Listening

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Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. chronically
    • ex. She has a chronically sore back, which means it hurts all the time.
  2. absenteeism
    • ex. David missed many important lessons at school because of his absenteeism.
  3. overwhelming
    • ex. The amount of homework he had to do was overwhelming. He didn't think he could do all of it.
  4. catch up
    • ex. I missed a lot of classes, so I need to study hard to catch up with my studies.
  5. attendance
    • ex. My teacher checks our attendance every morning to see who is present in class.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Many students in the U.S. are still missing a lot of classes. Data shows that around 12 million children in the 2022-2023 school year were chronically absent. This means each student missed at least 10% of the school year. In California, absenteeism increased from 29% before the pandemic to 53% in 2023.

Because of the pandemic, school feels overwhelming or boring for many kids. Students and parents often think it is okay to stay home, making it harder for students to catch up. Emotional and mental health and financial problems also cause absenteeism. Chronically absent students might find it hard to learn basic academic skills, which increases their chances of quitting school. They also miss important benefits, like free meals, counseling, and social interactions.

Some schools try creative solutions to this issue. In California, a program paid students $50 (about ¥7300) weekly for perfect attendance. Students also talk to an adult daily and have a weekly mental health assessment. This helped reduce absenteeism. In addition, kids who feel connected to their teachers are more likely to go to school. So, creating a supportive environment can be a big help to students.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Absenteeism

  • Because of the pandemic, students and parents often think it is okay to stay home. In your opinion, when is it okay for a student to not attend school? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what could be the effects of absenteeism on students? Discuss.
  • Do you think absenteeism can affect a student’s future? Why or why not? Discuss.

Supportive Environment

  • Creating a supportive environment can be a big help to students. What makes a school environment supportive for students (ex. counseling, kind teachers)? Discuss.
  • School feels overwhelming or boring for many kids. How do you think schools and parents can help students solve this issue (ex. teachers should connect more with their students, parents should help their kids with their tasks)? Discuss.
  • In California, a program paid students $50 (about ¥7300) weekly for perfect attendance. Do you think this is an effective solution? Why or why not? Discuss.