Student Life and Extracurricular Activities – B2 English Listening Exercise

9 research paper 10 data analysis 11 study group 12 informal atmosphere

13 postgraduate student 14 mind map 15 confidence

16 presentation 17 top grade 18 mentor

Liam: Hi everyone, my name is Liam, and I’m here to talk about my experiences as a university student, specifically how getting involved in extracurricular activities and peer support groups literally saved my academic life!

I’m currently in my second year studying Sociology, and last semester, we were handed a massive assignment. I initially thought it would be a simple essay, as that’s what we usually get, but it actually turned out to be a full-length research paper. It was incredibly daunting.

At first, things were going relatively well. I was doing fine with gathering the interviews, and even the background reading was pretty straightforward. However, when it came to the data analysis, I hit a massive brick wall. I just couldn’t make sense of the numbers I had collected. I stared at my computer screen for hours, feeling completely overwhelmed and entirely stuck.

I knew I needed to ask for help. I briefly considered hiring a private tutor, but honestly, they were far too expensive on a student budget. Instead, I decided to attend a student-led study group that met in the university library every Wednesday evening. It was an extracurricular initiative set up by the student union.

Walking into that room for the first time, I felt incredibly nervous. I expected it to be highly competitive and stressful, much like our large lecture halls can sometimes be. Actually, the informal atmosphere was exactly what I needed to feel comfortable. Everyone was chatting, drinking coffee, and just being really supportive. It made asking what I thought were silly questions so much easier.

The person who really turned things around for me wasn’t one of my professors, or even my usual classmates. It was actually a postgraduate student called Sarah who volunteered to run the sessions. She noticed I was struggling and sat down to review my notes with me.

I told Sarah my brain was just full of tangled ideas and I couldn’t see the bigger picture. I thought she’d suggest writing a traditional list to organise my thoughts, but she showed me how to draw a mind map, which completely transformed how I viewed the project. Suddenly, all the connections between my different pieces of research became crystal clear.

Before that point, I had been dealing with a lot of anxiety about failing the module. I really thought I wasn’t cut out for university. But working through the problem with peers restored my confidence and made me realise I wasn’t alone in my struggles. Many other students were finding it just as tough.

To finish the module, we didn’t just have to submit the written work. While a written exam was what we all originally expected, we were actually required to deliver a presentation to the rest of the faculty. This was terrifying, but the group helped me prepare.

I practised my speech with my new friends several times, getting constructive feedback. I was just hoping for a passing mark, to be honest, so I could move on to the next semester. But to my absolute shock, I ended up receiving a top grade for my efforts! I couldn’t have done it without the support of my peers.

Because the peer support system helped me so much, I’ve decided to give something back. Next semester, I’m not going to just be a participant; I’ve signed up to be a mentor for the new first-year students. I want to help them navigate their own academic hurdles.

9 timetable 10 Science Block 11 journalists 12 app

13 sailing 14 photography 15 primary schools

16 computer lab 17 basement cafe 18 ID card

Mark: Hello everyone and welcome to your first orientation session. My name is Mark, and I’m a third-year student here to guide you through your first few weeks. Today, I want to talk about how your academic life will look, particularly regarding seminars, and also touch upon some of the fantastic extracurricular activities available to you.

First off, figuring out where you need to be and when can be a bit overwhelming. You’ll have seen a generic schedule in the printed brochure we handed out, and there’s also a calendar on the college website. However, the most accurate place to find your personal timetable is on the student portal, which updates in real-time. Make sure you check that daily.

When it comes to your seminars, most of your large introductory sessions won’t be held in the Main Hall as you might expect. And while the Humanities building is undergoing renovations this term, you’ll actually find yourselves heading over to the Science Block for the majority of these core classes. It’s got the largest lecture theatres, so it makes sense.

A really exciting part of our college calendar is the visiting lecturer series. Last year we had some brilliant local politicians and a few well-known authors. But this semester, the faculty has focused on the media, so we have a fantastic lineup of journalists coming to speak to us about their career journeys. I highly recommend attending these.

Because these guest lectures are incredibly popular, you need to reserve your seat in advance. Don’t bother going to the student union office to queue up, and strangely enough, the college website’s booking system is currently down. Instead, the easiest method is to use the new college app you can download to your phone. Just log in and reserve your spot with one tap.

Now, university isn’t just about studying; it’s also about getting involved in extracurricular activities. If you’re into sports, you’ll be spoiled for choice. We have a great rugby team and basketball is huge here. But our college is actually most famous for sailing, thanks to our proximity to the lake. We even won the national championships last year!

For those who prefer creative pursuits, there are plenty of societies to join. The drama society is always looking for new actors, and the debate club meets every Thursday. Personally, I’d suggest checking out the photography club. They have access to a darkroom and run some amazing weekend trips.

We also heavily encourage students to give back to the community. We used to run a program with local hospitals, but due to recent administrative changes, that’s on pause. Instead, our biggest volunteering initiative involves going into primary schools to help younger children with their reading skills. It’s incredibly rewarding work.

Let’s talk briefly about campus facilities. When you need a quiet place to study, the library is the obvious choice. But during exam season, it gets completely packed. A lesser-known alternative is the computer lab on the second floor of the IT center. It’s open 24/7 and usually has plenty of space.

And when you need a break, you’ll want to grab a bite to eat. The main dining hall is fine for large meals, and there are local restaurants in town if you want to splash out. But for a cheap coffee and the best sandwiches on campus, you really must visit the basement cafe located right under the arts building. It’s a student favorite.

So, what happens next? Shortly, we’ll take a campus tour so you can find your way around. But before we do that, you need to head over to the administration desk. You’ve all got your welcome packs and maps, but you can’t access any buildings without your ID card, so please make sure you go and collect that right away.