school

The word "school" is an important part of your basic English vocabulary.

• Children belong in school.
• The schools in this city are very good.
• I used to teach at a private school.
• Where did you go to school?

In the United States, colleges and universities are often referred to as schools.

• The University of Minnesota is a good school.
• Which school does Bob want to attend?
• When the economy tanked, many college students chose to remain in school.
• The school of architecture is very well known at that university. (Departments within colleges and universities are often called "schools.")

The word "school" is often used with other words:

• The school day begins at 7:30 a.m.
• The school year begins in September and ends in June.
• Juanita has always wanted to be a school teacher.
• Kids get a lot of school work completed during the day.
• The was a fight in the school yard. (the area where kids have recess)
• School books are becoming more costly.
• We took a school bus when we went on our field trip.

When fish move in large numbers together, the group is referred to as a school. Small fish, in particular, form schools as a form of protection.

• A school of fish was attacked by sharks.
• Large schools of fish become feeding areas for larger fish.
• It’s necessary for tuna to travel in a school because other fish find them to be so delicious.

Perhaps the least obvious way in which "school" is used is as a verb:

• Sheri was schooled in the culinary arts.
• This district schools over 3000 children.
• Tony got schooled by the other kids at the skate park. (To "get schooled" is slang for when a person is taught a lesson or overshadowed by another person’s skill.)

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May 18, 2015