Discussing Extracurricular Activities and Support Programs
Parents are considering and selecting extracurricular activities, tutoring, or special support programs that align with their child's interests and educational goals, balancing academic rigorousness with well-being.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
extracurricular activities
Activities that happen outside of regular school hours, like clubs or sports, to help children develop new skills and interests.
academic rigor
The strict and challenging standards of schoolwork that push students to learn deeply but can sometimes cause stress.
tutor
A teacher who gives private lessons to help a student improve in a specific subject, like math.
strike a balance
To find a good middle point between two things, like work and play, so neither is too much.
reassess
To look at a situation again and decide if changes are needed, often after trying something for a while.
overwhelmed
Feeling too much pressure or too many tasks, making it hard to cope, especially for children with busy schedules.
well-being
A person's overall health, happiness, and comfort, which is important in planning for children's education.
paramount
Of the highest importance; used to emphasize that something must come first, like a child's health.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
I've been looking into some extracurricular activities for Leo.
This sentence uses the present perfect continuous 'I've been looking into' to show ongoing research. It's useful for discussing plans, like when parents talk about options for their child's activities; say it when sharing ideas you've been exploring.
What about something to balance out the academic rigor from school?
Here, 'balance out' means to make things equal or less extreme. This is a practical question for suggesting alternatives in conversations about education; use it when proposing ways to reduce stress from studies.
We need to strike a balance.
This is an idiomatic expression meaning to find harmony between competing needs, like academics and fun. It's common in parenting discussions; use it to express the need for moderation in plans.
How about we try the chess club and the swim team for a term, and then reassess?
This suggests a trial period with 'try...for a term' and future action with 'reassess.' It's useful for making tentative plans; say it when deciding on activities with the option to review later.
It gives him a chance to explore his interests and stay active without feeling overwhelmed.
This sentence explains benefits using 'gives...a chance to' for opportunities. It's great for justifying plans; use it to highlight positive outcomes while avoiding negatives like feeling overwhelmed.
His input is crucial.
'Input' means opinions or ideas, and 'crucial' means very important. This emphasizes involvement; use it in family decisions to show why someone's thoughts matter.
His well-being is paramount.
This uses 'paramount' to stress top priority. It's a formal way to conclude discussions; say it when prioritizing health over other factors in child-related planning.