Table of Contents
Introduction
This post provides useful school expressions that you may need to understand and use during your educational journey. A quiz is offered at the end to test your understanding of these terms.
Useful School Expressions
School life is filled with various expressions and vocabulary that are essential for communication and understanding. Whether you’re discussing your own education or asking about someone else’s, knowing these phrases can be quite helpful.
A. General School Terms
- I go to primary school, high school, university…
- This phrase is used to describe the level of education you’re currently attending.
- I have English, maths, science…
- Indicates the subjects you study.
- What school did you go to?
- Commonly asked to learn about someone’s alma mater.
- What qualifications have you got?
- Used to inquire about someone’s educational achievements.
- What year did you graduate?
- Helps to know when someone completed their education.
B. Useful School Vocabulary
- Attendance:
- The act of being present, especially in a class or school.
- Class schedule/timetable:
- A timetable indicating the times and subjects of classes.
- Example: “The first lesson on the Monday morning timetable is history.”
- Dormitory (dorm or student residence):
- A large building where students live, typically found at colleges or universities.
- Enroll:
- To join or register for a class.
- Example: “Is it too late to enroll in the college?” / “I enrolled in the modern art course.”
- Freshman (frosh):
- A first-year student in high school, college, or university.
- Example: “He’s a freshman at Harvard.”
- Graduation:
- The ceremony or act of receiving a degree or diploma upon completing one’s education.
- Example: “We attended the graduation ceremony.”
- Recess:
- The break time between classes.
- Principal/Headmaster:
- The person in charge of a school.
- Example: “The headmaster announced a new policy.”
- Semester/Term:
- Divisions within the school year.
- Example: “The fall semester begins in September.”
- English Language:
- The language in which communication is expected within the school.
- Example: “Please write in the English language.”
C. Idioms about School
- Hit the books:
- To study or start studying intensely.
- Example: “I need to hit the books if I want to pass this exam.”
- Pass with flying colors:
- To succeed or excel at something, often used in the context of exams.
- Example: “She passed her driving test with flying colors.”
- Pull one’s finger out:
- To start working seriously or to make an effort.
- Example: “If he doesn’t pull his finger out, he’s going to fail.”
- Burning the midnight oil:
- To work or study late into the night.
- Example: “I was burning the midnight oil to finish my term paper.”
- Learn the ropes:
- To become familiar with the basics or essentials of something.
- Example: “It took me a few weeks to learn the ropes of my new job.”
- Cut class:
- To skip or not attend a class without permission.
- Example: “He got caught cutting class and got detention.”
- A piece of cake:
- Something very easy to do.
- Example: “The exam was a piece of cake.”
- Play hooky:
- Meaning: To skip school or work without permission.
- Example: “Let’s play hooky and go to the beach instead.”
- Make the grade:
- To meet a particular standard or perform satisfactorily.
- Example: “She studied hard to make the grade.”
- Out of one’s depth:
- To be in a situation that is too difficult to handle.
- Example: “She felt out of her depth in the advanced math class.”
- School of hard knocks:
- Meaning: The education or experience gained from life’s difficulties.
- Example: “He learned about responsibility through the school of hard knocks.”
- Be bookworm:
- A bookworm is a term used to describe someone who loves reading and spends a lot of time studying.
- Example: Jane is a bookworm. She reads at least five books a week.
- Be a teacher’s pet:
- A teacher’s pet is a student who is favored by the teacher and often receives special treatment or attention.
- Example:
A: Linda is the teacher’s pet.
B: Don’t be jealous. You are saying that just because she always gets the best grades.
- Cut class:
- To cut class is to intentionally skip or miss a class without permission.
- Example: James’s parents were informed that he often cuts class.
- Ace something:
- To ace something means to achieve a high score or perform exceptionally well.
- I have to work hard to ace the math test.
- Flunk out!
- Flunking out refers to being expelled or dismissed from school due to poor academic performance.
- Example: After failing to pass all the tests, he eventually flunked out.
- Learn by heart:
- Learning by heart means memorizing something thoroughly, usually without understanding its meaning.
- Example: The teacher asked the students to learn the list of irregular verbs by heart.
- Play hooky:
- Playing hooky is skipping school or class without permission or a valid reason.
- Example: Instead of going to school yesterday, Sarah decided to play hooky with her friends. They went to the beach and spent the whole day sunbathing and swimming
Conclusion
Understanding and using these useful school expressions and vocabulary can greatly improve communication in educational settings. These terms are indispensable in school environments to discuss schedules, interact at school, or simply socialize.
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