Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.
Preparation
Transcript
Ali: Hey, you guys, I've been looking for you. I've got an idea – a study group. What do you think? Are you interested?
Dina: Yes! I need a study group, in a big way.
Bea: Me too.
Ali: Do you think we have enough people here for a study group? I mean, there are only four of us …
Bea: Sorry. Three of us. Chris can't do study group. Right, Chris?
Chris: Yeah, there's no way I can do a study group. I have an assignment and then I'm too busy. But I'll stay for this first meeting.
Ali: Should we try and get another group together with us for this?
Bea: No, I don't think so. I think three is fine. Ideal size, really.
Dina: Me too.
Ali: OK, three people then. Four people for the first meeting. What next?
Bea: What about a meeting place? We can't meet here in the library …
Ali: It's not too bad, especially if those other people would go away.
Bea: But we can't exactly ask them to leave, and people might get annoyed with us talking.
Dina: Can I say something here?
Ali: Sure, go ahead.
Dina: There's a study hall next to the cafeteria. It's almost always empty. Could we meet there?
Ali: A study hall?! Who knew? Well, it sounds good to me.
Bea: Yeah. I've never been there but …
Ali: So, we ought to decide how long for and how often.
Dina: I read somewhere that you should make the meeting at the same time each week. Like a seminar. That way we'd take it more seriously.
Bea: We may as well make it for this time since we're all here. Is this time OK?
Dina: Works for me.
Ali: Me too.
Chris: Hang on just a minute. I know I'm not going to be in this group, but aren't we supposed to have a seminar at this time every other week?
Dina: Umm, no.
Bea: Thursday, no?
Ali: No, that's on Thursday.
Chris: Sorry. Forget I said anything.
Ali: Don't worry about it.
Bea: So everyone agrees that this time is fine? Every week?
Ali: How long should we make it?
Bea: An hour?
Dina: Could we find a way of making it two hours?
Ali: Two hours seems a bit like … too much. To start with then?
Bea: Ninety minutes? Compromise?
Ali: Is that OK with you, Dina?
Dina: Fine by me.
Ali: OK, so I guess all we have left to decide is exactly what we'll do when we meet. The final exam is a way off. I guess we could review our notes, or practise learning things by heart.
Dina: I have a list of dos and don'ts actually that I got online. I could be a moderator, and we could use the ideas as a starting point …
Hello Everyone,
Could someone explains to me why the first answer is 4 students and not three.?
Hi Feras skairek,
Thanks for your question. Question 1 is about the first meeting of the study group. Chris says, "there's no way I can do a study group. I have an assignment and then I'm too busy. But I'll stay for this first meeting."
A little later, a student confirms: "Four people for the first meeting." (Chris will only attend the first meeting, so the study group will have only three students starting from the second meeting.)
Does that make sense?
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Thank you Jonathan,
yes, that is sence. I need to focus more next time. The details make the difference.
My best greeting
Feras
Now I'm studying online at my university, so I've created only online study groups to make some assignments. Very often I was a moderator and I can give some tips.
- make your plan, try to turn a big deal into the small pieces.
- decide when you can exchange your thoughts about project
- if something unexpected happens, try to conquer your nerves, make compromise if you need it and go ahead! We are all people so can sometimes make mistakes :)
I want to wish you to get your act together and easily deal with all difficulties :)
Hi team, I have a question/doubt for Q4. 4. They have another seminar …
Why is the answer every two weeks on a Thursday? I thought should be every Thursday?
Kindly advise. Thanks
Hello Ruth,
When Chris says 'every other week', this means that the seminar happens on alternate weeks. In other words, one week they have the seminar, then the following week they don't, and then the week after they have it and so on.
We use this expression 'every other' with other things that occur in a series, too -- for example, 'day', 'weekend', 'year', 'seat', 'person' (in a line), etc.
Does that make sense?
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi Kirk, yes it makes sense now. Thanks for clarification.
I have an experience of creating study group, when I was preparing for university entrance exam. There are some tips that helped us help to make a well organized and efficient study group:
- It is good that every person in the group be in the same level.
- Using pomodoro technique for better concentration and rest.
- Determine a specific time for sharing ideas and solving problems.
Hey,
Could you tell us a bit more about that Pomodoro technique? I hear that for the first time, and I am curious if you have found it helpful.
Thanks!
Hey,
I'll demonstrate it for you. You should concentrate or work for 25 minutes and after 25 minutes, take a rest for 5 minutes. Do this 4 times in a row and finally take a long rest for 25 minutes. Repeat this cycle again.
It's something like this:
25 minutes working - 5 minutes resting
+
25 minutes working - 5 minutes resting
+
25 minutes working - 5 minutes resting
+
25 minutes working - 5 minutes resting
= 1 Pomodoro
It will definitely eliminate distractions and improves your concentration.