English for Beginners: University Life

Dialogue

Alice: Hey, Bob! Long time no see! How’s university life treating you?

Bob: Alice! It’s… an adventure. My roommate just tried to cook pasta in the coffee maker.

Alice: (Laughs) Oh no! Is that a common thing?

Bob: Apparently, when you’re hungry and don’t own a pot. Or a brain, maybe.

Alice: At least you’ll never be bored. What about classes? Are they tough?

Bob: Some are. My history professor talks so slowly, I think even the clock falls asleep.

Alice: Sounds like a challenge to stay awake! My biggest challenge is finding my classes. The campus map is like a secret treasure hunt.

Bob: Tell me about it! I ended up in a chemistry lab instead of a literature lecture last week. They almost gave me a beaker.

Alice: (Giggles) Did you learn anything useful? Like, how to make coffee that *isn’t* made in a coffee maker?

Bob: Not really. But I did learn that I should probably get more sleep. I keep confusing my backpack for a pillow.

Alice: That’s classic! Are you enjoying anything, though? Any fun activities?

Bob: Oh, definitely! The university has a really fun board game club. And the pizza place near campus is amazing.

Alice: Pizza and board games? Sounds like a perfect university survival strategy!

Bob: It is. Much better than coffee-maker pasta.

Alice: I agree! Well, good luck with the treasure hunt and the sleeping clocks!

Bob: You too, Alice! Don’t let the beakers get you!

Current Situation

University life is a big and exciting change for many young people. It’s a time when students often move away from home for the first time, live in dorms, and study subjects they are passionate about. It’s also a place to meet new friends from all over the world, join interesting clubs, and learn to be independent. Sometimes it can be challenging with tough classes, new responsibilities, or learning to live on your own, but it’s also full of new experiences, from late-night study sessions to fun social events and discovering new hobbies.

Key Phrases

• How’s life treating you?: A friendly way to ask someone about their current situation and how they are doing.

  Example: “How’s your new job treating you?”

• Long time no see: An informal greeting used when you haven’t seen someone for a while.

  Example: “Hey, Mark! Long time no see! How have you been?”

• Oh no!: An expression of surprise, concern, or sympathy.

  Example: “Oh no! Did you miss your bus?”

• Tell me about it!: Used to show agreement with someone’s complaint or strong statement, meaning “I know exactly what you mean” or “I agree.”

  Example: “This weather is terrible.” “Tell me about it! I’m soaking wet.”

• Sounds like a challenge: Used to say that something seems difficult or requires a lot of effort.

  Example: “Learning to play the piano in a month sounds like a challenge.”

• Classic!: Used informally to describe something that is typical, predictable, or characteristic of a person or situation, often with a touch of humor.

  Example: “He overslept again? That’s classic!”

• Survival strategy: A plan or method used to overcome difficulties or challenges and succeed.

  Example: “My survival strategy for exams is to drink a lot of water and take short breaks.”

Grammar Points

1. Present Simple Tense

We use the Present Simple to talk about things that are generally true, happen regularly (habits or routines), or are facts.

• Structure: Subject + Base Verb (add -s for he/she/it)
• Examples from dialogue:
  • “My history professor talks so slowly.” (A general truth about the professor)
  • “The university has a really fun board game club.” (A fact about the university)
• More Examples:
  • “I study English every day.”
  • “She lives in a dorm.”
  • “They play football on weekends.”

2. Contractions

Contractions are shortened forms of words, common in spoken and informal written English. They combine two words, often using an apostrophe.

• Examples from dialogue:
  • “It’s an adventure.” (It is)
  • “Don’t own a pot.” (Do not)
• More Common Contractions:
  • I am → I’m
  • He is / He has → He’s
  • You are → You’re
  • We are → We’re
  • They are → They’re
  • Is not → Isn’t
  • Are not → Aren’t
  • Cannot → Can’t

3. Asking Questions (Wh- Questions)

Words like What, How, Where are used at the beginning of a question to ask for specific information, not just a “yes” or “no” answer.

• What: Asks for information about a thing or action.
  • Example from dialogue: “What about classes?”
  • More Example: “What is your favorite food?”
• How: Asks about the manner, condition, or quality of something.
  • Example from dialogue: “How’s university life treating you?” (How is)
  • More Example: “How do you go to school?”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Key Phrases)

Complete the sentences with the best key phrase from the list above.

1. A: How’s your new project _______________? B: It’s good, but very busy.
2. A: This new computer game is so difficult! B: _______________! I tried it yesterday and couldn’t pass the first level.
3. A: Hey, Maria! _______________! It’s been ages!
4. Waking up early for morning classes _______________ a challenge for me.
5. My _______________ for getting through a long workday is drinking lots of green tea.

Exercise 2: Match the Contractions

Match the contraction with its full form.

1. It’s
2. I’m
3. Don’t
4. He’s

a. do not

b. he is / he has

c. it is

d. I am

Exercise 3: Answer the Questions (Present Simple)

Answer these questions about your own life, using complete sentences. (If you are not in university, imagine you are.)

1. What do you usually study?
2. Where do you usually eat lunch?
3. Do you like university life?