Vocab Topic 5: School & Education

authentic

(adj) real, true

Ex: Having a native speaking teacher gave us the opportunity to be inspired by hearing ~ pronunciation.

teacher-centred

(adj) where the teacher is leading the class.

Ex: When I was at school, our teachers were ‘old-school’, strict and very traditional, so our lessons were ~.

student-centred

(adj) where it revolves around the students.

Ex: classes are more ~ today, and encourage more collaboration so I think a more friendly teacher would be more successful here.

encourage collaboration

(n) learning together through discussions.

Ex: classes are more student-centred today, and ~ more ~ so I think a more friendly teacher would be more successful here.

sail through

succeed very easily in something, especially a test.

Ex: Rachel ~ her finals and got A's in everything.

extra-curricular activities

anything NOT academic, eg: sport, drama (hoạt động ngoài trời)

Ex: Many of these schools offer a wide range of ~ activities such as golf, photography or fashion as well as the core academic subjects.

peer group

(n) students of your own age, in your class. (nhóm bạn)

Ex: Children usually speak of forming lifelong friendships, with their ~ as well as teachers and there is a strong concept of shared experiences.

alumnus (plu: alumni)

someone who studied at a particular school, college, or university.

Ex: I was an ~ of the International University in Vietnam.

assignments

(n) homework, essays

Ex: Sometimes, there are so many ~, and students are always under a lot of pressure to meet deadlines.

meet deadlines

(v) finish work by a certain time / date.

Ex: Sometimes, there are so many assignments, and students are always under a lot of pressure to ~.

pay off

worth the effort.

Ex: All her hard work ~ in the end, and she finally passed the exam.

high school for the gifted

(n) trường chuyên.

Ex: In HCM city, there are two ~, which are Le Hong Phong and Tran Dai Nghia.

boarding school

(n) trường nội trú

Ex: As an alumni of a ~, I can see the upsides as well as the challenges.

tuition fees

(n) học phí (money that a student pays to a university for their teaching)

Ex: Students have to borrow £9,000 a year to pay their ~.

learn by heart

(idm) học thuộc lòng

Ex: My father can still recite the poems he ~ at school.

hit the books

(idm) chăm chỉ học tập

Ex: I have to ~ this weekend — I have two exams next week.

with flying colors

(of exam, test) do it successfully.

Ex: She passed the exam ~.

wealth of knowledge

lượng lớn kiến thức

Ex: Some subjects like history requires a ~ about past events and characters.

Live up to one’s fullest potential

Phát huy được toàn bộ năng lực.

Ex: It is obvious that anyone can only ~ if given an opportunity regardless of their sex.

have a command of sth

know enough about something to able to use it effectively.

Ex: She demonstrates an impressive ~ the facts of the case.

fall behind

fail to do something fast enough or on time.

= lag behind, not keep up

Ex: He was ill for six weeks and ~ with his schoolwork.

Inquisitive

(adj) tò mò, hay học hỏi

=intrigued

Ex: She could see ~ faces looking out from the windows next door.

acquire knowledge

(v) tiếp thu kiến thức

be snowed under sth

have too much work.

Ex: I’m ~ a bunch of assignments.

sign up a course

Đăng ký một khoá học.

attend

(v) tham gia, tham dự

Ex: I ~ a public school for my education from preschool to sixth grade.

carry out/do an experiment

Thực hành một thí nghiệm.

put your thinking cap on

to think seriously about something.

Ex: I need some interesting suggestions so if you can ~ I'd be grateful.