Fresher Week- Academic Vocabulary Game

Fresher week academic vocabulary bluffing game

You are working on the help desk of a British university, giving answers to questions that foreign students have. Your partner will ask you questions about anything connected to the university, e.g. “How long does it take to get a PhD?” or “Can you explain what a fresher is?”

You must answer their question (e.g. “It takes 3 or 4 years” or “It is a kind of fruit and vegetable juice that is very popular in England”), even if you don’t understand the word they are using. You can’t say that you don’t know, and you cannot use a dictionary.

If your partner believes your response, they will thank you and you can switch roles and continue. If they don’t believe you, they will say so politely (e.g. “Are you sure that’s right?” or “That doesn’t sound quite right”) and you should tell them if you really knew the answer or not.

 

Useful language for the person asking for information

Asking for information

Can I ask you a question?

Could you explain something for me?

May I ask you about something?

I have one or two questions about… Are you the right person to talk to?

 

Accepting information

Thanks, that’s very helpful

Great, that’s much clearer now

That’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure. Thanks for your help.

You’ve been a great help. Thank you so much.

 

Politely questioning the information

Are you sure? I thought it was something else.

Really? That surprises me.

I’m not entirely sure that’s right.

Are you absolutely certain?

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Continue the game, but with questions about the things below. Nobody can use a dictionary!

Fresher	Lecture	Campus	Chancellor
Tuition fees	Term	The (Students’) Union	Student discounts
Student accommodation	Class timetable	Registration form	Students’ Union card
Tutor	Tutorial	Self-study	Students’ night
An undergrad(uate)	Re-take	Graduation ceremony	Lecturer
Professor	Lab assistant	Summer job	A distinction
Scholarship	The pass mark	A year out	Your finals
An MBA	A sandwich course	A degree certificate	Careers fair
A Bachelors degree	(Final) dissertation	Modern languages	Cheating
Alumni association	Humanities	Thesis	Pre-sessional course