Tag: education

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?

Perfect Grades Don’t Matter

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In their early life, most students believe that grades represent how smart and creative they are and that if they have good grades, they are an amazing learner.

But is this the truth? Or are grades bad for students? Because students want to have good grades, they are not taking risks by being creative because taking risks could compromise their good grades.

Instead of wanting to learn to help them be successful, their only motivation is to study just enough to ace their next test and get good grades, but they probably won’t remember any of that, because they believe good grades is enough to be successful. At least that’s what it feels like for them.

Let’s watch this video to find out why perfect grades don’t matter.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is hard work more important than having good grades? Explain your stand.
  2. In your country, have you experienced the same issue of grades looking like they are the only key to success? Share your experience.
  3. In your experience, has passion helped you more in getting a job?
  4. Do you think that the school system should be changed to help students with their passion, instead of trying to get good grades in everything? State your opinion on this.
  5. Personally, what are your thoughts on having a grading system at schools?

Private Tutoring Ban

B2 – Upper Intermediate

At present, South Korea’s private tuition industry is growing. In 2006, its education ministry imposed curfew on private education’s operating hours. Long before that, they used to ban private tutoring completely until almost two decades later when South Korea’s constitutional court ruled that it is unconstitutional.

https://www.cato.org/commentary/youll-never-guess-what-south-korea-frowns-upon

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on South Korea’s ban on private tutoring?
  2. Can you really put a price on education? Explain your point.
  3. How can educational opportunities be possibly equalized for everybody?
  4. What are your thoughts on private tutoring?
  5. Is private tutoring common in your country? Did you use to attend after-school classes? Why or why not?

21st Century Education

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“The children are our future.” This is a sentence we often hear from the generations ahead of us. With this vision in mind, society, through collaborative work, strive to value, respect, and train them for the future. The goal is to help them realize their full potential.

One aspect of such training is education. In the 21st century, we are experiencing a technological revolution. It dramatically changed the way children learn and interact with each other. For example, online learning is becoming the norm. Kids can stay at home and still be “present” at school. They can even take their exams in the comfort of their homes!

But how does 21st-century education benefit the children and in turn, society? Watch the video about 21st century education.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some ways technology is utilized in learning?
  2. What do you think of distance learning?
  3. How does the fast-developing technology affect the way children learn and communicate?
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using technology in educating children?
  5. What are some examples of jobs that are recently invented?

No Loss of Marks for Spelling Mistakes

B1 – Intermediate

Problems in spelling, punctuation, and grammar are some troubles students face. Students in a university in England has said that teachers will be more flexible in grading their students’ writing.

Let’s read the article to know about marking for spelling mistakes.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2104/210414-spelling.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the article and the university’s new policy?
  2. What are the best ways to learn to write properly?
  3. How should schools help people with learning disorders?
  4. How important is it to spell English words or even words in your native language correctly?
  5. How much importance is given to writing skills at schools in your country?
  6. Do you think you learned writing properly at school? Why or why not?

Language Learning in a Superdiverse Community

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Language experts in Canada say teaching languages only by old fixed rules is not realistic in a superdiverse community. English language teachers should encourage students to learn according to their linguistic identities. They can use more than one language to communicate a given message at any one time using multiple platforms and integrating plurilingual language practices in FSL and ESL classrooms.

Let’s read the article of why plurilingual should be used in language learning.

https://theconversation.com/language-learning-in-canada-needs-to-change-to-reflect-superdiverse-communities-144037

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on traditional grammar-based instruction and plurilingual ?
  2. Why plurilingualism has proved to be such rich teaching and learning tool in language learning?
  3. How are languages taught in Spain? How do students communicate in schools and outside of schools?
  4. What online learning applications have you used to improve your communications skills?

How to Break Bad Habits

B1 – Intermediate

Why are bad habits so hard to break?

First, what are bad habits? A bad habit is a negative behaviour pattern–perhaps one that causes bodily harm. What about your daily glass of wine, you ask? If it is not causing any pain or putting your health at risk, I would not consider it a bad habit. If you drink a whole bottle, get sick, and have trouble waking up in the morning, that may be a different story.

Let’s listen to the audio to know how to break bad habits.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/how-to-break-bad-habits-/5654403.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have any bad habits?
  2. Do you think all habits are bad? If not, what do you think are some good habits to have?
  3. Where do you think we learn our habits from?
  4. Do children learn bad habits at school or at home?
  5. Are you aware of any habits that are considered bad manners in one country but not in another?
  6. Which bad habit do you think would be the most difficult to get rid of?

University Housing

B1 – Intermediate

Students heading off to college in another city or town are more likely to live in a dormitory. There are on-campus and off-campus housing options for students. Off-campus rents tend to be cheaper only because they do not include other services that on-campus provides.

Watch the video as Randall talks about the advantages and disadvantages of living in university housing.

University Housing – Video

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is ‘University Housing’?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in university housing according to Randall?
  3. Have you lived in a university house/dormitory before? How was your experience?
  4. Do you think students living here have far better security than those renting outside the campus/university?

Good Etiquette for Foreign Students

B1 – Intermediate

Studying abroad is a great opportunity for students. It is an opportunity to widen horizons, expand knowledge, and boost personal and professional lives.

As a foreign student, one must not only follow the rules of the receiving country but also follow good social etiquettes.

Watch this video on good etiquettes for international students.

Good Etiquette

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the points on good etiquette Randall advises to international students?
  2. What are other points can you add to these?
  3. What is a ‘host family’? Why are they important?
  4. Have you lived abroad before? If yes, how did you show respect for the country you were living in?
  5. Do you have any experience studying abroad? If so, share about it. If not, what are the reasons and given a chance, would you do it?