I want to go to university!
This statement is made by many students who come to the US seeking to improve their English.
Why did they come to study? What is the main goal of their studies? How will they achieve this goal?
These are the questions students should ask themselves while they are in each and every class, so that they stay on track and are able to realize their objective: To study in an English-speaking university.
One thing that students often underestimate is the need for cultural immersion prior to joining their university of choice. While each school certainly has their own culture, there are some ways we can prepare for this new atmosphere before we arrive. One great way is to learn the cultural language of the environment. At universities, there will be many new words and slang you will hear, so let’s try learning some here today!
While big, fancy words are great for classes, we sometimes lack the connectors needed to bring all of these pieces together. We will be learning about common phrasal verbs you will hear and use in an academic setting. Let’s go!
Where will we use these?
In the classroom:
Allow for: to take into consideration
All professors must allow for different learning types in the classroom.
Boil down to: to be summarized as
“Okay class, what it all boils down to is that homework reinforces class material.”
Call off: to cancel
Due to heavy snow, class will be called off tomorrow.
In study groups:
Account for: to explain, give a reason
We must account for the extra material the professor gave us yesterday when we make our study guide.
Bank on: to base your hopes on something/someone
In group projects, it’s nice if you can bank on your groupmates helping out.
Burn out: become exhausted from overworking
Study groups can help prevent students from burning out by sharing the work loads.
In meetings with your professors:
Abide by: to respect or obey a decision, a rule, or a law
I always abide by the class rules, so I would appreciate some leniency in this matter.
Advise against: to recommend not doing something
As your professor, I really must advise against you skipping class next week.
Brush up on: to improve, refresh one’s knowledge of something
“Since we will be starting a new chapter next week, you should brush up on the subject.”
