Learn English : Listen to News : NFL Drafts First Openly Gay Player
photo Tara Benwell Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.

dateline: 13 May 2014

NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN πŸ”ˆ

NFL Drafts First Openly Gay Player

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

  • NFL: National Football League (US)
  • draft: to pick a player to join a team
  • defensive lineman: a player in American football whose main job is to prevent the other team from scoring
  • maintain: to continue having the same viewpoint or feeling
  • trailblazer: a person who causes something new or different to become acceptable

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NFL Drafts First Openly Gay Player

Michael Sam became the NFL’s first openly gay football player this week when he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams. The defensive lineman last February when he himself as homosexual. Sam said that hearing his name called by the NFL was the biggest moment of his life. The coach of the St. Louis Rams said this was a football decision, but that the team was the historic moment. President Barack Obama issued a statement congratulating Michael Sam, the NFL, and the St. Louis Rams for “taking an important step forward” in their “nation’s .” Michael Sam has always maintained that he wants to be known as a football player a trailblazer.

  1. What milestone is mentioned in this report?
  2. What did Michael Sam do last February?
  3. Who congratulated Michael Sam, and why?

Discussion Question: Michael Sam may be the first openly gay football player to play in the NFL, but he is not the first gay player. Why do you think President Obama felt so strongly about supporting this draft pick? Would a world leader do this in your native country?

NFL Drafts First Openly Gay Player

Michael Sam became the NFL’s first openly gay football player this week when he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams. The defensive lineman made headlines last February when he identified himself as homosexual. Sam said that hearing his name called by the NFL was the biggest moment of his life. The coach of the St. Louis Rams said this was a football decision, but that the team was proud to be part of the historic moment. President Barack Obama issued a statement congratulating Michael Sam, the NFL, and the St. Louis Rams for “taking an important step forward” in their “nation’s journey”. Michael Sam has always maintained that he wants to be known as a football player rather than a trailblazer.

  1. Michael Sam became the first openly gay football player to be drafted by an NFL team.
  2. Last February Michael Sam revealed that he was homosexual.
  3. President Barack Obama congratulated Michael Sam because he felt it was an important step forward for his nation.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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