Learn vocabulary for results with this intermediate short story!
I’m a bright student but I don’t work hard, my teachers often say. I don’t actually care. It’s not as if I will be looking for a job tomorrow.
I like having fun and the funny thing is I get good scores all the time even when I haven’t studied. They are baffled, those pessimistic teachers. They say, you can’t pull off this all the time. Things will get trickier as you advance in your studies.
Easy-peasy, that’s all cheesy. I’m lazy, not crazy. I know what I’m made of. I’m a natural-born genius and I’ll always triumph, whatever comes my way. I ace the lousy tests all the time. Actually, I got 16 out of 20 in my Maths test last week, and I didn’t even freakin’ study! My grade wasn’t the best in the class but I came third. Imagine if I studied like Harry, the bookworm who is always in a hurry. Teachers would have to create a special marking system just for me. I’m not kidding.
Well, if you are a genius, you should get 20 out of 20 all the time, my Maths teacher told me when he saw the triumphant joy on my face. Will (My name is William but everybody calls me Will because I have an iron will, ha, ha, ha …HA, well, you know what I mean), Will, next time I want you to get twenty out of twentee. Alright?”
No ways, did he mean that? That’s a tall order to ask me to do something whose outcome I can’t control! Whoever gets a 20 out of 20 all the time? Nobody and you know why? It’s because the teachers decide what to give to students. If everybody got 20 out of 20, then our teachers wouldn’t have anyone to teach and they would all lose their jobs. They need to point out our imperfections so that they can pretend to correct them.
Sometimes I even think that the teachers pick out numbers randomly. Oh, Harry is a nice boy. Let me give him an 18. He deserves to have excellent results. What about Will? Well, Will is as naughty as hell, even though he is bright (sigh, sigh), well, Will will get a 13 out of 20. He is a natural-born FAILURE and poor results are all that he will ever get.
Useful Vocabulary for Talking About Results
That’s far from the truth, of course. You know, I told you I’m a bright student, a stellar student as a matter of fact. I shine and outshine everyone in our class even when I don’t study as seriously as all those picky teachers would want me to. My results are outstanding. My success has no bounds. The sky is no limit. However, as intelligent as I am, I know when I can win a battle and this looks like I have lost it in advance. My Maths teacher has all the cards in his hands. Unfortunately.
Well, wait a minute. Maybe not. Maybe I can actually show all my teachers that I can get a twenty out of twenteeee in their subjects at least once in my lifetime. Then they will know that I mean serious business.
When I want something I get it. This is not a sink or swim situation for me. It’s actually a swim or sprint situation. I will swim across all rivers, lakes, oceans and seas until I get brilliant results. They don’t call me Will for nothing. I will show them my mettle. My name is Will. I’m a fighter and I WILL win this battle.
Here is my carefully elaborated strategy. Here we go!
Rule Nº 1: I will be like a sponge and my teachers’ words and knowledge will be like honey. Nothing will ever escape my ears again.
Rule Nº 2: I will be like a reporter and the teachers’ explanations will be under close scrutiny. Nothing will ever escape my comprehension again.
Rule Nº 3: I will be like a monk from Nepal and Netflix and his friends will be consumed with extreme moderation. Nothing will ever distract me again from my goal of getting a 20 out of 20.
Rule Nº 4: I will be like Harry the bookworm who is always in a hurry and books will become my new buddies. Nothing will ever ruin our new friendship, even YouTube, the double tees (Twitter and Tik-Tok!!!) and not forgetting Instagram. I’m serious.
Rule Nº 5: I will be consistent like a clock and routines will become my thing. Nothing will disturb my habits and I will stick to them like glue stick.
5 straight points. 5 straight points that will lead me to a sweet landslide victory. My name is Will and I WILL win. Where there is a will there is a way.
What if I lose?
It doesn’t matter. It’s the journey that counts. I will walk the talk, stop the jokes and work around the clock. I will rise to the occasion in leaps and bounds and the excellent grades will follow. I will finally get a twenty out of twentEEEE in ALL subjects. I just can’t wait😃😃😃.
Vocabulary for Results: Let’s Practise!
Instructions: Make sentences using the vocabulary in the chart above. Be creative!
- Last year, my results were great. Therefore, I will work hard this year to get the same outcome.
- This year, I don’t even want to have poor results at school. This is why I will do all my homework.
- At the beginning of a new term, my results are often encouraging. I hope the pattern doesn’t change.
- My school results are abnormal. They do not reflect my efforts at all!
- My friend Sara has excellent results all the time. I am so proud of her!
Further Exploration: (Vocabulary for results)
Download Worksheets:
- Short Story, Twenty Out of Twenty, with Vocabulary for Results, Learn English With Africa, September 2020
- Vocabulary for Results (Adjectives), Learn English With Africa, September 2020
Read:
- Short Story: Dreams Can’t Be Too Big. Learn English With Africa, November 2016
- Short Story: The Astronaut from Bolero, Learn English With Africa, December 2016
- Short Story: The Decision, Learn English With Africa, May 2016
- How to Talk about your Results, Childline.org.uk, 2020
Listen: Short story with vocabulary for results
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About the Author
Thandi Ngwira Gatignol is the founder of Learn English With Africa. She was born on June 11th, 1981 in Blantyre, Malawi. When she was 19, she left her country of birth for France. She currently lives with her two daughters and husband in Poland.
Thandi holds a Bachelor’s degree in English studies obtained at the Université Paris X Nanterre in France and a Certificate in Journalism from Malawi. She has taught English as a French Ministry of Education certified teacher both in France and in Poland. She speaks six languages fluently, including French, Polish and Italian. She is now learning Kiswahili, German and Spanish. Salt No More is her debut novel and you can find her other books here on the website or on Amazon.
Course Title: English Short Story: 20 out of 20, with Useful Vocabulary for Results📝Level A2-B1© Learn English With Africa, September 2020
