College Majors: Getting a University Degree

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IDIOMS!

"whip through" = finish a job or study very quickly
"He whipped through the driving test without any problems."
"have hard knocks" = have problems or trouble
"My sister had a few hard knocks during her first semester of college, but things settled down, and she did well the rest of the year."

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[ Quiz Script ]

College Majors
Getting a University Degree

I. Pre-Listening Exercises
II. Listening Exercises
III. Vocabulary
IV. Post-Listening Exercises
V. Online Investigations

Level:	Topic:	Type:	Speakers:	Length:
medium	college majors	conversation	man - woman	02:11

I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]
How do people go about selecting a college major or future career? Are there job fairs in high schools in your area to help students learn about different careers? Is it a common practice for children to ask parents for guidance in choosing a college major?

HELPFUL TIP: Some college students often are still undecided on what career path to take even during their first year in college, so it can be a good idea to take a variety of classes to test your interests.

college

II. Listening Exercises [Top]

Listen to the conversation by pressing the "Play Audio" button and answer the questions. Press the "Final Score" button to check your quiz.

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1. Where does the conversation most likely take place?
A. in a college dormitory
B. in a unversity classroom
C. at the school's library

2. What year is the woman in college?
A. second year
B. third year
C. fourth year

3. Which statement is NOT true about her paying for college?
A. She is currently repaying student loans.
B. She has worked to earn college tuition.
C. She received a scholarship.

4. What is her future job situation?
A. She will work in her father's business after she graduates.
B. She wants to go on to graduate school the following month.
C. She hopes to have interviews with different companies soon.

5. What surprising information do we find out at the end of the conversation?
A. The woman is dating the man's business teacher.
B. Paul Jones, a college teacher, is the woman's father.
C. The man and woman are actually long-lost relatives.

Score =
Correct answers:

Listen to the conversation again as you read the Quiz Script.

III. Vocabulary Activities [Top]

Review the key vocabulary from the conversation: [ Why do these? ]

IV. Post-Listening Exercises [Top]

What are the most important factors in choosing a college major for you? Rank the following ideas in order of preference and discuss your opinions with a partner:

job prestige
earning potential of future job
opportunities for advancement in the field
availability of work
personal interest

V. Online Investigations - [ What's This? ] [Top]

Do an Internet search to identify the top five college majors in your country or city based on any of the following criteria: employment outlook, earning potential, and working conditions/environment

Please write your opinions on a similar topic at Randall's ESL Blog HERE.

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