ACADEMIC CHALLENGES
Grammar:
If I __________ (have) more time, I __________ (enroll) in a self-paced course.
had / would enroll
What words come to mind when you hear "up-and-coming area"?
Example: "infrastructure development", "growth", "improved public transportation", etc.
Sort these actions into "friendly" and "aggressive":
hug, slap, pat, kick, shake hands, pinch, tickle, beat, scratch
Answer: Friendly: hug, pat, shake hands, tickle / Aggressive: slap, kick, pinch, beat, scratch
Explain the difference between:
- bottle up emotions
- lash out
- snap out of (a bad mood)
Example: "Bottle up means to hide your feelings. Lash out means to suddenly express anger at someone. Snap out of means to force yourself to stop feeling sad or upset."
Make this sentence true for you:
"I have never ______"
Example: "I have never failed an exam."
Transform to 2nd conditional: "I don't excel at oral exams because I get very nervous."
Answer: "If I didn't get so nervous, I would excel at oral exams."
Find and correct the mistake:
"I have rented a furnished apartment last year"
Find and correct the mistake:
"I rented a furnished apartment last year"
Respond to these statements using "so" or "neither":
"I've never slapped anyone."
"I can't stand when people pinch me."
Answer: *1. "Neither have I." / 2. "Neither can I."*
Complete this sentence with the correct grammar:
"I know I ________ (should/talk) to my friend about our problem, but I was afraid."
Answer: "I know I should have talked to my friend about our problem, but I was afraid."
Complete this dialogue naturally:
A: "I've never understood why people enjoy cramming."
B: "______. I think it's the most stressful way to study."
A: "I always make a study schedule."
B: "______! That's such a good idea."
Answer: "Neither have I." / "So do I!"
Give 3 tips on how to avoid falling behind with assignments.
Example: "1) Don't put off starting your work. 2) Create a realistic schedule. 3) Ask for help as soon as you get confused."
Call your landlord to report a maintenance issue. Use Present Perfect to explain the problem.
Example: "Hello, I'm calling because my refrigerator has broken. The food has spoiled."
In your culture, when is it appropriate to hug someone?
"In my culture, it's appropriate to hug close friends and family when you greet them or say goodbye."
Tell a short story about a time you came down with an illness at a bad time. Use Present Perfect.
Example: "I have just come down with the flu, and I have a very important exam tomorrow. I'm worried I might fall behind."
Which tense is used in this sentence and why?
"I have passed all my compulsory courses this semester."
Present Perfect. It's used because the time period (this semester) is not finished, and we're talking about life experience up to now.
What are the pros and cons of cramming before exams?
"Pros: You can memorize a lot of information quickly. Cons: The knowledge doesn't stick, it's very stressful, and you don't truly understand the material."
You love an apartment but the price is too high. Using reported speech, tell a friend what you said to the landlord to negotiate.
Example: "I told the landlord that I really liked the apartment but that I had run out of my initial budget. I asked if he could come down on the price."
Your friend said: "I always bottle up my emotions and then I lash out at my family." Report what they said and give them one piece of advice with should have.
Example: "He said that he always bottled up his emotions and then lashed out at his family. I told him he should have talked about his feelings earlier."
Give advice to a friend who always bottles up their emotions.
"You should try talking to someone you trust. Bottling up your emotions isn't healthy and can make you lash out later."
Create 2 sentences about your life:
- One with Present Perfect
- One with 2nd conditional
Example: "I have enrolled in a new course. If I had more free time, I would join a sports club too."
Describe one educational mistake you made and what you learned from it. Use:
2nd conditional
"should have"
One phrasal verb
"I put off studying for exams and then had to cram. If I had organized my time better, I would have gotten better grades. I should have asked for help when I first got confused. Now I understand that self-paced learning works better for me."
Compare living in a bustling area versus a quiet neighborhood. Which is better for a student?
"A bustling area has great amenities and is never boring, but a quiet neighborhood is better for concentration and getting a good night's sleep."
What would you do or feel if you saw a parent slap their child in public?
Example: "I would feel very disturbed. I might not intervene directly, but I would consider reporting it if it seemed severe."
You are a therapist. Your patient says: "I can't stop looking down on people who aren't as successful as me." Give them advice using the 2nd conditional.
Example: "If you tried to understand other people's journeys, you wouldn't look down on them. Everyone has different challenges."
You're interviewing a famous student who excels at everything. Ask them 3 questions using:
1 question with Present Perfect
1 question with 2nd conditional
1 question with should have
Example:
"Have you always excelled at exams?"
"If you struggled with a subject, what would you do?"
"What should other students have learned from your experience?"