Skipping School for the Day

Rahul leaves home dressed for school but, tempted by his friends, decides to skip classes for the day. His parents find out when the school calls home.

Meanings in Rahul, Friend, Class Teacher, Anita (mother)

Key words and phrases

skip schoolto deliberately not attend school without permissionHe decided to skip school and go to the arcade instead.

bunkinformal word for skipping school or class without permissionA few boys planned to bunk the last two periods.

truanta student who stays away from school without permissionThe teacher noticed two truant students missing from class.

get caughtto be discovered doing something wrongHe got caught the moment the school called home.

attendance registerthe official record marking which students are presentHis name was marked absent in the attendance register.

absentnot present, missingHe was marked absent for the whole day.

excusea reason given to explain wrongdoing or absenceHe tried to make up an excuse for being absent.

get in troubleto face punishment or consequences for doing something wrongHe knew he would get in trouble when his mother found out.

lieto say something untrueHe didn't want to lie about where he had been.

confessto admit to doing something wrongHe finally confessed that he had skipped school.

punishmenta consequence given for doing something wrongHis punishment was no television for a week.

disappointedfeeling sadness because something did not meet expectationsHis mother looked more disappointed than angry.

peer pressureinfluence from friends to do something you might not otherwise doHe gave in to peer pressure from his friends.

sneak outto leave secretly without being noticedThey planned to sneak out during the lunch break.

arcadea place with video games and entertainment machinesThey spent the afternoon at the arcade instead of in class.

explanationa statement that makes something clear or understandableThe teacher wanted a proper explanation for his absence.

responsibleable to be trusted to do what is rightHis mother reminded him to be more responsible.

regretto feel sorry about something you didHe began to regret his decision by the end of the day.

trustbelief in someone's honesty or reliabilitySkipping school made his parents trust him a little less.

make it upto do something to correct or compensate for a mistakeHe promised to make it up by studying extra hard.

Useful sentences

Ask Why weren't you in class today?
Answer I skipped school and went to the arcade with friends.
Ask Did anyone notice you were missing?
Answer Yes, I was marked absent in the attendance register.
Ask How did your parents find out?
Answer The school called home to ask about my absence.
Ask What excuse did you give?
Answer I didn't have one, so I decided to just tell the truth.
Ask Are you in trouble now?
Answer Yes, I'm not allowed to watch TV for a week.
Ask Why did you decide to skip school?
Answer My friends convinced me, and I gave in to the pressure.
Ask Do you regret it?
Answer Yes, I really do regret it now.
Ask Did you confess right away?
Answer Not immediately, but I told the truth eventually.
Ask How did your mother react?
Answer She looked more disappointed than angry.
Ask Will you do it again?
Answer No, I've learned my lesson this time.

Dialogue

RahulCome on, let's skip the last two periods today.

FriendAre you sure? We could get caught.

RahulIt'll be fine, no one will notice.

Class TeacherWhere is Rahul? He's marked absent today.

AnitaThe school called — you were absent today. Where were you?

RahulI... I went to the arcade with my friends.

AnitaI'm really disappointed, Rahul. You could have just told me.

RahulI'm sorry, Mom. I shouldn't have lied about it.

AnitaYou're grounded this week — no television.

RahulOkay. I promise I won't skip school again.

Common mistakes

Saying "I missed the school" instead of "I skipped school" or "I was absent from school" (be specific about intent vs. accident).
Saying "I am absent" instead of "I was absent" when describing a past day (use the correct past tense).
Saying "the teacher caught me absent" instead of "I got caught skipping school" or "the teacher noticed I was absent" (use the natural phrasing).
Saying "I did bunk" instead of "I bunked" or "I skipped class" ("bunk" is already a verb, don't add "did").
Saying "my parents got angry to me" instead of "my parents got angry with me" or "my parents were angry with me" (use "with," not "to").
Saying "I will not do this mistake again" instead of "I won't make this mistake again" (use "make a mistake," not "do a mistake").

Quick quiz

1. What does "skip school" mean?

2. What is a "truant"?

3. What records which students are present?

4. Complete: "He finally ___ that he had skipped school."

5. What does "peer pressure" mean?

6. What does "make it up" mean, in the context of a mistake?

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