Walking into a large university lecture hall can be an intimidating experience. Professors often speak quickly and move between complex topics without much warning. In an academic environment, you do not need to understand every single word to be successful. Instead, you need to listen for specific phrasal verbs.
This guide will help you use 17 phrasal verbs to stay organized and improve your listening skills during your studies.
Quick Comparison Table: Lecture vs. Written English
This table helps you bridge the gap between what you hear in the lecture and what you should write in your papers.
Download The comparison table
The Role of Formality
While an essay is very formal, a lecture is often a mix of formal and semi-formal English. A professor might use a phrasal verb like go over while speaking, but they expect you to use a more formal word like analyze in your written assignments. Understanding this connection is the key to advanced academic English.
Phrasal Verbs for Lectures
1. Kick off
To kick off means to start or begin a session or a specific discussion.
- Example: Most professors kick off the morning by reviewing the main points from the previous class.
2. Dig into
To dig into means to start investigating or discussing a subject in a very deep and serious way.
- Example: Today we are going to dig into the underlying causes of the economic recession.
3. Move on
To move on means to stop talking about one subject and start talking about the next one. This is your signal to start a new heading in your notes.
- Example: Once we have finished with the theory, we will move on to the real-world examples.
4. Go back
To go back means to return to a point or a topic that was mentioned earlier. This helps connect different parts of the lecture.
- Example: Let’s go back to the graph on page ten to see how the data has changed.
Phrasal Verbs for Note-Taking
Taking notes is not about writing everything down. It is about capturing the most important information in a way that you can understand later.
5. Take down
To take down means to write information on paper or type it into a digital document as you are listening.
- Example: It is a good idea to take down any dates or names that the professor mentions more than once.
6. Copy out
To copy out means to write something exactly as it appears on the screen or the whiteboard.
- Example: Please copy out the diagram from the slide because it will not be in your textbook.
7. Jot down
To jot down means to write something very quickly and briefly. These are usually short reminders rather than full sentences.
- Example: If you hear a word you do not know, just jot it down and look it up after class.
8. Leave out
To leave out means to intentionally not include something. Good note-takers know what to ignore.
- Example: You can leave out the small talk at the start of the lecture and focus on the core definitions.
Focusing on Key Academic Details
Professors use certain phrases when they want a specific piece of information to be noticed. These help you identify the nuances of the lecture.
9. Listen for
To listen for means to focus your attention on hearing a specific piece of information while ignoring other sounds.
- Example: During the case study, listen for the three main mistakes the company made.
10. Stand out
To stand out means to be very easy to see or notice because it is different or more important than everything else.
- Example: The professor used a red pen to make the most important formulas stand out on the board.
11. Point to
This means to suggest that something is true or to show evidence for a specific theory.
- Example: All of the current research points to a strong link between sleep and academic performance.
12. Touch on
To touch on means to mention a subject briefly without giving many details. This tells you that the topic is not the main focus today.
- Example: We will touch on the ethical concerns today, but we will have a full debate about them next week.
Reviewing and Clarifying After the Lecture
The learning process continues after the lecture ends. Use these verbs to improve your understanding of the material and prepare for your exams.
13. Keep up
To keep up means to move or progress at the same speed as the professor. If the professor is speaking too fast, it can be difficult to maintain the pace of the lesson.
- Example: Many international students find it difficult to keep up with the lecture if they have not finished the assigned reading first.
14. Fall behind
This is the opposite of keeping up. To fall behind means to fail to stay at the same level as the rest of the class because the work is moving too quickly or you have missed lessons.
- Example: If you do not go over your notes every week, it is very easy to fall behind before the midterm exam begins.
15. Go over
To go over means to examine or look at something again to make sure you understand it completely. This is a vital step for successful studying.
- Example: I usually meet with a small study group every Friday to go over the most difficult parts of the weekly science lecture.
16. Clear up
To clear up means to explain something that was confusing so that it becomes easy to understand. You can do this by asking the professor a question after the lecture.
- Example: The professor stayed behind for ten minutes after the class to clear up some confusion regarding the final project instructions.
17. Read up on
To read up on means to spend time reading a lot about a specific subject to gain more knowledge and become an expert on that topic.
- Example: To prepare for the upcoming seminar, you should read up on the latest articles in the university digital library.
Taking great notes during a lecture is the first step toward understanding a subject. Being able to discuss your notes and knowledge with your peers is also part of the learning process. To prepare for your next group discussion, visit our guide on Seminars & Debates: 16 Phrasal Verbs for Speaking and Debating.
Succeeding in an Academic Environment
Learning to listen in an academic setting is a skill that you can develop with practice. By focusing on these 17 phrasal verbs, you can transform from a passive listener into an active participant. These phrases act as a map, helping you navigate through the lecture and ensure your notes are useful for your future essays.
The next time you are in class, pay attention to how the professor organizes their thoughts. When they say they are going to move on, make sure you have finished your current note. Using these words as your guide will make your university life much more manageable and successful.
This guide is part of Academic English: A Guide to Phrasal Verbs for Academic Success. Visit the main page to explore more phrasal verb themes related to study.
