A.

Challenges of student life

1. Completing a checklist

In Britain and some other countries it is traditional for students to leave home and attend a college or
university in another city. This is usually an exciting and challenging time. If you left home to study,
what do you think you would look forward to? What do you think you might find difficult?

Work by yourself. To help focus your thoughts, complete the checklist. Highlight the ideas like this:

I'd really look forward to this

I Wouldn't mind this.

I'm not sure how I'd feel about this.

This would definitely worry me. I don't know how I'd cope.

 having my own place

 shopping for food and other essentials

 making sure l eat regularly and sensibly

 cooking for myself

 finding new friends

 organising myself and working alone

 managing on a budget

 being more responsible for my own studies

 deciding how to spend my free time

 doing my own laundry

 keeping where i live clean and tidy

 being more responsible for my own health

 keeping in touch with my family and friends.

 Before you listen: Interactive skills
You are going to analyse the way two teenagers talking about starting university interact with each other.

Before you listen, answer these questions:

 What do you think makes a good listener?

 What makes a conversation lively and interesting?

 What makes it dull and boring?

 A good conversation may be likened to a game of table tennis. Why?

Improving communication
Here are some strategies people use to improve communication. Can you extend the list?

Using good body language

Looking and sounding interested. Making eye contact Smiling and nodding

Asking open questions

How/Whot do you feel/think about … ?

Why…?

Where …?

Is there anything else...?

Encouragement

That's interesting. Tell me more.

That surprises me. I've always thought you were a capable student /a confident cook

Paraphrasing

You mean...?

What you're trying to say is ...?

In other words you feel...?

Asking for more information / clarification

Why do you feel like that? Can you explain a bit more?

I'm not sure I follow you. Can you give me an example?

Reflecting the speaker's feelings / state of mind

I can see you're excited / anxious at the thought of starting university / your new independence /developing a new social life,

Making suggestions / offering advice

Maybe you could...

If I were you I’d …

Your best idea would be to ...

Have you considered… ?

Why don't you… ?

Conversation study

Do you feel the conversation between Peter and Dora sounds friendly? With a partner, try to work out the tone
of the conversation. Write an example from the dialogue that illustrates each of these points.

 The speaker shows a desire to understand.

 The speaker offers advice in a friendly way.
 The speaker feels warm and positive towards the other person.
 The speaker is using a chatty, Informal register.
  What does she enjoy about university? 

 What is she finding difficult? 

 What advice would you give in reply? 

Use suitable advice phrases, such as: 

She should …
She could consider ...
If I were her I’d ...
What do you think of the advice offered?
Underline/Highlight the advice phrases as you read.

Analysing the example email

A. How does Bianca achieve an appropriate tone in the opening of the email? Which details are included to
develop the opening more fully?
B. Paragraph 2 shows that the writer understands why Sheryl feels confused. How does she define the
problem for Sheryl? What link does she make with her own experience? How does this affect the tone?
C. Paragraph 3 offers Sheryl advice on being organized. Bianca doesn’t sound bossy or superior- how does
she achieve this? How is the advice linked to the writer’s knowledge of Sheryl? How does this affect the
tone of the email?
D. Paragraph 4 shows Bianca’s attitude to Sheryl’s social life. Her recognition of Sheryl’s enthusiasm for
parties is balanced by a note of caution. How is this expressed? Do you think Sheryl is going to be
annoyed when she reads this, or is she likely to accept the advice?
E. The last paragraph confirms an invitation. How? Does Bianca manage to round off the email
appropriately? How?
F. Underline/Highlight the words and phrases in the email that create a warm and informal tone and
register.