Tattoos Also Popular Among Football Players

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. in (adj.) [in] – popular; trendy or stylish

Example: Smartphones with many features are in these days.

2. be into (idiom) [bee in-too, -tuh] – to like doing something, be interested in something

Example: He is into sports and often watches sports events on TV.

3. blend in(idiom) [blend in] –  to become similar to or to look the same as people around oneself

Example: Wearing similar uniforms help students blend in with others at school.
 

4. tribal (adj.) [trahy-buhl] – relating to a group of people with the same customs and beliefs

Example: She is very interested in African tribal art and body painting.

5. grooming (n.) [groom-ing] – the act of caring for one’s body or appearance

Example:. The actress said the secret to her beauty is two hours of grooming every morning.

Article
Read the text below.

Tattoo is the trend among football athletes these days, and since Euro 2012 has already began, these tattoos are sure to be noticed. Ellis Cashmore, a professor of Culture, Media, and Sport at Staffordshire University says that, surprisingly, many football players are getting tattoos not to set themselves apart from other people but to blend in with their peers. But it is not just football players who are into tattoos. The professor says football players are just like everybody else in their generation who think getting tattoos is a way of belonging to the Y generation. Of course, people have different reasons for getting tattoos. Some people like to collect tattoos as their souvenirs from every place they visit. Some get tattoos in order to remember important special events, such as birthdays or anniversaries. Others get tattoos to show they are members of a certain organization. As an example, Professor Cashmore shares that, in his gym, almost everybody has some kind of tribal mark on their arms. There are also many in the gym who have the name of the local football club tattooed onto their bodies. The professor says one reason for the growing popularity of tattoos or body art is the importance, current society places on the body and personal grooming. People nowadays spend a lot of money and have an almost obsessive routine when it comes to taking care of their bodies or their appearance.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         How do you think tattoos affect the appearance of a person?

·         Do you think people should get tattoos or always follow a kind of appearance or style simply because it is “in”? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         What grooming procedure or product have you spent the most money on? Would you consider that money well spent?

·         Why do you think some people spend a lot of time and money on their body image or in trying to look good?

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