ROAD TO B1: LESSON 7

READING

"In Britain, pupils wear a school uniform. As well as a particular skirt or pair of trousers, with a specific shirt and jumper, they also have a school PE kit (clothes that they wear to play sports at school).

Most children go to state-run primary and secondary schools. Schools are mostly mixed (girls and boys sit in the same classes), although there are some single-sex schools (schools for girls or boys only) and a few schools are private, where parents pay school fees.

Schools try to have clear rules for acceptable behaviour. For example, pupils (school children) have to show respect to their teachers. Often they have to stand up when their teacher comes into the classroom and say "Good morning". If pupils break the rules, they can expect to be sent to the headmaster or headmistress, or to do detention, when they stay behind after the other pupils go home.

Most schools have lessons in the morning and in the afternoon. Pupils can go home for lunch, or have their lunch in school. Some have a packed lunch (where they bring lunch from home, such as sandwiches, fruit etc) and some eat what the school prepares. These "school dinners" vary in quality, and there has recently been a lot of media interest in providing healthy school dinners for pupils.

Pupils can expect to get homework for most subjects, and there are regular tests to check progress. At the end of each of the three school terms, teachers give each pupil a report. Schools also have a parents' evening each year, when the parents can meet the teachers to discuss their child's progress.

School isn't just lessons and homework though. Most schools arrange a sports day once a year, as well as school trips to places of interest."

SPEAKING: What sort of student are you?

stellar = a star performer
hard-working = someone who tries
straight A = a student who always gets top marks
plodder = someone who works consistently, but isn't particularly brilliant
mediocre = not bad, average
abysmal = terrible

Exercise to practise connectors in a descriptive essay, with its key: HERE


MOCK EXAM: Use of English. Two "multiple choice" exercises: Choose A, B, C, D to fill in the text. You have some here that you can practise at home:

English grammar tests, each with 20 questions, in order of increasing difficulty:

• Test 1A · Test 1B · Test 1C · Test 1D · Test 1E · Test 1F · Test 1G · Test 1H
• Test 2A · Test 2B · Test 2C · Test 2D · Test 2E · Test 2F · Test 2G · Test 2H

HOMEWORK:

WRITING TASK: Write a description of the school you go to (120-140 words). 

Include the following information (it's important to talk about ALL of the topics mentioned):

- a brief introduction: the type of school, size, location, your age when you started there, the number of students in each clas...

- Teachers, discipline, homework, uniform

- Your favourite subjects and the subjects you don't enjoy as much. Write why you like/dislike them.

- Your opinion of the school. Is it a good school? Why?


HERE you have a template that you can use as a writing reference.

More VOCABULARY related to Education


You can send your composition to: gabytorrens@hotmail.com or give it to me at school. The sooner the better, thanks.