English Conversation : How are your Kids?

Dialogue

A: How are the kids?

B: They're doing well.

A: How old are they now?

B: Mike is 18. He's in college. Janet is 16. She's in high school.

A: Wow! They're growing up.

B: I know. They're growing up too fast.

Language Notes

1. to be doing well: to be succeeding, progressing nicely, or living well

• "Is your brother doing well?"
• "Our company is doing well these days."

2. college: U.S. = a university where you can study for an undergraduate degree. In American English, college and university are generally used interchangeably. In practical American usage, university has connotations of prestige that college doesn’t have, although there are some highly respected universities that call themselves colleges out of tradition (e.g., Dartmouth College). Still, no one talks about going to university in the U.S. After high school, you go to college, even if the college you’re attending calls itself a university.

• "Did you go to college?"
• "My son will go to college next year."
• "I met my husband when we were in college."

3. to grow up: to get bigger and develop (only for living things); to spend one's childhood

• "The kids are growing up fast."
• "She grew up in California."