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Summary
In the second part of "The Time Traveling Treehouse," Anna finds the answer to this question: How do you play baseball?"
Speaking
In this video, learn about agent nouns. These are nouns that indicate someone or something that performs the action of a verb. Usually, they end in " -er."
Pronunciation
Use this video to learn American English pronunciation for the "er" ending of agent nouns.
Conversation
Coworker 2: It is time for part two of the children’s show!
Coworker 1: It’s time! It’s time! I can’t wait!
Coworker 3: Shh! I can’t hear it!
Announcer: Last time on "The Time Traveling Treehouse," Anna was lost, really lost. She wants to learn about baseball. But her computer, MINDY, sent her to many wrong places.
Anna: MINDY! Help me! I am in the ocean with a shark!
MINDY: I will try one more time, Anna.
Anna: Please try harder, MINDY!
Anna: Now, where am I? I am at a playground with a baseball field! Yes! I can teach children about baseball here! MINDY, MINDY, it took you a long time. But you did it!
MINDY: Thanks, Anna. Give me a call when you find the answer.
Anna: Okay. Come with me. Let’s learn how to play baseball! This is a baseball field. This is a pitcher's mound. This is first base! This is second base! This is third base! This is home plate!
Anna: To play baseball, you really only need a bat, a ball and a glove. Each team has many players.
Pitchers pitch the ball.
Catchers catch the ball.
Batters bat the ball.
Runners run the bases.
Fielders field the ball.
Anna: First, the pitcher pitches the ball to the batter. The batter bats the ball. Then, the runner runs to first base.
Anna: Each time a batter bats, the runners run around the bases. Each time a runner runs across home plate, they score a run! There are nine innings in a game. The team with the most runs at the end of nine innings wins the game!
Anna: MINDY, MINDY, we found the answer! It’s time to return to the treehouse.
MINDY: Good job! That was fast.
Coworker 3: Good job Anna. You know, I still don't like children's shows, but I like this children's show.
Coworker 2: I liked the time travel.
Coworker 1: But time travel is not real. You’re so silly, Anna.
Anna: Yeah, time travel is so silly. Thanks, goodbye. Bye, thank you.
Anna: Hello, MINDY? Are you there?
MINDY: Hello, Anna.
Anna: MINDY, I want to go to China! Until next time …
Writing
Do you work with or play on a team? Did you work with or play on a team in the past? Write to us by email or in the Comments section.
Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about a sequence of events using agent nouns.
Activity Sheet Lesson 33
Learning Strategy
Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson isSequence. Sequence means thinking about how one event or action follows another.
For example, Anna says, "First, the pitcher pitches the ball to the batter. The batter bats the ball. Then, the runner runs to first base."
Can you find an example in the lesson of a sequence (hint: it follows "We found the answer!")? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.
Quiz
Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz.
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New Words
bat - v. to hit (something, such as a ball) with a bat or club
batter - n. baseball. a player who is trying to hit the ball
catcher - n. baseball. the player who plays behind home plate and catches the pitches thrown by the pitcher
catch - v. to use your hands to stop and hold (an object that is moving through the air)
field - v. baseball or cricket. to catch or stop and throw a ball
fielder – n. baseball or cricket. a player who is in the field while the opposing team is batting
glove - n. baseball. a padded leather covering for the hand that is used to catch the ball and that has individual thumb and finger sections
harder - adj. (try harder) working or doing something with more energy
inning - n.baseball. one of the usually nine parts of a game in which each team bats until three outs are made
mound - n. the slightly raised area of ground on which a baseball pitcher stands
out* - adv. baseball. no longer batting or on a base because of a play made by the other team
pitch – v. baseball. to throw a baseball to a batter
pitcher – n. baseball. the player who throws the ball to the batter in baseball
player - n. a person who plays a sport or game
runner - n. baseball. a player who is on base or is trying to reach a base
* This word is not in the conversation but may be used for further explanation of the game of baseball
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Free Materials
Word Book
Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website.
Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice agent nouns.
For Teachers
Lesson Plan - Lesson 33: Learning America's Sport
See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions.
Grammar focus: Agent Nouns
Topics: Complimenting someone's ability; Explaining how to play a sport or activity
Learning Strategy: Sequence
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Agent Nouns; American pronunciation of "er" endings
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Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.
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