Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Lesson 323. All right. The title of today's
lesson is common English errors using the words either you know, grade or year
in regard to school. All right. So let's, let's start to go over it. So we understand this
clearer. Students of English as a Second Language you know ESL, will often say
that he or she is in the first grade of high school or the second grade of high
school or the second grade of college. Yes. Something, something like that. That's
always wrong. We don't say that. This is wrong. In the US , we usually use the
words freshman, sophomore, junior and senior for both high school or what some
people might think of as senior high school. If they have a difference with
you know a junior high school and senior high school. We're always talking about
senior high school here. From ninth grade to twelfth grade. At senior high school,
at college or university level. Yeah. So college or university you also use again
the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. So don't say I am in my third grade of
University. No. You'd never say that. All right. So all right. Let's let's take a
look here. So here... junior high school... we usually use the words
grade for elementary school or junior high school. Sometimes this gets a little
confusing in the US because sometimes these years of called junior high school.
Sometimes they're called middle school. Sometimes there's a difference between
you know , private schools and public schools, the way they may call some of
these middle years. Sometimes the elementary or primary years is only from
1st grade to 4th grade and then the junior high school or middle school
could be from 5th grade to 8th grade or sometimes it's just 6th grade to 8th
grade, eighth grade. And this can vary around the country So that part actually
gets a little confusing. But the best way to handle that is just say what grade
you're in ? So you say usually from the first grade to the eighth grade, before
senior high school we usually grade. Like he's in the sixth grade. He's
in the seventh grade. He's in the eighth grade.
We don't usually say he's in his second year of junior high school or something
like that. All right. So let's continue. Let's, let's
give the examples. So that we see like what would we wrong, what would be right.
You know, what the common mistakes might be. So again with the X's this is wrong.
And with the checks those will be correct. So with the X here. You are in
college ? What grade are you in ? Yeah. So that would be weird to say it that way
with college. So it would be it would be correct to say you're in college ? What
year are you in ? Then of course the person could
answer you know, they're a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior whatever. Okay.
again with the X this is wrong I am in the second grade at high school.
No definitely wrong. We don't do that. You should say ... the correct way that you
could answer is I am a sophomore in high school. That's one way or you could also
say I am in my second year of high school. That would be okay too. That
wouldn't be wrong. But you can't say I am in the second grade at high school. No.
Second grade sounds like second grade like, like usually what like a 7 year old goes to.
You know, it just he went to the first grade then he went to the second grade.
All right. Let's continue here. All right. Again with the X. This is wrong. She is in
the fourth grade of college and we would never say that.
Here are several ways you could say it correctly. She is a senior in college. It is
probably the most common way. She is in her last year at college. You could say
that. Everybody knows the last there was the senior year. So that could cover you.
Okay she is in her senior year of college. You could say that as well. Okay.
Good. All right. Let's look again the X. This is wrong. Her son is in the third
year of school. Yeah. It sounds a little weird. It sounds a little awkward in this
case. We would say her son is in the third grade. So if it's like the little
boy. Usually what's first grade is usually around six. Second grade is usually around t 7.
Third grade is usually around eight. So somewhere in there. It could vary
slightly from state to state. But that's, that's the usual way. All right. Let's ..
again with the X, this is wrong. I am in the second grade of junior high school.
No. You would say I am, I am, in the sixth grade. Well usually if it was the 1st
grade to 4th grade was like primary school and then they had a junior high
school from fifth grade to eighth grade that's , that's what they would mean. So
they probably mean the sixth grade. So you wouldn't say I'm in my second year of
junior high school you would simply say I am in the sixth grade. So again like I
said, grades one through eight, you'll probably just say grade. And then you'll
probably use those terms you know, for the the other terms of freshman,
sophomore, etc for both senior high school and college. All right Let's look at
the last ones we have down here. The last one here, with the X. I am in the ninth grade.
Yeah that sounds weird. Because the ninth grade means you've finished the
elementary school or your junior high school that's usually the first year of
college. So nobody says I'm in the ninth grade. Again now well that's the first
year of high school. So they would say I am a freshman in high school. They
wouldn't say I'm in the ninth grade or in the tenth grade. Again that sounds
weird. They would say I am a sophomore in high school.
All right. And, and again/This would be the correct way. You would say it. I am a
freshman in high school. Yes. Okay I hope you got it. There could
also be some other issues too. Like I know I'm ... in
different countries they may have a different system. I know in Asia at some
some schools they may only have three years of junior high school and only
three years of senior high school. In that case it's a little weird to say
junior, sophomore you know, a freshman sophomore , junior, senior. Because you only
got three. So in that case you would probably go with year . I am in my first
year of high school I'm in my second year of high school I guess for the
third one you could either say I'm in my third year or I am in the last year.
Okay. Well I hope that makes it clearer for for everyone. Anyway, I hope you got
it. I hope it was clear. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.