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Cheating
Cheating

Learn English: meaning of cheating

Date: Jan 29 2020

Themes: School

Grammar: Reflexive Pronouns

Intro

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Is it ever OK to cheat? Most people would probably say no. Not ever! Cheating is inexcusable, and it’s not fair to the people who studied. But cheating definitely happens, and there are people who believe that it’s no big deal to get the answers to a test beforehand. How can people feel so differently about something so serious?

The fact is that what seems serious to one person isn’t a big issue to someone else. If your friend believes that she won’t get into the university she wants to attend if she doesn’t cheat a little on her exam, she might do it. In her opinion, no one is getting hurt, so it’s OK. But another friend might feel that cheating is always foolish and wrong. He might tell his teacher about your friend who cheated. People’s feelings about cheating are definitely on a spectrum.

Marni cheated on her test, and Jessica is shocked. Read what she says in today’s English lesson about the choices people make.

Dialog

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

Marni

Marni

Jessica

Jessica

Marni:  So, I had to take this huge test the other day, and I kind of cheated on it a little bit.

Jessica:  Marni!

Marni:  What?

Jessica:  Cheating is inexcusable!

Marni:  Really? Oh, come on. It was no big deal.

Jessica:  Did you just glance at somebody’s paper? Or…

Marni:  I just happened to see a few of the answers beforehand, and so I went in knowing.

Jessica:  I guess you couldn’t help yourself if you didn’t prepare for it, Marni.

Marni:  Well, I did study and everything, but I…

Jessica:  That’s better.

Marni:  ...I just thought “This is a gift.” The teacher was foolish enough to just leave the answers lying out. So I happened to glance over, and that’s not my fault!

Jessica:  Well, it’s true. And you usually get good grades. It’s not like plagiarism or anything.

Marni:  Well, no, but… do you think it’s inexcusable?

Jessica:  Kind of.

Marni:  I knew you were going to say that.

Jessica:  It’s OK. Don’t do it again, though.

Marni:  All right. I won’t.

 

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Marni did something that Jessica believes is inexcusable. She cheated on a test. Marni says that she saw a few of the answers to the test because her teacher forgot to put them away. She says that seeing the answers was like getting a gift.

Jessica knows that Marni wants to hear that it’s OK that she cheated, but Jessica doesn’t really believe that. She asks Marni to promise that she’ll never cheat again, and Marni agrees. The conversation is awkward and difficult for the two friends.

Do you know anyone who has cheated on a test? Is it a serious problem, or is it no big deal?

 

Comments

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Press1

Press1

Aruba

My best friend was once excluded from university because of way too many attempts at cheating. Very tragic ! Her very last attempt was discusting and gross. The supervisor found her entire semester’s notes in the sanitary unit of the girls’ restroom. :-/

02:33 PM Jan 29 2020 |

samirah

samirah

Saudi Arabia

I never cheat 

04:36 PM Feb 13 2019 |

1 person likes this

asef

asef

Afghanistan

I think cheating in elemintray and secondary schools are most common among the students, Most students would probably experinced cheating in the school, But in high school and college the possibility of cheating is likely decreased or even students avoid cheating. 

06:07 AM Feb 13 2019 |

1 person likes this

xin7

xin7

Chile

I can say that almost everyone I knew at school cheated on a test! As Jessica said I think it’s wrong and inexcusable because one is cheating on oneself.


Tests are made to prove you understand something, if you cheat, then your grade means nothing.

12:53 AM Feb 16 2015 |

veindiz1

veindiz1

Saudi Arabia

i dont but people  use me to cheet   .It is easy when you are an autsic,, 


girl asked me  to  give her my Paper In middle school.and  i was  afraid


in high  schoole Girl next to me ask me about  answers


i was not   afraid  but Does not know how to express rejection

04:45 PM Feb 13 2015 |

ya9out

ya9out

Morocco

Yes cheating is bad act for everyone and in everywhere. The parents must teach their children to not use this bad act in their life or with people, because that can results a lot of problems. 

12:25 PM Feb 13 2015 |

Shoba

Shoba

Sri Lanka



Dear Julito,


It’s nice to know that you have been to india and know its history a bit. 


I was born and bred in India (Chennai). Then I married a Sri Lankan and moved to Sri Lanka when I was 19 years old. 




02:36 PM Feb 10 2015 |

buttafly

buttafly

Germany

Awww…Cheating! To me that word always raises two questions: Does it actually pay to break the rules in order to get an unfair advantage? And who do you think you are cheating on? The teacher? The system? Isn’t it more the case that the only person you’ll be cheating is yourself?


I try to motivate my students to realize that there’s a deeper, more fulfilling satisfaction in experiencing the success that comes out of struggle. That’s why I always invite them to create their very own “cheat sheets” weeks before the actual exam. Those lists of words or phrases can be of great help to memorize difficult vocabulary. The idea behind it is, that with each day exam date is looming up, they’ve already focused on their weak points.  With all the effort I’m putting in, I still know people have different moral standards about what to do and what not. That’s why I never fail to warn them how fatal the clear evidence of malpractice can be. I’d really hate to see them disqualified.


After all, if cheating is taken lightly, how meaningful is the degree it represents after such a foolish act?


Ps: I remember being in a cold sweat when I was an innocent girl in elementary school. My cheat sheet was covered with scribbled clues so I could figure out the rest of the test. It didn’t work out because I was too anxious to get caught by the constant downward movements of my eyes :))

 julito

julito

Argentina

Dear Shoba,
I have been in India so I know a bit about its history . what you said it is true, hard for us to believe how students back then were disciplined by their teachers.

07:51 AM Feb 10 2015 |

Shoba

Shoba

Sri Lanka



Yes, dear ScienceBoy,


I don’t think I could also digest such a thing if it happened to my daughter. But back in those days, about 10 or 20 years ago, it was considered as a minor issue in India. 


It was much worse for male children. Teachers beat them up mercilessly for trivial matters. 


Thankfully, things have turned around and no teacher can beat or punish children in a brutal way nowadays. But still it happens in some schools in rural areas. 




07:44 AM Feb 10 2015 |

ScienceBoy

ScienceBoy

Turkey

Dear Shoba, it’s not acceptable at all.


I would never ever done this to any of my students. Sometimes punishment might be necessary but not that kind.

07:18 AM Feb 10 2015 |

Shoba

Shoba

Sri Lanka



Hi dear Julito,


Maybe you don’t know this, but in India back then punishing children by making them kneel down or stand in the hot sun for their wrongdoing was a common practice. Parents hardly got upset over these matters.


I was having a blinding headache and I could barely walk when I went back home that day. My mother was sympathetic, but my father was roaring with laughter and said I learned the lesson the hard way. 


The next day my father made me write an apology note to the teacher in question and things ended on a happy note. 


Best regards~ 



07:09 AM Feb 10 2015 |

La Princesse de la vie

Egypt

It’s awkward to take somebody’s efforts this easily.. And it’s not fair to make someone that stayed up late and exhausted themselves in studying or working hard equal with someone that didn’t exert any effort at all. So of course it’s a big deal and inexcusable to cheat.

11:09 PM Feb 09 2015 |

yeahlivia

yeahlivia

Brazil

well, i’ve never cheated but i believe once a person cheats, they will always cheat.

10:51 PM Feb 09 2015 |

albasel1975

Germany

As a teacher, I come upon many students who cheat. Believe me , they are genious and creative in inventing new and renewable ways of cheating. Sometimes, I wonder why don’t they invest their intelligence in studying well and depending on themselves. The time they spend in thinking about how to cheat without being caught and the time they spend in preparing the materials and the methods by which they will cheat  is enough for them to study the topics they are going to have test on. But at last , we can can say it is a matter of conviction , if I feel deep inside that cheating is not the suitable way for reaching my goals, I will never resort to it .

07:45 PM Feb 09 2015 |

Faride_s

Faride_s

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I didn’t used to do it . but I have seen many friends who cheat in a foolish way. I don’t like to do it and not brave enough. But one experience from a friend was very bad. He got caught while cheating and were sent to disciplinary comitte . :/

07:31 PM Feb 09 2015 |

dodgewiper

dodgewiper

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Marni! I did not expect you to do such a horrible thing! Cheating in cold blood. it’s unforgivable… I was kidding, take it easy :)

07:29 PM Feb 09 2015 |

WalaaDab

WalaaDab

Jordan

I dont to talk about a friend who have cheated. cheat is not good, if you have cheated you will take a chance from a person else, who must take this chance because he/she make an effort to try to get this by then.
Honestly, at my school I tried to cheat but after that I was uncomfortable if I had a score without any effort hhh 😈
But at the university, I studied very well to have a good score and i had it.

07:04 PM Feb 09 2015 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Dear Shoba, thanks for sharing with us  how you were punished by your teacher. If you ask me i would say that he went too far making you, then a little girl, to endure the scorching sun for several hours.


Did your parents come to know about it,, and what was their stanpoint on this, did they take sides with you or  they also  made you  ask for forgiving to the teacher in question. 

05:15 PM Feb 09 2015 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

@Julie , once again ,your insight into the bigger picture is amazing. The Principal had the same preasure from  the school district . It could also be that  the District allocate more money  to schools whose  students excell during final tests . No wonder that  students  that cheat or are help to cheat  eventually will  be dropouts when  in college.

03:34 PM Feb 09 2015 |

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