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Speaking English Course B
Lesson B5

Society and Education

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Say each sentence as many times as you like

Practise saying each sentence until it sounds right

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

  Revising for Exams

Listen to the conversation below - Kenji and Noor are talking about exams.
Kenji:	How's the revising going?
Noor:	Not very well at the moment I'm afraid. There just seems to be too much to do at work. When I get home in the evening I'm too tired to concentrate properly, and one afternoon off a week doesn't seem to be enough!
Kenji:	How long have you got until your exams? Perhaps you could talk to the manager and get some more time off work.
Noor:	Yeh, I suppose I could ask her. The big exams aren't until June, so I've got at least another 6 weeks. I was also thinking of taking a week's holiday leave to do some serious swotting*.
Kenji:	Good idea - it'll be worth it in the end won't it? With the extra qualifications you'll be able to earn loads more money and have a really good holiday next year.
Noor:	That's true. Honestly, you know I haven't done any exams or written an essay for ten years, and I'm dreading it! I thought all that was over with after college, and here I am at 34 going through it all over again!
	(*Swotting = revising)

	Listen to these phrases from the text and practise them until they sound right.
		How's it going?
		It'll be worth it in the end
		It's pretty hard
		I can't stand it!
		I'm dreading it!
	'pretty' used before an adjective means 'very'.
	'dreading' means feeling worried or scared about something in the future.

	We use 'could' to give someone advice or suggestions, or to ask someone to do something or to ask for permission.
	For example:
	You could go and see the doctor if you feel ill.
	Could I have a look at that book?
	Could you please be quiet, I'm trying to work!

	We use 'may' and 'might' to say what will possibly happen in the future.
	May and might can mean the same thing, but we use 'might' more than 'may' to talk about the future and we only use 'may' to ask for permission.
	For example:
	We might (may) be able to move house next week
	May I use your dictionary please?
	'To be able to' is the future of 'can'
	For example:
	I won't be able to see you tonight - I have to work late.

	Fill in the gaps below using could / might / may / be able to. The last sentence uses two of these verbs together.
		I have a problem at work, and don't know what to do.
		Perhaps you ___(1)___ talk to the manager?
		I'm starting a job next month which has a really good salary!
		That's great! You'll _____(2)_____ to have a fantastic holiday next year.
		___(3)____ I borrow your car tonight please?
		I haven't studied much this year, but if I revise hard over the next fortnight, I ___(4)___ just pass!
		If you run, you ___(5)___ ___(6)____ catch the last train home.
	Click 'Answers' to see if you were right!

	Schools and education.
		There are many different types of educational institution. Many countries have organised schools that are run and paid for by the state. There are also different types of private school where the pupils, students or their families pay fees. Most school systems consist of primary or junior schools for children from age 5 to 12 years and secondary or high schools for children from age 12 to 16 years. In some systems, schooling is only compulsory up to the age of about 14. After school, students can choose to go to further or higher institutions, such as a college or university. Some countries have schools that are organised on a religious basis and of course, different styles of home, communal and individual education can also exist. In some schools, pupils are required to wear uniforms and specific codes and standards of dress and behaviour are an important part of school life. As well as gaining knowledge in specific subjects such as mathematics, art, science and history, an important aim of education should be to help pupils become rounded, balanced individuals with positive moral values. 'Your school days should be the best days of your life' is a well-known expression. For some of us this may be true. For others the routine of classes, homework, tests, assignments and exams may not be so enjoyable!

	Listen to these phrases from the text and repeat them until they sound right.
		Educational institution Secondary education Compulsory Organised Religious Communal Individual Behaviour Expression

	Grammar revision: first / next / then / after that / as soon as / when / finally / until.
	Put these types of schools in the order of the age of the pupils.
	Secondary school
	Pre-school
	Junior school
	College
	Click 'Answers' to see if you were right!

	Use the words in the list below to make some sentences about the different types of school.
	Example: First you go to pre-school, next you go to junior school and after that you go to secondary school. Finally you might go to college.
	First
	Next / after that / then
	Before
	As soon as
	When
	Finally
	Until
	Now complete the sentences below, using the words from the list. Sometimes there are two possible answers.
	_____(1)______ the exam is over, I'm going to have a big party!
	At first, I hated mathematics but after many years I ____(2)_____ understood why it was important.
	On Mondays, first I have chemistry, ___(3)____ English and ___(4)____ geography.
	You can't watch television __(5)___ you have finished your homework.
	Click 'Answers' to see if you were right!

A School Exchange.

The last few months at my school have been pretty hard work, but I've also had a really good time! In January I went for a 2-month exchange to a high school in Boston, USA. It was my first time in the States and I loved it. The school system there is quite different from here. Instead of primary and secondary schools they have Junior and Senior high, and grades instead of years. One thing that really surprised me was that they don't have big exams at 16, just smaller tests and coursework over the four years, then they graduate, which I thought was funny as we only use that word for university. They thought it was very 'English' to be revising for my GCSE exams. They're big on sport in the high school I was at, and I learnt how to play American football and baseball. When I got back everyone said I had an American accent. I made some good friends in Boston, and I'm going back in August if I can save up enough money. Since I came back I've been revising loads for my exams next month - I'm taking 6 subjects. I think I'll be okay in art and geography, but I'm not so confident about some of the others, especially physics - I can't stand it!

	Listen to these words and then repeat them until they sound right.
		History
		Geography
		Mathematics
		Biology
		Physics
		Chemistry
		Art
		Economics
		Engineering
		Architecture
		Literature

Listen to this written text about universities.

Universities.

China lays claim to the earliest university, which dates from around 124BC. By AD 200 it had over 3,000 students studying degrees of up to seven years! In Europe, examples of the oldest universities are the University of Bologna (founded in the tenth century) and the University of Paris, founded in 1170. English higher education began in Oxford and Cambridge, where informal groups of students and masters started to work together in Oxford in the late 12th century. These groups became more important after 1167, when the University of Paris was closed to Englishmen. Soon after this the informal groups began to be called a 'universitas' or 'guild'. Peterhouse College in Cambridge was established in 1284 and recognised by the Pope as a universitas in 1318. To this day there is a healthy atmosphere of rivalry between the two universities, one example of which is the Oxford v Cambridge boat race held on the Thames every year. The names we use for university qualifications are still those of medieval times. You can study for a bachelor degree in the arts or sciences (BA or BSc) which can take from 3 to 5 or even more years. A Masters (MA or MSc) is the next step, usually 1 to 3 years. The highest level of study is a doctorate (PhD) which often takes 7 years or more and usually leads to some of the work being published.

	Find these words in the text:
	dates from
	started
	founded
	established
	began
	All these words mean the same thing. 'Set up' is a 2 part verb which also means 'to start something'.
	For example:
	My father set up his own company in 1992, and it has become very successful.

	When we pronounce years, we say the year as 2 numbers.
	For example 1999 is pronounced '19' '99'.
	If it is the start of a century, we say the whole number, for example '2000'
	'BC' stands for 'Before Christ'
	Listen to these dates and phrases from the text, and repeat them until they sound right.
	124BC
	AD200
	1170
	The late 12th century
	1167
	1318
	1284

	Listen to these degree titles and repeat them until they sound right.
	BSc (Bachelor of Science)
	BA (Bachelor of Arts)
	MSc (Master of Science)
	MA (Master of Arts)
	PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

	Listen to these words and notice the pronunciation of 'a' and 'o' and 'u'.
	Repeat them until they sound right.
	Start /can't / fast
	Stop / not / a lot / doctor / holiday
	Stand / had / can / exam
	Start / art / hard / last
	Sport / taught / bought
	School / rule

	Here are some more words connected with education. Use your dictionary to find their meanings and repeat them until they sound right. The word stress is in bold.
	student
	pupil
	exam
	research
	essay
	teacher
	lesson
	lecture
	lecturer
	compulsory
	optional
	timetable
	assignment
	assessment
	knowledge
	vocational
	qualification

Answers

	Answers to using could / might / may / be able to.
	1. could	Perhaps you could talk to the manager?
	2. be able to	That's great! You'll be able to have a fantastic holiday next year.
	3. May	May I borrow your car tonight please?
	4. could	I haven't studied much this year, but if I revise hard over the next fortnight, I could just pass!
	5. might 6. be able to	If you run, you might be able to catch the last train home.
	Click BACK to get back to where you were in the lesson.

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Answers to the order of types of school
	Pre-school Junior School Secondary School College

Click BACK to get back to where you were in the lesson.

Answers to completing the sentences using words from the list.

	1.	As soon as or when	As soon as the exam is over, I'm going to have a big party! When the exam is over, I'm going to have a big party!
	2.	finally	At first, I hated mathematics but after many years I finally understood why it was important.
	3. 4.	then after that or finally	On Mondays, first I have chemistry, then English and after that geography. On Mondays, first I have chemistry, then English and finally geography.
	5.	until or before	You can't watch television until you have finished your homework. You can't watch television before you have finished your homework.

BACK

Tailpiece

Make hay while the sun shines.

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Course  B End of Lesson B5

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