Group 1: Schools, Learning, and Ability#

Theme: A dedicated teacher helps young learners discover the true joy of school.

education /ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃn/ noun

1. Education involves teaching people various subjects, usually at a school, college, or university, or the knowledge and skills that you gain from being taught.

primary /ˈpraɪməri/ adjective

1. Primary education is the education of children between the ages of about five and eleven.

secondary /ˈsekəndri/ adjective

1. Secondary education is the education of children between the ages of eleven and sixteen or eighteen, after they have left primary school.

college /ˈkɒlɪdʒ/ noun

1. A college is an institution where students study after they have left school, often to get specialized training or a degree.

university /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəti/ noun

1. A university is an institution where students study for degrees and where academic research is done.

novice /ˈnɒvɪs/ noun

1. A novice is someone who has little or no experience in a particular activity or job.

idiot /ˈɪdiət/ noun

1. If you call someone an idiot, you think that they are very stupid or have done something very foolish.

problem /ˈprɒbləm/ noun

1. A problem is a situation that is unsatisfactory and causes difficulties for people.
2. In mathematics or science, a problem is an exercise or question that must be solved using logic or calculations.

learn /lɜːn/ verb

1. If you learn something, you gain knowledge or a skill through study, experience, or being taught.
2. If you learn something, you find out about it or become aware of it.

study /ˈstʌdi/ verb noun

1. If you study, you spend time learning about a particular subject by reading, attending classes, or doing research.
2. A study is a piece of research conducted to find out more about a particular subject or problem.

acquire /əˈkwaɪə/ verb

1. If you acquire something such as a skill or knowledge, you learn or develop it over time.
2. If you acquire something, you buy it or obtain it for yourself.

knowledge /ˈnɒlɪdʒ/ noun

1. Knowledge is information, understanding, and skills that you gain through education or experience.

institute /ˈɪnstɪtjuːt/ noun

1. An institute is an organization or building set up for a particular purpose, especially for scientific or academic research.

academy /əˈkædəmi/ noun

1. An academy is a school or college that provides specialized training in a particular subject, or an official organization that promotes art, science, or literature.

recruit /rɪˈkruːt/ verb

1. If you recruit people for an organization, you select them and persuade them to join it.

issue /ˈɪʃuː/ noun verb

1. An issue is an important subject that people are discussing or arguing about.
2. If you issue a statement, document, or warning, you make it known officially or provide it to people.

affair /əˈfeə/ noun

1. An affair is an event, happening, or set of circumstances, especially one that involves public interest, politics, or scandal.

illiteracy /ɪˈlɪtərəsi/ noun

1. Illiteracy is the state of not being able to read or write.

literate /ˈlɪtərət/ adjective

1. Someone who is literate is able to read and write.

numerate /ˈnjuːmərət/ adjective

1. Someone who is numerate is able to do basic mathematics and work comfortably with numbers.

controversial /ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃl/ adjective

1. If you describe something or someone as controversial, you mean that they are the subject of intense public discussion, disagreement, or disapproval.

cram /kræm/ verb

1. If you cram things into a place, you put or push them in, even though there is hardly enough room.
2. If you are cramming for an examination, you are studying very hard in order to learn a lot of information in a short time.

emphasise /ˈemfəsaɪz/ verb

1. To emphasise a fact or idea means to indicate that it is particularly important or true.

obscure /əbˈskjʊə/ adjective

1. If something is obscure, it is difficult to understand or deal with, usually because it is not clearly explained or expressed.

puzzle /ˈpʌzl/ noun verb

1. A puzzle is a question, problem, or situation that is difficult to understand or solve.
2. If something puzzles you, you do not understand it and feel confused.

riddle /ˈrɪdl/ noun

1. A riddle is a puzzle or joke in the form of a question with a clever or amusing answer, or a mysterious situation that is hard to explain.

spoil /spɔɪl/ verb

1. If you spoil children, you give them everything they ask for or let them do whatever they want, with the result that they behave badly.
2. If something spoils an occasion or plan, it ruins it or makes it less enjoyable or successful.

indulge /ɪnˈdʌldʒ/ verb

1. If you indulge yourself or someone else, you allow them to have or do something that they enjoy, or you allow them to have whatever they want.

abuse /əˈbjuːz/ verb

1. If you abuse something such as power or a privilege, you use it in a wrong, dishonest, or harmful way.
2. If someone abuses a person or animal, they treat them cruelly or violently.

motive /ˈməʊtɪv/ noun

1. Your motive for doing something is the reason why you do it.

instil /ɪnˈstɪl/ verb

1. If you instil an idea or feeling into someone, you gradually make them feel, think, or behave in that way.

stimulate /ˈstɪmjuleɪt/ verb

1. To stimulate something means to encourage it to begin, develop, or become more active.

motivate /ˈməʊtɪveɪt/ verb

1. If you motivate someone, you make them feel determined and enthusiastic about doing something.

impetus /ˈɪmpɪtəs/ noun

1. Something that gives a process impetus encourages it to develop more quickly or provides the force that keeps it moving.

spur /spɜː/ verb noun

1. If something spurs you to do something, it encourages you and makes you want to do it.
2. A spur is something that encourages someone to do things or try harder, or a sharp metal device worn on a rider’s boot to urge a horse forward.

enable /ɪˈneɪbl/ verb

1. If someone or something enables you to do something, they give you the opportunity, ability, or means to do it.

clever /ˈklevə/ adjective

1. Someone who is clever is quick to learn and understand things, or is skilful at using their intelligence to get what they want.

smart /smɑːt/ adjective

1. A smart person is intelligent and can think quickly.
2. Smart devices or machines are controlled by computers, so that they can work independently or perform tasks automatically.

aptitude /ˈæptɪtjuːd/ noun

1. Someone’s aptitude for a particular skill is their natural ability that makes it easy for them to learn it or do it well.

wit /wɪt/ noun

1. Wit is the ability to use words or ideas in an amusing, clever, and quick way.
2. A wit is someone who is able to say clever and amusing things.

intelligent /ɪnˈtelɪdʒənt/ adjective

1. A person or animal that is intelligent has a high ability to learn, understand, and think about things quickly and clearly.

capable /ˈkeɪpəbl/ adjective

1. Someone who is capable is able to do things effectively and skilfully, without help.

all-round /ˌɔːlˈraʊnd/ adjective

1. You use all-round to describe someone who has many different skills or abilities.
2. An all-round situation, activity, or result involves or relates to all parts of something.

enhance /ɪnˈhɑːns/ verb

1. To enhance something means to improve its value, quality, or attractiveness.

expertise /ˌekspɜːˈtiːz/ noun

1. Expertise is special knowledge or skill in a particular subject, activity, or job.

genius /ˈdʒiːniəs/ noun

1. A genius is a person who has great and rare natural ability or intelligence.
2. Genius is very great intelligence or artistic ability, which shows itself in someone’s work.

elite /eɪˈliːt/ noun

1. You refer to the most powerful, rich, or talented people within a particular group or society as the elite.

wisdom /ˈwɪzdəm/ noun

1. Wisdom is the ability to use your knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments.
2. Wisdom is a large amount of knowledge or understanding that has been accumulated over a long time.

inspire /ɪnˈspaɪə/ verb

1. If someone or something inspires you, they give you the enthusiasm, courage, or creative ideas to do something.

excellent /ˈeksələnt/ adjective

1. Something that is excellent is extremely good or of very high quality.

outstanding /aʊtˈstændɪŋ/ adjective

1. If you describe someone or something as outstanding, you mean that they are exceptionally good or much better than others.

brilliant /ˈbrɪliənt/ adjective

1. A brilliant person is extremely intelligent or skilled, or has achieved something remarkable.
2. Brilliant light or colour is very bright, intense, and striking.