Підручник Англійська мова 8 клас - Калініна Л.В. - Генеза 2016 рік

Unit 2: Live and Learn

2.2. The best Days of Your Life

I. Now for it!

Look at the pictures and say how things in them are connected with American schools.

Example: Square academic caps are worn by those graduating from school in a graduation ceremony.

II. Reading

a) Read the extracts of the interview with a high school principal about the system of education in the USA and think to what three questions you would like to get answers from the text.

Interview with a High School Principle: The Best Days of My Life

Part One

Journalist:

Mrs. Fleming, thank you for agreeing to answer a few questions about the educational system of the USA. What age does education start in the USA?

Mrs. Fleming:

Most children in the United States begin school at the age of five by starting kindergarten. Often children have already started what is called pre-school at age of four, but pre-school is generally privately run and not compulsory. Children are required by state to be at school at the age of 6, when they start first grade.

Journalist:

And when do children move on to secondary education?

Mrs. Fleming:

In some districts in the 7^th grade when children go to so called junior high school where they stay for two years, in other places in the 6^th grade of middle school. School districts vary the division of school at this age. But high school or senior high school in some parts start with the 9^th grade up to the 12 ^th grade.

Journalist:

You’ve said «grade», does this word mean an academic year - «form» in British schools»?

Mrs. Fleming:

It does. But in America the word «grade» refers to different things related to school. A grade can be also the record of the scholastic achievements, that is a «letter grade».

Journalist:

That’s pretty interesting. Can you be more specific about it?

Mrs. Fleming:

Sure. The grading system in the United States is rated by the letters: A for excellent; B, for good; C, for average; D, for poor and F, for representing failing. Children in elementary school usually don’t earn letter grades until 3^d or 4^th grade. Grades for the older children are more important, because their GPA depends on it, that’s why they are given about 4 times in an academic year, on what are referred to as report cards.

Journalist:

And what is a «report card» and what is GPA?

Mrs. Fleming:

A report card is a written statement of teachers about a pupil’s work at school, sent to his/her parents. The parents have to know that if a child has mostly D’s and F’s, he/she must retake the class or take a summer course. And GPA is the average of a student’s mark over a period of time (Grade Point Average) which is renewed to get a University GPA. Four is the highest possible GPA. Besides, high school students take semester exams in winter and in spring and their performance on these exams help to determine if the student will advance to the next grade.

Part Two

Journalist:

And what can you say about a curriculum in American schools?

Mrs. Fleming:

Junior and senior high school students follow an individually set schedule for the semester. An average student’s schedule consists of 4 or 5 required classes such as English, Maths, Science, Physical Education, History and 2 or 3 elective courses which the students take up for themselves. The number and kind of electives often depend on the size of the school but they usually include music, art, mechanics, homemaking, journalism, computers, dance, and foreign languages. It’s highly important to mention that classes such as advanced studies or foreign languages are not usually required in the high school curriculum but very often are required as entrance to the university.

Journalist:

Do the students take any state exams before finishing high schools?

Mrs. Fleming:

No. As a rule, a student graduates from high school and receives a diploma when all the courses required in the curriculum were passed with a D (sometimes C) or better grades. Many students take the SAT attempt to enter college or University but it’s not required to graduate from high school. Most students are 17 or 18 at that time and it’s up to them to decide.

Journalist:

You are absolutely right, Mrs. Fleming. And thank you for this inside look into schools in the USA.

Across Cultures: The USA

SAT - (Scholastic Aptitude Test); a private two-part examination which must be taken by students who wish to go to US universities.

Elective - a course that you can choose to study because you are interested in it while you are studying for a degree in different subjects.

III. Language Track

1. In the text of the interview, find the yes/no questions and wh-questions and reproduce them following the pattern. Practise asking your own questions.

1. Study the difference in meaning. In the text of the interview, find the sentences with these word-combinations and interpret their meanings in context. Make up your own sentences by analogy with them.

2. From the text of the interview, reproduce words/phrases characterizing grades and the curriculum. Fill in the word-maps for them and illustrate them in your own examples.

Example: The grading system in the United States is rated by the letters.

An average student’s schedule consists of 4 or 5 required classes.

3. In the text of the interview, find words and phrases attributable to school start and school finish. Use them to describe schooling in Ukraine.

Example: Most children in Ukraine begin school at the age of six…

1. In the text of the interview, find adverbs and interpret their meanings in contexts.

2. Categorize the adverbs according to their types and illustrate them with your own examples.

Example: Pre-school is generally privately run and not compulsory.

3. Complete the sentences using adverbs formed from the adjectives in the box.

Example: Traditionally, a student graduates from high school and receives a diploma.

1. At what age does education_______ start in the USA?

2. Pre-school is___________ not compulsory.

3. ______ run schools are quite expensive.

4. _____, in America the word «grade» refers to different things related to school.

5. Most children in the United States begin school___ , at the age of five, by starting kindergarten.

6. ______, classes such as advanced studies or foreign languages are not always required in the high school curriculum.

7. Junior and senior high school students follow an_____ set schedule for the semester.

V. Communication Track

1.Speaking

a) Having read the interview about the American education system, describe it following the plan below.

Plan

1. Pre-school education in America.

2. Elementary education in the USA.

3. American secondary education.

4. Grading system in high schools.

5. Students’ individual schedule.

6. Graduation from school.

b) Read the journalist’s questions in the text «The Best Days of My Life» and use some of them for interviewing your friend about Ukrainian schooling.

c) Compare the systems of education in the USA, Britain and Ukraine using the culture comparison profile.

Culture Comparison Profile

2. Listening

a) Before you listen

You are going to listen to the impressions of an American teenager about his night school. Judging by the title, try to predict what made him apply to it.

b) While you listen

In pairs, ask and answer the star questions.

c) After you listen

In groups, brainstorm with your friends some pluses and minuses of attending a night school.

3. Writing

a) Before you write

1. If you want to write a class journal entry about your impressions of American schooling, ask yourself the following questions:

• What impressions do I want to create by writing the description? To help my classmates to understand something? To persuade them to act?

• Why would my writing interest them?

• What dominant impression will I develop?

2. Brainstorm with your friends any possible features of American schooling.

3. Make a list of words/phrases you can use to describe your impressions of American schooling.

b) While you write

How to write a class journal entry

At Home: In your WB, write a class journal entry about your impressions of American schooling.