President Obama spoke to America’s school children on September 8, 2009, urging them to take responsibility for their education. He delivered the speech to a packed gymnasium of students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA.
The President spoke about his own childhood experiences, sharing that as a boy living overseas in Indonesia, he woke up at 4:30 in the morning for schooling from his own mother. Using this as one of his examples, Obama enforced a strong point that there is no excuse to not rise above any circumstance or situation to be a good student
Listen to President Obama and fill in the gaps:
The President: Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students 1_____________from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in 2__________________, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s 3____________________ if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And 4______________ grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you 5___________________ in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, 6___________ right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those 7____________ and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
So I know some of you are still 8_____________ to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and 9________________ of all of you in this new school year.
Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about 10_________________.
I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you 11_____________, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every 12_____________ in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and 13_____________, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you 14__________ your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and 15____________ the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can 16____________.
KEY
1. tuning in
2. kindergarten
3. understandable
4. no matter what
5. could have stayed
6. I would fall asleep
7. looks
8. adjusting
9. what is expected
10. responsibility
11. stay on track
12. waking hour
13. principals
14. fulfil
15. put in
16. provide
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