with a collapse; with a slump
(school) subject; curriculum; course; item; heading; entry
not quite (right); not very good; somewhat (lacking)
results; record; grades; marks
to swing; to wield (physically); to exercise (e.g. power, ability); to exhibit; to flourish; to prosper
the trouble is that ...; the problem is that ...; unfortunately; annoyingly
immediately; right away; on the spot
question collection; problem collection; problem set; workbook
to work hard at one's lessons
fusuma; Japanese sliding screen
often; frequently; lightly (of a movement); easily; simply
staring-out (down) game; game in which two children looking at each other try to make the opponents laugh first; constant looking at something (e.g. the computer screen, the clock)
helping hand; help; support; aid
notebook; copy-book; note; noting down; (musical) note; laptop (computer)
(powers of) concentration; ability to concentrate
restlessly; nervously; uneasily; in a fidget
ticktock; chinking (e.g. of a hammer against rock); knocking; dry and hard; (frozen) stiff; hidebound
with a click; with a clink; with a snap; firmly; tightly; compactly
mechanical pencil; automatic pencil; propelling pencil
finally; in the end; after all that; eventually; on top of all that
worth; merit; value; good point; strong point; redeeming feature
senior high school student
duty; obligation; responsibility
to teach thoroughly; to instill (into); to instil; to inculcate; to drum (into); to drill (into)
to make a fist; to clench one's fist
every corner; every nook and cranny; all the ins and outs
(home) tutor; private tutor; private teacher
relation; relative; kind; cordial
beginning; clue; starting point
there is nothing; having nothing
having no choice; at a loss for what to do; at one's wits' end; helpless; powerless
for a short while; for a brief period; soon; in a short while
to relax; to feel at home
primary school; elementary school; grade school
novel; story; (work of) fiction
adventure; venture; venture which is unlikely to succeed; risky attempt; danger