Finals

Intro

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

• tackle
• freak out
• make or break
• by the skin of my teeth

• semester
• hurdle
• crunch time
• all-nighter

• genetics
• flunk out

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.

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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.

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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