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Finals

Finals

Date: Jan 02 2009

Themes: School

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.

Log in to Listen

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

Devan

Devan

Amanda

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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miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

interesting lesson, I was slacker too:)

09:39 AM Jan 02 2009 |

weiniland

weiniland

China

Unfortunately,I'm a slacker.But fortunately,I haven't pulled one all-nighter.I know being a slacker is bad,but I can't help.

09:32 AM Jan 02 2009 |

Ilyxa

Ilyxa

Russian Federation

I think I’m a slacker too, but I know when to start prepearing for exams!

08:48 AM Jan 02 2009 |

maroo7a

maroo7a

Jordan

ya i think i `m scultering the whole material tell the night before exam . but sometimes i prepare very well and getting high marks that's only if i don't mass the material . very good lessons and impreparing for final examinatio it will be after few days.

08:31 AM Jan 02 2009 |

Naomi1010

Naomi1010

Taiwan

When I was in school, I freaked out and felt stressful all time time. @-@

07:39 AM Jan 02 2009 |

Khulood

United Arab Emirates

Being a slacker is very disappointing, most of my classmates are slackers, some of them try to work really hard few days before the big exams..and most of them cheat in the exam, and when I ask them WHY? their reasons are ready, such as that they do not have time to study, they are very busy and bla bla bla…. I know it is funny but it is true…

I like this lesson because it is true and is taken from real life..

07:13 AM Jan 02 2009 |

Roamingcloud

Taiwan

I think pulling an all-nighter  harms our health. It's important to have a good sleep on the night to have enough energy to do things in the daytime.

06:41 AM Jan 02 2009 |

Mickey123

Mickey123

United States

  I am not a slacker when it comes to study but I often have to cram for finals because I procrastinate my tasks. I have a to do list to do when I come back home from school, but I don't follow the order or sometimes don't  do it. Everyday, the first thing when I come back from school I would do would be eating, second, turn on my computer to listen to music/watch videos, then the last would be work on my hw/study.  For tests/quizes/finals I would stay up but however, I can't pull an all-nighter due to my eyes would get tired also I fall asleep easily and it makes me can't concentrate on my study.

06:09 AM Jan 02 2009 |

amany7

amany7

Saudi Arabia

CryI am a slacker ,and I always pull an all-nighters but it is ok Tongue out  now I have crunch time for It is mid-term exams and a week later the final exams I hate it Cry ...no rest …

05:52 AM Jan 02 2009 |

yudao

yudao

China

in our country there are so many examinationes in their study life,so i think as a student is really much tired.

i hate examination.

04:52 AM Jan 02 2009 |

branden

branden

South Korea

hm~ amanda is a good model of students 

i think that i was like a amanda but sometimes like a daven haha~

It has decided by  the classes ….

 

04:39 AM Jan 02 2009 |

Casiol

Casiol

Malaysia

well my final exam was already over since last nov ^^
“once a slacker always a slacker”
that’s me :p n i have no prob at that :D

04:19 AM Jan 02 2009 |

Jennifer2009

Taiwan

It's good to know the E-baby that can give me a chance to pick up something new everyday. Am I a good student?

 

04:09 AM Jan 02 2009 |

Ina Wong

Ina Wong

China

Take it easy, you won't fail when you are deligent enough in usu. days of the semester.

03:51 AM Jan 02 2009 |

foxing

foxing

China

haha…

i'm more poorer than deven

i haven't studied even at the last minute of the finals but i'm not repentant cause i spent the sweetest time there.i love that time!

my opinion that school life is the most memorable time in everyone's life

right?!

03:47 AM Jan 02 2009 |

alirezabahadori

Malaysia

I think it's a bad habit too, but sometimes it has to be done. Some of the courses are such boring that u can not suffer studying them during the semester, So it's better to leave them till end

03:46 AM Jan 02 2009 |

banmaixanh

banmaixanh

Viet Nam

"because she finals are coming up"

there's a wrong word in this sentence. the word "she" should be replace by either "her" or "the"

actually I used to be a slacker during my school years. that's the one of things I hate the most about myself but I really never change it. I have wasted a lot of time…

02:45 AM Jan 02 2009 |

Kyle A

Kyle A

United States

I start to study about 30 minutes before the exam… It is a very bad habit. ^^

02:42 AM Jan 02 2009 |

taky2008

American Samoa

i think it's bad habbitUndecided

02:25 AM Jan 02 2009 |

liushuixun

China

I work very hard through out the year. I think everyday learning and absorbing a little  is a great way to study.In this way you are not only gain the knowledge soundly but also learn something in a no hurry way.  

02:18 AM Jan 02 2009 |

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