Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Lesson 513. The title of today's lesson is the difference
between pupil and student. Okay . If somebody wants a screenshot do it right now. Let's get
right to it. A pupil is a child or young student often in elementary school. All right. Now I think
some of the biggest problems here is there's a variance between American English and British
English and this is why especially students of English as the second language. If they ask
a student... if they ask an American teacher or they ask a British teacher, they may get slightly
different answers. So let's, let's continue here. In British English the word pupil could be used
up to secondary school. That's like in high school in the US.
In the US, it is more likely used for elementary school
students or even preschool students such as kindergarten or nursery school. Sometimes it could
also be used for students of a private tutor. Okay. However, the younger the student is the
more likely the term pupil will be used. This is true especially in American English. Okay. A pupil
can also be used for someone who is being taught or influenced by a well-known or respected person.
You know, like in a particular field. The word student in American English is a much more
general term and could be used for anyone enrolled in a school or education system. So therefore in
American English all pupils are students. Not all students are pupils, but the word student is so
general it could cover all of them including pupils including very very young students.
In British English, student is more commonly used for a university or college student.
Someone ... all right. We have a second meaning here also someone who takes an interest in a
particular subject could be used in that way too. The word pupil is believed to derive
from "pupillus" and I think believe that's in Latin which means a minor or orphan
with a variation of "pupulus" meaning little boy, or 'pupus"
meaning child. Okay. Good. The word student comes from "stadium" which meant study. Okay. Good. All
right. And let me give you some examples here. All of her pupils in the second grade did very
well on their standardized tests. So this would be fine in American English and of course it's
definitely okay in British English. Because the children are still young. We use pupil for like
first grade, second grade, third grade... something like that in American English or even younger.
Plato was the pupil of Socrates. All right. Now this was the second meaning here. That somebody
who you know, somebody who's taught or influenced under a well-known or respected person. So in this
sense, Plato and Socrates both became famous. And Plato learned under, he was a pupil of Socrates. All right.
Number three here. Leendert Van (Beijeren) was a pupil of Rembrandt. So he was a painter
studying under Rembrandt. In the same sense All right. Number four here. Nowadays,
many students who graduate from university have trouble finding jobs. All right. So again,
both in British English and American English this is fine. These are university students. So
we would use students for both of them. She is a student at Harvard. Again Harvard is a university.
So this would be fine both in American and British English. Bob is a student of Chinese culture. Well
this was the last one saying someone who takes an interest in a particular subject. So you could
use it that way too for student. So again just remember the slight difference between American
English and British English. An American English student very general. We use it for everybody and
only people for very very young. The younger the more likely. The British use pupil for
most students right up to college and then at college they tend to use student. Okay. Anyway,
I hope you got it. I hope it's clear. I hope you have a better understanding now of how you
would use this word in either American English or British English. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.