Why this book? Why now? Who benefits?

Footballogy: Elements of American Football for Non-Native Speakers of English is a result of teaching American English and culture to people from other languages and cultures, and my lifelong love of American football. This book is a self-paced starter guide for America’s number-one sports pastime, its heritage, and traditions from the view of a fan. People who will benefit include high-intermediate and above English-language learners as well as proficient speakers of English who learned English by way of study, not birth. Students, businesspeople, and travelers are part of this group.

American football is more than just a game. It is an experience that connects many Americans and Footballogy will connect you with this experience. Readings and light exercises in grammar and usage are intended to be useful and fun, educational and entertaining. Above all, the objectives of this book are to help us speak more skillfully and confidently about the sport and follow the action at the stadium, in print, or broadcast media. And, of course, to make friends.

To achieve its purpose, Footballogy recognizes the importance of small talk. The metaphor, or symbol, for such casual discussions is the water cooler, where people meet and talk about matters not related to work.Whether the chat is in the break-room, around a coffee pot, or an actual water cooler, casual conversations join us on a personal level.Dale Carnegie, the well-regarded motivational expert, observed that the way to make friends and influence people is to show genuine interest in matters of concern to others. To many Americans, one of those matters is football. Since 1985, football has been America’s most preferred game. It should be no surprise that the season of autumn, when the game is played, is celebrated as football season.