Laboratory Works

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

1. You’ll hear short descriptions of the education systems in England, the USA and Australia. Make notes on how a ‘typical’ pupil passes the system in each country.

Educational Institutions in Order	England	the USA	Australia
1	Primary school (age 5)	Kindergarten	Kindergarten
2	Secondary school (11-16)	Elementary school (age 6)	Primary school (5-11)
3	GCAC (16)	Junior high school (11)	Intermediate
4	Vocation course/ a-level	High school (14)	High school (12-15)
5	Course to college of to university (3 year 18)	Leave school at 16	Leave school at 16
6		Graduate in high school (19)

2. Listen again and check your knowledge of the education systems in Britain and the USA. Fill in the gaps in these sentences.

1) Before they start school, very young children in Britain may go to a nursery where they play with other children and learn to socialize.

2) British children start primary school at the age of 5 and move to a secondary school at 11 or 13. At the age of 18 or 19 they may go on to higher education at a university, polytechnic or college.

3) At the age of 16, British pupils take GCSE exams. They may stay on at school to take A-level two years later when they are in the 6^th form.

4) A British school or university year is divided into three terms; in America the year is divided into two semesters.

5) In Britain, private boarding schools are known as prep schools – in the USA, this term refers to the normal kind or state schools.

6) At the end of a university course, graduates are awarded a degree - probably a BA (Bachelor of Arts), BSc (Bachelor of Science) or Bed (Bachelor of education); post-graduates can take a further course or do research and write thesis in the hope of getting an MA (Master of Arts) or a PhD (Doctor of philosophy).

3. What are the main differences between the education system in Russia and those described in the recording? Give a brief account of the education system in Russia.

In Russia children at the age of 3 to 6 years old can go to a preschool if their parents want it. And when they are 7 they go to school. Secondary education is compulsory too. It lasts 11 years now. It consists of 3 levels. The first starts at the age of 7 and continue for 3 or 4 years. The second level is 5 years of instruction with a wide choice of subjects. And the third level consists of 2 years of instruction and every pupil can make particular choice which subjects he or she wants to study. At the end of the 11-th form every pupil takes the final examinations. If pupil wants to study further he tries he tries to enter an institute. If he was successful on the enter examinations he continue study for 5 years in the institute and finally when he graduates from it he receivers a diplom. Then, of course, he begins to work.

FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL

1. You’ll hear two accounts of a first day at school – one from a little boy’s point of view, the other from a young teacher’s point of view. The first extract is taken from ‘Cider with Rosie’ by Laurie Lee (1959), the second extract is from ‘Decline and Fall’ by Evelyn Waugh (1928). How did the two protagonists feel about the first class before the day started and after it finished? Sort the adjectives in the table to characterize the emotions of the main characters on the first day at school. You will not need to use ALL the adjectives.

EMOTIONS	LAURIE LEE	PAUL PENNYFEATHER
agreeable angry bewildered приятный, сердитый, изумленный brave calm clumsy храброе неуклюжее спокойствие defeated delightful eager побежденный восхитительный нетерпеливый embarrassed fierce grumpy смущенный жестокий сварливый happy helpless jolly счастливый беспомощный весьма lively nervous obedient живой нервный непослушный obnoxious panicky proud неприятный панический гордый relieved repulsive scary уменьшенный отталкивающий страшный thankful thoughtless uptight благодарный беспечный встревоженный victorious worried zealous победный волноваться рьяный	+ +

2. Comment on each emotion in the above task using the information in the audio stories.

e.g. Laurie Lee felt grumpy as he behaved too childish on his first day at school.

– Luise felf bevildered because he never´d had been at school. Louise felt dumsy because his sisters dressed him up a stutted  a bached potato Luise felt embarrassed because he wash´t ready for school. Laurie felt zealous because he wasn´t given any present uf school.

- Paul felt panichy because he didn´t know whot to do with children. Poul felt fierce nervous because the all children said “good morning” one by one. He felt grumpy as he neded to answer wery “good morning”. He felt obnoxious when he said “Shut up He helt victorious when the dass has quiet finally.

3. Here are some excerpts about school from ‘Decline and Fall’ by Evelyn Waugh. What impression about school education do you get after reading the excerpts? Give a small account of the school, the staff, and pupils described by the author.

‘Augustus Fagan, Esquire, Ph.D., Llanabba Castle, N.Wales, requires immediately junior assistant to teach Classics and English to University Standard with subsidiary Mathematics, German and French. Experience essential; first-class games essential...’

'Might have been made for you,' said Mr. Levy.

'But I don't know a word of German, I've had no experience, I've got no testimonials, and I can't play cricket,' said Paul.

'It doesn't do to be too modest,' said Mr. Levy. 'It's wonderful what one can teach when one tries..' (Part One, Chapter One)

'But what am I to teach them?' said Paul in sudden panic.

'Oh, you shouldn't try to teach them anything, not just yet, anyway. Just keep them quiet.' (Part One, Chapter V)

"We class schools, you see, into four grades: Leading School, First-rate School, Good School, and School. Frankly," said Mr. Levy, "School is pretty bad..." (Part One, Chapter One)

The school stuff, described in there accepts in unprofessional “keep them quiet”- it shows how they “teach”. Mr. Leny is the evil of the school who maintains the education is such a bad way.

4. How do your own experiences of school compare with Laurie’s and Paul’s? Write an account of your first day at a new school or in a new class. Use 100-150 words.

LIVE AND LEARN

1. In your opinion, what are the reasons students stay away from school? Think about boredom, influence of friends, problems at school, family problems. What problems can truancy cause a student?

I think the students should be motivated mainly by their parents and then by their teachers. Parents should motivate their children by telling them how being a high-school graduate will help them in life. The parent may mention how being a high-school graduate helped them or how they were hurt by being a high-school drop-out.

Teachers can help motivate students by making school fun along with the teaching of the regular lessons.

 Teachers could also invite various people that graduated from high-school and some that were drop-outs to tell their own personal story. This may help students see the reality of being a high-school graduate or that being a high school drop-out can seriously affect that persons´ life.

Another thing that should be taken into consideration is that when a parent or teacher is talking to their child or student, the parent or teacher should not focus all on negative ideas. If they focus on negative ideas, and say such things as, “If you don´t finish school then…..”, then the child could be demotivated instead of being motivated. Parents and teachers should focus mainly on positive ideas when motivating someone.

2. You are going to listen to the interview with headmaster of East Crompton Comprehensive School Dr. Charles Greenway.For questions 1-7 choose the correct answer (A, B or C).

1 Dr Greenway implies that some children who play truant

A do so in order to earn money.

B behave badly in public.

C are never punished.

2 Why do some parents take their children on holiday during term time?

A Because it's peak season.

B To spend time together as a family.

C To save money.

3 Why is it difficult for schools to convince students to attend regularly?

A Parents set a bad example for them.

B There is no good reason to attend.

C Some teachers behave irresponsibly.

4 How has the government reacted to truancy?

A They have been trying to stop it for years.

B They are only just beginning to help.

C They think it is too late to do anything.

5 Why are the government having talks with travel agents?

A To convince them to offer parents cheap holidays.

B To make sure that children don't play truant.

C To get help from them in combating truancy.

6 What are the aims of 'behaviour improvement projects'?

A To teach parents to be nwe responsible.

B To teach students the lessons they have missed

C To teach students to take school more seric

7 What does Dr Greenway say about the law against truancy?

A The law is not strict enough.

B Parents are not often prosecuted.

C Many parents face criminal charges.

3. Which of the following things would be most effective in combating truancy? Rank them and give a short account describing your choice.

-more interesting lessons – интересные уроки

-police involvement – полицейская причастность

-more responsible parenting – более ответственное воспитание

-strict punishment – строгое наказание

-teaching students to respect school – обучающие студенты, чтобы уважать школу

 MP3 AUDIO 3.4

1. Listen to two people discussing the issue of public vs. state schooling. What are they saying about: cost, quality of education, increased life chances? What do you agree with most?

As for the cost of education we should mention that public schools are available mostly for rich people and state schools are free. Public schools provide their student with plenty of opportunities such as many optional subjects and the ability to enter the best universities of the country. Moreover, public schools prive their pupils with all necessary knowledge with the help of science achievements.