Module 1 EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN
Warm-up
Look at the picture showing three stages of education. Describe what is happening at every stage (the number and the mood of students).
How many students are there at every stage of education according to the picture?
What mood are students in? What are they doiong?
Do you agree with it? Why or why not? How are the three stages of education different?
Listening 1
Education in Britain.
Before listening
Vocabulary
Match the words with their translation.
Free
Independent school
Local authority
Pay for sth
Primary school
To run sth
Secondary school
Частная школа
Руководить чем-л.
Платить за что-л.
Средняя школа
Бесплатный
Местные органы власти
Начальная школа
Now listen to the track and say what these numbers refer to.
5 11 16
Are ages the same in your country?
Reading 1
UK Education System
Read the text carefully. Find and correct 7 spelling mistakes in it.
Education system in the UK is reputed to be among the best and is respected all around the world as it offers flexibility in academic understanding and carreer opportunities. It has an exellent combination of traditional excellence with innovative styles of teaching. Apart from having a world-class education system, students who study here have a chance of meeting with people of diffrent nationalitys, sharing backgrounds and exploring new perspectives. The educational systems in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are similar to each other. It is importent to know complete details of the learning and teaching styles, before enrolling for a corse there. During the period of the course, you gain excellent communication and behavioral skills. The UK education system has been categorized into four segments: primary, secondery, further and higher education.
4. Make up questions to the words or expressions in italics. Practise asking and answering questions in pairs.
e.g. Education system of which country is respected all around the world?
Work in pairs, A and B.
Student A. You have a brief description of the first three stages of education. Read it and be ready to give Student B information about these stages. After you have answered Student B’s questions, ask your questions to find out about further stages of education in Great Britain.
1. Can you apply to the university in the UK quickly? Why/why not?
2. What do UCAS, IELTS and Ph.D. stand for?
3. What are the two types of postgraduate program?
4. What is postgraduate degree designed for?
5. What kind of research do students carry out for Ph.D.? Who helps them with this?
Education System In England
Primary Education: In the UK, primary education is given to a child at the age of 5 and it continues until 11. The first key stage is for infants and the other is for juniors.
Secondary Education: Students from the age of 11-16 years are given secondary education. They follow a general syllabus which leads to the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education). After passing this exam, there is selection of subjects. Lessons are given together with assignments which need to be completed in order to pass this level. Both primary and secondary education is compulsory until the age of 16.
Further Education: After secondary education, students have the option of acquiring qualifications such as A-Level and GNVQ (General National Vocational Qualification). If you are planning to go in for higher studies then you must complete this level first. The most common one is Advanced Level (General Certificate of Education in Advanced Level Certificates) which is considered an entry level for getting admission into a university for higher studies. Here, students study three to four subjects based on their interests and can choose from Business, Science, Arts and Humanities.
Student B. Read your part of the text. Ask your questions to find out about first three stages of education in Great Britain. After that, answer Student B’s questions.
1. At what age do children get their primary and secondary education?
2. What do GCSE, A-Level and GNVQ stand for?
3. What stages of education are compulsory?
4. Why do some students get further education?
5. How many subjects do students study for A-Level?
Higher Education: After completion of further studies in the UK, you can opt for higher studies. As an international student, applying to the universities is a time consuming process. You have to visit the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS), which is an agency of the Central Government that manages the application procedure of every university. Various universities offer programs for study and job opportunities. Also, foreign students need to write the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if their first language is not English. After graduation you get Bachelor’s degree.
