Lesson

The system of education in the USA. School life

Мета: поглибити знання учнів про систему освіти США; розвивати мислення, зорову пам'ять і уяву; виховувати  культуру мовлення, повагу до культури країни, мова якої вивчається, до мови, що вивчається, як засобу  міжнаціо-нального спілкування.

PROCEDURE

1. Warm up.

     -  What do you know about the system of education in the USA?

     -  At what age do students start elementary school?

     -  What subjects do students study at school?

     -  Is sport important in the American school system?

2. Listening.

    The American system of school education

    The American system of school education differs from the systems in other countries. There are state public schools, private elementary schools and private secondary schools. Public schools are free and private schools are fee-paying. Each state has its own system of public schools. Elementary education begins at the age of six or seven, when a child goes to the first grade (form). At the age of sixteen school-children leave the elementary school and may continue their education at one of the secondary schools or high schools, as they call them. The program of studies in the elementary school includes English, Arithmetic, Geography, History of the USA, Natural sciences and, besides, Physical Training, Singing, Drawing, wood or metal work, etc. Sometimes they learn a foreign language and general history. Beside giving general education some high schools teach subjects useful to those who hope to find jobs in industry and agriculture or who want to enter colleges or universities. After graduating from secondary schools a growing number of Americans go on to higher education. The students do not take the same courses. During the first two years they follow a basic program.  It means that every student must select at least one course from each of the basic fields of study: English, Natural sciences. Modern languages, History or Physical education. After the first two years every student can select subjects according to his professional interest. The National Government gives no direct financial aid to the institutions of higher education. Students must pay a tuition fee. This creates a financial hardship for some people. Many of the students have to work to pay their expenses. Americans place a high value on education. That's why Kennedy said, "Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education".

3. Post-listening activity.

  a) Work individually.

      Write five questions to text.

  b) Work in pairs.

      Discuss the questions with each other. Then make a short dialogue and act it out.

 c) Work individually.

      Agree or disagree with the statements. Give your reasons.

   1. The American system of school education differs from         the systems in other countries.

  2.  There are only state public schools in the USA.

  3. Elementary education begins at the age of five or six, when a child goes to the first grade (form).

  4. At the age of sixteen school-children leave the elementary  school and may continue their education.

  5. After graduating from secondary schools a growing number of  Americans don’t go on to higher education.

4. Speaking.

    Here is the structure of system of education in the USA. Read it carefully and  do the tasks which follow.

       1. Group work. Class project

           The students are divided into 4 groups.

       - The students of the first group prepare class project about pre-school education in the USA.

      -  The students of the second group prepare class project about elementary education in the USA.

     -   The students of the third group prepare class project about secondary education in the USA.

     -   The students of the fourth group prepare class project about higher education in the USA.

       2. The students represent their projects.

5. Relaxation.

Listen to the jokes and comment on them.

Jack’s Mistake

   Jack’s Mother: There were three pieces of cake in the cupboard, Jack, and now there are only two.

   Jack: It was so dark there, Mamma, that I didn’t see the others.

A Correction

  Teacher: Jimmie, why don’t you wash your face? I can see what you had for breakfast this morning.

  Little boy: What was it?

  Teacher: Eggs!

  Little boy: You are wrong, teacher, that was yesterday.

Whose Mistakes?

  Teacher (looking through Teddy’s homework): I wonder how one person could make so many mistakes.

  Teddy: It wasn’t one person, teacher, Father helped me.

Father and Son

  Father: You know, Tom, when Lincoln was your age he was a very good pupil. In fact, he was the best pupil in his class.

  Tom: Yes, father, I know that. But when he was your age he was President of the United States.

At a Restaurant

    “Here, waiter, it seems to me that this fish is not so fresh as the fish you served us last Sunday”.

      “Pardon, sir, it is the same fish”.

6. Reading

Nucklehead

Cheryl, Myra and Jim are classmates and good friends. They live in Boston, Massachusetts. Cheryl and Jim are fifteen and Myra is sixteen. They have the day off from school because it’s St Patrick’s Day. They all go to a Catholic school where many of the students  are Irish Americans. At the moment they are sitting in a deli, having lunch.

Cheryl: How come we have to take English, math, health, physical education, general science and social science?

Myra:    They’re compulsory subjects – that’s why.

Cheryl:  I know that, but how come?

Myra: Well, I guess the state thinks that everyone needs  some skills in those subjects.

Cheryl:  I got straight C’s in all those subjects.

Myra:    That’s not bad. What’s your best subject?

Jim:       Chewing gum and forgetting her homework.

Myra:    Who asked you, nucklehead?

Jim: Nucklehead! I haven’t heard that before. Where did you hear that?

Myra:   From my dad. He’s always calling people dumb names.

Jim:       Cool. Well, what is your best subject, Cheryl?

Cheryl:  Well, my favourite subject is art, but I got an  A last marking period in biology.

Jim: An A! Boy, that’s good. I’ve never got an A in  anything.

Myra:    Yes you have.

Jim:       What do you mean?

Myra:    You are A nucklehead.

Jim: Not funny, Myra – just dumb. Anyway, it may come  as no great surprise to you to know that my favourite  subject at high school is …

Cheryl:  Talking?

Jim:       Come on! No. It’s football.

Cheryl:  American?

Jim:        What?!

Cheryl:  American football or soccer?

Jim:       American football, of course. Soccer’s for nerds.

Myra:    I like soccer.

Cheryl:  Me, too. It’s just as popular as football nowadays.

Jim: OK. OK. So, all right. I’m sorry – I am a knucklehead.

7. Understanding the text.

     Answer the questions.

    1. What are the subjects that Cheryl lists?

    2. Why are they compulsory subjects?

    3. What is Cheryl’s favourite subject?

    4. Which is the better grade, A or C?

  8. Find the heads and tails of the sentences.

       1. They have the day off at school

       2. They all go to a Catholic school

       3. How come we have to take English, math, health,

       4. They are compulsory

       5. My favourite subject is art,

       a)  where many of the students are Irish American.

       b)  subjects.

       c)  but I got an A last marking period in biology.

       d)  because it’s St. Patrick’s Day.

       e)  physical education, general science and social science?

1. Check it.

         Fill in the missing words.

1. How come we have to take English, math, health, physical            education , … and social science?

2. They’re … subjects.

3. My … subject is art.

4. I got an A last marking period in … .

5. American football or …?

 10. Say it.

    Choose A or B.

A (Pair-work) Explain in English these words from the text:

     classmate                                  skill

      deli                                           surprise

B (Group-work) Discuss the differences between American football and soccer.

 11. Write it.

     Say what the compulsory subjects at American schools are and   explain what they are about.

 12. Act it.

   (Pair-work) One of you is an American student in high school. The other is an Ukrainian visitor to the school. The visitor expresses his or her surprise at various things and asks questions, especially about the school subjects. The American tries to explain the subjects.

13. Homework.

   Choose something from American school life, a subject, the grade scale, etc. Make a nice presentation of it.