U.S. Classroom Vocabulary & Expressions for International TAs
These are words and expressions that are commonly used in U.S. classrooms. Do you know them all?
Verbs & Meanings
“All set?” – Are you ready? Is everybody ready?
be graded down - receive a grade that is lowered by an undetermined amount
drop a course grade – lower a grade, for example, from B to B-
fill in – write information in blank spaces of a document/quiz/exam/text
get back / give back - return work to students
get back to – return to a previous topic; reply to a person after a period of time
go over - review
grade on a curve - assigning grades designed to yield a predetermined distribution of grades
hand in / turn in - submits work (to the instructor)
hand out / pass out – distribute to students
lose points – receive less than full credit for an assignment for specific reasons
make (obj.) up – (academic meaning) receive credit for doing an alternative on a curve - move on – continue on to the next topic
pass back - return work to students; also, to pass documents toward the back of the room
skip – pass over an item without reading, completing the problem, etc.
turn to – go to a specific page in a text
Nouns & Meanings
cheat sheet – an approved or non-approved paper with course content to use for reference during an exam
credit – points or recognition of work done toward a course/exam/assignment grade
“easy A” – a class or assignment for which it is easy to do well
extra credit – points for doing work beyond what is required for a course
full credit – maximum points available for an assignment
make-up test – a test taken to replace one that has been missed for a legitimate reason
make-up policy – rules regarding alternative work done to replace something that was missed
partial credit – getting some of the possible points available for an assignment instead of an “all or nothing” approach (commonly used for problems in which students have to show work done to arrive at an answer)
prerequisite – a course required before another (e.g., Math 05 before Math 18)
review session – a formal or informal class meeting to review exam items before an exam
study guide – a guide provided by an instructor/TA to help students prepare for an exam
take-home exam – an exam that students can complete off campus
used textbook – a previously owned/used textbook, usually cheaper than new
ANSWERS TO CLOZE ON OFFICE HOURS WORKSHOP HANDOUT:
- give back
- be graded down
- skip
- turn to
- review session
