Hey, everyone! Welcome back to The Quick Learning Podcast! I’m Teacher Jessica, and I’m so excited about today’s episode because we’re diving into one of the biggest events of the year: the Super Bowl. And to help me break it all down, I’ve brought in someone who knows football and how to make learning fun— my fellow teacher and sports enthusiast, Jack.
Hey, Jessica! Thanks for having me on. I’ve been looking forward to this episode all week because, honestly, the Super Bowl is like Christmas for football fans.
Totally! The Super Bowl is not just another game— it’s one of the most important sports events in the world, and even if you’re not a football fan, it’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement. The halftime show, the food, the ads… There’s just so much going on.
Yes, it’s such a huge event! Plus, it’s a perfect opportunity to learn more about American culture and practice some new English vocabulary.
Exactly— that’s what we’re here for!
Alright, where do we start?
How about the commercials?
Haha, the commercials? Really?
I mean, come on, the creativity in some of those ads is next level!
Okay, fair point. It really is.
Do you have a favorite commercial from past Super Bowls?
Oh, definitely the one with the puppy and the horse. Do you remember that one?
Oh yeah! Total classic.
That one hit me right in the heart. What about you?
For me, it’s got to be any of the Doritos ads. They’re always ridiculous but so funny. And I love how they’ve become this running tradition.
They have!
I wonder how much companies actually spend just to get a few seconds of airtime during the Super Bowl.
Oh, it’s insanely expensive. For the 2023 Super Bowl, a 30-second ad cost around $7 million.
Seven million for half a minute?! That’s wild.
I know! But when you think about it, over a 100 million people watch the Super Bowl every year, so for advertisers, it’s worth it.
It must be.
And it’s not just the airtime— they also spend millions more producing the commercials. I read somewhere that companies like Budweiser or Coca-Cola sometimes spend as much on production as they do on the ad slot itself.
That’s true. They know people actually look forward to the commercials, which is rare. It’s like a mini movie premiere in the middle of the game!
Exactly! The ads are now part of the whole Super Bowl experience, just like… guacamole!
Oh, you’re so right! Guacamole has to be the number one Super Bowl snack, isn’t it?
It is! Did you know Americans consume about a 120 million pounds of avocados on Super Bowl Sunday?
Wait— 120 million pounds? That’s insane! I can’t even picture that many avocados.
I know, right? But let’s be honest— we’ve definitely contributed to that number over the years.
Oh, for sure. I can’t watch a game without a giant bowl of guac on the table.
It’s just not Super Bowl Sunday without it.
Okay, let’s talk about the actual game for a second. Do you remember your first Super Bowl?
Oh, yeah! It was when the Packers beat the Steelers in 2011. I was at a friend’s house, completely clueless about the rules, just trying to figure out what was going on. But it was so much fun! What about you?
Mine was the Patriots’ comeback against the Falcons in 2017.
Oh, that was a crazy game!
I know, right? I didn’t know much about the game either, and honestly, I didn’t even care who won. But the energy was unreal— it completely drew me in. That’s the moment I became a football fan.
It’s funny how so many people become football fans because of the Super Bowl. I’ve talked to a lot of people who shared that same experience— starting out knowing nothing about the rules, the players, or the strategies. But after watching the Super Bowl, they’re hooked and want to learn everything about it.
I think that’s because American football is such a complex sport. There’s so much to learn— the penalties, the fouls, even the hand signals. It can be pretty intimidating at first. For example, how would you explain a “touchdown” to someone who’s new to football?
That’s an easy one! A touchdown happens when the ball gets into the opponent’s end zone.
I mean, yes, but then you’d have to explain that it’s worth six points, that the team earns the chance to score an extra point or go for two, and that they only have four chances to advance 10 yards to keep possession of the ball. It’s a lot to take in!
You’re right. And then there are all the technicalities, like if they score, then they can kick the ball for one extra point or try for a two-point conversion by running or passing the ball into the end zone again.
And that’s just one part of the game! When you add things like penalties, timeouts, and all the different player roles, it’s easy to see why the rules can feel overwhelming at first.
Yes, if you didn’t grow up with the game, you definitely need someone to break it down for you.
Exactly! And the Super Bowl is the perfect time to learn— everyone’s talking about it, and the energy makes it so much easier to get into the spirit.
As an English teacher, there’s one thing that really stands out to me. Have you noticed how deeply football is rooted in American culture? The sport’s terminology has become a big part of everyday language.
You know, I never thought about it that way, but you’re absolutely right!
Yeah, words like “tackle,” “huddle,” or “score” come up all the time in regular conversations.
Exactly. Like when someone says, “We need to tackle the situation,” they’re not talking about an actual tackle— they mean taking on a challenge or solving a problem.
Right! Or when someone says, “I dropped the ball.”
In football, dropping the ball is a big mistake, and now people use it to say they messed up or missed an opportunity.
Like, “I really dropped the ball by forgetting my anniversary.”
Yep, that’s definitely a ball drop!
Football is fascinating on so many levels. No wonder the Super Bowl is such a huge event!
Speaking of huge events… What about the halftime show?
Oh, the halftime show is the highlight for so many people. It’s like the cherry on top of an already incredible spectacle.
Do you have a favorite performance?
Dr. Dre and friends in 2022. No contest. Seeing Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and all those legends on one stage was unreal.
Okay, fair point. That was amazing. But for me, it has to be Shakira and J.Lo in 2020. The energy was off the charts, and they brought so much culture and representation to the stage— it was unforgettable.
I’ve always wondered— what do you think those halftime shows cost to produce?
Oh, a lot! I think Shakira and J.Lo’s cost somewhere around $13 million dollars.
Wow, $13 million dollars? That’s like a blockbuster movie budget. No wonder they’re so over-the-top!
Well, I think we’ve covered a lot— football, halftime shows, snacks, commercials… the whole Super Bowl experience!
Yeah, I really enjoyed it!
Thanks for joining me today Jack. And for our listeners, whether you’re tuning in for the football, the ads, or just the food, we hope you enjoy The Super Bowl and learn some new English vocabulary along the way.
And hey, if you find yourself using words like “tackle,” “score,” or “huddle” in everyday conversations, you’ll know football has officially hooked you!
That’s right. Thanks for hanging out with us today. Don’t forget to share your favorite Super Bowl moments with us— we’d love to hear them. Have an awesome time watching the game, and we’ll catch you next time on The Quick Learning Podcast! Bye!
