CLASS. LECTURE. SEMINAR
- Are you leaving, Jane?
- Yes, Ive got a ten oclock class. I must be on time.
- I think you have a lot of pronunciation practice in your phonetic classes, dont you?
- Yes, we are trained to imitate native speakers.
- There will be a lecture on Byron in room 300. Are you coming?
- I dont know. Weve had three classes already today. I feel rather tired.
- They are arranging a lecture on modern American drama. It will be held in room 404.
- Whos lecturing?
- Mr. Barnett.
- Wheres Robert?
- He is reading for the seminar on / in linguistics.
- Please find out when the lecture begins.
- All right.
- Why dont you answer my question, Jack?
- You are speaking so fast that I cant follow you.
NOTES, TAKE NOTES, MAKE NOTES
Note means a record or reminder in writing.
Make a note / notes means to write down as a reminder or while / after reading smth. e.g. Make a note of how much money you spend.
Take notes means to write down while / after listening to smb: She takes good notes of everything thats said in class.
- Can you lend me your lecture notes (literature / history / grammar notes)?
- Sorry, but I gave them to Jack.
- Did you take notes at the lecture?
- I missed the lecture, but I copied up the notes.
- Are you prepared for the seminar?
- Yes, I read the book and made some notes.
STUDY, LEARN, DO, TEACH
(Note that study is formal and used with reference to advanced theoretical knowledge; learn is less formal and implies elementary, practical knowledge and skills; do is informal).
- Richard is at University now, isnt he?
- Yes, he is studying psychology (English) / He is studying to be a lawyer.
- Is Susan learning to type / to cook / to keep house?
- Yes, and she is getting on quite well at it.
- You are doing English at the University, arent you?
- Yes, and in the next term were going to do French.
LEARN, TEACH
- Do you go in for cycling?
- I am not a good cyclist. I am just learning. John is teaching me. He is a first-class cyclist. John says I am learning quickly / Im a quick learner.
- Is Alec doing well?
- Yes, he is a quick learner and manages to do all the work we are given / I am sorry to say he is an unsatisfactory student. He is behind the group and has a very poor knowledge of English.
TEST, EXAM, PASS, FAIL
- How often do you do / have translation / vocabulary / grammar / spelling tests?
- Well, practically every day.
- Wheres Jane?
- She is taking her history / English / literature test.
- When are you having your end-of-term / final test?
- On Monday.
- What did you think of the test-paper?
- It was rather difficult / It was terrible / It was quite simple.
- How did you get on in the exam?
- I passed / I failed hopelessly / Two people of our group failed / I just scraped through.
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REVISE, REVISION, DO REVISION
- I say, Helen, are you revising from the textbook?
- No, our teacher says wed better revise from our lecture notes.
- Are you very busy just now?
- Yes, awfully. I must revise the whole terms work for the exam / test.
- Are you going out tonight?
- No, Ive got to do some revision. We are having a test tomorrow.
- How are you getting on with your revision?
- Jolly good. Ive nearly finished.
- Is Helen a good student?
- She is rather capable, but she seems never to do any revision.
TO FINISH, TO LEAVE, TO GRADUATE
- He is an educated man, I understand.
- Yes, he graduated from Oxford (He is an Oxford graduate).
- What are you going to do when you leave school?
- Well, Ill try to take exams to a college / a university.
- What college / university?
- Technological, perhaps in Minsk. I havent made up my mind yet. Substitute: the Medical University, the Belarusian State University, the Polytechnical University, the Academy of Veterinary Medicine.
(Note: to leave school may also be used in the meaning of give up school)
Exercise 2. When do you say:
Example: He works by fits and starts.
We say, He works by fits and starts if he doesnt work regularly.
1. She has a good command of English. 2. She lacks fluency. 3. She has done well in her exams. 4. She never misses lessons. 5. He gets behind the group in Phonetics. 6. He is quite at home in the subject. 7. She feels homesick. 8. You cant learn a language just by picking it up. 9. It serves him right. 10. She failed in her exam. 11. His memory failed him.
