English, baby!

Time Off Before College

Date: Mar 14 2008

Themes: School, Time

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Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Finishing high school is a crossroads of sorts. You can go straight into your career, or you can keep going to school.

But just because you picked one plan doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind. People leave school to go work all the time. And after working for a few years, a lot of people go back to school.

Neither Marni nor Devan finished college right after school and Devan’s a little nervous about it. But since Marni is a few years older, she can give Devan advice about it.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Marni

Devan: So I just started college after taking three years off after high school.

Marni: Oh yeah?

Devan: I’m feeling completely out of practice. I’m a little overwhelmed because all of the other kids that are my age are already seniors and they’re graduating this year, and I’m just a freshman and I feel kind of at a disadvantage.

Marni: Really? Well, I don’t know. I kind of did the same thing. I started college right after high school and I did a year and it was just too much, and I took some time off and went back. I actually felt like I appreciated my education more because I was ready for it and, you know…

Devan: That’s interesting. That’s a good point. I think that’s why I didn’t go after high school is because I wasn’t ready. I needed a break.

Marni: Exactly.

Devan: Did it take you a while to remember how to format papers and stuff like that?

Marni: Yeah, and I was an English major so I had to do a lot of that. But you catch on quickly and you just kind of power through and…Are you taking a lot of credits? Because if you overload yourself, you know, right away, it can be overwhelming.

Devan: I’m trying to take it slow and ease back into it. But I’m excited. Hopefully my outside experience will help me.

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Discussion

After three years of not going to school, Devan just started college. She says it’s a little strange since the other students her age are about to graduate and she’s just starting out.

Marni went to college for one year, but then left to work for a while. When she came back, she didn’t feel weird about it like Devan. She was glad to back and felt like she could finally appreciate her education. She admits that it took her a little while to remember how to write papers properly, but she also says it wasn’t too hard to get back into it.

Which do you think is best? To go to college as soon as possible and be the same age as the other people there, or to work for a little while and then go back to school?

Comments

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aliyatul_hikmah

Indonesia

Working n studying in same time is good if they can.
But not all people can do it n manage their time well!
If there are many tasks of college n work in same time or there are problems, usually it will influence study of someone. So he have to decide what his priority n he really have to hard effort to overcome all of it.
.
I think it depends on each person how he chose what will he do. Just study, work then study or work n study in same time. All of them I think have same chance to be success n it depends on how he understand his position, just as a student or as a worker n a student in same time.
.
Study is obligation to all people n work also obligation too for some people that they have to fullfill need of them or their family too.

Lubna Alyy

France

Working and studying at the same time.I've seen some people who work and study at the same time.

miffoo

Slovakia

I think people have a different opinions. Sometimes young people feel that needs break and went one year take off and went back. Every experience u have u might help in your life. I working and studying some time and it is hard but I have own destiny

miffoo

Slovakia

everyone sometimes needs break

Sabitha

India

i think,it isnt good to waste time after school,bcoz all that we learned get erased easy..but if u r taking a break for preparing for higher courses ,,to attent thier exams,,then its cool…time is money..

sow low

China

i want to be a useful man

VincentValentine

Germany

Hmm well actually I can't imagine the situation that way 'cause in germany it's a lil' bit different,but as i understood the text i would agree with the oppinion that one should continue with college if the person thinks that he/she is ready…but i also have to mention that i would have chosen the college just after high school because finishing school is more important than a job u could also do after the college time :D

Otonashi Saya

Saudi Arabia

It is better to go to college as soon as possible but it is not a problem to complete your studying after work , because the most important thing is to study and learn new things ,age does not really matter ( according to my opinion)

cicak

Indonesia

i’m completely agree with chreecici’s opinion.
That’s very good point.

bbbfish

China

i have same trouble,
I’m feeling completely out of practice. I’m a little overwhelmed because all of the other kids that are my age are already seniors and they’re graduating this year, and I’m just a freshman and I feel kind of at a disadvantage.

samcro

Argentina

everyone need take a little brake but not to long

Jjj

Saudi Arabia

I dont thing that we have to take aTime Off Before College.If you do that ,you can't move on in your life,your life well be in mess….it well take you very very hard work if you do that..

purcman

Poland

Hi :)

Try to use your local "classmate-find" website ;) like "classmates.com" in the USA or "nasza-klasa.pl" in my country.

about main subject…

I think that people shouldn't take time off before they finish high school. After that – it's OK :)

medunia

Central African Republic

i think you shouldn't miss a day after finishing your high school to go to a college or at the university because your life will become better and more exciting and the feeling to be a student at the university is incredible and unbelivable. Much more exciting time in your life but you should feel it by yourself……….

songxycool07

Hong Kong

It all depends

john668

Saudi Arabia

I hope to write to me.

Am I right?

gauravp7

India

It is very difficult for my life as i have no money for learn high school.Hence i was doing part time job with my high school. i have completed my high school and start college that time i have full experience for my job. Today i have compeleted Master Degree with my job.Hence depend on you, how to learn & work.

lucksnap

Thailand

I think it depend on culture and family situation

both of them are good if we think for benefit

some student want to have time off bcs he/she doesn't find out what their need

then time off before will be advantage

some who can continue immediately after hight school, is good also bcs they can continue their study without any problem

I was continue my study immediately after high school too and after graduate in Bachelor then I work for 6 years and continue my master degree

I found what subject I shall learn after my work of 6 years too

rihab2008

Tunisia

I think is better to continue the study after high school,and I also think that is not a shame to combacke to study after taken break.Because there is no age to continue study.

chensnow

Taiwan

I went to work after finishing college life of two years, and until now I have worked for nearly three years. So I can't realize what the feeling people do who work first for some years after graduating from high school and then went back to school. But anyway, I think that people who be students with the same age classmates must be better communicate with each other, and in this way, it will be less lags from others. But the other choice can be good for mind strong, and also for the happiness of studing.