ESL Podcast 374 - A Graduation Ceremony
Pomp and Circumstance - a song played at graduation ceremonies; the graduation song
"Pomp and Circumstance" played while the graduates entered the gym and took their seats.
graduates - students who are receiving a degree; students who have finished their studies and who have earned a degree
The graduates threw their caps up in the air when the graduation ceremony was over.
to file in - to enter a place in a single row; to enter a place with one person walking behind the other, looking in the same direction
The students filed into the lunchroom one by one.
cap and gown - typical clothing worn at graduation ceremonies that consists of a hat with a flat top and a thin coat with wide sleeves; the attire all students in a graduating class must wear
Since the school's colors were orange and black, the graduating seniors had to wear black gowns and orange caps at the graduation.
dean - the head of a school; the director of a certain division of studies at a college or university
The Dean of Fine arts is in charge of the art, theatre, and music departments.
commencement speaker - the important guest who gives the speech at a graduation ceremony; a well-known person who delivers a speech to students during the graduation ceremony
The former mayor of New York City was the commencement speaker at this year's graduation.
valedictorian - the student with the highest grade point average in his or her class who gives a speech at the graduation ceremony; the highest ranking academic student in a graduating class
Because I received "A's" in all my classes in high school, I was the valedictorian.
cum laude - graduating with honors; a special award given to students who graduate with grades above the average
Jamie is graduating cum laude because of his excellent academic record.
honors - reward for what students achieved during their time as a student; special recognition for a student who received excellent grades
Because he spent so much time studying in college, he is graduating with honors.
dignified - honorable; respectful; having a feeling or image of respect and seriousness
We all have to behave in a dignified manner when your mother's boss comes over to our house for dinner.
shenanigans - secret or dishonest actions; a trick; a prank; a playful act
You kids better stop your shenanigans in the swimming pool before somebody gets hurt.
rowdy - wild; out of control; loud and noisy
The crowd got rowdy when the two hockey players began to fight.
offensive - insulting; angering; annoying
As a lawyer, do you find this cartoon about a dishonest lawyer offensive?
diploma - a certificate which shows that a student has completed a level of schooling; a document a student receives when he or she has finished high school or college
She hung her medical school diploma on her office wall so that her patients could see it.
beach ball - a ball of many colors filled with air which floats on water; a ball filled with air used by children for games at a beach or a swimming pool
The kids threw the beach ball into the water and then swam to it as it floated away.
tassel - a bundle of loose threads that hangs down from a graduation cap; an ornament made of strings that is connected to the top of a graduation cap
The tassel was half red and half white to match the school's colors.
shame on them - a phrase used to show one's displeasure at the actions of others who have done something one does not like
Shame on them for throwing eggs at their teacher's house. They know better than that.