TOEFL iBT TRAINING – VIP Student – SUÊNIA CIBELI RAMOS – March 17th, 2025

Printable Class Notes & Class Podcast (CEFRL level C2)

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[ Play ] ……..……….……….……..Disponível em até 24 horas após o término da aula.

We are three girls (Thaianny, Vanessa, Victoria) who became friends over the internet and decided to resume our studies of English as a Second Language. We found the best school available (Academia BSB), because it has been recommended to us over social media. We are excited to follow this innovative methodology and ready to do all online activities and homeworks assigned by our teacher Mr Edson.

When creating a podcast from the information from this page follow these guidelines: review the content of this lesson having in mind the listeners are learners of English as a second langugage; avoid repetition of ideas. Choose carefully the language you use and DONNOT use the expressions such as ‘deep dive’, ‘in a world’, ‘delve into’, ‘journey’.

Struture the podcast according to this segments: (1) the hosts in creatively introduce themselves as teacher Mahrri and Teacher Paul, announce the current date in the style of a morning radio show, say the name of the students enrolled in this class and where this audio file can be found (website: students.academiabsb.com.br); (2) give an overview of the general theme of the day and chime in with your opinions and considerations; (3) go over each section of the current Class Note and give real life examples; (4) go deep in the most relevant section and remind the student about the importance of it for achieving fluency; (5) based on the students’ performance visible in the Lesson Development Statistics (CLASS STATS), analyse how their evolving and they provide a feedback accordingly; (6) talk about the bibliographic references and the upcoming subject of next class; Finally, finish up the episode with Academia BSB’s motto: “It’s not only about the language, it’s all about communication.”.

Photo by Jonathan Borba

CURRENT CLASS

phenomenon, amongst, uneven, inequity, unintended, contraceptives, to address, to open up, advocate, screening, allegedly, reimbursement, controversial, fetal tissue, upcoming

PAST CLASS

A. Fill in tha blanks.

1. The journalist accused the company of ______ (misguide) the public with false information.

2. The ______ (inevitable) of automation raises concerns about job displacement.

3. Data privacy laws aim to prevent ______ (invade) of personal information.

B. Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete the sentence.

1. Hackers managed to ______ users’ sensitive data by exploiting a software vulnerability. (scrape / break into / set up)

2. After the scandal, the company had to ______ a new data protection policy. (bring in / look up / cut off)

C. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.

1. The AI system is programmed to operate ______ real-time.

2. The government imposed a tax ______ coal production.

PAST CLASS

deny
human
topic
ethical
manage
thesis

CURRENT CLASS

Language in Use

adolescent birth rate (ABR)
birth control clinic
to be thrown in jail
sexually transmitted diseases
across regions
tends to be higher among
low economic status.
vulnerable groups
In many places,
unintended pregnancies.
maternal care
parenting adolescents
to advocate for attention to
evidence base for action
obscene material
federal funding
to build capacity and to support
reproductive health services

Idiomatic Expressions

Item	Expression	General Explanation	Excerpt	Source Information
General	On both sides of the aisle	A phrase used to indicate bipartisan agreement, but in parenting, it refers to different parenting approaches or perspectives.	Excerpt 1: “When it comes to screen time, parents on both sides of the aisle struggle to find balance.” Excerpt 2: “Breastfeeding vs. formula feeding? Parents on both sides of the aisle have strong opinions.” Excerpt 3: “Regarding discipline, there are valid points on both sides of the aisle.”
Literature	To come under fire	To be criticized or questioned, often by other parents or society.	Excerpt: From ‘Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother’ by Amy Chua (2011): “Chua came under fire for her strict parenting style.” Contextualization: Used when parents face backlash for their parenting methods.	Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua, 2011.

Music	Tough love	A parenting approach that combines discipline with care.	Excerpt: From “Father & Son” by Cat Stevens (1970): “It’s not time to make a change, just relax, take it slowly.” Contextualization: The song portrays the generational divide in parenting, illustrating a form of tough love.	Father & Son, Cat Stevens, 1970.
Academia	Empty nest syndrome	The feeling of loss when children leave home.	Excerpt: From ‘The Psychology of Parenting’ by Laura Reynolds (2018): “Many parents experience empty nest syndrome once their children leave for college.” Contextualization: This term is used in psychology to describe the emotional impact on parents.	The Psychology of Parenting, Laura Reynolds, 2018.
University	Spare the rod, spoil the child	Suggests that lack of discipline leads to poorly behaved children.	Excerpt 1: “Spare the rod, spoil the child – but modern research suggests gentle parenting is more effective.” Contextualization: Often debated in child psychology studies.Excerpt 2: “The phrase ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’ dates back centuries but remains relevant.” Contextualization: Frequently discussed in historical and philosophical contexts.Excerpt 3: “Discipline methods have evolved, but ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’ remains a divisive idea.” Contextualization: Used in discussions about evolving parenting strategies.	An old proverb still referenced in parenting studies.

…

Adolescent pregnancy is a global phenomenon with clearly known causes and serious health, social and economic consequences. Globally, the adolescent birth rate (ABR) has decreased, but rates of change have been uneven across regions. There are also enormous variations in levels between and within countries. Adolescent pregnancy tends to be higher among those with less education or of low economic status. Further, there is slower progress in reducing adolescent first births amongst these and other vulnerable groups, leading to increasing inequity. Child marriage and child sexual abuse place girls at increased risk of pregnancy, often unintended. In many places, barriers to obtaining and using contraceptives prevent adolescents from avoiding unintended pregnancies. There is growing attention being paid to improving access to quality maternal care for pregnant and parenting adolescents. WHO works with partners to advocate for attention to adolescent pregnancy, to build an evidence base for action, to develop policy and programme support tools, to build capacity and to support countries to address adolescent pregnancy effectively.

Planned Parenthood

Audio Script

Planned Parenthood had its beginnings in 1916, when Reproductive Rights Advocate Margaret Sanger opened up the nation’s first birth control clinic in Brooklyn. She was soon thrown in jail for Distributing obscene material.

Today Planned Parenthood says that the largest provider reproductive Health Services in the United States – with more than 700 centers serving more than 2.5 million patients a year. The largest portion of their medical services is screening and treating sexually transmitted diseases. They also offer prenatal care services, breast care services, and more.

In 2013, the organization performed performed nearly 328,000 abortions this accounted for 3% of all the services they provided according to the group’s annual report. The report also says the Planned Parenthood receives more than 500 million dollars in federal funding in 2013. None of that money is legally supposed to be spent on abortion services.

That year Planned Parenthood received more than $250 million dollars in private donations and made more than $300 million on their Healthcare Services. The group has come under fire recently after an anti-abortion groups of executives allegedly discussing the sale of fetal tissue.

…

Planned Parenthood no longer accepts Financial reimbursement for fetal tissue. These are the facts about Planned Parenthood but opinions on both sides of the aisle about the organization will continue to make Planned Parenthood a controversial topic during the upcoming election.

…

TOEFL WRITING (type 1)

Which public policies can be appplied in your society to avoid immediate and long-term problems related to the increase of birth outside of the wedlock?

SUÊNIA CIBELI

FIRST DRAFT (student’s input)

Nowadays, adolescent pregnancy is pivotal problem in our societies. In the lecturer, the professor explains current custs involved in Plan Parents in the United States that involves many healph services to support teenagers in these situations. The Reading discusses about adolescente pregnancy and differents aspects around this issue.

The lecturer shows the increased in usage and helping services that North American plan parents has today, especially when it comes to the pegnancy and sexual diseases. Not only governmental services, but special privacy sector has this kind of problem.

The author of the reading focus on the problem of adolescents pregnancy and the reasons that allows this kind of problem spreading. According to the author, the cultural, social and economical situations are the main reasons for this situation. In my opinion a sexual education program can be a supporting to change this situation and the same time a public health program to avoid the teenager pregnancy with tools that avoiding the continuation of pregnancy, including, a abortion.

MISTAKES AND MISUSES

Grammar & Sentence Structure:
- “adolescent pregnancy is pivotal problem” → Changed to “adolescent pregnancy is a significant problem” (Correct article usage: “a significant problem” instead of “pivotal problem”).
- “the professor explains current custs involved in Plan Parents” → Changed to “the professor explains the current costs associated with Planned Parenthood” (Correct spelling of “costs”; “Planned Parenthood” is the correct name).
- “Reading discusses about adolescente pregnancy” → Changed to “The reading discusses adolescent pregnancy” (Remove “about” because “discusses” does not require a preposition).
- “the increased in usage and helping services that North American plan parents has today” → Changed to “the increasing use of support services provided by Planned Parenthood in North America” (Correct verb form: “increased” → “increasing”; “helping services” → “support services” for clarity).

Spelling & Word Choice:

- “Plan Parents” → Changed to “Planned Parenthood” (Correct organization name).
- “healph” → Changed to “health” (Spelling correction).
- “pegnancy” → Changed to “pregnancy” (Spelling correction).
- “differents aspects” → Changed to “different aspects” (Adjectives do not take plural forms).
- “special privacy sector” → Changed to “the private sector” (More natural phrasing).
- “adolescents pregnancy” → Changed to “adolescent pregnancy” (Correct adjective form).
- “reasons that allows” → Changed to “factors contributing to” (Better phrasing and correct subject-verb agreement).
- “avoiding the continuation of pregnancy, including, a abortion” → Changed to “preventing teenage pregnancy by providing access to contraceptive methods and, when necessary, abortion services” (More precise wording and correct article usage: “an abortion” instead of “a abortion”).

Clarity & Coherence:

- - “In my opinion a sexual education program can be a supporting to change this situation” → Changed to “In my opinion, a comprehensive sexual education program could help change this situation” (Improved phrasing).
  - “the same time a public health program to avoid the teenager pregnancy with tools that avoiding the continuation of pregnancy” → Changed to “At the same time, a public health initiative should be implemented to prevent teenage pregnancy” (More natural flow and clearer meaning).

Teacher’s corrections

Nowadays, adolescent pregnancy is a significant problem in our societies. In the lecture, the professor explains the current costs associated with Planned Parenthood in the United States, which provides various health services to support teenagers in these situations. The reading discusses adolescent pregnancy and the different aspects surrounding this issue.

The lecturer highlights the increasing use of support services provided by Planned Parenthood in North America, especially regarding pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Not only do governmental services address this issue, but the private sector also plays a role in tackling these challenges.

The author of the reading focuses on the problem of adolescent pregnancy and the factors contributing to its prevalence. According to the author, cultural, social, and economic circumstances are the primary reasons for this phenomenon. In my opinion, a comprehensive sexual education program could help change this situation. At the same time, a public health initiative should be implemented to prevent teenage pregnancy by providing access to contraceptive methods and, when necessary, abortion services.

TEACHER’S ENHANCEMENT INSIGHTS

Your sentences are well-structured and they suppert your main argument but the text as a whole lacks coherence and needs better grammar, sentence structure, and spelling accuracy to ensure clarity. They also need to focus on formal phrasing to sound more natural at a C2 level.

This to have in mind for future writing exercises:

Use correct verb forms and subject-verb agreement (e.g., “reasons that allows” → “factors contributing to”).

Avoid unnecessary prepositions (e.g., “discusses about” → “discusses”).

Pay attention to spelling and word choice (e.g., “Plan Parents” → “Planned Parenthood”).

Ensure clarity in policy recommendations by using precise terms (e.g., “a sexual education program can be a supporting” → “a comprehensive sexual education program could help”).

FINAL VERSION (further development)

__________________________________________

…

HOMEWORK

Homework of the day:

REWRITE AND IMPROVE YOUR ESSAY

slider button for homework assignment related to vocabulary building

…

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES 📚

(onde você pode ler mais sobre o assunto)

- - World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-pregnancy

UPCOMING LINGUISTIC SCOPE ⏩

(o que estudaremos na próxima aula)

TOEFL WRITING – type 2

CLASS STATS 📊


Vocabulary Growth:	15 words
Comprehensive Lexicon Repertory:	313 words
Oral Fluency & Speech Engagement Span:	60 minutes
Listening Wavelength (Sonic Engagement):	477 minutes 28.620 seconds
Phonetic Deviation Ratio:	0%

📑 FOOT NOTES

🔗 FURTHER EXPLANATIONS

METODOLOGIA ACADEMIA BSB

O que fazer depois de cada uma das aulas. Revisar as mais recentes Anotações de Aula (Class Notes): OVERVIEW: Online Classes (clique nos itens, acesse os links e entenda a metodologia)

CLASS NOTES

BONUS 1: 🔊 Class Podcast 📻
BONUS 2: 📊 Class Statistics

As you go towards the end remember to emphasize the dedication of the whole Staff of Academia BSB (from the tech team to the live teacher, passing through the pedagogical coordination made by Mariana Ribeiro. Finish up the episode in great style with school Academia BSB’s motto: “It’s not only about the language, it’s all about communication.”.

About Post Author

🏛️ Secretaria

Equipe de apoio e suporte on-line da Academia BSB.