Natalie Portman Harvard Commencement Speech | Harvard Commencement 2015 – YouTube Dictation Transcript & Vocabulary
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Interactive Transcript & Highlights for Dictation
1.[APPLAUSE] NATALIE PORTMAN: Hello, class of 2015
2.I am so honored to be here today
3.Dean Khurana, faculty, parents, and, most especially, students, thank you so much for inviting me
4.The senior class committee-- it's one of the most exciting things I've ever been asked to do
5.I have to admit primarily, because I can't deny it-- as it was leaked in the Wikileaks release of the Sony hack-- that when I was invited, I replied
💡 Tap the highlighted words to see definitions and examples
Key Vocabulary (CEFR B1)
graduating
B1To be recognized by a school or university as having completed the requirements of a degree studied at the institution.
Example:
"graduating students, thank you so much for inviting me."
genuinely
B1In a genuine manner; truthfully, truly.
Example:
"genuinely one of the most exciting things"
sometimes
B1Former; sometime.
Example:
"Sometimes your insecurities and your inexperience"
particularly
B2(focus) Especially, extremely.
Example:
"particularly during sophomore year."
including
B1To bring into a group, class, set, or total as a (new) part or member.
Example:
"including a not-so-plastic, not-so-crappy one, an Oscar."
reconciled
B1To restore a friendly relationship; to bring back to harmony.
Example:
"But I think that contradiction can be reconciled"
certainly
B1In a way which is certain; with certainty.
Example:
"But I thought acting was too frivolous and certainly"
academics
B1(usually capitalized) A follower of Plato, a Platonist.
Example:
"I came from a family of academics"
neurobiology
B2The scientific study of nerve and brain function in people and animals.
Example:
"So freshman fall, I decided to take neurobiology"
literature
B1The body of all written works.
Example:
"and advanced modern Hebrew literature"
| Word | CEFR | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| graduating | B1 | To be recognized by a school or university as having completed the requirements of a degree studied at the institution. |
| genuinely | B1 | In a genuine manner; truthfully, truly. |
| sometimes | B1 | Former; sometime. |
| particularly | B2 | (focus) Especially, extremely. |
| including | B1 | To bring into a group, class, set, or total as a (new) part or member. |
| reconciled | B1 | To restore a friendly relationship; to bring back to harmony. |
| certainly | B1 | In a way which is certain; with certainty. |
| academics | B1 | (usually capitalized) A follower of Plato, a Platonist. |
| neurobiology | B2 | The scientific study of nerve and brain function in people and animals. |
| literature | B1 | The body of all written works. |
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