English, baby!

Finals

Date: Jan 02 2009

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

It’s the end of another semester, and that means it’s time for final exams. During the last week of school, most teachers give big tests that determine what grades their students will get. In the US, finals have already happened, but in Asia, they will happen soon.

For those who work hard and study throughout the term, finals are just one last hurdle to get over before a nice, relaxing vacation. But for slackers who wait until the last minute to do any work, finals week is crunch time. Those who didn’t plan ahead have no choice but to pull some all-nighters and hope they can at least do well enough to avoid flunking out.

Amanda and Devan have very different study habits. Listen to them talk about how they plan to tackle their finals.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Amanda

Devan: I am freaking out about finals.

Amanda: What’s there to freak out about? You’ve known that it was coming for what…three months now, right?

Devan: Yeah, but I always slack off and wait till the last minute to do my work.

Amanda: You always do that. Why do you do that? If you take your time and just absorb and learn the material during the entire term, you can go to bed like me. I mean, it’s eight pm and I’m gonna get my rest so I can actually think about the material and be fine tomorrow. Do you want to go to bed too? I think it’s the best thing.

Devan: I’m gonna have to pull an all-nighter tonight.

Amanda: Again? Did you not pull an all-nighter last night?

Devan: Yeah, I did, but you know…

Amanda: Honey, you haven’t slept in 48 hours.

Devan: Every semester, I say, I’m gonna be more like Amanda. I’m gonna think ahead this semester and I’m going to just do a little bit of homework every night. But every semester, it comes down to the end. It’s like a make or break situation, I’m either gonna flunk out or I’m gonna pass by the skin of my teeth.

Amanda: Well, no offense hon, but why are you such a slacker? I mean you slack off every term.

Devan: I know.

Amanda: And then you’re at this point every eve of finals.

Devan: I know, but once a slacker always a slacker. I think it’s in my DNA. I think it’s my genetics.

Amanda: Oh, you poor thing. Next term, OK?

Devan: Next term.

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Discussion

Devan is really panicked because she finals are coming up and she hasn’t done any studying. Amanda doesn’t understand why Devan is so nervous. She studies a little bit every day, so she doesn’t have to pull any all-nighters at the end of the term. She thinks it’s important to get a good night of sleep on the night before a big test.

Amanda asks Devan why she always waits until the last minute to study. Even though Devan knows she needs to improve her study habits and be more like Amanda, she can’t change. She thinks that being a poor student might just be a part of who she is.

Do you work hard throughout the term like Amanda, or do you wait until the last minute to study like Devan?

Comments

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shad84

United States

awesome…...........peoples usually pay for loose study habits with falling grades so guys ya bettah decide before its damn toooooooooo late
good luck though

shad84

United States

take it easy honey donchu get overwhelmed…..........like they say….................ya gonna reap what ya sow…...............so there be it

uhmmm peoples often pay for loose study habits with falling grades

good luck peoples

albert_stone

China

In China we called them "临时抱佛脚" means someone who embrace Buddha's feet in time of emergency and beg help at the last moment.

JasmineLuong

Viet Nam

I've never had to pull any all-nighter. I slack off during the term but instead, I work hard one or two weeks before the exams. And that's enough to do well in the finals.

Dararat

Thailand

I think it 's rather difficult.

vytran317

Germany

I try to study something everyday, but sometimes I skip because the effect of situation such as going out, watching films,... It’s difficult to keep the habit of regular study.

vytran317

Germany

I try to study something everyday, but sometimes I skip because the effect of situation such as going out, watching films,... It's difficult to keep the habit of regular study.

SUIXIAO

China

Of course, I'm a good in student since I studied in the kindergarden. Usually I studied at day time in usual instead of waiting to the last minute of exame. I think we study not just for passing the exam. If we don't work hard at usual we'll know nothing about the course, especially when we are in college the courses are usally what we'll need to use in our work in the future. So it'e more important for us to learn it day by day to graspe them well.

zby178

China

I think that I work hard throught this year, but gain is poor!

金柳熙

China

Well,I am a slacker too.

lukeyy

China

It's a very very bad habit. I never do it .

Garivers

Colombia

Hello, in my country everyone study for stupid things like good grades but i think we`ve study for learning and knowing our teasure, theworld.

Amido Hernan Rios

Colombia

I think what for studying better and in that way passing the finals it's very important having study habits. A good method of study will you good results and in that way your finals won't worries anymore.

note13

Thailand

i will a slacker during only major is not interesting.

Cathierine

Poland

I am happy man, because I am like Amanda. I learn everyday, so I don't have to pull an all-nighter. It's great thing, I think.

sukya

China

Haha…i like this lesson so much!!!

Actually,now ,in china ,it is the final time indeed!!!And my tests ,which will last for 4 days,will start in one day!!!These days,i'm busy going through tons of material….so tired…lol…eventhough i have been studying and attending lectures everyday!!!^^

But for some boring subjects,which i'm not interested in,i think the effective way to cope with it is craming for it many days before the exams!!!

soul abroad

Mexico

Hi everyone!! What about the culture?? It has any influence on our ways to study?? In Mexico we have the customto leave evything at last!! But it doesnt mean that i do it!!But what do you thing about that?? let me know about your culture!!

nganngo

Viet Nam

I'm a student in Hoa Lu Junior High Shool.

So that almost teachers in many subjects usually give us the oral exam every classes.

And I think we just have to review all knowledge before the exam.

whispersinthedark

Romania

The finals…I don`t like them at all…I plan my home studying every semester like Amanda does, but I always say "There`s plenty of time left until the exams.I can do something else,more exciting,more amusing." And this is how in the days before I even eat with the books near me.:)