Discussion

Discussion questions. When carrying out the assignments, please make use of the previously discussed words and expressions (see also Additional Texts).

At School in the UK

1. At what age do British children start school? Do all primary schools in England and Wales belong to the state sector?

2. What subjects are taught at primary school? Is there a regular timetable? Do class teachers teach all subjects or not?

3. At what age are pupils usually transferred to secondary school?

4. Is secondary education in Britain compulsory or voluntary? Is it free? What's the school leaving age?

5. When did the first comprehensive schools appear? When did comprehensive education become a national policy?

6. What subjects are taught at comprehensive school? Is the range of subjects uniform? Does it vary from school to school? Is there a common curriculum?

7. When was the National Curriculum introduced and what was its essence?

8. What are the core subjects? Name them.

9. What are the foundation subjects? Name them.

10. Is Religious Education included into the curriculum or not? Is it compulsory or voluntary?

11. How is pupils' progress tested? Will you explain the essence of the national assessment system? At what ages do children take standard assessment tests?

12. When was the eleven-plus abolished? Why?

13. At what age do students take exams for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)?

14. What is the sixth-form (sixth-form college)? What exam is taken at the age of 18? How many subjects are studied for A levels?

15. Can you say who is responsible for setting exams in English schools?

16. Are there any differences in schooling between England, Wales and Scotland? What are they?

17. What does the term "independent school" imply? What percentage of pupils goes to independent schools?

18. How did the public school get its name? What are the most prestigious public schools? Can you name any well-known people who went to Eton, Westminster, and Harrow?

19. What does the expression "the old-boy-network" ("old boys") mean?

20. How can you prove that in spite of all the changes made at the turn of the XX th century the system of education in Britain is still class –divided and selective?

At School in the USA

1) What organs control schools in the USA? What are their responsibilities?

2) What years are referred to as K-12?

3) What years of education are usually called elementary school?

4) Can you describe the life in elementary school (the school year, the school day, traditional subjects). What can be said about discipline?

5) What years of education are usually called junior high school and high school?

6) What are special names of students in high school?

7) What is the life of high school students like? Describe it please.

8) Are there any national assessment requirements in the USA? Who is responsible for classification standards? How does this system work?

9) What do the abbreviations PSAT and SAT stand for? Is there any difference between the abbreviated term SAT in British and American education?

10) What document do students receive on completion of high school?

11) Is there private education in the USA? Is the opposition to private schools as strong as it is in Britain?

12) What schools are called prep schools? Who are preppies? What do you know about them?

13) Discuss with your partner the main conflicts in American education system.

At school in Russia

1.Give a talk on the structure of school education in Russia. Please make a chart of the Russian system of education to illustrate your talk.

2.Is it possible to find satisfactory English translations for all the different aspects of education in your country? Give examples when not.

3.Say what elements of American/English education system you'd like to introduce in our system of education. What measures are not applicable in Russia at all? Why?

4. Do you think a public school like Eton would be popular in our country? What type of school would you choose for your child? Why? Give your reasons.

5.What changes have been introduced in our school education? What can you say about the current situation in the Russian education?

6.Speak on the essence of the Unified National Examination. What skills are to be tested in the Unified National Examination in English? How are the students' answers at the UNE in English assessed? What do the pupils academic achievements mostly depend on? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Unified National Examination? Please rely on your personal experience when answering these questions.

7. Some people say that school years are the happiest in their life, but for others the recollections of their school years are unpleasant moments. What is your personal experience?

Work in pairs/groups.

Make up and act out the situations, using Topical Vocabulary

1. Pre-school and primary education in America and Russia

2. Secondary education in England and Russia

3. Examinations in England and Russia

1.One of the students is supposed to play the role of an Englishman/American, who knows very little about schools in Russia. The other will represent a future teacher of English displaying much interest about pre-school institutions, primary and secondary education in Britain and America. Compare American, British and Russian education systems. Find their merits and disadvantages. Agree or disagree with your partner's statements. Use the Topical Vocabulary.

2.One of you is a Head teacher who is going to organize an independent fee-paying school according to the English pattern. Members of the class, acting as parents, are asking questions about the Head teacher's ideas. Base your talk on the information given in the Main and Additional Texts.

3. Imagine that you are a lecturer. You are to speak on public schools in Britain. The main idea of your talk is that the system of education in Britain is class-divided and selective. Use Additional Texts as well as other sources of information if necessary.