Someone asks, "So, what are you studying?" and you want to say more than just your degree name.
You want to talk about your subjects, your college, your year, maybe your project. But the words feel
just out of reach, so you give a one-line answer and the chat ends. This happens to so many students.
The topic is your own life, yet the English is missing. Here is the good part: studies and college
use a small, clear set of words that repeat in every conversation and interview. Learn that set, and
you can talk about your education with ease and a little pride.
Quick answer: To talk about your studies, use simple words for your course, year, and subjects.
Say "I am doing my degree in commerce," or "I am in my second year." Talk about subjects with
"My favourite subject is..." and college life with "I attend lectures and submit assignments."
Keep it in simple present tense. The same words work in casual chats and interviews alike.
What words describe my course and year?
You use a few fixed phrases for your degree, your stream, and your year. These come up in almost
every introduction, so they are worth learning first. Once they roll out easily, half the
conversation is done.
Course and year words:
- I am doing / pursuing my degree
- I am studying...
- my course / my stream / my major
- first year, second year, final year
- I will graduate in...
"I am doing my degree in computer science. I am in my second year."
"I am pursuing B.Com, and I will graduate next year."
Notice you can say doing or pursuing. Both are natural. Pursuing sounds a touch more formal, so
it fits interviews well, while doing is fine for friends. Pick whichever feels comfortable. The key
is saying your course and year in one smooth line.
Say this, not that
❌ "I am doing my graduation." ✅ "I am doing my degree." / "I am in my final year."
❌ "I am study in college." ✅ "I am studying in college."
❌ "My branch is commerce." ✅ "My stream is commerce." / "My major is commerce."
Small swaps, but they make you sound clear and natural. The corrected versions are the everyday way
to say these things.
How do I talk about my subjects?
You use simple words to name subjects and say how you feel about them. People love to ask which
subject you like or find hard. A short, honest answer makes for a real conversation.
| Phrase | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| favourite subject | "My favourite subject is history." |
| find it interesting | "I find economics really interesting." |
| good at | "I am good at maths." |
| struggle with | "I struggle a bit with statistics." |
| core subject | "Accounts is one of my core subjects." |
"My favourite subject is English, but I struggle a little with maths."
"I find marketing interesting because it connects to real life."
See how you can be honest about both? You do not have to say you love everything. Saying "I struggle
with statistics, but I am improving" sounds genuine and confident. Mix a subject you like with one
you find hard, and your answer feels real, not rehearsed.
Common mistakes
❌ "Maths is my favourite subject than others." ✅ "Maths is my favourite subject."
❌ "I am weak in statistics." ✅ "I find statistics a bit hard." / "I struggle with statistics."
❌ "I am interested for marketing." ✅ "I am interested in marketing."
Which words describe college life and tasks?
You use a set of action words for the daily life of a student. Lectures, assignments, exams, and
projects come up all the time. Learn these and you can describe your college routine smoothly.
Common college actions:
- attend lectures / classes
- take notes
- submit an assignment
- prepare for exams
- work on a project
- give a presentation
- join a club / society
"I attend lectures in the morning and work on my project in the afternoon."
"We have to submit an assignment every week and give a presentation each month."
These verbs cover most of student life. Pair them with simple time words like every week or in the
morning and you can speak for a full minute about your studies. No heavy vocabulary needed, just
these everyday actions linked together.
Say this, not that
❌ "I am attending lectures daily." ✅ "I attend lectures every day."
❌ "I gave exam yesterday." ✅ "I took an exam yesterday." / "I had an exam yesterday."
❌ "I am doing project." ✅ "I am working on a project."
How do I change it for a chat versus an interview?
You keep the same words but add a small detail for an interview and stay light with friends. The
vocabulary does not change. What changes is the polish and the why behind your answer.
| Setting | Example |
|---|---|
| Casual chat | "I am in my second year of B.Com. It is going okay." |
| Interview | "I am in my second year of B.Com, focusing on accounts, which I really enjoy." |
| Talking about a project | "I am working on a project about small business growth in my town." |
For an interview, add one reason to a single line. Saying "I enjoy accounts because the logic makes
sense to me" shows real interest. For friends, drop the detail and keep it short. Same words,
different flavour. You decide how much to share based on who is listening.
Say it out loud (2-minute practice)
Reading these words will not help in a real conversation. Saying them will, so practise now.
- Say your course and year in one line: "I am doing my degree in... and I am in my... year."
- Name your favourite subject and one you find hard, in full sentences.
- Describe three college actions: "I attend lectures, take notes, and submit assignments."
- Add one why to a subject: "I enjoy marketing because it feels real."
- Speak about your studies for one calm minute, then record and replay it once.
Do this for a few days and talking about college will feel natural. For guided drills with feedback
on answers like these, the FirstWords English program
walks you through practice exactly like this.
A quick word on fear. You might feel your studies sound ordinary in English. They do not. A clear,
honest answer about your course sounds confident. Nobody is grading your life. They just want to hear
you talk about it. Your own studies are the easiest topic to practise, because you already know
every detail by heart.
Mini-FAQ
Which tense should I use for my studies?
Mostly simple present: "I study, I attend, I submit." It is for current habits and it is the easiest.
What if I do not like my course?
Stay neutral and honest. Say "It is going okay," and mention one part you do enjoy.
Do I need formal words for an interview?
No. Words like attend, submit, prepare, project are enough. Just add one why to sound thoughtful.
How do I talk about a subject I find hard?
Say "I struggle a little with..., but I am improving." It sounds honest and confident, not weak.
Your next step
Before you close this page, say your course, year, and favourite subject out loud in three sentences.
That short rehearsal makes your next introduction smoother. When you want a steady path from these
words to real, confident fluency, the
FirstWords English course is made for students just
like you.
Keep building your everyday speaking vocabulary here: