Study
lecture
/ˈlektʃə $ -ər/ ●●● S2 W3 noun [countable] 1 a long talk on a particular subject that someone gives to a group of people, especially to students in a university → speech lecture on He regularly gives lectures on modern French literature. ► see thesaurus at speech COLLOCATIONS VERBS give a lecture (also deliver a lecture formal) She gave a fascinating lecture on crime in the 1800s. He delivered the lecture at the London School of Economics. do a lecture informal: He's doing a lecture on modern poetry. go to a lecture (also attend a lecture formal) Have you been to any of Professor MacPherson's lectures? I recently attended a lecture by a noted historian. listen to a lecture Most students spend about a quarter of their time listening to lectures. LECTURE + NOUN a lecture hall/room (also a lecture theatre British English) The lecture hall was packed. lecture notes Can I borrow your lecture notes? a lecture tour (=a trip that someone takes to many different places to give a lecture) He's on a lecture tour of the US. PHRASES a series of lectures (also a course of lectures British English) a series of lectures on the history of art ADJECTIVES a public lecture (=a lecture which the general public are allowed to go to) He's going to deliver a public lecture on politics in the Middle East. an illustrated lecture (=a lecture with pictures such as slides) Mrs Robinson gave a fascinating illustrated lecture on Spanish history. 2 [intransitive] to talk to a group of people on a particular subject, especially to students in a university lecture on He lectures on European art at Manchester University. ► see thesaurus at teach
The company of friends
A group of persons; a company of scientists Others need some sort of background noise, such as music or the company of friends)
Continuous assessment
A way of judging students by looking at the work they do during the year We don't have exams it's all continuous assessment British English a way of judging a student's ability by looking at the work they have done during the year rather than by an examination The intrinsic discipline of the subject is conveyed through the course-work and teaching approach, while being monitored through continuous assessment. • B.Eds were about equally divided between continuous assessment and examinations, with some project work. • Many of our courses include a project in the continuous assessment element. • Student performance will be judged on the basis of degree examination results, thesis and continuous assessment, following current University regulations. • People only accumulate competencies by continuous assessment of skills they do in their day to day job. • Against this, they will be making continuous assessments of the scale of current bank lending. • Student progress is monitored by means of continuous assessment on a range of practical exercises. • On none of these courses was there any examination: continuous assessment was preferred.
out-of-school
Adj. 1. out-of-school - not attending school and therefore free to work; "opportunities for out-of-school youth" It is a right for disabled children, just as it is for everyone else. It is a right for the 37 million out-of-school children and youth in countries affected by crises and conflicts. Education is a right regardless of where you are born and where you grow up.
humiliating
Adjective hu·mil·i·at·ing | \ hyü-ˈmi-lē-ˌā-tiŋ , yü- \ Definition of humiliating : extremely destructive to one's self-respect or dignity causing someone to feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and self-respect. "a humiliating defeat" (It was extremely humiliating to flunk out of law school like that)
PhD
British English, Ph.D. American English /ˌpiː eɪtʃ ˈdiː/ noun [countable] (Doctor of Philosophy) a university degree of a very high level, which involves doing advanced research PhD in He's got a PhD in Biochemistry. Jacqueline Hope, PhD do/start/finish a PhD
How do you usually travel to work or college? [Why?]
I usually travel to work on my motorbike since I live in a remote village area where we don't really have any reliable public transportation system to commute back and forth from our works. Besides, I like my little motorbike as it is convenient to use, and I can park it anywhere very easily.
study for (an exam/diploma etc)
I've only got three weeks left to study for my exams
self-directed learning
In its broadest meaning, self-directed learning describes a process in which individuals take the initiative, with or without the help of others, in diagnosing their learning needs, formulating learning goals, identifying human and material resources for learning, choosing and implementing appropriate learning strategies, and evaluating learning outcomes.
Across the world
Is there a difference between "across the world" and "all over the world"? the context is Gandhi is commonly known and addressed in India and across the world as Mahatma Gandhi across the world and all over the world In this context they are the same. They don't have to be, though. You can make a distinction for what happens across the world vs. what happens all over the world. Across the world they eat dinner later than we do here, but all over the world dinner is considered the final meal of the day. I would prefer to say around the world, in this context. Gandhi is commonly known and addressed in India and around the world as Mahatma Gandhi. Another possibility would be "throughout the world." Gandhi is commonly known and addressed in India and throughout the world as Mahatma Gandhi. (Across the world, 59 million children and 65 million adolescents are out of school. More than 120 million children do not complete primary education.)
Deny
NOT ALLOW to refuse to allow someone to have or do something Some landowners deny access to the countryside. deny somebody something She could deny her son nothing. deny something to somebody This is the only country in Europe to deny cancer screening to its citizens. ► see thesaurus at refuse Behind these figures there are children and youth being denied not only a right, but opportunities: a fair chance to get a decent job, to escape poverty, to support their families, and to develop their communities. This year, decision-makers will set the priorities for global development for the next 15 years. They should make sure to place education high on the list.
Work
Noun uncountable] study or research, especially for a particular purpose carry out/do work The centre carries out work to monitor trends in housing management. He did his postgraduate work in Sociology. She hadn't done the work so I flunked her. DUTIES [uncountable] the duties and activities that are part of your job A large part of the work we do involves using computers. He starts work at 4 am. He's started a business doing gardening and roofing work.
get through
TEST/COMPETITION get (somebody/something) through (something) to be successful in a test or competition, or to make sure that someone or something is successful I finally managed to get through my driving test. I knew it was going to be difficult to get the car through its MOT test. get (somebody/something) through (something) to Liverpool have got through to the final of the FA Cup. (i can get through exams)
quality education
The UN expands on this goal, noting that it is to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." Using "quality" as a qualifier is important here. For the UN, some of the targets for SDG 4 include ensuring that children have access to pre-primary education, free primary and secondary education, and options for affordable technical, vocational, and higher education options, including college. But it's not enough for education to be accessible, it also has to add value to the lives of students. In countries like Niger, enrollment has gone up for primary schools, but many students complete their primary education and still lack basic skills like literacy and numeracy. This leaves them unprepared for the job market, and gives them very little hope for escaping the cycle of poverty. (All student must have access to quality education without regard to wealth and class)
degree
[countable] a course of study at a university or college, or the qualification that is given to you when you have successfully completed the course degree in a degree in Economics Applicants must have a degree in Engineering. an Honours degree COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 5: a course of study at a university or college, or the qualification that is given to you when you have successfully completed the course ADJECTIVES/NOUN + DEGREE a good degree (=that you pass at a good level) Mature students are more likely to get a good degree. a university/college degree For many jobs you need to have a university degree. a first-class/second-class/third-class degree (=the level at which you pass a degree at a British university) She was awarded a first-class degree. an honours degree (=a British university degree that is above pass level) The ideal candidate will have an honours degree. a first/undergraduate degree (=the lowest level of degree) First degrees usually take three or four years. a higher/postgraduate degree (=one that you take after a first degree) He was offered a grant for a postgraduate degree. a master's degree (=a higher degree for which you study for one or two years) She's taking her master's degree. a science degree (=in a science subject) The government is encouraging more people to get a science degree. an arts degree (=in a subject that is not science) She has an arts degree from Sussex University. a history/chemistry/law etc degree I decided to do a Maths degree. a joint degree British English (=in which you study two subjects) a joint degree in Economics and Statistics a research degree (=a higher degree for which you do your own research) VERBS have a degree You will earn more if you have a college degree. hold a degree formal (=have one) The ideal candidate will hold a degree in physical chemistry. do/take a degree in something (=study for a degree) Not enough students are taking degrees in Physics. get/gain a degree She worked hard and got a good degree. be awarded a degree formal (=get one) At the end of the three years, he was awarded a first-class honours degree. NOUNS a degree course I didn't enjoy the first year of my degree course. degree level Candidates should be educated to degree level.
widely read
a) read by a lot of people a widely read magazine b) having read many different books • The older works listed first are still widely read and most are generally available in both hardcover and paperback. • Local newspapers are widely read and relatively cheap to advertise in. • But he was one of the most well-informed, widely read and serious political figures in public life. • For all its note of fantasy, however, the article was widely read and well timed. • But even though his book was intended for contemplatives, it was also widely read by lay men and women. • Herbert is widely read, where Collins is seldom even heard of. • Newspapers with a significant political reporting are not widely read, whereas television news programs are often among the most-watched programs.
how about (... ?)
a) used to make a suggestion about what to do SYN what about No, I'm busy on Monday. How about Tuesday at seven? how about doing sth? How about putting the sofa closer to the window? How about we have that game when we get back? How about if we tell the police where Newley is hiding? how's about ... ? American English How's about going to the beach this afternoon? b) used to ask about another person or thing 'Mary and Ken are still away.' 'And how about Billy?' I need a long cold drink. How about you? • How about if I read you and Mia a story? • How about some iced tea?
nerve-wracking
adjective a nerve-racking situation makes you feel very nervous or worried Speaking in public can be a nerve-wracking experience. Fran faced a nerve-racking wait for her test results. (writing a motivational letter can be nerve-wracking.)
self-directed
adjective responsible for judging and organizing your own work, rather than getting instructions from other people ("Early in my career, a bright graduate student who had a problem with procrastination joined my lab. He excelled in the classroom but seemed to get lost when working on self-directed research projects. • The guilt, anxiety, fear or anger still stem from within but are not, at least consciously, self-directed. • Finally, she lists the intellectual pursuit model, which is self-directed and self-motivated by intellectual curiosity. • In the self-directed format, the client works with minimal therapist consultation, using a self-help manual. • This gives learners guidance in their self-directed learning, and encourages a problem-solving approach to care. • The development of self-presentation, self-advocacy and of self-directed learning should all be central features of this phase of education. • There are, however, cases of apparently self-directed learning that may admit of another explanation. • Cheap labor power is not useful unless these workers can be made to give up their notions of self-directed work. From Longman Business Dictionary ˌself-diˈrected adjective [only before a noun] American English 1 a self-directed pension is managed by the employee rather than his or her employer, and allows the employee to sell or move any investments they have in the company they work for Employees who change jobs can move their retirement account into their new employer's plan, or into a self-directed IRA (=individual retirement account). 2 self-directed workers are responsible for organizing and judging their own work, rather than taking instructions from managersSYNself-managed BrE The self-directed operating teams have been formally organized, and the middle managers told of their new responsibilities. adjective (of an emotion, statement, or activity) directed at oneself. "she grimaces with a bitter self-directed humor" (of an activity) under one's own control. "self-directed learning" (of a person) showing initiative and the ability to organize oneself.
Starry-eyed
adjective informal happy and hopeful about things in a way that is silly or unrealistic (Too often starry-eyed students rush into a PhD without knowing what it entails or how useful it will be.) • I remember Jean coming home really starry-eyed about you. • It's something, as I said on the programme, that I can not be all starry-eyed and bushy-tailed about. • It would be very easy to become starry-eyed and idealistic about the land ownership study. • She was in no mood to display starry-eyed fascination, however much she might feel it. • And that is exactly what all you starry-eyed guys do, that get married young. • First shown on Yorkshire Television, it's now our turn to let the starry-eyed host show off his skills. • starry-eyed young actresses
emphasize
also emphasise British English) /ˈemfəsaɪz/ ●●○ W2 AWL verb [transitive] 1 to say something in a strong way SYN stress The report emphasizes the importance of improving safety standards. Logan made a speech emphasizing the need for more volunteers. emphasize that/how The prime minister emphasized that there are no plans to raise taxes. 2 to say a word or phrase louder or higher than others to give it more importance SYN stress 3 to make something more noticeable SYN accentuate The dress emphasized the shape of her body. THESAURUS emphasize to say strongly or show clearly that a fact, idea etc is especially important Our company emphasizes the need for good communication between staff. stress to emphasize something when you are talking about a subject Most schools stress the importance of parental involvement in their child's learning. He stressed the need for parents to listen to their children. highlight to show that something is important, so that people will pay special attention to it This case highlights the need for tougher laws on gun ownership. The report highlights the decline in the numbers of native plants and insects. underline/underscore to help to show clearly that a fact is true, especially a fact that is already known These attacks underline the fact that the security situation here remains fragile. The president's speech repeatedly underscored the progress that has been made. accentuate to show something clearly and make it easier to notice The recent economic crisis has accentuated the gap between the rich and the poor. overemphasize to emphasize something too much The relation between food and health is often overemphasized in my view. play up to emphasize something and make it seem more important than it really is, especially to get advantages for yourself The story has been played up by the media. The Labour party had a great time playing up the Conservatives' problems.
debate
dɪˈbeɪt/ ●●● S2 W2 AWL noun 1 [countable, uncountable] discussion of a particular subject that often continues for a long time and in which people express different opinions the gun-control debate in the US The new drug has become the subject of heated debate within the medical profession. debate over/about There has been widespread public debate over the introduction of genetically modified food. There was much lively debate about whether women should spend more time in the home. A fierce debate raged over which artist's work should be chosen for the prize. debate between the ongoing debate between environmentalists and the road-building lobby over the future of our countryside Nuclear power has always been a topic that has sparked off considerable debate. 2 [countable, uncountable] a formal discussion of a particular problem, subject etc in which people express different opinions, and sometimes vote on them debate on/over/about a debate on legalized gambling a televised debate have/hold/conduct a debate It would have been better to hold the debate during the day. be under debate What topics are under debate in Congress this week? COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES considerable debate There has been considerable debate about the way forward for education. lively debate (=interesting and involving a lot of different opinions) The conference produced some lively debate. intense debate (=in which people put forward strong and different arguments) The future of the nuclear industry has been a matter of intense debate. a heated/fierce debate (=in which people express strong opinions in an angry way) There has been a fierce debate over the way the war was fought. a wider debate (=involving more people or a more general discussion) We believe that there should be a wider debate on such an important issue. a public debate (=in which people put forward their ideas publicly, so that everyone can form an opinion.) He called for a public debate on race and discrimination. national debate (=one that involves everyone in a country) It is time to start a national debate on the future of the health service. political debate (=involving members of political parties) There was much political debate on pensions reform. long-running debate (=continuing for a long time) the long-running debate about the future of our inner cities ongoing debate (=still continuing) This is unlikely to be the final word in this ongoing debate. VERBS have a debate I think we should have a public debate on this issue. provoke/spark/trigger debate (=cause a debate to start) The episode provoked fierce debate about freedom of speech. stifle debate (=prevent people from having a debate) How can the party stifle debate on such an important issue? debate rages (=happens over a period of time and and involves strong feelings) A national debate is now raging over the level of youth crime. PHRASES be the subject of debate (=be something that people discuss) Teaching methods have long been the subject of debate. be a matter of debate (=be something that people have discussed) The effectiveness of the government's policy has been a matter of fierce debate. be a matter for debate (=be something that people should discuss) The future of the police force is a matter for public debate. verb [intransitive, transitive] 1 to discuss a subject formally when you are trying to make a decision or find a solution The issue will be debated on Tuesday. debate whether/what/how etc Meanwhile, philosophers debate whether it's right to clone an individual. debate (something) with somebody an invitation to debate with William on the future of democracy His conclusions are hotly debated (=argued about strongly). ► see thesaurus at talk debate whether/what/how etc • Why is it that the Government do not want to debate what is happening in Renfrewshire? • She debated whether she would do the church first or the vicarage. • Reams of paper have been used to debate what tag-questions, for instance, mean. • And why do firms debate whether they are correctly leveraged? • The hour had long since passed for his call to Virginia Stillman, and he debated whether to go through with it. • Derek debated whether to telephone Charlotte Ladram and offer his condolences, but, in the end, he decided not to.
discussion
dɪˈskʌʃən/ ●●● S2 W1 noun [countable, uncountable] 1 when you discuss something class discussions the topics suggested for discussion discussion of the discussion of important issues discussion about high-level discussions about trade and commerce discussion with The embassy will continue discussions with the Chinese government. We have had discussions about her legal situation. under discussion (=being discussed) The project is under discussion as a possible joint venture. 2 a piece of writing about a subject that considers different ideas or opinions about it discussion of the report's discussion of the legislation THESAURUS discussion an occasion when you discuss something, or the process of discussing it After a long discussion, they decided to paint the room pale blue. This led to a discussion of our favourite books. There are several projects under discussion (=being discussed). debate discussion of a particular subject that often continues for a long time, in which people express different opinions. Also used to mean a formal discussion of a subject, after which people vote for or against something There is a lot of debate about the safety of nuclear power. The student union is holding a debate on immigration. talks formal discussions between governments, organizations etc the Arab-Israeli peace talks The next round of trade talks will be held in the spring. Bilateral talks (=between two groups or countries)on refugees took place in November. negotiations official discussions between two or more groups who are trying to agree on something The two sides have begun negotiations aimed at ending the dispute. International negotiations on reducing sulphur dioxide emissions have ended without agreement. conference a large formal meeting at which people from many places discuss their work or research, or important matters relating to their organization an international conference on nuclear physics the Labour Party conference consultation a formal discussion in which people who are affected by or involved in something can give their opinions The government promised a full public consultation before a decision was made to build the airport. The revised syllabus was devised after wide consultations with the teaching profession. Examples from the Corpus discussion • The report includes a discussion of global warming. • We would offer a slide or video presentation followed by discussion and scriptural reflection. • Most people find honest discussions about sex a little awkward. • After a long discussion with her father, she decided not to take the job. • The committee, after much discussion, had decided to go ahead with the proposal to ban cigarette advertising. • Our discussion was closed ten minutes ago. • Too rarely has it involved the specialist in the secondary school in regular discussion with primary colleagues. • But, as mentioned above, some changes have been made in the light of comments received on the discussion paper. had discussions • Herzog also had discussions with Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel. • About ten members toured the reed bed scheme at Billingham and later had discussions about local environmental improvement programmes. • I have not myself had discussions with individual arts organisations. • And they had discussions with you.
deserve
dɪˈzɜːv $ -ɜːrv/ ●●● S3 W3 verb [transitive] 1 to have earned something by good or bad actions or behaviour What have I done to deserve this? deserve to do something We didn't deserve to win. richly/fully/thoroughly etc deserve something the success he so richly deserves I'm sorry for the kids. They deserve better (=deserve to be treated in a better way). deserve a rest/break/holiday etc I think we deserve a rest after all that hard work. Ledley deserves a place in the team. Paula deserves a special mention for all the help she has given us. I would never hit anyone, even if they deserved it. What has he done to deserve this punishment? deserve all/everything you get (=deserve any bad things that happen to you) He deserves all he gets for being so dishonest. People who are sent to prison for drunk-driving get what they deserve. GRAMMAR: Using the progressive Deserve is not used in the progressive. You say: She deserves a prize. ✗Don't say: She is deserving a prize. COLLOCATIONS NOUNS deserve a rest/break/holiday etc Once the students have done their exams they deserve a break. deserve a chance Everybody deserves a second chance. deserve respect Our police officers deserve our respect. deserve credit/praise The team played really well and they deserve credit for it. deserve support This is a splendid proposal which deserves our support. deserve recognition (=public respect and thanks) The teaching profession deserves more recognition. deserve better (also deserve a better deal) (=deserve to be treated better or to be in a better situation) They treated him badly at work and I thought he deserved better. deserve a (special) mention (=used especially in speeches to mention someone's good work or actions) Richard deserves a special mention for all his hard work on this project. deserve a place You need top grades to deserve a place at the best universities. deserve punishment If you commit a crime, you have deserved punishment. ADVERBS thoroughly/fully deserve something He didn't work so he thoroughly deserved his poor marks. richly deserve something (=greatly deserve something good that happens) Her success was richly deserved. well deserved The restaurant has a well deserved reputation for excellent fish. PHRASES get what you deserve (=experience something bad after you have behaved badly) I like films where the bad guys get what they deserve. deserve all/everything you get (=deserve any bad things that happen to you) She's behaved really stupidly and she deserves all she gets.
formal education/training/qualifications
education etc in a subject or skill, that you receive in a school, college etc rather than practical experience of it knowledge and wisdom gained from experience rather than from formal education • Mekki had little formal education, a bullying manner and a longshoreman's fondness for obscenity. • Not only did the managers gain skills and knowledge from formal training, but they also augmented their networks of relationships. • Yet there is undoubtedly a very positive value placed on formal education by black families. • We believe that formal training in the use of the laryngeal mask would be beneficial to any physician dealing with such cases. • Then, of course, the whole process of formal education is a crucial socialising agency. • The ritualistic quality of the formal training programs was not lost on the neW managers. • But today students need more formal education to learn the academic skills that increasingly are required on the job. • Entry-level budget analysts may receive some formal training when they begin their jobs.
Philosophy
fəˈlɒsəfi $ -ˈlɑː-/ ●●● W3 AWL noun (plural philosophies) 1 [uncountable] the study of the nature and meaning of existence, truth, good and evil etc Emma studies philosophy at university. philosophy of the philosophy of science 2 [countable] the views of a particular philosopher or group of philosophers philosophy of the philosophy of Aristotle 3 [countable] the attitude or set of ideas that guides the behaviour of a person or organization The company explained their management philosophy. The idea that you should treat others as you would like them to treat you is a fine philosophy of life. • the philosophy of Nietzsche • In many ways, their philosophy was similar to that which guided Loeb and his successors. • Piaget moved from biology to philosophy and eventually to psychology early in his life. philosophy of life • Unity is a, sort of like a philosophy of life, sort of. • Everybody shared a philosophy of life as basic as the soil and as obvious as the sky. • These men often have similar backgrounds and philosophies of life which lead to similar results and successes. • In fact, they later changed my philosophy of life. • Finally, the drawing is ongoing and never finished, which one could say reflects one of my philosophies of life.
humiliate
hjuːˈmɪlieɪt/ ●○○ verb [transitive] to make someone feel ashamed or stupid, especially when other people are present SYN embarrass Her boss humiliated her in front of all her colleagues. —humiliated adjective I've never felt so humiliated in all my life. • Who wants to talk things over after being physically subdued and humiliated? • They were strange men and women with peppermint breath and pictures of humiliated ancestors up on their walls. • Lewis says her son was humiliated by his teacher in front of his fifth-grade class. • Why do you always have to humiliate me in front of your friends? • The invading army took every opportunity to humiliate the local peasants. • Grown men shouldn't humiliate themselves like this.
be consistent with something
if a fact, idea etc is consistent with another one, it seems to match it Her injuries are consistent with having fallen from the building. The results are consistent with earlier research. ( your score on this test is consistent with Americans who generally have very loose mindset) • Any point in the hexagon enclosed by these vectors is consistent with factor price equalization. • In our opinion the information given in the Directors' report on pages 11 to 13 is consistent with the financial statements. • Interest rates in both markets would still, it should be noted, be consistent with one another. • It is consistent with any kind of human behaviour, and just because of that, it tells us nothing about human behaviour. • The Company's accounting policies are consistent with previous years. • The increased healing rate in wine drinkers is consistent with other reports that moderate alcohol intake may be harmless or beneficial. • The yield criterion requires that the highest possible yield be earned that is consistent with the safety and liquidity criteria. • This is consistent with the results of Herbst, McCormack and West.
deserve consideration/attention etc
if a suggestion, idea, or plan deserves consideration, attention etc, it is good enough to be considered, paid attention to etc SYN merit This proposal deserves serious consideration. • An informant may, therefore, negotiate with others to convince them that she or he is ill and deserves attention. • Another clever scheme for massive energy storage deserves consideration. • On that count, Mr Spivak's original creation deserves attention. • One academic point in Ghosh deserves consideration. • Two sorts of applications deserve attention. • And immigration is still refusing to see that this man deserves consideration for his sacrifice. • The output deserves attention under three heads
course
kɔːs $ kɔːrs/ ●●● S1 W1 noun EDUCATION [countable] a) a series of lessons in a particular subject SYN class American English A series of lectures or classes taken to fulfill requirements of a subjec Courses are the subjects you study as part of your degree program. Within each course there will be class components such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, labs, etc. Your Program Structure shows you the courses and total unit value you must complete to be eligible to graduate. Andy's doing a one-year journalism course. course on/in a course on architecture I'm taking a course in graphic design. b) British English a period of study in a particular subject, especially at university SYN program American English a degree course in photography ► Course is never followed by 'of'. Don't say 'a course of Business Studies'. Say 'a course in Business Studies'. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 3: VERBS take a course (also do a course British English) I decided to do a course in Italian. go on a course British English My company wanted me to go on a course in management skills. pass/fail a course If you pass the course, you get a diploma in psychology. apply for a course The following year she applied for a nursing course. enrol on a course/put your name down for a course British English (=to arrange to officially join a course) How about enrolling on a sailing course? attend a course formal (=take part in a course) You'll have to attend a course on how to deal with customers on the phone. withdraw from a course/drop out of a course (=leave it without finishing it) She had to withdraw from the course because of illness. teach a course She is teaching an introductory course in Russian. run a course The course is run by the British Council. offer a course The course is offered on a part-time basis. change (your) course (=at university or college) Some students choose to change their course after the first year. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + COURSE a language/art/design etc course The school runs ten-week language courses three times a year. a full-time/part-time course There are also part-time courses for mature students. an elementary/intermediate/advanced course an advanced course in art and design a one-year/two-year etc course She did a one-year teacher training course. a short course I did a short course on website design. an intensive course (=in which you learn a lot in a short time) An intensive course in Russian is provided for those who do not already know the language. a crash course informal (=in which you learn a great deal in a very short time) A husband was given a crash course in how to deliver a baby by a midwife on the phone. a training course If you are offered the job, you will attend a two-week training course. a vocational course (=that trains you to do a particular job) a vocational course in architecture a college/university course students who fail their college courses a degree course British English (also an undergraduate course) (=a first course at a university, which usually lasts three years) a three-year degree course a postgraduate course British English (=one you do after your first degree course) a correspondence course (=in which you work at home, sending work to a teacher by post) an introductory course (=for people who have never done a particular subject or activity before) an induction course (=that you do when you start a new job or position) a refresher course (=short and intended to teach you about new developments in a subject) a foundation course British English (=a general course that students do in the first year at some universities) a sandwich course British English (=that includes periods of work in industry or business) a tailor-made course (=one that is specially designed for someone) a tailor-made course to help senior staff develop their negotiation skills COURSE + NOUN a course tutor British English: I discussed it with my course tutor. course material Teachers are provided with course material. the course syllabus (=the plan of what is taught on a course) The school has recently introduced a new course syllabus. COMMON ERRORS ► Don't say 'make a course'. Say do or take a course. When used in higher studies (College) in United States or Canada, course refers to a class that usually lasts a semester or one academic term. On the completion of this course, the students usually get a grade. Some courses are mandatory in order to acquire a degree. On the other hand, programme is another term that is used for the degree. On completion of a programme, the student receives a degree or certification. For example Psychology 101 would be a course, while Bachelors of Arts in Psychology would be a considered as a programme Program: A program is the award you are working towards. It is made up of courses, each attributed a unit value. An award is earned by successfully completing the courses specified under the academic program rules. Course: A course is a syllabus item offered by the University (similar to a subject that you may have studied at school). You undertake courses to complete your program requirements. Courses are identified by a subject area and catalogue number, for example CHEM 1101 is a level 1 Chemistry course. Within each course there will be classes that you enrol into, for example lectures, tutorials, seminars or practicals. For an explanation of each type of class, see What are the different types of classes? Unit: Each course is given a unit value and each program requires a total number of units to be completed. Most undergraduate courses are 3 units and the normal full-time study load for an academic year at the University of Adelaide is 24 units.
Curriculum
kəˈrɪkjələm/ ●○○ noun (plural curricula /-lə/ or curriculums) [countable] the subjects that are taught by a school, college etc, or the things that are studied in a particular subject Languages are an essential part of the school curriculum. curriculum planning on the curriculum British English IT is now on the curriculum in most schools. in the curriculum American English Students are exempt from some classes in the curriculum for religious reasons. COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES/NOUN + CURRICULUM the school curriculum The children carried out the project as part of the school curriculum. the National Curriculum (=the curriculum set by the government for schools in England and Wales) the primary/secondary/high school etc curriculum (=for particular ages at school) the undergraduate curriculum (=for a first degree at university or college) the science/maths/history etc curriculum The English curriculum is divided into Language and Literature. a core/common curriculum (=the subjects that everyone must study because they are considered very important) There has been a lot of debate on the content of the core curriculum. an academic curriculum (=involving studying from books, not practical subjects) They unquestioningly accept the traditional academic curriculum. a broad/broad-based/wide curriculum (=involving a wide range of different types of subjects) The school provides a broad curriculum with a rich choice of learning opportunities. balanced (=with a mix of academic and practical subjects) We want to ensure a balanced curriculum for all pupils. narrow (=not broad enough) Many teachers complained that the new curriculum was too narrow. VERBS plan/develop/design a curriculum Fifty academics have been involved in developing the new school curriculum. follow a curriculum (=study the subjects that are in a curriculum) Five-year-olds now follow the National Curriculum. on the curriculum • Read in studio Subjects like robotics and micro electronics are on the curriculum for a group of gifted ten year olds. • This created the climate for a degree of loosening of central control on the curriculum in the 1902 Education Act. • As before many recognised the importance of the document in initiating debate on the curriculum. • The emphasis which has been placed so far on the curriculum is intentional.
TO LEAVE SCHOOL/COLLEGE ETC
leave especially British English to finish studying at school or college, usually at the age or time when people normally finish When James left school, he worked for a while with his father. She found it hard to get a job after leaving university. graduate to successfully finish your studies at a college or university, or at an American high school Kelly graduated from Harvard with a degree in East Asian Studies. Approximately 80% of Americans graduate from high school. drop out to leave school, college, or university before your course of study has finished, because you do not want to continue with it I failed my first year exams and decided to drop out and get a job. quit American English to leave school without finishing your course of study He quit school at fourteen to work and help support his family.
maths
mæθs/ ●●● S2 noun [uncountable] British English informal mathematics SYN math American English the new maths teacher maths lessons She got top marks in maths and chemistry. • I mostly enjoyed art and maths but I did not like P.E. very much. • Teachers make great efforts to ensure that they do, even though the standards are demanding, particularly in maths. • Her hobbies are reading, maths and dancing. • Yours was the only group I ever taught maths - a stop-gap teacher for a year. • The higher sums will go to people planning to teach maths, science, technology and foreign languages at secondary schools. • The whole thing is more dance than maths and more Ramanujan than either. • Now we can do the maths.
Mistake
məˈsteɪk/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 1 [countable] something that has been done in the wrong way, or an opinion or statement that is incorrect → error mistake in We may have made a mistake in our calculations. The most common mistake is to plant them too deep. ► see thesaurus at fault COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 1: something that has been done in the wrong way, or an opinion or statement that is incorrect VERBS make a mistake The lab must have made a mistake - this can't be right. correct a mistake Luckily I was able to correct the mistake before my boss saw it. realize your mistake As soon as he realized his mistake he turned in the right direction. admit your mistake It is better to admit your mistake and apologize. mistakes happen We're very careful, but mistakes can happen. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + MISTAKE a common mistake A common mistake is to imagine that dogs think like humans. a little/minor mistake The essay was full of little mistakes. a serious/grave mistake There was a serious mistake in the instructions. an honest mistake (=a mistake, and not a deliberate action) Thomas admitted he had broken the law, but said that it had been an honest mistake. a silly/stupid mistake You need to be able to laugh at your own silly mistakes. an easy mistake (to make) She looks like her sister, so it's an easy mistake to make. a spelling mistake She spotted two spelling mistakes in the article. PHRASES be full of mistakes The article was full of mistakes. it is a mistake to think/assume etc something It would be a mistake to assume that all snakes are dangerous. there must be some mistake (=used when you think someone has made a mistake) There must be some mistake. I definitely booked a room for tonight. be full of mistakes (=have a lot of mistakes) The report was full of mistakes. be all a mistake (=used to say that a situation happened because of a mistake) He couldn't bring himself to tell her it was all a mistake. COMMON ERRORS ► Don't say 'do a mistake'. Say make a mistake. THESAURUS mistake something incorrect that you accidentally do, say, or write a spelling mistake I made a mistake - it should say £230, not £320. error formal a mistake an error in the report grammatical errors He had made a serious error on his tax form. misprint a small mistake in something that is printed There was a misprint in the article, and instead of 'pleasant' it said 'pheasant'. typo informal a mistake in something that has been typed or printed I spotted a couple of typos in the letter. inaccuracy formal a piece of information that is not completely correct The report contained several inaccuracies. mix-up a careless mistake in which one name, time, address etc has been confused with another, so that the details of something are wrong There was a mix-up over the train times and I missed my train. slip-up a careless mistake when you are doing something The other team took advantage of the goalie's slip-up. oversight a mistake in which you forget something or do not notice something Through some oversight, the brochures were not ready by the right date. a slip of the tongue a mistake in which you accidentally say a similar sounding word When I said Thursday, I meant Tuesday. It was a slip of the tongue. faux pas /ˌfəʊ ˈpɑː, ˈfəʊ pɑː $ ˌfoʊ ˈpɑː/ formal an embarrassing mistake in a social situation, when you do or say something that you shouldn't Harris, trying to be funny, addressed the waiter as 'boy'. A deathly silence followed this faux pas. A STUPID MISTAKE blunder a stupid mistake caused by not thinking carefully enough about what you are saying or doing, which could have serious results In a serious blunder by the hospital, two babies were sent home with the wrong parents. gaffe /ɡæf/ an embarrassing and stupid mistake made in a social situation or in public a serious gaffe in her speech about immigration howler British English a very bad mistake, especially one that shows you do not know something, and that often makes other people laugh Photographers should be careful of making classic howlers, such as having a tree grow out of your subject's head. cock-up British English informal a silly mistake when you are doing something - a very informal use They made a cock-up with the bill. The government is anxious to avoid any more cock-ups. 2 [countable] something you do that is not sensible or has a bad result Buying the house seemed a great idea at the time, but now I can see it was a terrible mistake. Marrying him was the biggest mistake she ever made. make the mistake of doing something I stupidly made the mistake of giving them my phone number. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 2: something you do that is not sensible or has a bad result VERBS make a mistake I just want to prevent you from making a terrible mistake. learn from your mistakes I'm sure he will learn from his mistakes. repeat a mistake We certainly do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. ADJECTIVES a big/great mistake Buying this car was a big mistake. a bad/terrible/dreadful etc mistake It would be a terrible mistake to marry him. a serious/grave mistake The decision to take the money was a serious mistake. a fatal mistake (=a very bad mistake, often one that ends something) His fatal mistake was to underestimate his opponent. a costly mistake (=that costs you money or has a bad result) Hiring him turned out to be a costly mistake. PHRASES it is a mistake to do something It is a mistake to try to see everything in the museum in one day. make the mistake of doing something He made the mistake of revealing his true intentions. make the same mistake again/twice We won't make the same mistake again.
memorization
noun [ U ] (UK usually memorisation) US /ˌmem.ə.rɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ UK /ˌmem.ə.raɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ the act or process of learning something so that you will remember it exactly: the memorization of long lists of vocabulary memorization techniques Repetition and memorization is a less effective strategy than more engaging methods. They're tests of real learning and not just rote memorization. Traditional schooling relies on memorization, stifling a natural desire to learn. (On other hand I did terribly in subjects that required a lot of memorization such as history, science and literature )
human right
noun [countable usually plural] one of the basic rights that many societies think every person should have to be treated in a fair equal way without cruelty, for example by their government, or the right to vote human rights violations Education is a human right. And, like other human rights, it cannot be taken for granted. Across the world, 59 million children and 65 million adolescents are out of school. More than 120 million children do not complete primary education.
case study
noun [countable] a detailed account of the development of a particular person, group, or situation that has been studied over a period of time Examples from the Corpus case study • Jury service: a case study A valuable case study of this whole argument is the matter of jury service. From Longman Business Dictionary ˈcase ˌstudy a detailed account of the development of a particular person, group, or situation that is studied as a typical or good example of something A detailed case study of the two hotels identifies present practices and attitudes, and the need for and the barriers against work flexibility.
associate professor
noun [countable] a professor at an American university whose job is above the level of assistant professor and below the level of professor • Mr Tolleson returned to his alma mater in 1971 as an associate professor to teach band arranging and music theory. • J., is an associate professor of modern and classical languages at the University of San Francisco. • I participated in a national competition called to fill eight positions of associate professor in gastroenterology.
assistant professor
noun [countable] the lowest rank of professor at an American university • He got his Nobel for the work he started as an assistant professor at Harvard. • On I January 1803 he was appointed assistant professor at 100 guineas perannum. • She joined the faculty of the nursing school at UC-San Francisco in 1957 and served as assistant professor until 1969. • Coleman seems to have been rather silently supported by Sewell as assistant professor.
tertiary education
noun [uncountable] formal education at a college, university etc SYN higher education • The only thing about tertiary education on which everyone agrees is that it is a mess. • This leads immediately to an estimate of about 360,000 heavily employed trainers needed in addition to school, college and tertiary education staff. • Enhance study skills in preparation for tertiary education 3. • Few of our parents had reached any form of tertiary education. • First, there seems at present less to complain about in most of our primary schools than in secondary or tertiary education. • It would be aimed not only at those intending to continue to tertiary education but to all pupils. From Longman Business Dictionary ˌtertiary eduˈcation British English education at university level
chase (somebody/something)down
phrasal verb to find something or someone that you have been looking for We had to chase down everyone we'd sold a bike to. • His glinting nails swish and clink as he chases me down a long hallway hung with pictures of CEOs. • Why did he have to chase him down like an old lover? • I was literally soaked to the skin and could feel rivulets chasing each other down my bosom. • One even chased me down the sidewalk to return a scarf I left on the seat. • The hound, which was shining with phosphorus, chased Sir Charles down the Yew Alley. • You may want to chase it all down with a $ 3 carafe of hot sake. • Wolves - dogs, as they soon became - became more useful as they could chase and pull down wounded prey.
concentrate (something) on something
phrasal verb to give most of your attention or effort to one thing SYN focus on Doctors are aiming to concentrate more on prevention than cure. concentrate your efforts/attention/energy/mind etc on something I'm concentrating my efforts on writing my autobiography. In the domestic market coal use will be concentrated largely on electricity generation and steel manufacture. • The applied ethics unit concentrates attention on ethics and the community. • Therefore I concentrate entirely on evidence from actual behavior. • Mauve kept insisting that he should concentrate more on studies from plaster casts. • In this stage, attention is concentrated almost exclusively on the end to be achieved ... • That allows the pitcher to concentrate fully on the hitter. • We have so far concentrated principally on the use of space resources to support future activities in space. • Some immigration experts say that if these figures were more widely understood, immigration foes might not concentrate so much on U. concentrate your efforts/attention/energy/mind etc on something • So Microsoft is now concentrating its efforts on a product customers do want to buy: Windows. • I tried to concentrate my attention on one face. • Posterity undoubtedly concentrated its attention on St Augustine as a theologian, and on what he wrote about predestination. • You can concentrate your attentions on the feel and fit rather than any corrective properties of the shoe. • Instead, George concentrated his efforts on the few remaining furry areas on an otherwise bare bear. • He concentrated his efforts on the posterior aspect of the eye and established the ophthalmic exam. • Fred preferred not to reply, and concentrated his attention on the screen.
Flunk out
phrasal verb informal especially American English to be forced to leave a school or college because your work is not good enough of Ben flunked out of college. • You either pass and get your degree or flunk out. • It was extremely humiliating to flunk out of law school like that. flunk of • She found out when I flunked out of college. • It was, of course, extremely humiliating to flunk out of law school. • Leo flunked out of Yale in his junior year.
professor
prəˈfesə $ -ər/ ●●● S3 W3 noun [countable] 1 British English a teacher of the highest rank in a university department Professor Barclay professor of Chinese/economics/religion etc She's been named the professor of English. ► see thesaurus at teacher 2 American English a teacher at a university or college Ted's a college professor. biology/history/French etc professor Who's your chemistry professor?
prefer
prɪˈfɜː $ -ˈfɜːr/ ●●● S2 W2 verb (preferred, preferring) [transitive] 1 to like someone or something more than someone or something else, so that you would choose it if you could → preference This type of owl prefers a desert habitat. She prefers her coffee black. the government's preferred option prefer somebody/something to somebody/something a child that prefers his imaginary world to reality Employees said they would prefer more flexible working hours. prefer to do something I prefer to wear clothes made of natural fibers. Or, if you prefer, you can email us. prefer doing something Chantal prefers travelling by train. prefer that We prefer that our teachers have a degree in early childhood education. Register In everyday English, people often say they would rather do something instead of using prefer: I prefer to travel by train. → I'd rather travel by train. Grammar Patterns with prefer • You prefer to do something: I prefer to read a book. ✗Don't say: I prefer read a book. • You prefer doing something: We prefer going abroad for our vacation. ✗Don't say: We prefer go abroad. • You say that you would prefer it if someone did something: We would prefer it if you didn't tell anyone. ✗Don't say: We would prefer it if you don't tell anyone. Using the progressive Prefer is not used in the progressive in meaning 1. You say: I prefer the blue one. ✗Don't say: I am preferring the blue one. (I prefer sth to sth else [i prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday] I prefer doing sth to doing sth else. I prefer to do sth rather than (do) sth[i prefer to drive rather than travel by train]. [sarah prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city)
recite
rɪˈsaɪt/ ●○○ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive] to say a poem, piece of literature etc that you have learned, for people to listen to She recited a poem that she had learnt at school. 2 [transitive] to tell someone a series or list of things Len recited the breakfast menu - cereal, bacon and eggs, and toast. —reciter noun [countable] Each student had to recite a poem. • He can even recite a prayer in the language of the Sioux, albeit with a Wiltshire accent. • This may seem meaningless to non-churchgoers and trivial to churchgoers since it is part of the Athanasian Creed recited every Sunday. • All the while her father was reciting, her lips moved silently. • Felix's wife began to recite her poetry, and wondered about his air fare, and gave him some coffee. • Buerger said she can recite phrases from the film.
respond
rɪˈspɒnd $ rɪˈspɑːnd/ ●●● S2 W2 AWL verb 1 [intransitive] to do something as a reaction to something that has been said or done SYN react respond to Responding to the news, Mr Watt appealed for calm. respond by doing something The US responded by sending troops into Laos. respond with Villagers responded with offers of help. 2 [intransitive, transitive] to say or write something as a reply respond that He responded that he didn't want to see anyone. respond to Dave didn't respond to any of her emails. ► see thesaurus at answer 3 [intransitive] to improve as a result of a particular kind of treatment respond to She has responded well to treatment. Colds do not respond to antibiotics. The colors we responded to when we were children, we reportedly still respond to. • The children responded well to the day's activities. • Rob's smile was irresistible, and she responded with a grin. respond to • The fire department responded to the call within minutes. • Her cancer responded well to the new medication. • How did they respond to your criticism? respond that • The chamber of trade responded that over 70 people objected to the Ivy Street scheme in a petition. • Exxon responded that, regardless, the policy clearly covered the claims. • Supple responded that students prefer apartments to dormitories. • He rightly responds that the choice between Gore and Bush is scarcely a choice at all. • Government officials responded that the policy was likely to be changed. From Longman Business Dictionary re‧spond /rɪˈspɒndrɪˈspɑːnd/ verb [intransitive] 1to react to something that has happened The company responded aggressively by selling market-rate investments. respond to Overseas exchanges can't respond as quickly as Wall Street to new product ideas. Consumers will respond to any recession by buying less. 2to reply to a letter, telephone call etc Thousands of readers saw the ad and responded. respond to We are committed to responding to all customer complaints within 10 days.
response
rɪˈspɒns $ rɪˈspɑːns/ ●●● S1 W1 AWL noun 1 [countable, uncountable] something that is done as a reaction to something that has happened or been said response to the public's response to our appeal for help in response to something The law was passed in response to public pressure. positive/favourable/negative etc response The exhibition has received a positive response from visitors. an emotional/angry response The decision provoked an angry response from residents. His immediate response was one of disbelief. Emmett's new exhibition has met with a favourable response from critics. 2 [countable] something that is said or written as a reply response to 'Sure, why not?' was his response to all of Billie's suggestions. Carl made no response, and carried on with his meal. in response (to something) I am writing in response to your letter of June 12. Ronni merely groaned in response. COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES a positive/favourable response The product met with a highly positive response from the public. a negative response In Russia, the planned expansion provoked a negative response. an enthusiastic response There has been an enthusiastic response to the introduction of soccer coaching for girls. an angry response His comments sparked an angry response from opposition politicians. a good/encouraging response (=when people like something or show interest) We've had a good response from the public. somebody's immediate response When he was sentenced, his immediate response was to appeal. a direct response Her resignation was in direct response to the party's poor results in the local elections. an appropriate response She laughed, which didn't really seem an appropriate response. a strong response The photograph provoked a strong response from many people. an emotional response When she died, the emotional response was extraordinary. VERBS get a positive etc response She got an enthusiastic response to her suggestion. receive a positive etc response (=get it) The proposal has received a positive response from most left-wing voters. meet with a positive etc response (=get it) The change met with a mixed response from employees. provoke a response The report provoked a strong response from a number of senior politicians. draw/bring a response from somebody The appeal for aid brought a big response from the West. Wagner's responses showed that he had thought carefully about the issues. • Sales are so grim they are offering individual game tickets, although the response has been tepid. • General manager Michael Prendergast said he was amazed at the response to the job vacancies. • Write your responses to the questions on the back of the sheet. met with ... response • The Führer's call to fly flags on 5. 6. 1940 met with a joyful response everywhere. • Broadcasters were to find that their challenges would be met with a similar response. • As Madame Delon had predicted, her enquiry met with a cordial response followed by an unexpected invitation to lunch. • The organizers were rarely charged in court, probably because such a prosecution would have met with an unpleasant response. • The idea met with a widespread response. • His smile met with no response. in response (to something) • The shares jumped 93 to Pounds 31.80 in response to positive broker comment and some bullish options activity. • Work-inhibited children have erected emotional barriers to education and, in response to demands by adults, these barriers become more impenetrable. • The disclosure came in response to reporters' questions about why the planes were not flying. From Longman Business Dictionary re‧sponse /rɪˈspɒnsrɪˈspɑːns/ noun 1[countable, uncountable] something done as a reaction to something that has happened The company's difficulties have touched off widely differing responses among its five largest shareholders. response to Its latest move is a response to price slashing by its competitors. Can the system change in response to changes in consumer wants? 2[countable] a reply to a letter, telephone call, advertisement etc It ran a series of radio ads and got 10,000 responses from investors. 3response time the time it takes to react to something a 24-hour response time on all customer enquiries The additional load has slowed the computers' response times.
research
rɪˈsɜːtʃ, ˈriːsɜːtʃ $ -ɜːr-/ ●●● S2 W1 AWL noun [uncountable] (also researches [plural] formal) 1 serious study of a subject, in order to discover new facts or test new ideas research into/on research into the causes of cancer Gould was helped in his researches by local naturalists. 2 the activity of finding information about something that you are interested in or need to know about It's a good idea to do some research before you buy a house. COLLOCATIONS VERBS do/carry out research (also conduct research formal) The research was carried out by a team of scientists at Edinburgh University. Little research has been conducted into the subject. undertake research formal (=start or do research) They are planning to undertake research into the genetic causes of the disease. ADJECTIVES scientific research Our conclusions are based on scientific research. medical research The charity raises money for medical research. historical research This is a fascinating piece of historical research. basic research (=the most important or most necessary area of research) He wants to conduct basic research into the nature of human cells. extensive research (=research that examines a lot of information and details) Extensive research has proved the theory wrong. painstaking research (=very careful and thorough research) She spent years carrying out painstaking historical research. pioneering research (=research that produces completely new information) Watson did pioneering research on the long-term effects of dieting. RESEARCH + NOUN a research project/programme The research project will be funded by the Medical Research Council. research findings (=what is discovered by a piece of research) He will present his research findings at the conference. research work Doctor Fox received world-wide acclaim for her research work on breast cancer. a research team The professor will head a research team working on the effects of climatic change on agriculture. a research student He supervised many research students. a research grant (=money for doing research) Have you applied for a research grant? PHRASES an area/field of research This is a very exciting area of research. a piece of research A recent piece of research shows why marriages break up. a body of research (=results from several pieces of research) There is a large body of research which indicates that passive smoking causes cancer. COMMON ERRORS ► Don't say 'make research'. Say do research or carry out research. THESAURUS research noun [uncountable] careful detailed work that is done in order to find out more about a subject, especially as a part of a scientific or academic project Billions of dollars have been spent on research into the causes and treatment of cancer. The University has for a long time been a leading centre for research in this field. work noun [uncountable] the studies that have been done on a particular subject Faraday is famous for his work on electricity. A lot of work has been done on hydrogen-powered cars. Their work had an enormous influence on the study of genetics. study noun [countable] a piece of work in which someone examines a particular subject in order to find out more about it, and writes about what they have found The study showed that 25 percent of adults do not eat breakfast at all, compared with 14 percent in 1961. Recent studies suggest that our sense of smell is closely linked with the part of the brain that deals with memory. experiment noun [countable] a scientific test in order to find out what happens when you do something They carried out a series of experiments (=they did a series of experiments) in order to try to prove their theory. Experiments have shown that there is an increased risk of some forms of cancer. do ... research • By these we do not just mean that lots of people do research and take time over it. • I always got my work done, and I have been able to do some research on the side. • She decided to do some research herself and then approach her boss directly to discuss the merits of additional outsourcing moves. • How to do research based on their theories has proved difficult for the phenomenologists. • Sending students to the library to do research reports on two possible careers simply is not adequate. • He had to buy a lot of different numbers of magazines to do his research. • I wanted to do my own research. rɪˈsɜːtʃ $ -ɜːr-/ ●●○ AWL verb [intransitive, transitive] 1 to study a subject in detail, especially in order to discover new facts or test new ideas → investigate He's been researching material for a documentary. research into Ten years ago I began researching into the role of women in trade unions. Register In everyday English, people often use the expression do research rather than the verb to research: She's been doing some research into the history of the area. 2 to get all the necessary facts and information for something This book has been very well researched.
rhetorical
rɪˈtɒrɪkəl $ -ˈtɔː-, -ˈtɑː-/ adjective using speech or writing in special ways in order to persuade people or to produce an impressive effect a speech full of rhetorical phrases —rhetorically /-kli/ adverb ("This rhetorical approach applies to writing that you do in various settings—not just in the classroom.) • At one level this statement is clearly metaphorical and rhetorical. • This chapter explores the points of contact between the theory of social representations and the rhetorical approach. • And, sure, he spent Wednesday in Chicago pumping wind into his rhetorical drive for tougher education standards. • She delivered her speech with her usual rhetorical fire. • Still others claim that they lack the rhetorical or interpersonal skills to communicate honestly and openly.
Revise
rɪˈvaɪz/ ●●○ AWL verb 1 [transitive] to change something because of new information or ideas The college has revised its plans because of local objections. We have revised our estimates of population growth. revise something upwards/downwards Forecasts of economic growth are being revised downwards. 2 [intransitive, transitive] British English to study facts again, in order to learn them before an examination SYN review, study American English I've got to revise my geography. revise for She's revising for her history exam. ► see thesaurus at learn, study
review
rɪˈvjuː/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 1 [countable, uncountable] a careful examination of a situation or process → evaluation, analysis review of She sent us her review of the research. carry out/conduct/undertake a review The company hired Bob to conduct an independent review of their workplace procedures. review body/committee/panel/board the Teachers' Pay Review Body under review We're keeping this policy under review (=we are continuing to examine it). The policy comes up for review (=will be reviewed) in April. All fees are subject to review (=may be reviewed). Mr Crowther asked for judicial review of the decision (=an examination of the decision by a judge). (If so, you need to know exactly what is on your curriculum you should also review your notes and make sure that you have a clear understanding of what your lecturers have taught you) COLLOCATIONS VERBS carry out a review (also conduct a review formal) No one has yet carried out a review of the system. Government officials are conducting a review of the law. undertake a review (=start it and carry it out) The department plans to undertake a spending review. keep something under review (=continue to review it) He recommended that the matter should be kept under review. come up for review (=be reviewed after a particular period of time has ended) His contract is coming up for review. be subject to review formal (=may be reviewed or changed) These prices are subject to review. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + REVIEW a major review We are conducting a major review of our procedures. a thorough/comprehensive review Their conclusion is based on a comprehensive review of all the previous studies. an extensive/wide-ranging review He is currently conducting a wide-ranging review of public spending. a fundamental review (=that examines the most basic and important parts of something) There have been calls for a fundamental review of our voting system. an annual review There will be an annual review of your salary. an independent review Their findings have been confirmed by a recent independent review. an internal review (=one that an organization carries out on itself) The Army is conducting an internal review. judicial review (=examination by a judge) The case is likely to go to judicial review. a policy review The policy review proposed radical changes to the system. a spending review Extra money was promised in last summer's spending review. REVIEW + NOUN a review body/committee/panel/board We will set up a pay review body for all staff. a review process We cannot comment until the review process is over.
revision
rɪˈvɪʒən/ ●○○ AWL noun 1 [countable, uncountable] the process of changing something in order to improve it by correcting it or including new information or ideas → amendment revision of The judge wants to see a revision of the procedures. revision to I'm making some revisions to the book for the new edition. 2 [countable] a piece of writing that has been improved and corrected 3 [uncountable] British English the work of studying facts again in order to learn them I know I haven't done enough revision for tomorrow's exam. Examples from the Corpus revision • A revision to the financing element is expected in the next cou ple of years. • The second dimension implies the need for self-conscious implementation of equal opportunities and the questioning and revision of routine practices. • It is a decision that may require continual revision. • How is your history revision going? • I can't come out tonight - I've got a lot of revision to do. • I've written the article, but it needs a lot of revision. • Others need several revisions to their surgeries, and develop painful masses of scar tissue. • The book went through several revisions before the publisher was finally satisfied with it. • These amendments constitute the most significant revision of U.S. asylum law since the Refugee Act of 1980.
Run
rʌn/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense ran /ræn/, past participle run, present participle running) HAPPEN [intransitive] to happen in a particular way or at a particular time Andy kept things running smoothly (=happening in the way they should) while I was away. He was given a further three month prison sentence to run concurrently. The course runs over a three year period. (run a course The course is run by the British Council.)
stage
steɪdʒ/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 TIME/STATE [countable] a particular time or state that something reaches as it grows or develops → phase, step stage of/in the early stages of a child's development It's a good move at this stage in his career. We're getting to the stage where we hardly ever go out together. (Even The most studious among you will probably have difficulty studying at some stage in your academic career) 2 PART OF PROCESS [countable] one of the parts which something such as a competition or process is divided into stage of The team reached the semi-final stage of the competition. stage two/six etc We're now reaching the end of stage three of the construction. The next stage is to complete an application form. in stages The rest of the money will be paid in stages (=a small amount at a time). COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 1: a particular time or state that something reaches as it grows or develops ADJECTIVES the early/initial stages Sometimes there are problems in the early stages of a project. the later/final/closing stages She was well cared for during the final stages of her life. the halfway stage He was in the lead at the halfway stage. an advanced stage Negotiations are at an advanced stage. a new stage It marked the beginning of a new stage in my life. a critical/crucial stage (=very important because it affects the future success of something) The football season is reaching a crucial stage. a formative stage (=when someone or something is developing) This plan is still in its formative stages. a difficult/an awkward stage He was 13 and going through that awkward stage. VERBS reach/get to a stage We have reached the stage where no-one is safe to walk our streets at night. enter a stage He is entering a new stage of his career. go through a stage Most young people go through a rebellious stage. mark a stage The election marks an important stage in the rebuilding of the country. take something a stage further We then took the experiment a stage further. PHRASES a stage of development We have several ideas in various stages of development. at one stage (=at a time in the past) At one stage I had to tell him to calm down. at some stage Four out of ten people are likely to contract cancer at some stage in their lives. at this/that stage At this stage his wife did not realise he was missing. at an early/late stage I can't change my plans at this late stage. at a later stage These points will be dealt with at a later stage. THESAURUS stage one of several parts of a long process, which happen one after another At this stage of the election campaign, it is impossible to predict who will win. She is still in the early stages of pregnancy. Piaget famously divided childhood into four separate stages. the opening stages of the race step one of the parts of a process that you have to do or deal with in order to go on to the next one The first step is to make a list of what you need. What's the next step? You have to do this one step at a time. phase one of the clearly separate stages of a process or activity, during which a type of activity takes place that is different from those in other phases the initial phase of the campaign They were now entering the final phase of their journey. round one of the parts that an event or activity is divided into, especially talks or a sports competition the first round of the negotiations the final round of the competition The next round of the trade talks will be held in Geneva. point a specific time or moment during the course of something What do you really want at this point in your life? By this point they were starting to feel more confident.
Test
test/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 1 EXAM a set of questions, exercises, or practical activities to measure someone's skill, ability, or knowledge test on We have a test on irregular verbs tomorrow. Did you get a good mark in the test? ► You take or do a test. Don't say 'make a test'. To pass a test means to succeed in it, not simply to take it. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 1: a set of questions, exercises, or practical activities to measure someone's skill, ability, or knowledge VERBS take a test (also do/sit a test British English) All candidates have to take a test. pass a test (=succeed in it) She passed her driving test first time. fail a test (also flunk a test American English informal) He failed the test and had to take it again. do well/badly in a test British English, do well/badly on a test American English I didn't do very well in the first part of the test. give somebody a test The students were given a reading test. grade a test (also mark a test British English) I spent the day marking tests. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + TEST a biology/history etc test On Monday we had a French test. a spelling/reading/listening test I didn't do very well in the listening test. a driving test A driving test can be a nerve-racking experience. a written test Selection was based on written tests in English and mathematics. a multiple choice test (=in which each question has a list of answers to choose from) There is some debate about whether multiple-choice tests are a good way of assessing student's knowledge. an aptitude test (=a test that measures your natural abilities) an oral test The oral test will consist of a conversation of about 10 minutes in German. TEST + NOUN a test paper The teacher began handing out the test papers. a test result/score The test results are out on Friday. a test question Some of the test questions were really difficult. COMMON ERRORS ► Don't say 'make a test'. Say take a test or do a test.
somebody's studies
the work that someone does in order to learn about a particular subject, especially the courses they take at a college or university How are your studies coming along? begin/continue/stop etc your studies I gave up my studies when I had the baby. • James interrupted his studies to travel around Europe for a year. • My uncle asked me how I was enjoying my studies. • She plans to continue her studies at Colgate in the fall.
Tutor
tjuːtə $ ˈtuːtər/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 someone who gives private lessons to one student or a small group, and is paid directly by them The children were educated at home by a succession of tutors. ► see thesaurus at teacher 2 a teacher in a British university or college → tutorial She was my tutor at Durham. • The regular training programme is jointly planned by adult education advisory tutors and senior speech therapists. • The program Chip was running included counselors and tutors and provided a wide range of services. • The android tutor had a special location unit. • The trainee, together with the in-bureau tutor, should work out and carry through a tailor-made course of study. • Hourly-paid language tutors, too, face increasingly demanding employers. • a math tutor • They hired a private tutor to help Carlos with his English • When she was ill she studied at home with a private tutor. verb [transitive] to teach someone as a tutor He was privately tutored. tutor somebody in something Young men were tutored in the art of handling horses. ► see thesaurus at teach • This system can also work for older teenagers, but if you are over sixteen you are not entitled to free tutoring. • All students received tutoring and academic and personal counseling. • One child was being tutored at home, and they were all fine.
Show up
to arrive somewhere in order to join a group of people, especially late or unexpectedly: I invited him for eight o'clock, but he didn't show up until 9.30. We were expecting 30 people to come, but half of them never showed up. phrasal verb 1 informal to arrive, especially at the place where someone is waiting for you SYN turn up Seth showed up, apologising for being late. We had 200 people show up for our seminar. 2 show something ↔ up to make it possible to see or notice something that was not clear before The sunlight showed up the marks on the window. 3 to be easy to see or notice Use a light colour which will show up on a dark background. 4 show somebody ↔ up to make someone feel embarrassed by behaving in a stupid or unacceptable way when you are with them SYN embarrass She says I showed her up in front of her friends when they came to the house. It was 7pm in the evening and we all had to show up to a late night seminar series that the University was holding for graduate students. Okay, we didn't have to show up but it was strongly encouraged. So I signed up.
be/have something to do with sth
to be related to something or a cause of something but not in a way that you know about or understand exactly: I'm not sure what he does exactly - it's something to do with finance. It might have something to do with the way it's made. ("If you have ever spent time in a university setting, you quickly learn that intelligence and motivation have little to do with getting things done on a regular basis)
meet a problem/challenge
to deal with a problem or something difficult that you have to do The new building will mean that we can meet the challenge of increasing student numbers. (They couldn't meet the challenge of continually being productive in the girly unstructured university environment) • These patterns evolve over time, as an organization attempts to meet challenge after challenge in the best way it knows how. • Are both boys and girls shown developing independent lives, independently meeting challenges, and finding their own solutions? • Ideally, pre-marital counselling, supplemented before parenthood, would meet problems before they could arise. • Capable of successfully and creatively meeting challenges. salary / benefits: Excellent salary and benefits package.
meet a need/demand/requirement/condition etc
to do something that someone wants, needs, or expects you to do or be as good as they need, expect etc The company says it is unable to meet the workers' demands for higher wages. The service is tailored to meet your needs. beaches which meet European standards of cleanliness → meet Examples from the Corpus meet ... standards • If you decide to have one fitted, make sure it is done by a reputable company and meets recognised standards. • These require employers to assess users' workstations to ensure they meet certain standards. • Belmont Bleaching and Dyeing has failed consistently to meet legal standards since 1988 but has not been prosecuted. • In return for meeting these standards the exchange has insulation from liability for negligence to specific persons. • Engine manufacturers will have flexibility to meet the new standards through a phase-in approach between 2007 and 2010.
take note (of something)
to pay attention to something SYN notice People were beginning to take note of her talents as a writer. His first album made the music world stand up and take note. • You discussed the contents with your boss and took notes. • Be sure that each student draws and takes notes on her observations. • Unless you believe in some supernatural being, taking notes of our progress. • I write this down verbatim, for much the same reason I took notes in college. • They want to sit there passively, taking notes. • While you are working through this process, take note of the features in the garden that you would like to keep. • It was then that I realized that I had forgotten to take note of any landmarks en route.
trimester
trɪˈmestə $ traɪˈmestər/ noun [countable] 1 American English one of three periods of equal length that the school year is divided intoSYN term British English 2 one of the three-month periods of pregnancy Examples from the Corpus trimester • Coelocentesis may be suitable for prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester. • She may even concede that hospitalisation is best, at least for the last trimester. • Preeclampsia is a potentially fatal condition that usually strikes in the last trimester of pregnancy. • They also observed a maternal hypoglycaemic response in their subjects in the third trimester. • As pregnancy progresses, the placenta secretes more progesterone which peaks midway into the third trimester and then levels off. • Athletes who have trained normally through the first two trimesters have delivered normal babies. 4.
Chase
tʃeɪs/ ●●● S3 verb 1 FOLLOW [intransitive, transitive] to quickly follow someone or something in order to catch them The dogs saw him running and chased him. kids chasing around the house chase somebody along/down/up something etc The police chased the suspect along Severn Avenue. chase after A gang of boys chased after her, calling her names. ► see thesaurus at follow 3 TRY TO GET SOMETHING [intransitive, transitive] to use a lot of time and effort trying to get something such as work or money Top graduates from the university are chased by major companies. chase after reporters chasing after a story (to my hero - that's who I chase. When I was 15 years old I had a very important person in my life come to me and say: 'Who's your hero? I said I don't know, 'I've got to think about that, give me a couple of weeks.)
concern
verb [transitive] 1 [not in passive] if a story, book, report etc concerns someone or something, it is about them This study concerns couples' expectations of marriage. The report concerns the drug traffic on the Mexican-US border. Register In everyday English, people usually say something is about something or, in British English, is/has to do with something, rather than say it concerns something: The book is about women's experiences of war. (The topic of this paper concerns the nature of existential awareness, a topic which Heidegger has not developed with explicit thoroughness in his own philosophy.)
attend
əˈtend/ ●●● S2 W2 verb formal 1 [intransitive, transitive] to go to an event such as a meeting or a class Only 12 people attended the meeting. Please let us know if you are unable to attend. Register In everyday English, people usually say go (to) or come (to) instead of attend: I didn't go to the parents' meeting. Please let us know if you can't come. 2 [intransitive, transitive] to go regularly to a school, church etc I am the first child in my family to attend college.
great
ɡreɪt/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective (comparative greater, superlative greatest) 2 EXCELLENT especially spoken very good SYN wonderful, fantastic The weather here is great. It's great to be home. a great day out for all the family sound/taste/smell/feel etc great I worked out this morning and I feel great. You look great in that dress. great for doing something Email's great for keeping in touch. the great thing about somebody/something (=the very good thing about someone or something) The great thing about Alex is that he's always willing to explain things to you. ► see thesaurus at good, nice Grammar Great is not used with 'very' in this meaning. You say: You did a really great job. ✗Don't say: You did a very great job. (What subject were you really good at when you went to school? I did great in English, Japanese and music in high school since I went to a school for students who wanted to study at university we had a standardized tests one a trimester. I always ended up scoring the second highest in English. In maths, I was always in the top 10 )
intrinsic
ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk, -zɪk/ ●○○ AWL adjective being part of the nature or character of someone or something OPP extrinsic the intrinsic interest of the subject intrinsic nature/quality/value/property of something There is nothing in the intrinsic nature of the work that makes it more suitable for women. intrinsic to Flexibility is intrinsic to creative management. —intrinsically /-kli/ adverb Science is seen as intrinsically good. Parents need to teach children the intrinsic value of good behavior. intrinsic to • Flexibility is intrinsic to creative management. (The intrinsic discipline of the subject is conveyed through the course-work and teaching approach, while being monitored through continuous assessment.)
investigate
ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/ ●●● W2 AWL verb 1 [intransitive, transitive] to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem The state police are investigating the incident. The study investigates the impact of violent TV programming on children. I heard a noise and went downstairs to investigate. Register In everyday English, people often say look into something rather than investigate something: I'll ask my colleague to look into it. 2 [transitive] to try to find out more about someone's character, actions etc, because you think they may have been involved in a crime Penney was already being investigated by the police on suspicion of murder. THESAURUS investigate to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem Police are investigating an explosion in the city centre. The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behaviour. There were fears he may have drowned in the lake, so divers were sent down to investigate. look into something to find out more about a problem, especially after someone has asked you to do this The manager promised to look into my complaint. Please could you look into the matter for me? explore to consider or discuss something, in order to help you decide what you should do Military leaders are exploring new ways of defending the United States from terrorism. I'm going to explore the possibility of a part-time job. probe [intransitive, transitive] to try to find secret or hidden information, especially by asking questions The press began probing into the actor's private life. We have been probing the reasons why the government has been so slow to react to the problem of climate change. delve [intransitive] to look somewhere in order to try to find more information about something, especially something that is difficult to find out about Over the past year Ms Deen has been delving into the national archives, in order to discover information on the early Muslim settlers. I think we need to delve a little deeper. be under investigation if someone or their activities are under investigation, the police are trying to find out if they have done something illegal Several public figures are under investigation for corruption.
difficulty
ˈdɪfɪkəlti/ ●●● S2 W1 noun (plural difficulties) 1 [uncountable] if you have difficulty doing something, it is difficult for you to do have/experience difficulty (in) doing something They had great difficulty in finding a replacement. with/without difficulty He got to his feet with difficulty. ► Do not say that someone 'has difficulty to do something'. Say that someone has difficulty doing something or has difficulty in doing something. 2 [countable usually plural] a problem or something that causes trouble difficulty with There are several difficulties with this theory. If you have any difficulties, give me a call. The project soon ran into difficulties. Difficulties can arise when there is more than one defendant. 3 [uncountable] if you are in difficulty, you are in a situation in which you have problems in difficulty The business is in financial difficulty. get/run into difficulty (=get into a difficult situation) She soon got into difficulty with debt. 4 [uncountable] the quality of being difficult to do the difficulty of (doing) something the difficulty of solving such problems 5 [uncountable] how difficult something is The tests vary in difficulty. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 2: a problem or something that causes trouble VERBS have difficulties By the age of eight, Robbie was having difficulties at school. run into/get into difficulties (=find yourself in a difficult situation) Three people were rescued from a boat that had got into difficulties. experience/encounter difficulties formal (=have difficulties) Graduates often experience considerable difficulties in getting their first job. face difficulties The hotel's owners were facing financial difficulties. overcome/resolve difficulties (=deal with them successfully) We are confident that we can overcome these difficulties. present/pose difficulties formal (=be something that is difficult to deal with) English spelling may present some difficulties for learners. be fraught with difficulties (=involve a lot of them) The whole plan was fraught with difficulties. cause/lead to difficulties Stress and worry both cause sleep difficulties. give rise to difficulties formal (=cause them) The stormy weather gave rise to difficulties for many of the competitors in the yacht race. difficulties arise (=happen) It's best to discuss any difficulties that arise rather than trying to deal with them alone. ADJECTIVES major/serious/severe difficulties By then, we were having serious financial difficulties. considerable difficulties (=a lot of problems) They had considerable difficulties in getting funding for their research. technical difficulties The flight was delayed due to technical difficulties. practical difficulties (=problems with doing something) It's a great idea, but there will be a number of practical difficulties. financial/economic difficulties The company is facing serious financial difficulties. breathing difficulties She was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties. marital difficulties (=in a marriage) You may need help in dealing with your marital difficulties. (Even The studious among you will probably have difficulty studying at some stage in your academic career)
Discipline
ˈdɪsɪplɪn/ ●●○ S3 W3 noun countable] an area of knowledge or teaching, especially one such as history, chemistry, mathematics etc that is studied at a university An academic discipline or field of study is a branch of knowledge, taught and researched as part of higher education. A discipline may have branches, and these are often called sub-disciplines. Discipline refers to a branch of academic study and the goal is produces academics and spacialists
physics
ˈfɪzɪks/ ●●● S3 noun [uncountable] the science concerned with the study of physical objects and substances, and of natural forces such as light, heat, and movement GRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb? Physics is followed by a singular verb: To me, physics is a fascinating subject. Home-schooled by his parents until age sixteen, Tsiolkovskii read voraciously and developed a lifelong fascination with mathematics and physics. • I would probably think of that as physics, in a complex way. • She is redoing her A-levels in chemistry, physics and biology in the sixth form of a London girls' school. • Deterministic laws of atomic arrangements in the triumphant years of classical physics seemed to lie behind the phenomena of life. • Jones explores each in turn, calling on other metaphors to illustrate his points, but never strays far from mainstream physics. • The poetry of physics has become the stuff of novels.
qualified
ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd $ ˈkwɑː-/ ●●○ adjective 1 having suitable knowledge, experience, or skills, especially for a particular job well/suitably/highly qualified Dawn is well qualified for her new role. qualified to do something The guides are qualified to lead groups into the mountains. If you don't speak German, you're not qualified to comment. 2 having passed a professional examination qualified doctor/teacher/accountant etc There are qualified instructors on hand to advise you. highly/fully qualified a fully qualified nurse a professionally qualified social worker Are you medically qualified? qualified to do something He's qualified to teach biology at high school level. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 1: having suitable knowledge, experience, or skills, especially for a particular job ADVERBS well qualified As a former footballer, he is well qualified to talk about the game. highly qualified All the other applicants seemed highly qualified. suitably qualified If we can find a suitably qualified person, we'll start straight away. eminently qualified He is eminently qualified for the role. ideally qualified His former wife is ideally qualified to comment on his character.
concentrate
ˈkɒnsəntreɪt $ ˈkɑːn-/ ●●● S2 W2 AWL verb 1 [intransitive] to think very carefully about something that you are doing → concentration Now please concentrate. Adrian was finding it difficult to concentrate. concentrate on Be quiet - let me concentrate on my homework. Grammar You concentrate on something: I'm trying to concentrate on my work. ✗Don't say: I'm trying to concentrate in my work. 2 [intransitive, transitive] to be present in large numbers or amounts somewhere, or to cause people or things to be present in large numbers or amounts somewhere → concentration be concentrated in/at something Italian industry is concentrated mainly in the north. Construction of the aircraft is being concentrated at Prestwick. concentrate in/at Women concentrate in a small number of occupations. Grammar Concentrate is usually passive in this meaning, when used as a transitive verb.
coursework
ˈkɔːswɜːk $ ˈkɔːrswɜːrk/ noun [uncountable] work students do during a course of study rather than in examinations, and that forms part of their final mark Examples from the Corpus coursework • This usually comprises coursework on the basis of a formal curriculum consisting of lectures and practical work. • Half of the marks are for the exam, and half are for coursework. • Having finished with his coursework that spring, he was only scheduled for thesis hours in the fall anyway. • The diploma requires 30 hours of coursework. • Even our expectations and standards of coursework for many college-bound students remain shockingly low. • The union affirmed its opposition to 100 percent coursework and support for a 20 to 70 percent limit. • In education all Stage I modules are assessed 60 percent coursework, 40 percent seen examination. • At the cut-off time for the coursework an electronic drawbridge goes up: students are no longer allowed to write to their directories. • None of the coursework seemed to have much relevance to being a nurse in a busy hospital. • I'm just so behind on the coursework. • Even if students submit their coursework electronically, it is not necessary for the marker to return his comments electronically.
novelty
ˈnɒvəlti $ ˈnɑː-/ ●○○ noun (plural novelties) 1 [uncountable] the quality of being new, unusual, and interesting novelty of the novelty of the ideas Many toys have no attraction beyond their novelty value. It was fun for a while, but the novelty wore off (=it became boring). 2 [countable] something new and unusual which attracts people's attention and interest Then the Internet was still something of a novelty. 3 [countable] an unusual small cheap object, often given as a present a selection of novelties and t-shirts a novelty key-ring COLLOCATIONS - Meanings 1 & 2 VERBS be a novelty At that time, air travel was still a novelty to many people. the novelty wears off (=something stops seeming new and interesting) Once the novelty had worn off he didn't play with his train set much. PHRASES be something of a novelty (=seem quite new and different) At that time, cars were still something of a novelty. be quite a novelty (=seem quite new and different) In the 1970s, a woman sports reporter was quite a novelty. the added novelty of something You can attend the recording of the show, and get the added novelty of watching a radio programme being made. ADJECTIVES sheer novelty (=used when emphasizing how new and different something seems) Few pieces of music can match the sheer novelty of Sibelius's Sixth Symphony. NOVELTY + NOUN novelty value (=the extra interest that something receives because it is new) The car still sells well, though the novelty value has worn off. a novelty act (=a performance that is unusual and different) Mike Michaels the Mechanical Magician was one of the best novelty acts I've seen.
noticeboard
ˈnəʊtəsˌbɔːd $ ˈnoʊtəsˌbɔːrd/ ●●○ noun [countable] British English a special board on a wall which notices can be fastened to SYN bulletin board American English Examples from the Corpus noticeboard • Cuttings that should come to everybody's attention quickly can be pinned to the library noticeboard or contained in a monthly newsletter. • This oversight resulted in this cartoon appearing on mill noticeboards. • Details of these sessions will be published on noticeboards. • Various dazibao were put on the Xidan wall, which became a public noticeboard. • Official invitations to all les Girls would be pinned up on the stage doorkeeper's noticeboard. • Ruth Smith and Lyn Saunders check the noticeboard to see when they are scheduled to take up their positions on checkouts. • Was that the reason she hadn't said to watch for the noticeboard? • The material for printing usually goes off to the printer on the Tuesday, when the noticeboards are changed. From Longman Business Dictionary no‧tice‧board /ˈnəʊtəsˌbɔːdˈnoʊtəsˌbɔːrd/ noun [countable] British English a large board fixed to a wall where people can put notes and messages for other people to readSYNbulletin board AmE The names, telephone numbers and locations of trained staff are shown on the company's noticeboards.
Project
ˈprɒdʒekt $ ˈprɑː-/ ●●● S1 W1 AWL noun a part of a school or college course that involves careful study of a particular subject over a period of time project on We're doing a project on pollution. a geography project
Partly
ˈpɑːtli $ ˈpɑːr-/ ●●● S2 W2 adverb to some degree, but not completely OPP wholly The poor weather was partly responsible for the crash. The company's problems are partly due to bad management. It is partly because of her sick mother that she hasn't taken the job abroad. The group is funded partly by the government. He was educated partly in Glasgow and partly in London. • The growth of the welfare state after 1945 partly reflected developmental social changes. • This is partly thanks to the free insurance provided by one of the World Cup sponsors and partly historical perspective. • Federal budget cuts are partly to blame for the rise in unemployment. • What he told us was only partly true. partly responsible • So inevitably, I feel at least partly responsible. • Consideration for his successor was partly responsible for his decision to resign short of the seven-year goal, he said. • The boss was at least partly responsible for the adolescent nature of his department. • The alternative - that these lower levels are partly responsible for the development of oesophagitis - is also possible. (As an 'anti-self-help philosophy' I definitely think it's useful, partly because it emphasises self-control, a sense of duty, integrity, dignity, peace of mind and a "willingness to come to terms with (rather than find) yourself. It is also useful because several of the Stoics were concerned with how to make their philosophy part of people's everyday lives)
seminar
ˈsemənɑː $ -nɑːr/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 a class at a university or college for a small group of students and a teacher to study or discuss a particular subject a Shakespeare seminar 2 a class on a particular subject, usually given as a form of training Publishers and writers from 13 countries attended the seminar. Examples from the Corpus seminar • Every week we have a seminar on modern political theory. • A series of research conferences and seminars enables researchers to present reviews and findings to an informed audience. • Peters has augmented his books with countless articles, speeches, and seminars, all on the same general theme. • It gave workshops and seminars to help priests and lay people plan liturgies that were expressive, inclusive and theologically sound. • A department-wide graduate seminar is held during each Michaelmas and Hilary Term for the benefit of research students. • Land costs are $ 700 to $ 850, including meals, seminars, meetings with local residents. • a sales seminar • Cost of the seminar is £10. • In the spring semester Gordon taught two seminars and took on more than a dozen students for independent study projects. attended ... seminar • Fifteen writers and publishers from 13 Third World countries attended the seminar. • Twenty employees from Columbia Gas attended the seminar, and were presented with certificates of completion the following month. • More than 100 people attended the seminar, which was mean to last one-and-half hours but continued for three! From Longman Business Dictionary sem‧i‧nar /ˈsemənɑː-nɑːr/ noun [countable] a fairly informal meeting of a group of people, who share information and ideas, discuss matters relating to their work etc Most of the peopleattending the seminar were from accountancy firms. The Association isholding a seminar to highlight opportunities in the Japanese market.
Setting
ˈsetɪŋ/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 the place where something is or where something happens, and the general environment beautiful/perfect/magnificent/idyllic setting an old farmhouse in a beautiful setting setting for Cyprus is the perfect setting for a beach holiday. I've worked with children in various settings, mainly in secondary school. ► see thesaurus at place COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES a beautiful/lovely/magnificent setting The event takes place in the magnificent setting of Bramham Park. a perfect/ideal setting The castle was a perfect setting for the wedding. an idyllic setting (=a very beautiful and peaceful place) Three artists have come together to paint and teach in an idyllic setting in West Sussex. an unlikely setting This quiet suburb may seem an unlikely setting for a top restaurant. a rural/urban setting The research station is located in a rural setting. VERBS provide a setting The hotel provides an ideal setting for conferences. (If you have ever spent time in a university setting "you quickly learn that intelligence and motivation have little to do with getting things done on a regular basis)
student
ˈstjuːdənt $ ˈstuː-/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 1 someone who is studying at a university, school etc → pupil student at a first-year student at the University of Oslo law/science/medical etc student There are plenty of job opportunities for engineering students. student teacher/nurse etc (=someone who is studying to be a teacher, nurse etc) A/B/C student (=a student who always gets A's, B's etc for their work) COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES/NOUN + STUDENT a law/medical/chemistry etc student Approximately 40% of law students are women. a university/college/school student How many college students are politically active? a high school/elementary school student American English Her son is a high school student. a first-year/second-year etc student (=in their first year, second year etc at college or university) First-year students have an exam at the end of term. an A/B/C student American English (=one who usually gets an A, B, or C for their work) He was an A student all the way through high school. an undergraduate student (=one who is studying for a first degree) Most undergraduate students rely on student loans for finance. a postgraduate student British English, a graduate student American English (=one who has already done a first degree) There is a separate university prospectus for postgraduate students. a research student (=doing research in a university) When I returned to Cambridge, I continued this work with two of my research students. a mature student especially British English (=a student who is over 25 years old) He took a degree as a mature student at Birmingham University. a foreign/overseas student The University welcomes applications from overseas students. STUDENT + NOUN a student loan/grant (=money that is lent or given to a student) Some of them are still paying off student loans. student life (=the way of life of university and college students) Parties are an important part of student life. a student teacher/doctor/nurse (=someone who is learning to be a teacher, doctor, or nurse) Student teachers work alongside qualified teachers to gain classroom experience. THESAURUS student someone who is studying at a university or school. In British English, student is not usually used to refer to a child at primary school a student at Moscow University How many students are there in your class? The university has a lot of overseas students. Most schools have special classes for students with learning difficulties. pupil especially British English someone who is being taught in a particular school or by a particular teacher The school has 300 pupils. He received a letter from one of his former pupils. schoolchild a child who goes to school The play was performed by a group of local schoolchildren. schoolboy/schoolgirl especially British English a boy or girl who goes to school - used especially when talking about how they behave, or that time in someone's life They were behaving like naughty schoolgirls. When he was a schoolboy, no one had heard of computers. He blushed at her like a schoolboy. learner someone who is learning a foreign language Learners often have problems with pronunciation. a book for foreign learners of English
Study
ˈstʌdi/ ●●● S1 W1 noun (plural studies) 1 RESEARCH [countable] a piece of work that is done to find out more about a particular subject or problem, and usually includes a written report Recent studies show that women still get paid a lot less than men. study of/into/on a study of Australian wild birds The study was carried out between January and May 2008. 2 LEARNING [uncountable] when you spend time learning, especially at home or by yourself rather than during school Set aside a period of time specifically for study. ways to improve study skills (=skills that help you study efficiently and be successful in school) 3 SUBJECT [uncountable] (also studies [plural]) a subject that people study at a college or university study of Linguistics is the study of language. Environmental Studies literary/historical/scientific etc study the scientific study of earthquakes CAREFUL CONSIDERATION [uncountable] when you examine or consider something very carefully and in detail a report that deserves careful study COLLOCATIONS VERBS do a study/carry out a study (also conduct a study formal) The scientists are carrying out a study into the effects of global warming. a study finds something The study found that men were more likely to take risks. a study shows something Studies have shown that the drug works. a study suggests/indicates something A British study suggests that older drivers are safer drivers. a study reveals something (=shows something, especially something surprising) A recent study revealed that 74% of donuts are bought on impulse. a study confirms something (=shows that something is true) The study confirms what we all know - smoking is also bad for the people around you. a study aims to do something The study aimed to identify the housing needs of local people. publish a study The study was published in the British Medical Journal. fund a study (=pay for it) The study was funded by a major US drugs company. commission a study (=ask someone to carry out a study) The government has commissioned a study into the health of residents living near the power station. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + STUDY a research study Research studies have found that young people are drinking no more than they were 20 years ago. a detailed study (also an in-depth study) They carried out a detailed study into the effects of the disease on mice. a two-year/three-month etc study They are engaged in a five-year study into the effects of calcium on bone health. a huge/massive study The journal published the results of a massive study of 87,000 women. a previous/earlier study The report is a summary of the work done in earlier studies. a pilot study (=one done to find out if something will be successful) The government has just completed a pilot study, with some encouraging results. a feasibility study (=one done to find out if something is possible or practical) They commissioned a feasibility study into re-opening the whole railway line. PHRASES the aims of a study The aims of this study are to examine the reliability of current techniques. the results/findings of a study The results of this study suggest that the drug is effective in over 80% of cases. His research confirmed the findings of earlier studies.
study
ˈstʌdi/ ●●● S1 W1 noun (plural studies) 1 RESEARCH [countable] a piece of work that is done to find out more about a particular subject or problem, and usually includes a written report Recent studies show that women still get paid a lot less than men. study of/into/on a study of Australian wild birds The study was carried out between January and May 2008. 2 LEARNING [uncountable] when you spend time learning, especially at home or by yourself rather than during school Set aside a period of time specifically for study. ways to improve study skills (=skills that help you study efficiently and be successful in school) 3 SUBJECT [uncountable] (also studies [plural]) a subject that people study at a college or university study of Linguistics is the study of language. Environmental Studies literary/historical/scientific etc study the scientific study of earthquakes COLLOCATIONS VERBS do a study/carry out a study (also conduct a study formal) The scientists are carrying out a study into the effects of global warming. a study finds something The study found that men were more likely to take risks. a study shows something Studies have shown that the drug works. a study suggests/indicates something A British study suggests that older drivers are safer drivers. a study reveals something (=shows something, especially something surprising) A recent study revealed that 74% of donuts are bought on impulse. a study confirms something (=shows that something is true) The study confirms what we all know - smoking is also bad for the people around you. a study aims to do something The study aimed to identify the housing needs of local people. publish a study The study was published in the British Medical Journal. fund a study (=pay for it) The study was funded by a major US drugs company. commission a study (=ask someone to carry out a study) The government has commissioned a study into the health of residents living near the power station. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + STUDY a research study Research studies have found that young people are drinking no more than they were 20 years ago. a detailed study (also an in-depth study) They carried out a detailed study into the effects of the disease on mice. a two-year/three-month etc study They are engaged in a five-year study into the effects of calcium on bone health. a huge/massive study The journal published the results of a massive study of 87,000 women. a previous/earlier study The report is a summary of the work done in earlier studies. a pilot study (=one done to find out if something will be successful) The government has just completed a pilot study, with some encouraging results. a feasibility study (=one done to find out if something is possible or practical) They commissioned a feasibility study into re-opening the whole railway line. PHRASES the aims of a study The aims of this study are to examine the reliability of current techniques. the results/findings of a study The results of this study suggest that the drug is effective in over 80% of cases. His research confirmed the findings of earlier studies. verb (studied, studying, studies) 1 [intransitive, transitive] to learn about a subject at school, university etc I've been studying English for six years. I can't study with that music playing all the time. study law/business/history etc (=study a subject at a school or university) Anna is studying French literature. study at a university/school etc Stephen is currently studying at Exeter University. study to be a doctor/lawyer etc My brother's studying to be an accountant. study for an exam/diploma etc I've only got three weeks left to study for my exams. study under somebody (=be trained by a famous teacher) a psychologist who studied under Jung in Zurich ► see thesaurus at learn 2 [transitive] to try to find out more about a subject or problem, using scientific methods Goodall was studying the behavior of chimpanzees in the wild. The scientists were studying the action of a protein called ubiquitin. study how/what/why etc They're studying how stress affects body chemistry. ► see thesaurus at examine THESAURUS study verb [intransitive, transitive] to learn about a subject at school, university etc If you study hard, you'll get a good job. He studied law at Harvard University. take verb [transitive] to study a subject that you have chosen at school, college etc What classes are you taking next semester? In my final year, I decided to take English and economics. do verb [transitive] British English informal to study a particular subject at school or university I can't decide whether to do German or Spanish next year. Did you do computing at school? major in something phrasal verb American English to study something as your main subject at a college or university Diane majored in psychology at the University of Washington. revise verb [intransitive] British English to study to prepare for an examination It's best to start revising early. He's revising for his final exams. cram verb [intransitive] informal to study very hard and try to learn a lot of information just before an examination Everyone's cramming for their final exams. do research to study something in a very detailed way, especially in order to discover new information about it He does research at Oxford University. I'm doing research into second language learning. It's difficult to do research on humans.
syllabus
ˈsɪləbəs/ noun [countable] a plan that states exactly what students at a school or college should learn in a particular subject → curriculum on a syllabus Two Shakespeare plays are on this year's English syllabus. Examples from the Corpus syllabus • Some teachers might even choose to teach the entire history syllabus by working backwards from the present. • This is particularly true of the mathematics syllabus. • As we have seen previously, the art department at Redbrook Secondary School followed a fairly prescribed syllabus. • We read the flight-school syllabus of maneuvers. • Assessment schemes vary in the extent to which they rely on a structured syllabus and defined test modes.
subject
ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/ ●●● S2 W1 noun [countable] AT SCHOOL an area of knowledge that you study at a school or university My favorite subject is math.
trivial
ˈtrɪviəl/ ●●○ adjective not serious, important, or valuable trivial problem/matter/complaint etc We were punished for the most trivial offences. a trivial sum Her feelings for Simon seemed trivial by comparison. ► see thesaurus at unimportant Examples from the Corpus trivial • This is tiny, but not trivial. • And that is one reason why this presidential election is beginning to look so transparent and trivial. • People in them feel liberated from the trivial and the arbitrary. • No, I don't think your question is trivial at all. • The issue of where the peace talks will be held may seem trivial, but to the participants it is very important. • From a human relations point of view, Janet had outsmarted Hazel by refusing to become a victim over a trivial matter. • Having committed himself by revealing defence secrets, such freedom of speech seemed a trivial matter. • She often loses her temper over trivial matters. • In general they overestimate the amount available and underestimate the time wasted by being fragmented in small amounts on rather trivial matters. • As far as social psychological concepts are concerned, the distinction between universal and particular is not a trivial one. • Some ideas will be too trivial, some would be impossible to carry out. • Why waste time watching trivial TV programs? trivial problem/matter/complaint etc • From a human relations point of view, Janet had outsmarted Hazel by refusing to become a victim over a trivial matter. • Having committed himself by revealing defence secrets, such freedom of speech seemed a trivial matter. • In contrast to what he had been fearing, it was a trivial matter. • In general they overestimate the amount available and underestimate the time wasted by being fragmented in small amounts on rather trivial matters. • Our obsession with cleanliness is no trivial matter. • There was no satisfactory method of dealing with trivial complaints. • To meet the target, managers were forced wastefully to expend resources on the most trivial complaints. • Installing and maintaining a Web server is not a trivial matter, however, given the security and administrative issues involved.
widely
ˈwaɪdli/ ●●● W2 adverb 1 in a lot of different places or by a lot of people Organic food is now widely available. an author who had travelled widely in the Far East a widely used method These laws were widely regarded as too strict. This view was not widely held. 2 to a large degree - used when talking about differences The quality of the applicants varies widely. In the post-Bains era corporate structures have been widely adopted. • Copies of the report have been made widely available. • For such widely based indices, it is often not possible to short sell the index. • At one time it was widely believed that the sun revolved around the Earth. • A hundred years ago it was widely believed that there was life on Mars. • Actually, estimates for the ratio of public spending to National Income vary widely, depending on the definitions used for each item. • One of these is that there will inevitably be widely different reading speeds. • And the wind loads can vary widely from one part of the building to another. • Silicon Valley is widely known as California's high-tech center. • Asbestos was once widely used in the building industry. • The Fed chairman is widely viewed as an anti-inflation hawk. varies widely • The quality of students' work-site experiences varies widely. • But what schools teach in a certain subject or at a particular grade level still varies widely among states and counties. • The thickness of the crust, for example, varies widely between continents and oceans. • The percentage varies widely from stadium to stadium, arena to arena, depending on what criteria is used by tax boards. • The content of these claims varies widely from the almost self-evident to the unexpected. • Yet the degree to which this goal is important to people varies widely within societies and among different cultures.
Graduate
ˈɡrædʒuət/ ●●● S2 W2 noun [countable] 1 someone who has completed a university degree, especially a first degree → undergraduate a Harvard graduate graduate of a graduate of Edinburgh University university graduates a history graduate graduate in He's a graduate in philosophy. 2 American English someone who has completed a course at a college, school etc a high-school graduate high-school graduate • It was one thing to kiss a girl like Sonya, but Edusha was an intelligent young woman, a high-school graduate. • A recent high-school graduate sat at the reception desk. verb 1 [intransitive] to obtain a degree, especially a first degree, from a college or university graduate from Kate graduated from medical school last year. graduate in He graduated in physics from Cambridge University. 2 [intransitive] American English to complete your education at high school graduate from Jerry graduated from high school last year. 4 [transitive] especially American English to give a degree or diploma to someone who has completed a course adjective [only before noun] especially American English relating to or involved in studies done at a university after completing a first degree → undergraduate SYN postgraduate British English a graduate student Examples from the Corpus graduate • By graduate levels in the universities there will be several thousand. • These days, almost a quarter of Jur entering graduate students are women. • Now there are 3,000 graduate students as well as 11,500 undergraduates. From Longman Business Dictionary grad‧u‧ate1 /ˈgrædʒuət/ noun [countable] 1a person who has completed a university degree course, especially for a first degree a science graduate from Oxford University The company is looking for a graduate engineer with the ability to lead and motivate a team of four people. 2American English a person who has completed a course at a college or school a Harvard business-school graduate graduate2 adjective [only before a noun] American English a graduate student is someone studying for their second degree graduate3 /ˈgrædʒueɪt/ verb 1[intransitive] to obtain a degree, especially a first degree, from a college or university graduate from He graduated from the University of California with a degree in mathematics. 2[intransitive] American English to complete your education at high school 3[transitive] American English to give a degree or diploma to someone who has completed a course 4graduate from/to something to start buying a product etc that is better than the one you bought before They bought low-priced homes after graduating from rooming houses and apartments.
thesis
ˈθiːsɪs/ ●○○ AWL noun (plural theses /-siːz/) [countable] 1 a long piece of writing about a particular subject that you do as part of an advanced university degree such as an MA or a PhD Cynthia's still working on her thesis. graduate/master's/doctoral thesis He wrote his doctoral thesis on contemporary French literature. 2 formal an idea or opinion about something, that you discuss in a formal way and give examples for Their main thesis was that the rise in earnings was due to improvements in education. 3 American English in writing, the thesis is the sentence or group of sentences which state what the main idea of an essay is a paragraph introducing your thesis statement
education
ˌedjʊˈkeɪʃən $ ˌedʒə-/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 [singular, uncountable] the process of teaching and learning, usually at school, college, or university She also hopes her children will get a good education. efforts to improve girls' access to education . 2 [uncountable] the teaching of a particular subject health/sex education COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES/NOUN + EDUCATION a good education All parents want a good education for their children. a poor education (=not very good) She had a poor education, and left school without qualifications. an all-round education (=including a balance of lots of different subjects) The school offers a good all-round education. full-time education (=spending every weekday in a school or college) Children must stay in full-time education until the age of 16. state education British English, public education American English (=provided by the government of a country) The state of California guarantees free public education to all children. private education (=that people have to pay for) I don't agree with the principle of private education. formal education (=from teachers at school or college, rather than learning by yourself) She had no formal education and was brought up by her grandmother. primary (school) education British English, elementary education American English (=for children aged between 5 and 11) The government has announced plans to improve the quality of primary school education. secondary education (also high school education American English) (=for children aged between 11 and 18) She hopes to start a teaching career in secondary education. university/college education Do you have a university education? further/higher education (=at a college or university) I did a carpentry course at the further education college. adult education (=for adults) They run adult education classes at the local community college. vocational education (=relating to skills needed for a particular job) We offer vocational education and job training. nursery/pre-school education (=for children aged under 5) The funding will provide nursery education for all four-year-olds. VERBS have an education The women have had little education. get/receive an education Some children grow up without receiving any education. give/provide an education The school aims to provide a good general education. enter education (=start going to school, college etc) The number of students entering higher education has risen. leave education British English (=stop going to school, college etc) She left full-time education at the age of 16. continue your education I hope to continue my education after high school. EDUCATION + NOUN the education system (=the way education is organized and managed in a country) Is the British education system failing some children? the education department (=the government organization that makes decisions about education) Newcastle City Council's education department an education authority (=a government organization that makes official decisions about education in one particular area) The school is funded by the local education authority. the education service (=all the government organizations that work together to provide education) There are plans to expand the adult education service. education policy (=political plans for managing an education system) The teaching unions are calling for the government to review its education policy. education reform (=changes that a government makes to the education system in a country) the government's programme of education reform From Longman Business Dictionary ed‧u‧ca‧tion /ˌedjʊˈkeɪʃənˌedʒə-/ noun [uncountable] the process of learning, for example at schools and universities, and the process by which your mind develops through doing this The most important element of business education is teaching kids that business is more than just 'chasing after big bucks.' a consulting firm specializing in management education and organization development Russian immigrants have very high levels of technical education.
educational
ˌedjʊˈkeɪʃənəl◂ $ ˌedʒə-/ ●●○ S3 W2 adjective 1 relating to education the educational development of children 2 teaching you something you did not know before educational games —educationally adverb • We offer a wide range of educational and sporting activities. • We have already seen that output cognition is closely related to level of educational attainment and socioeconomic Position. • a leading publisher of educational books and software • My daughter became friends with Lonnie, 17, in an educational enrichment program. • Many educational institutions have not been able make needed improvements because of funding cuts. • That won't be the only educational legislation. • Younger lawyers often have greater need for current cash to support young families and pay off educational loans and mortgages. • Eighteen of the 33 respondents said they would welcome training in educational methods and principles. • Different children have different educational needs. • Low-income children do not have the same educational opportunities as children from wealthier families. • It appeared to be a feasible solution to a series of problems, and an interesting educational opportunity. • After retiring, he remained active in educational programs at the laboratory. • The American educational system is in need of reform. • In the next decade, microcomputers will stimulate radical changes in every part of the educational system. • a shop selling educational toys for 7 to 11 year-olds • educational TV programs
qualification
ˌkwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən $ ˌkwɑː-/ ●●○ W3 noun 1 [countable usually plural] if you have a qualification, you have passed an examination or course to show you have a particular level of skill or knowledge in a subject He left school without any qualifications. qualification in We are looking for graduates with qualifications in maths or science. COLLOCATIONS VERBS have a qualification (also hold a qualification formal) You don't need to have any qualifications for this job. lack qualifications 40 percent of the prisoners lack any qualifications. get a qualification British English (also gain/obtain a qualification formal) I want to get the qualifications so that I can become a doctor. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + QUALIFICATION academic qualifications Eva had excellent academic qualifications. educational qualifications Too many children leave school without any educational qualifications. a teaching/medical/legal etc qualification British English: She has a degree and a teaching qualification. a professional qualification British English (=one relating to a professional job, such as a teacher, lawyer etc) A professional qualification in accountancy would be an advantage. a vocational qualification British English (=one relating to a skilled job, such as a nurse or a builder) You can study for a vocational qualification in the tourism industry. formal qualifications (=official qualifications rather than experience) He has no formal qualifications. paper qualifications British English often disapproving (=documents showing that you have passed exams, rather than actual experience of doing something) We often find that paper qualifications are no guide to ability. a recognized qualification (=one that is accepted by people as good) Trainees can work towards a recognised vocational qualification. good/excellent qualifications Good qualifications are a passport to success.
consultation
ˌkɒnsəlˈteɪʃən $ ˌkɑːn-/ ●○○ AWL noun 1 [countable, uncountable] a discussion in which people who are affected by or involved in something can give their opinions consultation with The decision was reached after consultation with parents and teachers. consultation between He's calling for urgent consultations between the government and the oil industry to resolve the problem. in consultation with somebody The plans were drawn up in consultation with engineers. consultation process/exercise/period There will be a public consultation exercise to ask for people's views. consultation paper/document 2 [countable] a meeting with a professional person, especially a doctor, for advice or treatment A follow-up consultation was arranged for two weeks' time. 3 [uncountable] the process of getting advice from a professional person Trained parenting experts are available for consultation by telephone. 4 [uncountable] the process of looking for information or help in a book Leaflets were regularly displayed for consultation by students. COLLOCATIONS VERBS hold a consultation Further consultations will be held with local residents. begin a consultation French and German officials began consultations with officials from the other four nations. require consultation formal (=need consultation) Any decision on military action would require consultation. ADJECTIVES public consultation (=asking for for ordinary people's views) The first public consultations considered environmental and health issues. full consultation (=including all the details of something) No decision will be made until there has been full consultation with farmers. prior consultation (=happening before something is done) New educational policies should be based on prior consultation with teachers. proper consultation Has there been proper consultation with the local communities? further consultation It is recommended that further consultation should take place. close consultation (=in which people, groups etc discuss something carefully together) The changes followed close consultation with government officials. wide/widespread/extensive consultation (=involving a lot of people, groups etc) Strong recommendations were made after wide consultation. joint consultation (=involving two different groups) Committees can be used for joint consultation between employers and employees. formal consultation (=organized in a formal way) Better methods of formal consultation are needed. CONSULTATION + NOUN a consultation paper/document (=a formal report on a subject that needs to be discussed) He produced a consultation document on public transport proposals for the city. the consultation process/period an eight-week consultation process a consultation exercise (=an activity that involves getting people's opinions on something) The public consultation exercise was undertaken to gauge public reaction.
mathematics
ˌmæθəˈmætɪks/ ●●● W3 noun [uncountable] 1 the science of numbers and of shapes, including algebra, geometry, and arithmetic 2 the calculations that are involved in a particular situation or plan GRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb? • In meaning 1, mathematics is followed by a singular verb: Mathematics is her best subject at school. • In meaning 2, mathematics can be followed by a singular or plural verb: The mathematics of the project is/are very complicated. • It said that girls were overlooked in the classroom and trailed boys in mathematics and computer science. • He talked about them as if they, like mathematics, were a subject to be mastered. • The book of nature, he insisted, had been written in the language of mathematics. • Three schoolmasters lived in the house: one taught Latin, one mathematics and one music. • ProTech students were taking more rigorous mathematics and science courses than their peers, although their grades were not substantially better.
postgraduate
ˌpəʊstˈɡrædjuət $ ˌpoʊstˈɡrædʒuət/ noun [countable] especially British English someone who is studying at a university to get a master's degree or a PhD SYN graduate student American English adjective [only before noun] 1 especially British English relating to studies done at a university after completing a first degree SYN graduate American English postgraduate degrees 2 American English relating to studies done after completing a PhD SYN post doctoral
academic
ˌækəˈdemɪk◂/ ●●○ W2 AWL adjective 1 [usually before noun] relating to education, especially at college or university level OPP non-academic He possessed no academic qualifications. a program to raise academic standards 2 [usually before noun] concerned with studying from books, as opposed to practical work the study of art as an academic discipline 3 good at studying OPP unacademic He's not very academic. COLLOCATIONS NOUNS academic qualifications He had the right experience and academic qualifications for the job. academic performance Personal problems may affect a student's academic performance. academic achievements Girls' academic achievements are at least as good as boys'. academic standards (=levels that are considered to be acceptable) The school has high academic standards. academic research (=study of a subject, in order to discover new facts or test new ideas) Many academic research projects take years to complete. academic study After academic study, you have to gain practical experience. an academic subject Children who are not good at academic subjects may excel in music or sport. an academic discipline (=a subject that is studied at university) the academic disciplines of linguistics, psychology and sociology an academic career She wanted to pursue an academic career. the academic year (=the time within a period of 12 months when students are studying at a school or university) Language students spend the third academic year abroad. the academic world (=the institutions, people etc involved in education) In the academic world, the theory was received less approvingly. academic freedom (=the freedom to study what you want) There is concern for the academic freedom of both staff and students. purely academic • But asking which of these young overseas players is the better is purely academic. • Such divisions are not, so to speak, purely academic. • In this sense we are not concerned to produce a book by academics for a purely academic audience. noun [countable] a teacher in a college or university
undergraduate
ˌʌndəˈɡrædʒuət◂ $ -ər-/ ●●○ noun [countable] a student at college or university, who is working for their first degree → graduate, postgraduate second-year undergraduates undergraduate student/course/degree etc undergraduate student/course/degree etc • It also makes an ideal text to support an undergraduate degree course in analytical chemistry. • An average undergraduate course costs around £4,000 a year for each student. • They also have me, um, teaching assistants linguistics courses, undergraduate courses. • Similar changes have already begun in the admissions process for undergraduate students entering in 1998. • These activities enrich the course programme by informing undergraduate courses with the latest principles and practices emerging from international boardrooms and marketplaces. • One reason: a sharp drop in the number of undergraduate students choosing economics as a major. • The review deals with undergraduate courses and manages to condense a great deal of material into a concise and readable form.
doctoral candidate
(Ph.D candidate) A candidate is someone who has fulfilled all the requirements for the degree except the dissertation. (You will need to be an effective time manager throughout your program, but after you complete the coursework and become a doctoral candidate, you won't be on a set schedule. )