III. Conclusion:

It should be clear from the preceding discussion that there are some definite differences between the two education systems. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Western education encourages people to pursue their true interests, producing a broad range of skills and areas of expertise. Eastern education, on the other hand, discourages the pursuit of learning that has no strictly practical purpose, such as visual and performing arts. Eastern education, however, is an efficient way of training people to perform tasks that require quick and precise thinking.

Confucius is known to be the greatest teacher ever. In schools, we are taught about all the famous lines that he said. Things like ^“The teacher should teach differently according to every student's condition" are familiar to all of us, but do we see it inside our education? It's very ironic that we have the greatest teacher ever but we produce "robot" students. Surely there are some wonderful teachers showing up now and then, but if the whole system doesn't change, it would be difficult to just rely on this small portion of teachers.

Overall, I would say that the advantages of Western education outweigh its shortcomings. Western education produces people who are able to make choices more consistent with their own true interests. Therefore, they ultimately achieve more satisfying lives. This gives them the motivation to follow their interest with passion which drives them to become leaders in their chosen field. In the East, seniors often tell us to equip ourselves so that we will have the ability to help others after becoming an adult, but the West lets students participate in charity work since childhood or adolescence and this gradually becomes one of their habits. In actual fact, there is so much we can do even if we are only seventeen or eighteen.

In addition to individual consequences the education system also has an impact at the social level. For example, the two education systems produce different values. Eastern education gives out the concept that working is the main purpose of life. While this creates some social stability, it also means that the spiritual life of each person is easy to impoverish. On the contrary, Westerners know better how to relish life and this world. I believe if we want our society to be more progressive and be in line with the most advanced countries, there is definitely a need to reform our education system.

http://www.shs.edu.tw/works/essay/2006/10/2006102810584206.pdf

After reading Tasks

Task 1. Find the words to match the definitions

Introduction

1. _____________ adj. - confident and direct in claiming one's rights or putting forward one's views

2. ________________ adj. - cool or formal in manner; restrained, silent

3. ______________ v. - to judge or assess the worth of, how good or bad smth is

4. ______________ n. - answer, reaction, feedback

5. _________________ v. – decide, conclude, settle, identify

Para A

6. _______________ n. - a person or group of people having power or influential position

7. ______________ n. - a person who is an equal in social standing, rank, age

Para B

8. ________ _____________ phr.– for example

9. ____________ n. - the quality or state of being effective

10. ____________ v.- to bring together for comparison; to present in order to criticize

11. ________________ n. – a kind of investigative task where students have to find and analyse information themselves and then make a report

12. _____________ adj.– steady, firm, permanent, constant

Para C

13. ________________ n. - canvas shoes with rubber soles worn for sports or informally

14. _____________ n. - organized resistance or opposition

15. ____________ v. – to advance physically, mentally, emotionally, etc.; grown-up

16. ________________ n. - an institution for abandoned children

Para D

17. ____________ adj. - under mental or emotional strain

18. ____________ adj. - adaptable or variable

Conclusion

19. _______________ n. - the period in human development that occurs between the beginning of puberty and adulthood

20. _____________ v. - to make poor, to deprive

Task 2. Fill in the gaps with prepositions:

1. To study ___________ foreign teachers

2. An approach ________ teaching

3. To derive ________

4. Lead ________

5. ________ the contrary

6. Differ __________

7. The key _____________

8. To be good _________

9. To work _________ the topic

10. To put emphasis _________

11. To tuck __________ the shirt

12. Be consistent _________

Task 3. Complete the phrases:

1. To be __________important

2. The ____________ difference

3. Teacher-___________ classes

4. To __________ through the textbooks

5. To meet the ______________

6. To put too much ______________ on

7. To be in _________ with

8. ____________ countries

9. Relaxed _____________ of learning

10. To put a great deal of _________ on ____________

11. To line up like _________

12. To study around the ____________

13. To _________ down the interest

14. _______________ job

15. ___________ school

16. To ________ up the good work

17. To earn a good ___________

18. ______________ activities

19. Donation _______________

20. To ____________ the fashion trends

21. To bear teacher’s bad _____________

22. ___________ discussion

23. To __________ one’s interests

24. Area of _____________

25. To ____________ the pursuit of learning

26. To require quick and ____________thinking

27. Advantages outweigh ____________

28. To ___________ life

Task 4. Complete the table using the information from the text. Write not the whole sentences but brief notes.

Points to compare	West	East
general opinion about people
Role of teacher:
attitude to discussions
attitude to questions
position
students’ participation in the classes:
motivation
possibility to express opinions
memorizing and understanding:
learning tempo
quality of knowledge
exams
source of information
types of activities
Conformity and originality:
grading
originality
attitude to mistakes
Relationships between teachers and students:
respect
private matters
Aims and results of education:
pursuits
fields of knowledge
produce the type of people
teach the main things in life

Grammar: Infinitive

Stop and check 3. Grammar.

Text 2

Pre-reading tasks

Task 1. Answer the questions

1. Do you have to pay for higher education in your country?

2. What do you know about funding of higher education in other countries?

3. Are there any state scholarships in your country which you can apply for?

4. Can you apply for any foreign scholarships as a student?

You are going to read seven short texts about financial peculiarities of higher education in different countries. Your teacher will provide you with one complete text, others will have gaps and question words to help you understand what kind of information is missing. Move around the classroom asking questions and filling in the gaps. Each question should start with the given question word.