Talking about University!

Vocabularies

The people:

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Undergraduate students (undergrad)

Bachelor's degree

Example:

I have a Bachelor's degree in English/ Economics

Graduate students (Grad students) = Master's students

Master's degree

Example:

I plan on doing Master's degree in Business so that I can start up my own business soon.

TA = Teaching Assistant (work for professors)

RA = Research Assistant

PhD students

Doctor's degree = doctorate = PhD

Example:

After working in the same position for 5 years, he decided to go back to school and get his doctorate so he could get a better job.

I want to do my PhD degree in Economics

Instructor = Lecturer

Professor (prof.)

Faculty

Faculty of Art/ Science

Advisor

Registrar

Dean

Major (n), (v)

Example:

My major is English/ Computer Science = I major in English/ Computer Science

University = Uni (Br.E) = College (Am.E)

At university = In college

Midterms

Example:

Midterms are coming up soon, we'd better start preparing. 

Finals

Example:

I didn't do too well on my midterm, so I really need to study hard for the final.

Semester

Commuting

Assignment (n)

Academic (adj)

Academy (n)

Class

Classroom

Club

College

Computer room

Course

Course book

Credit

Dormitory

To drop out 

Associate professor (n)

Exam

Exam results

Experience

Extracurricular activities

To fail an exam

Goal

Good grade

To graduate

Graduation (n)

Gym

All of residence

Attendance

Homework

Internship

Knowledge

Laboratory

Lecture hall

Lecture (n)

Lecturer (n)

Lesson

Lesson plan

Library

Locker

Mark

Masters student

Part time job

To pass an exam

Phd

Phd student

Playground

Presentation

Blackboard

Projector

Researcher

To revise

Rule

Tuition (n) /tuˈɪʃn/

Scholarship (n) /ˈskɑːlərʃɪp/

Service education

To set a goal

To sit an exam

Soft skills

Break the rule

Sport hall

Student

Student union

Study

Subject

Success

To succeed

Talk show

Thesis

Uniform

Canteen

University

Volunteer

Workshop

Career

Certificate

GPA

seminar

registration

advisor

syllabus

department

Bookworm (n)

To experience

Experience the university life

To hang out

Majors

Psychology

Useful expressions/ phrases:

1. What year are you in?

= what year are you studying in?

I'm a freshman

2. What's your major?

Is this your first year of college?

To enroll = to sign up for

Example:

She enrolls in Speaking

To hit the books = study hard

Example:

Paul hits the books

To hand out assignment

Example:

The prof. hands out the assignment

To hand in paper/ assignment

Example:

Peter hands in his paper

To pull an all nighter

Example:

They pull an all nighter

To cut/ skip class

Example:

She often cuts/ skips class

To fall behind

Example:

She falls behind in Reading

To withdraw from the course = To drop a course

Kick out = expel

Example:

The university kicks out/ expels James

In my opinion

A waste of time

Talking about Friendship!

 

I/ Talking about your close/ best friend

Vocabularies:

1. Have/share something in common:

Example:

My best friend and I have a lot of things in common. We both love shopping and playing sports.

2. to argue (with somebody somebody about something) = to quarrel

Example:

I sometimes argue with my BBF about study but we always end up with laughing and understand each other more.

3. to hang out with

Example:

I love hanging out with my friends after work or on the weekend

4. To get together

Example:

Let’s get together on Friday and go for a drink or something

5. Reliable (adjective) = trustworthy

6. to get to know

7. to get on well

8. to be close to

9. to stay beside

Types of friends in English:

• Close friends
• BFF = best friends forever
• Best mate (“mate” is slang for a friend in British and Australian English)
• Buddy (American slang)
• Old friend

• Real / true / good / loyal / trusted friend # fake friend

• School friend
• Family friend
• Childhood friend

• Acquaintance /əˈkweɪntəns/
• Colleague /ˈkɑːliːɡ/

• Classmate
• Flatmate/roommate (“Flatmate” is British English)
• Boyfriend # male friend
• Girlfriend # female friend
• Just friends

Practice talking about your best friend/ close friend by answering these following questions:

1/ How do you describe a true friend?

2/ Do you believe that a man and woman can be just friends?

3/ Do you have any BFF or or close friend?

4/ Who is she/he?

5/ What does she/ he look like?

6/ How did you meet her/him?

7/ When did you meet her/him?

8/ How often do you meet this person?

9/ What’s she/ he like?

10/ Do you and she/ he share anything in common?

11/ What do you and he/she do together?

12/ Have you and he/she ever argued/ quarreled?

13/ Do you tell your best friend everything?

Example:

I have a lot of friends, but only few close friends and one best friend.

My best friend is Leah. She’s in her mid-thirties. She’s a little bit chubby but cute. Leah has an average height. She has an oval face, a small nose, big brown eyes, a large mouth and thick lips. She has medium wavy black hair. Her skin is fair.

Leah is my ex office mate at my last company. And we have been good friends for almost 10 years.

Before we used to see each other very often, but now only once or twice a year because we live far away from each other.

Leah is a kind, friendly, quiet and patient person. We have a lot of things in common like traveling or shopping.

We often go hiking/ trekking or shopping together when we meet each other. Sometimes we argue, but finally we always end up with laughing and we understand each other more:)

II/ Verbs Related to Friendship

• To make friends

Example:

I love making new friends whenever I travel to a new place/ country.

• To have friends
• To build a friendship # To destroy / to break a friendship

• To develop a friendship
• To keep in touch with
• To keep good/ healthy relationship
• Misunderstanding (noun)

Some more questions to practice talking about friendship:

1/ Do you make friends easily?

2/ How do you make new friends?

3/ Do you make any friends over the Internet? Have you ever met them in person?

4/ Do you have many female/ male friends? Is your girl friend/ boy friend jealous if you have many female friends/ male friends?

5/ Do you think it’s a good idea to borrow money from a friend?

• Why?
• Why not?

6/ Do you have any long distance friends?

• How do you keep in touch with your long-distance friends?
• How often do you see your long-distance friends?

7/ Are you still friends with your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend?

8/ What do you do when you have a misunderstanding with your friend?

9/ Do you trust all of your friends? Why?

III/ Sayings & Expressions about Friendship

• A friend in need is a friend indeed

• Frenemy /ˈfrenəmi/ = friend + enemy

• Fair-weather friend (a friend that is only there when things are going well for you)

• Man’s best friend (used in reference to a dog)

Here are some questions you can ask when talking about friends.

1/ "How long have you guys been friends?"/ "How long have you known each other?"

For 10 years.

Since we were students/ kids/ 5 years old.

"We've been friends since elementary school."

"I think it's been like 20 years."

2/ "Did you go to school together?"

"We grew up together. Our parents lived pretty close so we were neighbors."

"We went to the same school since the 5th grade."

"We met in middle school and started going to the same school from the 7th grade."

"We started going to the same school at the University of Washington."

3/ "So how did you meet?"

"We met at church when we were young. We have been close friends."

"We met in high school in our English class."

Talking about Space, Stars and Planets!

 Planets, stars and space traveling 

1. Do you know anything about Planets or solar system?

2. Do you find it interesting to look at the stars?

3. Do you like reading fantastic books or watching movies about space traveling?

4. Do you want to be a space traveler?

5. Do you believe that in the future we’ll be able to travel in space?

6. Do you think traveling in space is safe or dangerous?

7. Do you often wish on stars?

8. Do you believe in aliens? Why or why not?

I. Vocabularies:

1. Solar system  /ˈsoʊlɚ ˌsɪstəm/

Example:

   Do you know how many planets in solar system?

2. Sun /sʌn/

Example:

   The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

3. Planet  /ˈplæn.ɪt/

Example:

   Earth is the planet where we are living now.

4. Dwarf planet (noun)

Example:

Some of the dwarf planets are Pluto, Ceres, Eris...

5. Inner planets ## Outer Planets

*Names of 8 planets:

• Mercury /ˈmɜːkjʊri/ 

• Venus /ˈviːnəs/

• Earth /ɜːθ/ or Living Earth

• Mars /mɑːz/ 

• Jupiter /ˈdʒuːpɪtər/

• Saturn  /ˈsætən/ 

• Uranus /ˈjʊrənəs/ 

• Neptune /ˈneptjuːn/ 

Short questions about Solar System:

1. How many planets are there in the Solar system?

2. Do you know or remember their names? Which ones?

3. What are the inner planets? and outer planets?

4. Can you tell some names of Dwarf planets?

5. Which is the hottest planet? and the coldest planet?

6. Which planet are we living on?

6. Moon  /muːn/

Example:

   With a good telescope, you can see craters on the moon.

*Phases of the Moon:

New Moon

Waxing Crescent /ˈkresnt/

First Quarter

Waxing Gibbous /ˈɡɪbəs/

Full Moon

Waning Gibbous

Third Quarter

Waning Crescent

Short questions about the Moon:

1. Do you like watching Full Moon?

2. Do you like to travel to the moon?

3. Do you think in the future the scientists would build special hotels on the Moon for people to stay in?

4. Do you like moon cake? What's your favorite moon cake?

5. Do you celebrate Mid Autumn Festival in your country?

7. Star /stɑːr/

Example:

   We can see hundreds of stars in the clear sky.

8. Constellation /ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃən/

Example:

   The constellation Orion was first mentioned by Homer many years ago.

9. Zodiac /ˈzəʊdiæk/ 

Talking about Zodiac:

1. Aries /ˈeriːz/ - The Ram  

March 21 – April 19 

2. Taurus /ˈtɔːrəs/ - The Bull 

April 20 – May 20

3. Gemini /ˈdʒemɪni/ - The Twins  

May 21 – June 20

4. Cancer /ˈkænsər/ - The crab  

June 21 – July 22

5. Leo /ˈliːəʊ/ - The Lion 

July 23 – August 22

6. Virgo /ˈvɜːrɡəʊ/ - The Maiden 

August 23 – September 22

7. Libra /ˈliːbrə/ - The Scales

September 23 – October 22

8. Scorpion /ˈskɔːrpiən/ - The Scorpion

October 23 – November 22

9. Sagittarius /ˌsædʒɪˈteriəs/ - The Archer

November 23 – December 21

10. Capricorn /ˈkæprɪkɔːrn/ - The Goat

December 22 – January 19

11. Aquarius /əˈkweriəs/ - The Water-bearer

January 20 – February 18

12. Pisces /ˈpaɪsiːz/ - The Fish

February 19 – March 20

Personalities Traits of Zodiac Signs:

CAPRICORN (December 22nd – January 20th)

• positive traits: persevering, determined, serious, taciturn, shrewd
• negative traits: hard-hearted, obstinate, pessimistic

AQUARIUS (January 21st – February 19th)

• positive traits: kind, reliable, loyal
• negative traits: furious, unemotional

PISCES (February 20th – March 20th)

• positive traits: sensitive, placid, cheerful, warm-hearted
• negative traits: dreamy, restless, lack of self-confidence

ARIES (March 21st – April 20th)

• positive traits: courageous, strength of will, industrious, enterprising
• negative traits: moody, impatient, violent-tempered

TAURUS (April 21st – May 20th)

• positive traits: self-confident, steadfast, energetic, tidy, kind
• negative traits: obstinate, unforgiving, excessive

GEMINI (May 21st – June 21st)

• positive traits: skillful, humorous, persuasive
• negative traits: curious, restless, nervous, careless

CANCER (June 22nd – July 22nd)

• positive traits: sensitive, reasonable, home-loving
• negative traits: moody, irritable, domineering

LEO (July 23rd – August 23rd)

• positive traits: self-confident, courageous, aristocratic, idealistic
• negative traits: impulsive, domineering, hedonistic

VIRGO (August 24th – September 23rd)

• positive traits: tidy, industrious, calm, a keen intelligence
• negative traits: fault-finding, schoolmasterish, materialistic

LIBRA (September 24th – October 23rd)

• positive traits: a feeling for beauty, wise, helpful, friendly
• negative traits: erratic, indifferent, love of convenience

SCORPIO (October 24th – November 22nd)

• positive traits: inquiring mind, determined, industrious
• negative traits: vindictive, lacking self-control, compulsive, unforgiving

SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd – December 21st)

• positive traits: openhearted, charitable, adventurous, enterprising
• negative traits: restless, stubborn

Short questions about Stars and Zodiac:

1. Do you believe in star sign?

2. What's your Zodiac?

3. What does your Zodiac say about you? Do you agree with it?

4. Do you love watching Stars in the sky?

10. Space /speɪs/ (n)

- Spacious (adj)

Example:

   Who was the first human being in space?

 

11. Space station /ˈspeɪs ˌsteɪ.ʃən/

Example:

   Space station is a vehicle in which people can travel around the earth, outside its atmosphere, and do scientific tests.

12. Space exploration/ travel  /ˈspeɪs ˌekspləˈreɪʃən/

- To explore

Example:

   It was the period when everyone saw men in space as the most important thing of space exploration.

13. Spacesuit /ˈspeɪssuːt/

Example:

   To go outside the space station, you must wear a spacesuit.

14. Astronaut = outer man = spaceman/ spacewoman = space traveler

/ˈæstrənɑːt/

Example:

   Sending astronauts into space

15. Space rocket  /ˈspeɪs ˈrɑːkɪt/

Example:

   The space rocket soon disappeared into the sky.

16. Spacecraft /speɪsˌkræft/ = spaceship  /speɪs·ʃɪp/

Example:

   They found a strange spacecraft with nobody inside.

17. Spacefaring = space traveling  /ˈspeɪsˌferɪŋ/

Example:

   In that game players were given control of a spacefaring empire in the distant future.

18. Space junk /ˈspeɪs ˌdʒʌŋk/

Example:

   There is growing concern about the threat space junk poses to spacecraft.

19. Astronomy /əˈstrɑːnəmi/ (noun)

- Astronomer /əˈstrɑːnəmɚ/(noun)

Example:

   Astronomers continue to discover new stars.

20. To observe /əbˈzɝːv/

- Observation (noun)

Example:

   I like to observe the stars in the sky.

21. Telescope /ˈtelɪskəʊp/ (noun)

Example:

to look at the stars through a telescope

22. To launch  /lɑːntʃ/

Example:

   They launched a rocket to the planet Venus.

23. Fuel /ˈfjuːəl/

Example:

   Wood, coal, oil and gas are all different kinds of fuel.

24. Universe /ˈjuːnɪvɜːrs/

Example:

   Is there intelligent life elsewhere in the universe?

25. Satellite  /ˈsæt̬əlaɪt/

Example:

   The moon is Earth's satellite.

26. Globe /ɡloʊb/(n)

- Global /ˈɡləʊbl/ (adj) - Global economy

Example:

1. She is a superstar all around the globe.

2. Let's spin the globe to find Vietnam on it.

27. Meteor /ˈmiːtiər/

Example:

   We saw what must have been a very low and bright meteor.

28. Meteor shower

Example:

   Her attention was caught on the falling stars of the meteor shower.

29. Meteorite  /ˈmit̬iəˌrɑɪt/

Example:

   Mr Robinson's mother was hit by a meteorite.

30. Comet /ˈkɑːmɪt/

31. Asteroid /ˈæstərɔɪd/

any one of the many small planets that go around the sun

32. Asteroid belt

Example:

    Most meteorites are thought to come from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

33. Crater /ˈkreɪtər/

Example:

   This is the world's largest and oldest meteorite crater.

34. Surface /ˈsɜːrfɪs/

Example:

   Tropical rain forests used to cover ten percent of the earth's surface.

35. Carbon dioxide /ˌkɑːrbən daɪˈɑːksaɪd/

Example:

   There has been a sudden and worrying rise in the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

36. Oxygen  /ˈɑːksɪdʒən/

Example:

   Plants are the main source of atmospheric oxygen.

37. Ozone layer /ˈəʊzəʊn leɪə(r)/

Example:

   The ozone layer is a thin part of the Earth's atmosphere that absorbs almost all of the sun's harmful ultraviolet light.

38. Atmosphere /ˈætməsfɪr/

Example:

   The Wind power doesn't release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

39. Galaxy /ˈɡæləksi/

Example:

   Scientists observing phenomena in nearby galaxies

40. The Milky Way  /ˌmɪlki ˈweɪ/ = the Galaxies

Example:

   The Milky Way is the system of stars that contains our sun and its planets

41. Explosion /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/ (noun)

- To explode

- Explosive (adj)

Example:

   The fire was caused by a gas explosion.

42. Gravity  /ˈɡrævət̬i/

Example:

   He won't break the law of gravity: he'll only prove it.

43. Gravitation /ˌɡrævəˈteɪʃən/

Example:

   The Moon is moving around our planet because of the Earth's gravitation.

44. Habitable /ˈhæbɪtəbl/= Inhabitable ## uninhabitable /ˌʌnɪnˈhæbɪtəbl/

Example:

   1) Some areas of the country are just too cold to be habitable.

   2) If there's no roof then the house is uninhabitable.

45. To hypothesize  /haɪˈpɑːθəsaɪz/

- hypothesis (noun)

Example:

   This discovery led experts to hypothesize a different path of evolution for early man.

46. Countdown  /ˈkaʊntdaʊn/ (noun)

Example:

   The countdown to the rocket launch will begin at 9.00 a.m.

47. Weightlessness /ˈweɪtləsnəs/ (noun)

Example:

   The scientists can simulate rocket mode and make it possible to experience the feeling of weightlessness and flying.

48. Protective equipment /prəˈtektɪv ɪˈkwɪpmənt/

Example:

   The astronauts have their protective equipment a final check before setting off.

49. Alien  /ˈeɪliən/

Example:

   She was expecting some sort of monster-like aliens to inhabit that scary looking planet.

The big bang theory  /ˌbɪɡ ˈbæŋ ˌθiəri/

Example:

   According to the big bang theory, the universe began with a very large explosion of a single mass of matter.

Black hole  /ˌblæk ˈhoʊl/

Example:

   A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, even  light, can escape from it.

Useful phrases:

To set foot on

Example:

   Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the surface of the moon.

To revolve around sb/sth /rɪˈvɑːlv/

Example:

   His whole life revolves around football.

To explore worlds beyond our own

 

Example:

   His dream was to explore worlds beyond our own in order to find another form of life.

Questions:

1. What is the difference between the Earth and the Sun?

2. What do you know about the Moon?

3. Why is the Moon sometimes bright, and sometimes dark?

4. Have you ever looked at the Moon or the stars through a telescope? If not, do you want to try?

5. Do you know any constellations? Which ones?

6. What do satellites do? How would our lives be different without them?

7. Who was the first man in space? The first woman?

8. Do you think it’s easy to be an astronaut? Why or why not?

9. Do you want to try the feeling of weightlessness?

10. What are good and bad things about spacefaring?

11. Do you think that people will be able to travel in space in the distant future?

12. Do you like to watch movies or read books about space and spacefaring? Why or why not?

13. Do you think there is an intelligent life on other planets? 

14. What would you say to an alien if you met one?

15. Would you like to go to the moon or travel into space?  Why or why not?

16. What small personal item would you take with you on a journey into space if you had a chance?

17. Would you agree to help colonize a planet if you knew you couldn’t come back to earth?

18. Should students learn more about space in school? Why or why not?

19. Should the government spend more money on exploring worlds beyond our own? Why or why not?

20. Do you think that space exploration can save human beings from extinction?

21. What do you think of the idea that we could escape into space if (or when) the earth becomes uninhabitable for whatever reason?