Campus Talk

Discussion about courses and exams is a big part of college life, other than joining in clubs, partying, and making friends. The language used among classmates can be informal, while the language used for oral presentation in class tends to be formal. In the following conversation, there are some idioms useful for discussing exams. In section 3, we will also learn more campus-related vocabulary.

(Mindy and Joan are freshmen in Fu Jen University. They just met each other in the cafeteria)

Mindy: Hey, Joan. What’s with those dark circles under your eyes?

Joan: Oh, you know I’ve been pulling an all-nighter for this morning’s British literature exam, but it seems all of the hard work didn’t pay off.

Mindy: Why do you say that? You didn’t do well on the exam?

Joan: Well, I memorized the anecdotes about every author covered in this midterm, but none of those appeared in the exam!

Mindy: Joan, you totally missed the point of preparing for the literature exam! Pofessor Thomas said he wanted to see our analytical skills in the test, so you prepared in the wrong direction.

Joan: Oh, I didn’t hear him say that. I must have been dozing off during the class.

Mindy: How about the term paper on Reading? Did you finish it yet?

Joan: Yeah, I finished it two weeks ago. Hey, Mindy, can you lend me your notes for the history class?

Mindy: Sure, no problem. When do you need those?

Joan: How about tomorrow at lunchtime? Let’s meet here again.

Mindy: Ok, bye!