Unit 1   Studies

Task 1 Collocations

Complete these questions, then ask your partner.

1.      In which month do you usually _________  most of your final exams?

2.      Have you __________ all your exams so far?

3.      How many assignments do you have to ________ this term?

4.      What do you have to do if you want to _________ from a course?

5.      Do you prefer exams or continuous _____________?

6.      Do you always __________ to all your lectures?

7.      How many courses have you ___________ this term?

8.      What requirements do you have to _________  in order to receive credits for this course?

9.      Are you currently _________ a research project?

Task 2  Choosing a university

What factors influenced you when choosing where to attend a university? Rank the factors from 1-5
(1 is the most important) and compare with your partner. Did any other factors influence your
choice?

-          Standard of teaching

-          Cost

-          Commuting time

-          Selection and availability of courses

-          Availability of support through professors, advisors and classmates

-          Areas of research conducted at the institution

-          Prestige of the institution

-          Opportunities to study abroad

Task 3 Online learning - listening

Listen to a conversation between a student and an advisor. Answer these questions.

1.      What´s the student´s problem and how does he propose to solve it?

2.      What does the advisor suggest?

Listen again and record the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) that Yoshi and Mrs Page
mention regarding online learning. What would you do in Yoshi´s situation?

                 PROS

                       CONS




Task 4 Online learning – Netiquette

Do you know the rules for online communication? What are they? Which of them are frequently
violated?

Answer the questions:

1.      Have you got any experience of being in a virtual classroom? What was it like?

2.      How would you feel if someone flamed you online?

3.      Are your computer usernames and passwords case-sensitive?

4.      Why do you think the KISS principle is important for online posts? (Keep It Short and
Simple)

5.      Is lurking online a good or bad thing? Why? (to lurk means to wait somewhere secretly)

6.      Why is it important to choose subject headers carefully?


Task 5 Computers – Collocations

Choose the correct collocation.

1.      It is very important for websites to be maintained / hacked into.

2.      Sam spends hours every evening accessed / connected to the Internet.

3.      I don´t crash / receive as much spam I used to.

4.      Is it an easy website to navigate / reinstall?

5.      It´s a good idea to keep a hard / fast copy of all important documents.

6.      Be very careful not to eliminate / delete your work.

7.      Do you do a lot of computer / online shopping?

8.      If you want to visit a chat room, just select / access this option here.

9.      Burning a CD is a quick and easy way to back off / back up your work.

10.  If you want to browse the web, just open the search engine, or enter / click the web address.

11.  If you want to send an attachment, just click / hit here and then attach the file.

12.  Make sure you enter the right address, or the e-mail will browse / bounce.


(Ex. 2, 3 adapted from Lane, S. Instant Academic Skills. CUP, 2011

Ex. 4 adapted from McCarthy, M.; O´Dell, F. Academic Vocabulary in Use. CUO, 2008

Ex. 5 adapted from McCarthy, M.; O´Dell, F. English Collocations in Use. CUO, 2005)