Let’s talk about the Olympics!

Listening exercise

Read the following information in the chart.

Olympic Games
REMEMBER:

You can make a similar chart where you write the events that have already finished and the ones that were taking place in order to express your ideas in a better way. This will help you organize your ideas and thoughts in order for you to describe and talk about past events and situations taking place in the past. Later, you can decide which connector to use, whether when or while depending on the events and situations.

Events taking place in a particular time Connectors When/While Events that have already finished-or ongoing events
I was taking classes online when Japan’s 2020 Olympic Games took place in 2021. This was because of the pandemic.
Most of the Olympic competitions in Japan were taking place at night in my country while most people were sleeping. That was because, in Mexico we have a different time zone
I was doing homework and watching TV at the same time when Mexico won its first medal, a bronze one in Japan.
My brother likes swimming so much. In 2008, he was a huge fan of Phelps when he won 8 gold medals in Beijing’s Olympic Games.
Mexico’s National Soccer Team won its first Gold Medal in London 2012 Olympic Games when Brazil’s National Soccer Team won its third silver medal.
The 2020 Japan’s Olympic Games were taking place in 2021. while a pandemic was causing chaos, deaths and despair around the world.
Mexico’s 1968 Olympic Games started on October 12th when Just 10 days earlier, a massacre occurred in Tlatelolco, where hundreds of people were killed.
Writing exercise

Choose the best connector, when or while, and complete the sentences using the appropriate tense.

1. Japan’s Olympic Games took place in 2021 (when/while) (take) classes online. This was because of the pandemic.
while / was taking
2. Most of the Olympic competitions in Japan took place at night in my country (when/while) most people(sleep). That was because, in Mexico we have a different time zone.
while / were sleeping
3. Mexico (win) its first bronze medal (when/while) I was doing homework and watching TV.
won / while
4. My brother likes swimming so much. In 2008, he (be) a huge fan of Michael Phelps (when/while)he (win) 8 gold medals in Beijing’s Olympic Games.
was / when / won
5. Mexico’s National Soccer Team (win) its first Gold Medal in London 2012 Olympic Games (when/while)Brazil’s National Soccer Team won its third silver medal.
won / when
6. The 2020 Japan’s Olympic Games (take) place (when/while) a pandemic was causing chaos, deaths and despair around the world.
were taking / while
7. Mexico’s 1968 Olympic Games started on October 12th, (when/while) just 10 days earlier, a massacre (occur) in la Plaza de las Tres Culturas, where hundreds of people were killed.
when / ocurred
Excellent job! Now record yourself using the information shown in each sentence. Then, compare your work to the one given below. Listen to it.
Self-evaluation

My speaking performance.

Yes No
1. My pronunciation was good enough to understand what I was saying.
2. My pronunciation was similar to the role models given in the activity.
3. My intonation was suitable when I was saying the sentences.
4. I was fluent when saying the sentences.