Student Life and Extracurricular Activities – B2 English Listening Exercise

9 timetable 10 seminar 11 equipment 12 guest speaker

13 badminton 14 bookshop 15 psychology

16 costume 17 meditation 18 confidence

Liam: Hi everyone, my name’s Liam, and I’m currently in my second year at university. I’ve been asked to come and talk to you about student life, and specifically, how to survive the rather frenetic pace of it all. It’s a delicate balancing act, juggling rigorous academic commitments with a vibrant social scene, and it certainly takes some getting used to!

When I first moved to campus, I thought I was prepared for everything. I expected the reading lists to be endless and the workload to be heavy, but honestly, it was my timetable that underwent the most dramatic shift. Suddenly, I had lectures spread out randomly, with huge gaps in between, rather than the highly structured days I was used to at school.

Academically, the pressure is definitely on. You’d think that writing essays takes up most of your free time. Those do take a while, certainly, but I’ve found that getting ready for a weekly seminar is what actually consumes the bulk of my evenings. You have to read so much material just to be able to participate in the class discussions!

But university isn’t just about studying. Extracurricular activities are a massive part of the experience. I joined the student radio station in my first term. I initially went along hoping to be a presenter, but I was asked to help out behind the scenes and ended up in charge of the equipment, which is actually fascinating. I make sure all the microphones and mixing desks are working properly before the live shows.

Of course, trying to do everything means you inevitably drop the ball occasionally. Time management is a constant struggle. I had to skip a campus music festival recently to finish an assignment, which was a shame, but missing a renowned guest speaker last month because of a radio shift was truly gutting. I’d been looking forward to hearing him talk for weeks!

To counteract the stress, I try to stay active. There are dozens of sports societies to choose from. I seriously considered trying out for rowing, because it’s so popular here, but the freezing early mornings put me off, so I opted for badminton instead. It’s great fun, it gets me moving, and the socials after the matches are brilliant.

Living away from home also means managing your own finances. Like many students, I needed to find a way to earn a bit of extra cash. I applied for late-night shifts at the student union bar, but I eventually secured a part-time role in a bookshop, which is much quieter and frankly, much better suited to my personality. Plus, I get a staff discount!

When it comes to studying, I can’t emphasize enough how valuable peer support is. I’ve formed a study group with a few people from my course. We share notes on various subjects. The history reading is straightforward enough to do alone, but the concepts in our psychology module can be incredibly tricky, so discussing them as a group is an absolute lifesaver. It really clarifies my understanding.

And then, of course, there’s the social scene. It’s vibrant, to say the least! We have society dinners, club nights, and endless gatherings. This coming weekend, for example, isn’t about studying at all. Instead of just hiring something from a shop, I’m spending Friday night putting together a costume for a massive themed party my flatmates are throwing.

With such a packed schedule, it’s crucial to look after your mental health and find ways to relax. To unwind, I used to rely entirely on running to clear my head. However, recently I downloaded an app for meditation, and it’s done wonders for my focus and stress levels. Just ten minutes a day makes a huge difference.

Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Balancing the academics, the radio station, sports, and my friends is exhausting at times. People often assume that this lifestyle mainly improves your organizational skills. It definitely does that, but for me, the biggest takeaway is the immense boost to my confidence. Knowing I can handle all these competing demands has really shown me what I’m capable of. Thanks for listening!

9 sports clubs 10 recreational facilities 11 swimming pool 12 scuba diving

13 radio station 14 botanical garden 15 time management

16 charity run 17 freshers’ fair 18 CV

Liam: Hi everyone, my name is Liam, and I’m a second-year university student. Today, I want to share my experiences of student life, particularly focusing on extracurricular activities and how to make the most of your time on campus. Before arriving at university, I assumed my entire existence would revolve around the library and lecture halls. I briefly looked into joining some academic societies related to my course, but it was actually the massive range of sports clubs that ended up transforming my first year. There really is something for absolutely everyone.

One of the best things about my university, and something I highly recommend you look out for, is that students take full advantage of complimentary on-campus recreational facilities. You simply show your student card at the reception desk, and you don’t have to pay a single penny to enter. We have a fantastic indoor running track and a huge weights room which get quite busy, but notably, it’s the Olympic-sized swimming pool that draws the biggest crowds. It’s always packed in the mornings with people getting some laps in before their nine a.m. classes!

I decided to make the most of this amazing water complex myself. I initially went to a trial session for water polo, thinking it would be a bit of fun, but it was incredibly tough and physically demanding. So instead, I decided to take up scuba diving. It’s thrilling, the instructors are fantastic, and we even go on weekend trips to the coast to practice in the open sea.

But student life isn’t just about physical exercise; there are plenty of creative outlets too. While many of my friends love to write and spend their time producing articles for the student newspaper, I prefer speaking and interacting with an audience. Because of that, I spend two evenings a week volunteering at the campus radio station. It’s given me a lot of confidence in public speaking and interviewing people.

Of course, when you’re busy with lectures, assignments, and different clubs, finding a place to simply relax is vital. Most students head straight to the crowded cafes in the student union to unwind after class. However, I usually wander over to the botanical garden whenever I need some peace and quiet away from the crowds. It’s incredibly peaceful just sitting among the rare plants with a good book.

You might wonder how I manage to fit all this in alongside my degree. At first, I was worried that doing too much would lead to total exhaustion and my grades would suffer. Surprisingly, juggling assignments and club meetings has drastically improved my time management. You quickly learn how to prioritize your tasks effectively and stop procrastinating.

Being part of these groups also means getting involved in the local community, which brings everyone together. For instance, rather than doing a traditional bake sale on campus, last semester the university clubs teamed up and hosted a massive charity run. We managed to raise a significant amount of money for a local children’s hospital, and it was a brilliant day out.

For anyone starting university soon, you might be wondering how to get involved. You could spend hours browsing the student union website to read about what’s available, but honestly, attending the freshers’ fair during your first week is the ultimate way to discover what’s out there. You can meet committee members face-to-face, ask questions, and sign up on the spot.

Ultimately, taking part in all these extracurriculars is about making friends and having a memorable university experience. But beyond that, employers really love to see this kind of involvement. While a good degree transcript is obviously important, having these unique experiences on your CV is what will really make you stand out during a job interview. Thanks for listening!