steps are identical at all four levels — only the example line fades, and at Natural there is none at all.
- 01
Say you'd like to join
Say you'd like to join the club.
“Hi! I'd like to join the club.”
- 02
Describe your ability
Say what level you play at.
“I play football — for two years.”
- 03
Ask about training
Ask when training is.
“When is training?”
- 04
Check it works
Check the training times work for you.
“Twice a week? That's good for me.”
- 05
Sign up
Give your details, and say how you'd like to pay.
“My name is Sam — by card, please!”
The words, at all four levels
The same room and the same steps, four vocabularies. These are the words the lesson listens for and scores you on — with what each one means and how it sounds when you are talking to the club secretary.
Starter
A1 – A2Simple, everyday words with a full hint on every step.
- join
- to become part of something
- “I'd like to join the club.”
- club
- a group who meet for an activity
- “I'd like to join the club.”
- football
- a popular team sport
- “I play football.”
- play
- to take part in a sport
- “I play football.”
- years
- a long period of time
- “For two years.”
- training
- practice sessions for a sport
- “When is training?”
- week
- seven days
- “Twice a week?”
- good
- acceptable, fine
- “That's good for me.”
- name
- what you are called
- “My name is Sam.”
- card
- a bank card you pay with
- “By card, please.”
Conversational
A2 – B1Common words at a natural pace, with hints to lean on.
- team
- a group who play together
- “Which team would suit me?”
- casual
- relaxed, not highly competitive
- “I'm a fairly casual player.”
- competitive
- focused on winning
- “Is it very competitive?”
- regularly
- at consistent, repeated intervals
- “I've played regularly for years.”
- sessions
- individual practice meetings
- “How many sessions a week?”
- fixtures
- scheduled matches
- “When are the fixtures?”
- membership
- the right to belong to a club
- “What's the membership fee?”
- manageable
- possible to handle or fit in
- “That's manageable for me.”
- sign
- to formally join — 'sign up'
- “Could I sign up today?”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for something
- “I appreciate the info.”
Confident
B1 – B2Richer, more specific words, with only light hints.
- standard
- the general level of play
- “What's the standard like?”
- league
- an organised competition of teams
- “Which league do you play in?”
- recreational
- played for enjoyment, not competition
- “I'm more recreational.”
- consistent
- happening regularly and reliably
- “I've been fairly consistent.”
- attendance
- how often you turn up
- “Is attendance expected weekly?”
- squad
- the full group of players
- “How big is the squad?”
- subscription
- a regular membership payment
- “What's the annual subscription?”
- trial
- a session to assess your ability
- “Is there a trial first?”
- sorted
- arranged and settled
- “That's sorted, thanks.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for
- “I'd appreciate that.”
Natural
B2 – C1Advanced, idiomatic words — no hints at all.
- rusty
- out of practice
- “I'm a bit rusty these days.”
- handy
- quite good at something (informal)
- “I was fairly handy once.”
- commitment
- the time and effort required
- “What's the commitment like?”
- juggle
- to manage several things at once
- “I'll have to juggle work around it.”
- banter
- friendly, joking conversation
- “Is there decent banter?”
- socials
- the club's social events
- “Are there socials too?”
- dive
- to start something enthusiastically (informal)
- “I'm keen to dive straight in.”
- obliged
- grateful for a favour
- “Much obliged, thank you.”
- sorted
- dealt with and settled
- “Great, that's sorted.”
- cheers
- informal thanks
- “Cheers, see you at training.”
More Learning & Leisure lessons
- At the library
- Buying event tickets
- A museum visit
- Joining a class
- Joining a hobby group
- A language exchange
- A group project