When you learn English, one of the first things you’ll need to talk about is where you come from. Talking about your hometown is good for making small talk, and it’s something you will do many times in your life. To help you in your English studies, here’s a video about my hometown of Detroit, with subtitles for you to follow along.

My hometown is Detroit, a big city in the state of Michigan. It’s in the Midwest region of the USA.

 

It is called the Motor City, because of the Big 3 automakers – Ford, GM, and Chrysler. It’s also called Motown, or simply “The D.”

 

Get around downtown on the People Mover, which takes you by the Renaissance Center, the headquarters of GM.

 

Other famous symbols of the city are the Spirit of Detroit, and the fist of Joe Louis, who was a great boxer.

 

Detroit also includes Belle Isle Park, which is accessible by bridge.

 

Here, you can see the skyline of downtown, as well as the Detroit River.

 

Some people come here to swim, and others come here to get their boat.

 

In the summer, we like to play golf here. It’s just a chip and putt course, so you only need two clubs. Sometimes, you end up in the sand. Nice putt!

 

Another great place to visit in Detroit is the Heidelberg Project. This outdoor art project was created in 1986 by an artist. To quote their website, “The Heidelberg Project offers a forum for ideas, a seed of hope, and a bright vision for the future. It’s about taking a stand to save forgotten neighborhoods. It’s about helping people think outside the box and it’s about offering solutions. It’s about healing communities through art – and it’s working!”

 

This neighborhood, which was once very dangerous, now attracts visitors every day. There are lots of interesting things to see here. You can spend a whole afternoon wandering around.

 

A lot of it may look like it’s just for fun, but some of the art has a deep meaning. For example, this area comments on the poor status of health care in the city.

 

A few blocks away is the old train station, which is now abandoned.

 

If you are hungry, go downtown to try the Coney Challenge. Try the Detroit coney dog at Lafayette. The Detroit hot dog is simple: hot dog, chill, mustard, and onions. This is the first stop. Then, head next doug to American to try another hot dog.

 

It looks about the same, but the taste is what’s important. It’s really good. It’s a tough choice. I’m going to have to think about it. So, which one is better?

 

Well, now I’m really full. It’s a tough decision. At least in terms of our group, and on this day, we’re siding with Lafayette. There are also many bars downtown, where you can enjoy a drink with friends.

 

If you want to see a show or concert, head to the Fillmore, or the famous Fox Theater.

 

When it comes to sports, Detroit is known as Hockeytown. In the Joe Louis Arena, the Detroit Red Wings play ice hockey.

 

Nearby, at Ford Field, the Detroit Lions play American football.

 

And right next door, at Comerica Park, the Detroit Tigers play baseball. Baseball is known as America’s past-time, and there are games almost every day in the summer. Here’s the pitch. He pops it up… and he’s out of there! Just another summer day in the D.