Unit 5 Education
Task 1
Two people are interviewed about their ideas on education. One is an ordinary "man in the street"; the other is an educational psychologist.
The man in the street:
When I was at school, I hated it. I couldn't stand it. I wasn't happy until I got out. I think this idea of permanent education is crazy. I know some people go back to school when they're older, go to language classes at the local "tech" and all that, but I can't understand people who want to spend all their lives in school.
The educational psychologist:
）
The idea of permanent education is practical because we're never really too old to go on learning. Of course, there are certain limits, but they aren't age limits. For example, let's say a man past sixty tries to learn how to play football. It's foolish for him to do that, but only because his body is too old, not his mind!
Key
A
1. People’s ideas on permanent education.
2. One is an ordinary “man in the street”. The other is an educational psychologist.
3. The first person thinks this idea of permanent education is crazy. He can’t understand people who want to spend all their lives in school. The second person thinks the idea of permanent education is practical because people are never really too old to go on learning.
B
>
1. was; hated; stand; got out
2. all their lives
3. certain limits; age limits
Task 2
John is talking to Martin about his primary schooling. Martin: Did you go to a state primary school
John: Yes, I did. I went to a nursery school first, at the age of four, but this was purely voluntary. There was a good kindergarten in our neighbourhood so my parents decided to send me there for a year.
Martin: Can you still remember it
John: Yes, I have faint, but very pleasant memories of it. It was a delightful place, full of fun and games. As in most nursery schools, work—if you can call it that—consisted of storytelling, drawing, singing and dancing.
Martin: You probably don't remember but you must have missed it when you left you know,
when you went to the Infants' School at the age of five.
John: I suppose I must have, but you know, right up to the age of seven, school life was very pleasant. It was only later in the Junior School that we began to have more formal lessons and even worry about exams.
Martin: Really Did you have to do exams at that age
;
John: Yes, we used to then. We had to take an exam at the age of eleven called the "Eleven Plus" to see what kind of secondary school we would get into. But this exam has disappeared nowadays.
Key
A
Age Schooling
Four Nursery School
Five The Infants’ School
Seven The Junior School
B
》
1. He stayed there for a year.
2. He has faint, but very pleasant memories of it. He had fun and played games---including story-telling, drawing, singing and dancing.
3. He began t have more formal lessons and even worry about exams.
4. The exam was called the “Eleven Plus”. Students took the exam to see what kind of secondary school they would get into.
Task 3
Education in the United Kingdom is compulsory for everyone between the ages of 5 and 16, and is provided by two kinds of schools: state-funded schools and independent (or fee-charging) schools.
Children education
…
Pre-school or pre-preparatory education: Pre-school education is available in both the independent and the state systems. Many children start their education at the age of 3 or 4 at a nursery school or in the nursery class at a primary school.
Preparatory education: In the independent system, preparatory (or primary) education is available for children aged 5 to 13.
Primary education: Most children in the United Kingdom enter the state education system when they go to primary school at the age of 5 and generally move to secondary school at the age of
