COMMUNICATION

STUDIES I.A.
THEME: BENEFITS FROM SPORTS

Name: Leighton Thompson

Teacher: Mrs. Gardener
School: Campion College

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION

PREFACE

REFLECTIVE PIECE

ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

This portfolio is focused on the theme of Benefits from Sports. This theme was chosen
to examine how sports can provide opportunities to persons who play it or make them successful.
This theme was explored in the reflective piece where the main character achieved
success by pursuing his football dream and this served as an example of how someone can
benefit from sports.
This theme relates to my personal interest because I play football and would like to be
successful in it or hope that football will provide me with opportunities such as scholarships.
Apart from doing this research to contribute my exam grade another way in which this theme
relates to my academic interest is that to find more information about this them I had to conduct
a research and this allowed me to become adept in data collection as this skill was improved by
conducting interviews.
This theme was also closely related to one of the occupations I wish to pursue in the
future which is becoming a football coach.

PREFACE
The narrative, Trench Town to Barcelona is about a teenage boy living in a povertystricken community trying to achieve his goal of being a professional footballer. When he
achieve this goals his life totally changed and he was now able to improve his familys living
conditions. The story reaches its climax when Lionel found out he actually made the Barcelona
youth squad. This story explored the benefits of sports.
This story was intended to inspire teenagers living in underdeveloped communities that
pursuing sports comes with a lot of benefits. It aims to motivate these teenagers that despite
challenges faced in their communities they can still achieve success through sports. This was
proven in the story where the main character, Lionel was able to improve his family living
conditions as a result of being successful in football.
This story is expected to be read in teen magazines. This context was chosen as it is
easily accessible by teenagers living in underdeveloped communities.

REFLECTIVE PIECE

Trench Town to Barcelona

Today is the day, Lionel thought when he woke up unusually early in Barcelona. Lionel
felt weird as this was the first time he had ever been somewhere other than Trench Town. Lionel
knew that today would be the most important day of his life as he had a well anticipated football
trial. This was his big chance to use his talent to escape his poverty-stricken community, Trench
Town. Lionel sat for a moment to meditate and relieve his anxiety. While meditating Lionels
mind drifted away to Trench Town.
Lionel was the most famous person in his community because of his talent. Person were
always thrilled to see him and would always mutter, See di big balla deh. These simple
comments inspired Lionel daily. Lionel was dubbed by everyone that had witnessed him play
football as a wonder kid or the next Pele but there were always doubts that he would be
successful worldwide as no one thought it was likely that his talent would be discovered in this
tiny town.
Lionel however, never doubted his self as he knew he would get opportunities to
showcase his talent. From he was a small boy he always yearned for an opportunity to play
football on the global stage and he knew one day he would get a chance to do it. He knew this
would allow him to help his family and community just like his idol, Raheem Sterling. Raheem
Sterling, now a professional footballer, grew up in a neighboring community, Maverly which was
also found in the inner-city. He faced similar struggles as Lionel faces yet he still was successful
and this inspired Lionel.

Despite Lionel having so many inspirations, he considered giving up countless times

because of his financial situation because he never had appropriate gears and most of the time he
would had to train barefooted. Lionel could not attend school frequently because of financial
issues so he knew if he wanted to become successful he would most likely achieve this through
football. All these obstacles would sometimes discourage him but fortunately, he had an
optimistic mother, who told him countless times, If you want good yuh nose affi run. He heard
that phrase so many times he could complete the sentence from the moment she said, If yuh.
Lionels mother was his biggest inspiration as he wanted to see her happy. He would
always promise his mother that one day hes going to buy her one of the houses being built in the
newly-constructed gated community.
She would always reply, Yes, mi son, me have faith inna yuh.
Lionel mind drifted back as he warmed up. Finally his match started. Lionel kept on
running over his mothers famous quote in his head as he regained composure because he was so
nervous. As the match went on, Lionel gained confidence and played exceptionally well.
Tooooooot, went the referees whistle as he blew off the match and Lionel breathed a
sigh of relief as he was sure he had made the team.
Instantly the coach told, Well done son, you have made the team, youll start training
Monday. Even though Lionel expected this after his performance, he was so dumbfounded he
couldnt even reply to the coach.
Immediately Lionel called his mother and told her the great news and she screamed Yes
mi son!
Mommy tings ago finally change, he replied as tears of joy trickled down his face.
After all this blew off it was now time for Lionel to start training.

Lionel suffered a rough first year at Barcelona as it was difficult for him to adjust.
However he persevered and he kept getting better by the day. By his second year, his mother
watched his first match which came on the television. Not only his mother but his whole
community watched that match and cheered for him as if they were at the stadium. Everyone
knew that Lionel was destined for greatness but it still seemed as a shock that he was actually a
professional footballer now. No one in the world could be happier than his mother as she knew
that from this point forward life would be much easier.
She was absolutely right as two months later, Lionel made his first return to Trench
Town. He was now an inspiration to everyone in his community as he was now a very successful
man. He was bombarded with comments such as, Yuh nuh have a money can give me, balla.
Lionel humbly replied, Dont worry, Ill be able to help everyone soon.
Just as he always promised his mother that one day life would be better, it finally seemed
possible. As expected, the first thing Lionel did was to carry his mother and siblings to the new
gated community which was finished recently and told them to choose a house. Everybody
seemed overwhelmed as this felt like a dream.
His brothers and sisters went running around shouting Mi want dis one.
No dis one mommy, please choose dis one. Lionel stared at his mother face as it lit up
like the sun.

ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

The reflective piece, Trench Town to Barcelona explores the journey of a young boy
from an impoverished community who had to work hard to achieve his goal of becoming a
professional footballer. This story shows how someone can receive benefits or opportunities from
sports. This story uses a combination of dialectal variations and communicative behavior and
these will be explored in this analysis.
In Trench Town to Barcelona several dialectal variations are present. One
example of this was when Lionel spoke Standard English to friends when he revisited the
community. This was due to the influence of the environment as he was not used to speaking
creole anymore and was now more used to speaking Standard English. His family and persons
in his community speak creole and this was seen when persons on the road would mutter, See di
big balla deh, or when his mother said, Yes mi son. This was influenced by the environment
as Trench Town is an inner-city community in Jamaica and creole is normally the dominant
language spoken. Also, another reason why creole was spoken so often, could be as a result of
lack of education as this was an impoverished community so most persons would not receive
proper education and the speaking of creole is generally linked to lack of education.

Several communicative behaviours were observed in this story. One such is when Lionel
woke up unusually early. This showed that Lionel was anxious as he was anticipating the match
so much he couldnt get to sleep as long as he normally would. Another communicative behavior
is when Lionel told his mother he made the team and she screamed, Yes mi son. This raise of
tone in her voice indicates that she was overwhelmed and screaming allowed her to express her
happiness.
In Trench Town to Barcelona several communicative behaviours as well as dialectal
variations are seen. These features give us valuable information on how the characters felt and
how their environment influenced their dialect.