Learn and Talk II

Lesson 2
Returning to School

Content:
Part 1 Warm Up 3’
Part 2 Text 7’ Part 4 Discussion 8’
Part 3 Retell 3’ Part 5 After-Class Review

Tutor: Please keep your greeting in 2 mins. And you can go through Part 5 if time allows.
 Part 1 - Warm Up 3 mins

Would you like to return to school one day

or do you want to be a student forever?

Tutor: Please encourage the student to answer the question and keep this part in 3 mins.

1
Part 2 - Text Returning to School 7 mins Words and Expressions

Returning to college can be difficult for anyone, but imagine

1. I was nervous to start with because …
how difficult it was for me at 71 years old! I run my own
(at the beginning: before the current time or
playgroup and a few years ago the law changed and I discovered situation)
that I needed more qualifications. So I went back to school. E.g. To start with, where and when did it
happen?
I was nervous to start with because I didn’t really know what to
2. … it still takes up a lot of your time.
expect.1 After two or three lessons, it was fine. Everyone was
(to fill a particular amount of space or time)
really friendly and I got on all right with my homework and
E.g. I’ll try not to take up too much of your
classwork. time.

The entire memo took up all of two

The most difficult part was trying to study and work at the same pages.
time. I’ve been in childcare for over 30 years but it still takes up 3. … that I’ve coped with the course.
a lot of my time.2 There’s a lot of preparation and paperwork to (to deal successfully with a difficult situation)
do outside playgroup hours. I’m very pleased to say that I’ve E.g. It must be really hard to cope with three
young children and a job.
coped with the course.3 You’re never too old to learn.
Tutor: Please read or let the student read the text, and explain the underlined expressions in blue.

2
 3 mins
Part 3 - Retell

Now retell the passage by yourself based on what you’ve read.

Hints:
difficult … 71 years old … playgroup … qualifications
nervous … friendly … homework and classwork
study and work … takes up … preparation
coped with … never too old

Tutor: Please encourage the student to retell the text. The

hints are NOT necessarily needed.

3
Part 4 - Discussion 8 mins Expressions may be used
(Try to talk for at least 2 minutes for each question. You are encouraged to use the
expressions that you’ve learned today. )
1. to start with
to start with / take up / cope with
I was nervous to start with because I
didn’t really know what to expect.
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a student?
2. take up

2. What are the difficulties a person may face if he/she wants I’ve been in childcare for over 30

to go back to school? years but it still takes up a lot of your

time.

3. If you can travel back in time, would you like to go back to

3. cope with
kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, or college?
I’m very pleased to say that I’ve coped
with the course.

Tutor: Please let the student talk freely, each question about 2 mins. Using the expressions from
today is encouraged.

4
 ₪3

After-Class Review

Review the expressions you’ve learned today and try to use them to make some sentences.

1. to start with 刚开始 2. These files take up a lot of disk space.

at the beginning: before the current time or situation
E.g. 1. I was nervous to start with because I didn’t really
know what to expect.
2. She has lost a lot of weight, and she wasn’t very
heavy to start with.
3. Success was assured and, at least to start with, the
system operated smoothly.
2. take up 占用，花费(时间、空间或精力)
to fill a particular amount of space or time
E.g. 1. I’ve been in childcare for over 30 years but it still
takes up a lot of my time.
3. A good deal of my time is taken up with reading
essays and reviews.
3. cope with （成功地）对付，应付，处理
to deal successfully with a difficult situation
E.g. 1. I’m very pleased to say that I’ve coped with the
course.
2. The only way I can cope with my mother is at a
distance.
3. You are going to have to take a certain amount of
criticism, but you must cope with it.

5
★5