Lesson 50: Back to School

Conversation

Anna: Hello, and welcome to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.! I am going back to school! Georgetown is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the United States. The Jesuits are a religious order known worldwide for their many colleges and universities. Students have been studying here since 1792!

Sarah: Hey, are you finished with your report?

Taylor: Almost. I have been writing and re-writing since last night! The subject is really interesting to me.

Sarah: Me too! I have been studying this topic* for a long time.

Anna: Am I late?

Sarah: You’re a little late. But don’t worry. The professor isn’t here yet.

Anna: How long has the class been waiting?

Taylor: We’ve only been waiting for about 10 minutes.

Anna: Oh good. Oh, no! I forgot my pencil sharpener. Excuse me, do you have a pencil sharpener I can borrow?

Taylor: No, sorry.

Anna: Oh wait. I found my extra one! Whew, that was close.

Anna: So, how long have you been studying at Georgetown?

Andrew: I’ve been studying here since 2015.

Anna: Awesome. You know, I've been wanting to go back to school for a long time. So, here I am!

Andrew: Well, you picked a great school. I’ve been really happy here.

Anna: Awesome. See, I’ve been working for several years now. So, going back to school makes me a little nervous.

Randall: Don’t be nervous. Just pay attention and do your best!

Anna: That is great advice. You know, I have been paying attention. But sometimes I still feel like I don’t understand. Like last week …

Anna: What’s that?

Jada: This is my draft.

Anna: What draft?

Jada: The professor told us to bring our drafts.

Anna: I think she said “giraffe.”

Jada: No. She didn’t.

Anna: Here comes the professor.

Dr. Jones: Hello class! Sorry I'm late, but the snow storm made getting here really difficult. I see you’ve been waiting very patiently. So, let’s get started! Who wants to give their talk first?

Anna: Oh! Oh! Please, please pick me.

Dr. Jones: Anna?

Anna: Who me? Sure. Thanks.

Anna: Here is my report on “Violins in the City.”

Anna: People have been looking for a solution to the problem of violins in the city. I say stop! Stop! They are not the problem! In fact, violins are part of the solution!

Anna: Violins create beautiful music that can fill a city with hope.

Dr. Jones: Anna …

Anna: If we put a violin in the hands of every child …

Dr. Jones: Anna! The topic is “Violence in the city.” Violence. Not violins.

Anna: Until next time …Like I was saying, many people are saying that violence in the city is a problem. A very big problem.

* topic = subject

New Words

Catholic - adj. of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church

class - n. a group of students who meet regularly to be taught a subject or activity

draft - n. a version of something (such as a report) that you make before you make the final version

confused - adj. unable to understand or think clearly

giraffe - n. a very tall African animal that has an extremely long neck and legs

Jesuit - n. a man who is a member of a religious group called the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus

order - n. a religious organization whose members usually live together and promise to follow special rules and traditions

patient - adj. able to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time

pay attention - phrase to listen to, watch, or consider something or someone very carefully

pencil - n. an instrument used for writing and drawing that has a hard outer part and a black or colored center part

professor - n. a teacher especially of the highest rank at a college or university

religious - adj. believing in a god or a group of gods and following the rules of a religion

report - n. a written or spoken description of a situation or event

sharpener - n. a tool or machine that makes something sharp

since - prep. in the time after (a specified time or event in the past) orfrom (a point in the past) until the present time

solution - n. something that is used or done to deal with and end a problem

study - v. to learn about something by reading, memorizing facts or attending school

understand - v. to know the meaning of something

violence - n. the use of physical force to harm someone or to damage property

violin - n. a musical instrument that has four strings and that you play with a bow