Discussing Problems with the Teacher
Gillian has missed school for 3 weeks because she has been ill. It’s her first day back and she is struggling to understand the topic in her biology class, so she decides to speak to her teacher, Mrs Henry, after class…
Gillian: Mrs. Henry, could I speak with you for 5 minutes, please?
Mrs Henry: Of course, Gillian! Is everything OK? It’s great to see you back at school again.
Gillian: Well, I’m having trouble understanding what the class project is about. I’ve missed so many lessons and I’ve fallen behind.
Mrs Henry: No problem, I’m here to help! For the last 3 weeks, we’ve been learning all about the different types of cells. I can give you all the worksheets that you missed, and I can run through the information again for you.
Gillian: That would be great! Can you please run through the instructions for the class project again too?
Mrs Henry: Of course. OK, I divided the class into 3 groups. Each group is making a poster about a type of specialised cell. Your group is making a poster about plant cells. Each person must contribute and provide some information. You could research plant cells and find out some interesting facts!
Gillian: I already know that plant cells make their own food…
Mrs Henry: Fantastic! You could find out some more information about that. Here are some worksheets on plant cells.
Gillian: There are so many of them! I have a lot to catch up on.
Mrs. Henry: Don’t worry, I’ll explain it all to you now…
PHRASAL VERBS
Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example sentence | Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
To run up against | To experience something difficult and unexpected. | The politicians ran up against strong opposition from the people. | Problem |
To wrestle with | To try very hard to deal with a problem or a difficult situation. | I wrestled with the decision for a few months before deciding to quit. | Problem |
To think through | To carefully consider the possible results of doing something. | I need some time think this through before making a decision. | Problem |
To knuckle down | To start working or studying harder. | He’s going to have to knuckle down if he wants to pass the course. | Problem |
To talk over | To discuss a problem or situation with someone. | We talked over the issues in the meeting before making a decision. | Problem |