Exercise 6

Choose the most important questions (3-5), go round the class and ask as many students as possible. Ask some other questions you consider interesting.

 Listening

Now listen to Graham Grant, an English teacher, who will tell about life in a Japanese school.

Part A

The following words and phrases are in the interview. Check the meaning and the pronunciation in your dictionary.

attitude (n) retire (v) respect (n) competitive (adj) discipline (n) rude (adj) row (n) strict (adj) bow (v) politeness (n)

Part B

Listen to the interview and answer the questions.

• Why is education so important in Japan?

• “Children must do well at school.” Why?

• At what age do they start to work hard?

• What do they do in class?

• What do they do in the evening?

• Do they have a long holiday?

• How do they spend their weekends and holidays?

Part C

Divide into two groups. Each group has four answers to four questions about the interview. Write the questions, then ask the other group to answer them.

Group A		Group B
1. ?		1. ?
He’s teaching Japanese in England.		Six.
2. ?		2. ?
They usually stay from the time they live school or university until they retire.		Yes, they do, because they are never bored. 3. ?
3. ?		Three or four hours every night.
About forty.
4. ?		4. ?
Because it is rude to question a teacher.		She is probably watching TV.

Part D

What do you think?

• Are Japanese schools like schools in our country?

• Were teachers in your school strict or lenient? Which do you prefer? Which do you

think is better?

• What are the advantages or disadvantages of strict schools?

• In what way are schools in your country and schools in Japan alike?

• How are students’ attitudes toward teachers and school in Japan and Ukraine different?

Exercise 7

What were your most frequent grades? What did it depend on?

Grades are often calculated differently, not only in different countries, but also in the same country. Generally, in the United States, teachers consider the following areas when computing grades:

Tests: formal examination

Quizzes: short tests, sometimes given to students without telling them in advance

Homework: work the students are expected to do individually at home

Class participation: active involvement in the class, shown by asking and answering

questions

Research paper: a written report that requires finding information in the library

Attendance: going to class every time it meets

Promptness: coming to class at exactly the time the class is scheduled to begin and handing

in work when it is due

Attitude: showing interest in the class and respect for the teacher, the subject, and the other

students; also, waiting your turn to speak, not interrupting, raising your hand to ask a question

Are these areas also important in your country? Which ones are not important?