First Year as University Students

University life can be quite different from high schools. Many students find it more
challenging but few cannot cope with the new situation and atmosphere. However
for those who can adapt well, mostly they will succeed in their efforts finishing
university smoothly.

As long as you‘re able to stay on track of the goal at hand, i.e. getting good grades,
keeping a smart schedule and studying like crazy, you‘ll be just fine. In university,
balance is the key. Study a lot, have a little fun. If it sounds pretty great, that‘s
because it absolutely is.

Ahmad : Assalamualaikum! Are you guys new students?

Anis : Waalaikumsalam. Yes we are. Are you a new student as well?
Ahmad : Oh no, this is my 5th semester here at IAIN Salatiga. I saw most of you
look confused. Is there anything I can do for you?
Slamet : We are actually looking for the library. It should be somewhere around
here, right?
Ahmad : Well, actually you just passed it. It is situated behind that tall tree over
there. You almost get there. It might be because of the leaves cover
the Library sign.
Anis : Oh I see. Thank you for showing us the Library. What is your name by
the way?
Ahmad : That‘s alright. Call me Ahmad.
Slamet : I am Slamet, and she is Anis. It is so nice to meet you mas Ahmad. If
you do not mind let‘s have a little talk. Since we are new students here,
there are a lot of questions in our mind.
Anis : That would be great if you can spare your time, mas Ahmad.

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Ahmad : Certainly, I have two hours before my next class starts. How about
sitting under the tree in front of the library. It is pretty comfortable.
You can ask me any questions.
Amin : I am so excited to study here at IAIN Salatiga. I cannot wait for this
student orientation to end then classes start. What can I prepare to get
the most benefits during my study time here?
Ahmad : At the moment, two words come to my mind, those are ―independence
and diligence‖ . In the university you have to be independent and
diligent. Many things are different from high schools. When I was in
high school, my teachers paid a lot of attention to our attendance, gave
advices and checked my homework regularly. They made sure that the
students were on the right track. While here in the university, we
cannot rely on other people to remind us to study or to do homework or
even to wake up early for our morning class. Your friends will be busy
with their own stuff. Your lecturer will not remind you all the time about
your duty as a student. They may do that, but in most cases, they will
do it only once or twice, and they will leave it up to you. So of course
you need to be more independent and more diligent.
Anis : That makes sense. How long do you study independently mas Ahmad?
Ahmad : I personally study by my own at home around two hours a day plus
another hour to do my homework, assignments or just reading books.
Slamet : That‘s less than my study time. I used to study three to five hours
every day when I was in high school.
Ahmad : That‘s good for you. You know what, if you can keep your study habit
that way, you‘ll easily be the most remarkable student in your class.
Because What I have observed, my friends and most students study
less than two hours per day. In my opinion, keeping a good standing is
easy if you can just be a bit more diligent that the average students.
Study regularly, hand in your homework or assignments on time and
prepare yourself well for the exams will makes a lot of difference. In
the end, you want graduate with the best achievement you can make.
Anis : Hearing this makes me excited to study hard.
Slamet : I am considering myself as a diligent person, so I guess, it will be easy.
Ahmad : I‘m happy to hear that. Just keep the balance between your study time
and socialization. Sometimes when we feel bored, having some friends
to hang out with, to talk to, to do stuff together, to study or discuss
difficulties found in the classroom, will enrich our time in university life.
If I were you, I would prepare my best since the first year in the

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 university, because four years will seem so fast. Of course we do not
want to waste our precious university time.
Slamet : What a great advice from you mas Ahmad. It is absolutely useful for
us. Could we have your cell phone number? So that we can contact you
again next time.
Ahmad : Sure, here is my number (while writing on a piece of paper). You could
always contact me anytime, Slamet and Anis.
Anis : Thanks a lot mas Ahmad. We will.
Slamet : Yes, hopefully we can always remain in touch mas Ahmad. It is so nice
to see you and have a conversation with you. Thank you for your time.
We have to go to the Library now. See you mas Ahmad.
Ahmad : Do not mention it. It‘s my pleasure to have a talk with you guys. See
you around the campus. Assalamualaikum.
Anis : See you later mas Ahmad. Waalaikumsalam.

A. Text Comprehension
1. Where did the conversation take place?
2. Who was Ahmad?
3. What problem did Anis and Slamet have in the story?
4. Why did Anis and Slamet involve Ahmad in their conversation?
5. How does it make you feel as a first-year student?
6. Has anything like this happened to you?
7. What is your plan to get the most benefit during your study time at IAIN
Salatiga?

B. Collocations and Idioms: learn the meaning, pronounce, and use them in
your own sentences
1. Cope with: to face and deal with responsibilities, problems, or difficulties,
especially successfully or in a calm or adequate manner.
Example:
 Many students find it more challenging but few cannot cope with the new
situation and atmosphere.
 After his failure he couldn't cope with it any longer.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. Succeed in: to achieve something that you planned to do or attempted to do.

Example:
 But for those who can adapt well, mostly they will succeed in their efforts
finishing university smoothly.

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  We finally succeeded in getting Marjorie up the stairs.)
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3. Look for: attempt to find.

Example:
 We are actually looking for the library.
 They have been looking for you
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. Supposed to: Intended to; also, believed to, expected to.

Example:
 It is supposed to be somewhere around here, right?
 This pill is supposed to relieve your pain, or you‟re supposed to be the
leader.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. Leave something up to someone: to show or describe some but not all of

something, because people can easily imagine what the rest is like.
Example:
 They may do that, but in most cases, they will do it only once or twice, and
they will leave it up to you.
 You have grown up now, so I’ll leave it up to you.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6. Rely on: put trust in with confidence.

Example:
 We cannot rely on other people to remind us to study.
 He is someone you can really rely on when times get rough.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. Hang out: Spending time with someone in the context of friendship. Example:
 Sometimes when we feel bored, having some friends to hang out with will
enrich our time in university life.
 We should hang out some time.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

8. In touch: to maintain communications with someone; to maintain up-to-date

knowledge about someone or something.
Example:

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  Hopefully we can always remain in touch mas Ahmad.
 After my neighbor moved, we still remained in touch.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

C. Conversational Practices: Plan and Counterplan

Here are some phrases you can use to express plan and counterplan:
● Why don‟t you …
● You could always …
● If I were you, I‟d …
● Why not …
● How about …
● Try … ing.

Task 1:
Work in pairs as 2 friends who want to go from one place to another. Use the
phrases from the list above to make suggestion of how to get to the destination.

Task 2:
Make your own 10 sentences using the phrases above.

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 Grammar Focus: Degrees of
Comparison Pattern:

Comparative Superlative
Degree/Condition Positive
Pattern Samples Pattern Samples

Consist of 1 syllable Old Adjective + -er Older the Adjective the oldest
Young Younger + -est the
tall Taller Youngest
the tallest

Ends with -y Heavy Adjective (omit Heavier the Adjective the

Friendly the –y) + -ier Friendlier (omit the –y) heaviest
naughty naughtier + -iest the
Friendliest
the
naughtiest

There is a vocal Thin Adjective Thinner the Adjective the

between Slim (Double the Slimmer (double the thinners
consonants big last consonant) bigger last the
+ -er consonant) slimmest
+ -est the biggest

Consist of 2 or Interesting More + More the most + The most

more syllables Energetic adjective interesting adjective interesting
creative More energetic The most
More creative energetic
The most
creative

irregular Good - Better The - The best

Bad Worse The worst
far Further/farther The
furthest/
The farthest

Online Resources:
http://www.weblearn.in/degrees_of_comparison/
http://www.english-for-students.com/Degrees-of-Comparison.html

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TASK 1: Look at the picture! Read and explain!

Task 2: Complete the following sentences using the appropriate form of

the adjective.

1. Anis is … than her sister.

a. pretty b. prettier c. prettiest
2. Ahmad is a … boy.
a. nice b. nicer c. nicest
3. Endhang is the … girl in the class.
a. intelligent b. more intelligent c. most intelligent
4. Slamet speaks English …
a. well b. better c. best
5. Russia is the … country in the world.
a. big b. bigger c. biggest
6. China is a … country.
a. big b. bigger c. biggest
7. China is … than India.
a. big b. bigger c. biggest
8. This is the … book I have ever read.
a. interesting b. more interesting c. most interesting
9. I am … than you.
a. smart b. smarter c. smartest
10. Take the … of the two routes.
a. short b. shorter c. shortes