Mary attends Professor Not's study skills workshop but it sounds like she knows more about studying than him! Listen out for the advice she gives the group.
Language focus
Learn phrases used to introduce a suggestion:
Maybe I could offer some suggestions?
From what I understand…
What works for me is…
From what I understand…
What works for me is…
Here are Mary's tips for studying well:
You must study every day
Choose a place and time to do it
Plan your time and decide what you want to achieve
Don't be afraid to ask for help
Choose a learning style that helps you learn best
Choose a place and time to do it
Plan your time and decide what you want to achieve
Don't be afraid to ask for help
Choose a learning style that helps you learn best
Vocabulary
Words and phrases about advice
guidance
let me give you a bit of advice
sage advice
let me give you a bit of advice
sage advice
Transcript
Narrator - Hello. It's time for English at University - the series that teaches some English phrases to help you through your first year of study abroad. There's a lot to learn when you start studying for a degree and especially when you're doing it in another country. Mary's coping very well and is making the most of every opportunity to get guidance or help her with her studies. Today she's attending Professor Not's study skills workshop but it sounds like she knows more about studying than he does!
Prof. Not - …so let's just stand around in a circle… hold hands and say mmmmm.
Daniel - How exactly is this helping?
Prof. Not - Trust you to spoil the karma. It just helps us think…
Daniel - Think of what to say, you mean.
Prof. Not - Now to study well, you need to be in the right zone.
Mary - Zone?
Prof. Not - In the right place… in your head. Sharon…
Sharon - Yes Robert - I mean, Professor.
Prof. Not - Could you hand out the blindfolds?
Mary - And how are they going to help?
Narrator - A good question Mary. I admire Professor Not's enthusiasm but let me give you a bit of advice – his study skills are a bit 'alternative' - different. Have you got any advice to offer?
Mary - Well, I did read a book about good study skills on the plane. But what do I say?
Narrator - Say 'could I offer some suggestions?' or 'from what I understand…' or maybe, 'something that works for me is…' and give them your tips – that way you won't sound too big-headed – like someone we know!
Daniel - Maybe we could just hold the hand of the person next to us?
Narrator - Go on Mary.
Mary - No Daniel… maybe I could offer some suggestions?
Sharon - Oh yes Mary!
Mary - Well… from what I understand… you must study every day… and choose a regular place and time to do it.
Prof. Not - Yes of course, very good Mary. Anything else?
Mary - Well… what works for me is planning my time and deciding what I want to achieve… and not being afraid to ask for help.
Daniel - Yeah, yeah. I was going to say that – and make sure you take lots of breaks – long ones.
Mary - Short ones – and develop a good learning style – choose a method that helps you learn best.
Prof. Not - Excellent Mary. That's exactly right.
Sharon - Oh, I preferred the blindfold method.
Narrator - Excellent indeed Mary. She's on fire! She spoke up and gave some sage advice without showing off. Here's a reminder of how she started the conversation…
Maybe I could offer some suggestions?
From what I understand…
What works for me is…
And she gave some good advice which the other students – especially Daniel - will no doubt find very useful, such as…
You must study every day
Choose a place and time to do it
Plan your time and decide what you want to achieve
Don't be afraid to ask for help
Choose a learning style that helps you learn best
With that advice you can't go wrong. And now it looks like Mary's study advice has made a real impression on someone…
Tech Student - Wow Mary. I loved what you said in there – really useful – I can see you're a committed student – how about getting together sometime and… comparing study notes?
Mary - Well, errr, ermm…
Daniel - I think she's quite busy at the moment.
Mary - No, I'm not – that would be lovely. Let's meet up in the bar later.
Sharon - Ooooh!
