Look at the photo and describe what you can see.
Are there any similarities between the classroom and any classrooms you have studied in?
How has education changed over recent years?
Do you think these changes have been for the better or for the worse? Why?
Read these sentences connected to education. How many of them can you use to describe schools and universities you know or you have heard of?
1 It's a bilingual school, so some subjects like PE and science are taught in English.
2 It's very traditional. Pupils wear uniforms and there's very strict discipline.
3 It has a big Master's programme that attracts a lot of international students.
4 It has a very good academic reputation. They really push pupils to achieve high marks.
5 It's difficult to get into because the entry requirements are very high, especially for Medicine.
6 It's in a rough area, so they have to deal with quite a few social problems.
7 Lectures are very crowded. and research facilities are a bit limited.
8 They have some alternative approaches to teaching and learning, which the headteacher introduced.
9 The school fees are so high that only wealthy families can afford to send their children there.
Look at the rules below connected to education from around the world. Discuss the questions.
Do you have any of these rules or similar ones in your country?
Which rules do you think are good/bad? Why?
Why do you think these rules were introduced?
What results might these rules cause?
Do you think any of these rules should be introduced (or reversed) in your country? Why?
- In the UK, if a child skips school, the parents can be fined.
- In Italy, if you fail three or more subjects, you have to repeat the whole year.
- In some states in the USA, teachers get increased pay if their students get good exam results.
- In China, you can't graduate (whatever the degree) unless you pass an English test.
- In Canada, in some academic jobs you can't ever be fired unless you break a law.
