Education
Education
Many countries still have a very high percentage of illiteracy. Basic general education for all citizens is the aim of many societies.
What age do children start school at? What is the school-leaving age? What school subjects do you know? What subjects do you like best? Which subjects do you consider the most important? Should pupils wear uniforms? What is the best age to start learning a foreign language?
Do you prefer spoken or written exams? Is it good for a child to be sent to a boarding school? At what age? What is the best time for you to study and to do homework?
Pencil, pen, crayon, paints, map, eraser, chalk, compass, ruler, scissors, felt-tips, pencil sharpener, brush, map, board, desk, noticeboard, screen, projectors, globe, satchel
Classroom, corridor, cloakroom, library, language laboratory, science lab, gym, computer room, staff room, headmaster’s office, school cafeteria
Crèche, nursery school/kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, college/university
Public school, private school, boarding school, special school, night school
Take/do/sit an exam, pass or fail, do well or do badly in an exam, reading period
Minitalks:
Are you happy at this school? Why?
Is there anything you would like to change at your school?
What are some characteristics of good teachers?
Czech education
- nine years of compulsory education from the age of six to fifteen. Younger children may attend kindergartens where they learn some basic skills like recognizing colours, animals, plants, etc. There are two grades of basic school, in the first children learn to read and write and they have P.E. and Arts. In the higher one they have more specialized subjects like chemistry, biology, history, etc.
- the academic year starts on the 1st September and ends on the 30th June. There are several breaks throughout the year (Christmas, Easter)
- most Czech schools are administered by the state. These schools are free of charge. In addition, there are private schools, where tuition fees are charged. Education is provided by religious schools, too.
- Problems – cheating, bullying, playing truant
- Having left primary school, children can enroll at grammar schools, apprenticeship centres, vocational or other professional schools or art schools.
- Grammar schools are intended to prepare their students for university education
- Secondary education is rounded off with a school leaving exam called maturita.
- Students at universities study for three years to obtain their bachelor’s degree and five years for the master’s degree
British education – p.38
Minitalks:
Would you like to attend an English school?
Which one is better, single-sex or mixed schools?
Would you like the idea of calling your teachers by their first name?
Could you compare the Czech and British system of education?
