ESL Podcast 717 - Starting a New School Year
supplies - things that are needed for a particular purpose, especially for use in an office or school
Victor is ordering some pens, binders, nametags, and other office supplies.
backpack - a cloth or leather bag worn on one's back while hanging from two straps, one over each shoulder, usually with many zippered pockets
Whenever you go on a hike, be sure your backpack contains water, food, a flashlight, warm clothes, and a whistle.
to pack (someone) a lunch - to put food in a small bag for another person so that he or she can eat lunch away from home without needing to buy food in a restaurant
Sean tries to reduce the family's expenses by packing his wife a lunch each morning before she goes to work.
loner - a quiet person who spends a lot of time alone and does not have friends
As a child, Ilesa was always a loner, preferring to spend her time reading books rather than being around other children her age.
popular - very well liked by many people
Movies often show that the head cheerleader and the quarterback on the football team are the most popular kids in high school. Is that really true?
to feel left out - to feel that one does not belong in a group, although one would like to; to perceive that one is not truly accepted by another group of people and is not welcome to do what they do
Desiree felt left out at the party. Everyone else was talking, laugh, and having a great time while she just sat on the couch and sipped her drink.
to kick off - to start something, especially with a lot of enthusiasm
The festival kicks off with a big show with a lot of local celebrities.
school year - the academic year, usually from early September to early June.
Trent wakes up early every day during the school year, but during summer vacation, he prefers to sleep in until noon.
strict - following the rules and insisting that other people follow the rules; inflexible
Alexey's parents are very strict and they never let him stay out past 10:00 p.m.
to weigh a ton - to be very heavy
These boxes weigh a ton! Can you please help me move them?
locker - one of many tall metal cupboards that stand next to each other and are attached to the wall at many high schools, with individual doors that can be locked, used to store books, jackets, bags, and other items
In our high school, the school principal randomly checks students' lockers for drugs and alcohol.
seating plan - a map showing which seats are for which people; a drawing that assigns individuals to specific seats
Are you going to create a seating plan for your wedding reception, or will you let people sit wherever they want to?
classroom - a room where a teacher presents information and students learn
In elementary school, we were in just one classroom all day. Now that we're older, we move to different classrooms for different subjects.
homework - school assignments; tasks that students must complete in the evening outside of their regular class time
I have so much homework! I have to write two essays, solve 20 math problems, summarize six chapters, and read this short story by the end of the week.
to fuss - to worry about many things that do not seem important to other people; to treat something as being more important than it actually is
Melanie spent hours fussing in front of the mirror while getting ready for her date.