Topic 2 : Education

“Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember; involve me and I will

understand.”
― Confucius

Discussion:
What do you think are the biggest challenges we are currently faced with in
education?
truancy cheating plagiarism
outdated syllabuses irrelevant subjects / courses
a steep learning curve
exam overload: too many exams exam-driven approach disclosure of future
exam content arbitrary / unfair exam(grading, marking) system

high / exorbitant / huge tuition fees

job-market shrinkage unemployment remaining stubbornly high proliferation of

Mickey Mouse courses

teacher shortages

underfunding / educational funding stubbornly down

affordable education – an oxymoron?

not a level playing field

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Listening 1 Are exams unfair?

1) The examination system is intrinsically flawed and arbitrary - do you agree?

What form of assessment is more efficient and reliable: exams or continuous
assessment of the students’ knowledge?

2) The pros and cons of written and oral examinations. Should the examination
system be improved or abolished altogether?

Are exams unfair?

John Ryle
Monday 14 September 1998 guardian.co.uk 

Exams are arbitrary and unfair. If you're lazy and stupid you'll probably fail; if you're clever and
work hard - and don't crack up - you probably won't. Between those two extremes, though, a lot
is down to character and chance. Certain kinds of intelligence have difficulty displaying
themselves to advantage in the examination hall, while others are given the floor.

Timed examinations ………discriminate………............... ……against………… intelligent

students who are …………absorbed…………….. …into……. their subject in favour of …
cunning…canny………. students who concentrate on learning how to pass exams. They promote
the fluent and ……glib………… over the deep and thoughtful, the …………single-
minded……………… over the ……many fasceted?……manifested…………………, the fox
over the hedgehog. All are forced into a linear grading system that cannot, by definition, …
do……... .........justice.............. …to.. the different kinds of ……intellectual…………………….
………………………….. that students - and people in general - possess. Two weeks of non-stop
examinations after three or four years of study represent a sudden change of pace, a stressful and
……disconcerting……………………. episode that stimulates some while others are disoriented
or defeated.
And that's the point. Exams are ……………………., stressful and unfair. Just like life. Students,
welcome to the world! How you respond to the stress of examinations can reveal more about you
than a dozen dissertations. Whether you ……stay………… up…… all night revising and fall
asleep in the hall. Whether you make yourself ill with worry and take your exams in hospital.
Whether you ……whether………… ………………resign.. ….. ………. and just cope. Or
whether you cheat.

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Listening 2 : Home Schooling
1.Teaching children at home is becoming more and more …………………. .Why do you think
so many parents ………………………. to keep their children out of the school system?
2.By teaching them at home, parents know …………………… what their children are
experiencing, both academically and socially.
3.But these children do ……………….. out of the house from time to time, and they aren’t
always going to be chaperoned and …………………… by their ………………………….
parents.
4.There will come a time when they emerge from their …………………… environment, and
they are sure ……………………… something which they will then have absolutely no idea how
to handle.
5.Parents are not …………………… their children from the world, they are acting as a sort of a
guard against the negative elements which …………………. in it.
6.Parents honestly feel that they can provide a better ……………………… for their children
than the average school can. Parents do what they do because they believe it is
…………………… for their children.
7.It goes without saying that …………………. educational funding means too many students per
classroom, but I still cannot accept this as an adequate reason to take them out of a real-world
situation.
8.Not that old fallacy, please! Why does everyone think that if a child doesn’t put in an eight-
hour school day, they are not going to have …………… opportunities to make and
………………… friendships?
9.Parents who choose home schooling are only too well …………… of the importance of
children developing good social skills.
10.Is it not true that even the most detailed …………………… picture of home educators to date
was based on a survey with a response rate of a mere 25%?
11.The reason for the insufficient number of responses ………… ……………… about how
…………………… the government can be. Home schoolers do not want or need any outside
………………… .
12.Filling out ……………………… to supply information to government and judicial
committees is not exactly their cup of tea.

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13.More and more colleges are not only accepting, but ……………….. home-schooled students.
14.I’m sure that time will …………………. the successful results we’ve been seeing so far.

Listening 3: Another Day, Another Dollar

Upstream Proficiency
Topic: Youth Unemployment

Global Youth Unemployment is on the Rise Again

“Scores of young people are unemployed or underemployed.”

“The rate of underemployment has become an entrenched feature of the youth labour market.”

“Stable work is the passport for our young people to build a good life for themselves. Young
people starting out today face a much harsher job scenario than their parents and grandparents
did.”

“The youth unemployment rate for 15- to 24-year-olds has remained stubbornly high since the
global financial crisis, a deep economic recession which has cast a near decade-long shadow on
the prospects of youth in many developed nations.”

“Among the many reasons to migrate (e.g. armed conflicts, natural disasters, etc.) a high
unemployment rate, increased susceptibility to working poverty and a lack of good quality job
opportunities are key factors shaping young people’s decision to migrate abroad permanently.

Globally, the share of young people between 15 and 29 years old who are willing to move
permanently to another country stood at 20 per cent in 2015.”

1.Just because you’ve got a degree, it doesn’t mean that you will land on your feet
……………… .
2.The job market has changed – employers are on the ……….……… for skills,
not knowledge per se.
3.You’d better hope and pray that you like doing it regardless of whether it’s very
………………………. .
4.I think the ideal career path is the one that provides the ……………… for you to
grow along with the job.

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5.If you don’t feel ……………………. in the place you’re going to spend such a
large part of each day, how can you be expected to be creative and feel
………………… by what you do?
6.If you were to ask me the best way of assuring job satisfaction, I would say it’s
to be Number One. I think it’s the only …………………. way of getting that
feeling. I never want to play second …………….. to anyone.

Listening 4: Media Studies

Upstream Proficiency
1.Apparently, media studies is the latest really ‘cool’ subject to study. However, I find that
surprising considering the recent ______________ of press reports accusing
_______________________ universities and colleges of ________________ media studies
graduates.
They claim that many of them have been offering __________________ courses which fail to
equip students for any kind of posting in the industry and at best leave them fit only for
________________ clerical work or worse, waiting tables!
2.Well, despite bad press and __________________ educational establishments, media studies
apparently is no longer considered _________________ to the extent that it’s even being taught
in schools at A level. I don’t know about you, but I for one no longer cringe when
__________________ my major during conversations with law or accounting graduates or, more
importantly, on application forms.
3.I grant you that, whatever the press say, media studies graduates do seem to be better
________________ by potential employers these days. I think that at last they’ve recognized that
media courses, good ones that is, ___________ students with valuable communication,
_______________ , IT and general literacy skills, not to mention teach them how to work well
as part of a team.
4.And the employment figures concerning media studies graduates don’t __________________
the press reports either. The survey mentioned showed that 72 per cent were in full-time
employment, although admittedly, they didn’t all go into _______________________
occupations.
5.So what? A job’s a job. Naturally, a __________________ course is more likely to guarantee
you your ideal job than a general degree like media studies.
6.But I do think there are some students who suffer from the _________________ that a media
degree is a surefire ___________ to stardom, or at the very least a glamorous post at some major
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TV channel. They are the ones who feel let down and I suspect it is the likes of those
_________________ few the press reports you mentioned were ___________________ to.
7.You are probably right. It’s probably just another case of ______________ reporting, we see it
every day. However, on the bright side, I have heard stories, admittedly _______ _____ _______
__________ about recent graduates who have found jobs in their first year after graduating with
national newspapers or as TV news presenters. But really, I’m thinking of the educational
institutions criticized in the press, all a good media course is obliged to do is give students the
basic ____________ required to put them on the ___________ _________ of the ladder.
Part of the problem is that many of these institutions are simply so ___________ ______
_______ they will take just about anybody in. It’s hardly surprising media studies graduates are
_____________ in ability when many of them should never have been accepted on the course in
the first place!
8.I’ve heard some colleges accept students who are hardly capable of stringing a
_________________ sentence together.
9.On the other hand, there are some things that just can’t be taught – natural talent and
________________. The fact remains, that in a highly ________________ industry like the
media, the best skill you can have is ___________ ______ from the crowd, because if you don’t
have that, then all the qualifications in the world won’t help you.

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Listening 5

Cambridge CPE Listening: Education

Part 4
You will hear a conversation in which Clare and Tom, who teach English to
foreign students at the same language school, discuss Tom’s first week at the
school. For questions 23-28, decide whether the opinions are expressed by only
one of the speakers, or whether the speakers agree.
Write C for Clare
T for Tom
B for Both, where they agree
23 The physical conditions don’t live up to the image the school wants to promote
23

24 The owners of the school need to adapt to cope with the realities of competition
24

25 Schools can stay independent if they target specific groups of customers

25

26 Professionally, teachers benefit more from working with colleagues in the same field than
with those in different fields
26

27 Teachers are responsible for managing their relationships with classes

27

28 Job satisfaction is more important than salary

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 28

Cambridge CPE Listening: Education

1.I get the odd feeling that somehow the school is successful _____________
_____________.
2.It claims to be really_________________ , but the buildings and furniture
__________ _____________________ , and the equipment is
______________________________ , yet amazingly the students seem happy.
3.Maybe the good atmosphere is partly because the building and things aren’t up to
much. People don’t feel they always have to be
______________________________ .
4.That just sounds like an excuse for being ____________________ ! These days
you can’t compete unless you can really provide the best.
5.Most of the students come through _________________ . I suppose we are going
to have ___________________________ . I doubt if there’ll be a place much
longer for for-family-owned schools.
6.I think their days are __________________ , with more and more of them being
taken over by large companies.
6.Bringing together a mixture of teachers of different subjects gives a different
______________________ the classroom.
7.I’ve always found it ____________________________ talking to other English
teachers, while I sometimes feel I’m not _________________________________
as science teachers.
8.Having a good teacher-student relationship is crucial, but each class develops its
own culture, so you may not be able ___________________________ every class.
9.I reckon it’s a bit of ___________________ really. I’m sure you ought to be
flexible enough to deal with any class effectively.
10.Do you think you’ll stay here long?

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- Depends how it_______________ . I need to believe I’m doing something
___________________ , even if the money isn’t brilliant.

Vocabulary revision 1

1.Given the exorbitant cost of tuition, creating a level playing field for university applicants
appears to be an uphill struggle.
a. providing fair and equal opportunities c. providing accommodation
b. offering scholarships d. providing sports facilities

2.The vast majority of people are lukewarm about online education, saying it may place a
heavy burden on the students: to become computer literate or be left behind in life.
a. keen on b. averse to c. adamant about d. unenthusiastic about

3.The critics of the examination system claim that it is intrinsically flawed and arbitrary and
does not do justice to the different kinds of intellectual aptitudes of the students.
a. inherently b. marginally c. slightly d. somewhat

4.By “Rock and Roll Education” the author implies the utter futility, inconsistency and
inadequacy of the higher education and the teachers’ vain efforts to impart knowledge and
maintain a reasonably high level of academic achievement.
a. uselessness b. efficiency c. persistence d. discrepancy

5.What's worrying is that most of last year's complaints were about exam and coursework marks,
and many of these were from students seeking to improve their results by citing mitigating
circumstances.
a. aggravating c. deteriorating
b. extenuating d. enhancing

6.Fortunately, the number of students …….. out of school is much lower this year.
a. falling b. dropping c. plummeting d. expelling

7.When designing a language course, we take care to ensure that the learning ……….. is not too
steep.
a. curriculum b. syllabus c. curve d. transcript

8.The …………… effects of procrastination on one’s personal and professional lives cannot be

ignored: the sooner you realize it, the easier it will be to remedy the problem.
a. contrary b. adverse c. reluctant d. hostile
9.Sustained bullying and harassment in schools are said to be running………,which can
undermine a person’s self-esteem and cause long-lasting damage to their mental health.
a. rampant b. frequent c. pending d. bitter

10.Given the incredible job-market………., with unemployment remaining stubbornly high,

scores of young people may face a bleak future.
a. shrinkage b. breakage c. leakage d. wreckage

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VOCABULARY REVISION 2
1.The government has come in for fierce criticism over the incompetence and utterly shambolic
way in which they tackle vital educational issues.
A fairly subtle C meticulously planned
B totally disorganized D fairly consistent
2.The causes of autism have been notoriously hard to pin down, but are thought to include a
range of environmental factors and multiple genetic influences.
A to cure completely C to relieve partially
B to understand and define clearly D to eliminate completely
3.Plummeting FCAT writing scores have led to a renewed round of criticisms against Florida's
ongoing effort to ramp up its education accountability and testing program.
A improving dramatically C soaring dramatically
B dropping sharply D consistently high
4. Steer clear of complicated issues or sensitive subjects or you're sure to put your foot in things
and make a tense situation even worse.
A delve into C be deliberately ambiguous or unclear about
B deliberately avoid talking about D speak in a desultory fashion about

5.Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were given the opportunity to re-sit part or
all of their exam after complaints that results had been downgraded.
A remake B repeat C retake D revise

6.Regrettably, the government has only been paying lip……….to education issues for the last
few decades.
A attention B duty C tribute D service
7.If you've missed a university offer by a substantial margin, you might want to consider
embarking on a foundation degree as a route into higher education.
A slim B sizeable C negligible D profound
8.Comprehensive reforms to educational system are evidently long ………. but, with hundreds
of students put off applying by the prohibitive cost of tuition.
A over-the-top B overdue C overboard D overblown
9.To fulfil this ambition he was prepared to go to any……….., no matter how underhand or
devious they might be.
A heights B lengths C means D odds
10.The standard of teaching in New Zealand universities is at an appallingly low……………,
offering no education, but a brainwashing in the polluted wastes of a decadent and dying society.
A edge B ebb C run D extent
11.I saw our students facing tremendous ……….. – poor economic condition, inadequate
educational standards, crowded and poorly equipped classrooms. Yet, despite these difficulties,
they were able to win the crowns of success – achievements worthy of their struggles.
A bets B prospects C chances D odds
12.But, sadly, I’m told his gruelling schedule may have taken its ………… on a personal level –
and that his relationship has hit a rocky patch.
A toll B impact C pinch D burden
13.Managing a To-Do List has been the …………… of my existence for many years, with
dozens of new tasks and unanticipated problems cropping up each day.
A line B bane C brunt D toll
14.Given that newspapers are losing circulation because of the move to digital communication in
the media, the vast majority of them do most certainly ………….. to the prejudices of their
readers, in the same manner as commercial TV channels cater to their target audiences’ tastes.

10
A gratify B pander C chime D tally

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