Student Issues

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WARM-UP
Discuss with a partner.
What do you think life is like for a university student in the USA?
How do you think it is different from your university?
How do you think it is similar?

Vocabulary
Match the word to the definition.


Find to be the case/ Chill /Challenging/ Make the grades/ Setting /
Rewarding /Transfer student/ Transition/ Outlet/ Charitable/ Outreach

1. relaxing
2. get high marks in school
3. way to release energy and emotion
4. a change
5. environment, place
6. discover to be true
7. difficult
8. a student who changes from one university to another
9. satisfying, worth the energy spent to do something
10. effort by people to connect their ideas to an audience
11. good will towards others, generous

B. In pairs, (A and B), take turns asking the following questions.
Student A
1. Have you ever been involved in an outreach? If yes, explain.
2. What is the most challenging thing you have ever done?
3. What do you think is the best setting for studying?
4. Do you find it hard to make the grade in English class?

Student B
1. What has been a rewarding experience for you?
2. Do you think university life is a difficult transition? Why or why not?
3. What kinds of charitable work would you like do?
4. Some people say that studying while listening to music helps them to study better. Do you find that to be the case?

II Listening for the Main Ideas

Read the sentences below. Then watch the video to decide if the answers are True or False. AFTER watching the video, read the sentences again and circle True/False.

1. Ben loves the location of his university. True/ False
2. He likes to study at home. True/False
3. Ben feels that his studies are too easy. True/False
4. He has met many friends in many different organizations. True/False
5. He was a theater student. True/False

III. Listening for Specific Details
Read the questions below. Then watch the video again. After watching, read and answer the questions below.

1. Which of the following is NOT something Ben mentions that you can visit near his university?
A. Parks
B. Small businesses
C. Lakes
D. Movie theater

2. Was Ben able to meet his professors? Yes/No

3. When do the coffee shops close? ____________

4. What is the most challenging situation according to Ben? ____________________

5. How long did it take Ben to adjust to university life after he transferred?
A. 2 weeks B . 1 month C. 1 semester D. 1 year

6. Where does Ben say is a good place to meet people? _____________________


7. Ben says that the theater association put on all of the following except…
A. Charitable events
B. Musicals
C. Plays
D. Variety shows


Discussion

1. Do you think that being a student is harder now than it was 30 years ago? Why or why not?

2. In the West, one of the most valued parts of college life is independence. Are you more independent from your parents now than you were in high school?

3. What are three big differences between your college life so far and your high school days?

4. Are there some professors that you can learn from more easily than others? What are the qualities that make you want to study for a certain professor?

5. Are you a member of any student groups? Which ones? What do you do? Are you satisfied with what's happening with your group(s)?

6. What are the top three things you hope to get out of (get as a result of) your university days?