Tag: education

Brexit Causes Collapse in European Research Funding 

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Research grants guarantee ample financial support to reach the completion of a study. Without the proper funding, it is highly unlikely for major research to reach its conclusion or to even get started. Universities are one of the institutions where research studies are usually done. In order to do so, they need to receive research grants from their government or other external funding sources.

Let’s read the article to know more about the effects of Brexit on UK’s university research and development.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/feb/04/brexit-causes-collapse-in-european-research-funding-for-oxbridge-universities

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the word “high-catchet”, “He has taken his high-cachet European Research Council (ERC) advanced grant with him.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “woo” mean in this sentence, “Although she was wooed to the US by what she calls “the best job in my field”, she says Brexit uncertainty was a big factor.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “wrangling” mean in this sentence? “The government has guaranteed it will cover all successful Horizon Europe grants applied for by the end of March, but after watching the political wranglings for more than two years, many academics are now leaving the UK, saying they no longer believe their vital European research partnerships will be protected.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did Brexit affect higher education and research in the UK?
  2. What option is available to those who have received the grant in the UK?
  3. Does your government promote and invest in research and development? How?
  4. How did Brexit affect R&D in your country?
  5. Why should we invest in R&D?

Artificial Intelligence in University Assessments

B1 – Intermediate

A lot of things in our society and how we do things have changed with the help of artificial intelligence or AI. A new way to use AI is to let students use AI text generators in their exams. This is very much like using calculators in math tests.

Read the article about allowing the use of artificial intelligence in students’ tests at universities.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2301/230123-a-i-in-assignments-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “to go pen and paper” mean, “You cannot stop it. The alternative is the Middle Ages – going to pen and paper.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “landmark” mean here, “Three universities have adopted a new, landmark policy – to allow students to use AI in assessments.”? Use this word in your own sentence. 
  3. Give 2 synonyms of “assessment”. Three universities have adopted a new, landmark policy – to allow students to use AI in assessments. Use them in your own sentences.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this ‘new, landmark policy’?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using AI text generators/language-processing tools in exams?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that “Artificial Intelligence could affect exam fairness.”? Explain your point.
  4. Have you ever tried using any AI text generators/language-processing tools? Talk about your experience.
  5. Talk about your experience ‘going pen and paper’.

College Life

B1 – Intermediate

For a student, college life is the beginning of adulthood. College opens many new doors in life. There are new responsibilities and pressures that you have to deal with and with more freedom, these responsibilities and pressures can be difficult to handle.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript below about college life.

College Life – Script

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was you college/uni years like? What is your best memory of it?
  2. What are the best and worst things about being a university student?
  3. What are/were the top three things you hope/hoped to get out of (get as a result of) your university days?
  4. If you could change something from your college/uni days, what would it be and why?

Anti-Cheating Exam Hats

B1 – Intermediate

Cheating in exams is a dishonest action and it harms an individual. Studying for an examination is very important. Through examinations, it enhances our personality, knowledge, and learning power. We also get to know where we are behind and we can move ahead for improvement.

Let’s read the article below to know more about how creative a college in the Philippines is in fighting against cheating in examinations.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2210/221027-anti-cheating-hats-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of anti-cheating hats?
  2. How much pressure is there to pass exams? What’s the best way to pass exams?
  3. What should happen to students who cheat?
  4. How stressed out do you get about/during exams?
  5. What do schools in your country do to prevent cheating?

Children’s Books Dealing with Violent Events Like Shootings

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Unfortunately, school shootings have been occurring more frequently recently. It is but natural and sensical for people to mourn the loss of their beloved young ones. However, there is the underlying aftermath that is often overlooked and that is the trauma inflicted on the survivors and other young students who were made unwillingly aware of the tragedy. For the past decade, there has been an increase in sales of books for young readers on how to deal with violence and sorrow brought about by tragic events like school shootings.

Let’s listen to the podcast and know more about this method that could help young children cope with such god-awful situations.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/more-children-s-books-dealing-with-violent-events-like-shootings/6785696.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on children reading these books?
  2. Do you think children are ready to face this harsh reality of life? If not, is it more reasonable to keep them in the dark?
  3. What other ways might help children after witnessing a tragic event such as a school shooting?
  4. Share your thoughts on this statement, “Bringing up violence when a child is not worried about it could increase their anxiety unnecessarily.”

Choosing a School

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When choosing a place to study, there are many factors to consider, including your learning style, your preferred atmosphere, how to tell whether your school is invested in your success, the types of assistance that various institutions provide, and, of course, the subject you want to pursue.

There are many options, which might be daunting, even if there are no right or wrong decisions.

Watch this video on how to choose a school carefully.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did you decide on the school/uni you were going to attend? What were the factors you took into consideration?
  2. How was your school/uni like?
  3. What were the best and worst thing about the school/uni you attended?
  4. Would you choose a different school if you had the chance to do so? Why or why not?
  5. What advice do you have for others who are going through the school-selection process?

Paper Books Better than E-books for Bedtime Stories

B1 – Intermediate

Reading to babies and small children before they go to bed is not only a way to help them feel sleepy but also a moment to spend quality time with your children. It is also an opportunity to teach them some things from the stories that you read to them.

A study found that reading traditional books for bedtime stories are still better than using technological devices.

Read the article about how paper books are still better than e-books.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1903/190328-paper-books-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree that “Technology and digital devices can’t replace traditional, paper bedtime books.”? Explain your opinion on this.
  2. What are the benefits of reading bedtime stories to children?
  3. How was your childhood bedtimes like?
  4. Compare and contrast paper books and e-books. What are the good and bad things about the two?
  5. Do you prefer printed or e-books? Why?

Hot Weather Lowers Exam Results

B1 – Intermediate

Exams are an important part of a person’s school life. Taking tests can make us feel tensed. It is necessary to have the best environment possible in order to make sure students get excellent results.

A study found that hot weather may affect students’ learning and lower their results in tests. 

Read the article about how hot weather affects exam results and learning.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1806/180601-exam-results.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this story?
  2. If global temperatures kept increasing, it could affect the future income of students because of lower test scores. What is your opinion on this?
  3. How does the weather affect you in terms of learning or doing something?
  4. How did/do you prepare for exams? 
  5. How was your classroom like? / How is your work space like? Was/Is it the perfect place for learning/working for you?

Problems with School Systems

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Schools are supposed to teach our children about important lessons, and they do. However, there a lot of problems with school systems that completely contradict this goal.

On the internet, many people say that schools are bad for us, even though these claims are partly justified, it feels like an extreme way of interpreting the problems with most school systems.

Watch the video to find out more about some problems with our school system.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “churn out” mean, “In fact, thought leaders from around the world agree that the current system of education was designed in the Industrial Age, mainly to churn out factory workers.” Use the phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does the expression “run deep” mean, “And this Industrial Age mentality of mass production and mass control still runs deep in school.”? Use the phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does “rote” mean? “Most of the learning that happens in school today is not authentic, because it relies on memorization and rote learning.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with the problems mentioned and discussed in the video? Talk about your thoughts.
  2. Besides the problems mentioned in this video, what are other issues with school systems?
  3. What are some issues with the educational system in your country?
  4. In your own opinion, do these problems outweigh the positives of school? Explain your stance.
  5. If you had the power to do so, how would you try and fix these problems?
  6. What problems did you have at school as a student?

Education

B1 – Intermediate

Education is a vital instrument for gaining knowledge and enhancing an individual’s existence. Depending on the quality of education, the process could include a few stages. Education is a crucial activity that has a considerable impact on humanity’s ethics and morals.

Let’s have a look at the transcript and listen to the audio about education.

https://listenaminute.com/e/education.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is good education?
  2. How important is education?
  3. Was there a high standard of education at your schools? Explain.
  4. Do you think the quality of education is slipping? Explain.
  5. What would you like to change about the education system in your country? Why?
  6. What do you think of the idea of lifelong education?