Read the dialogue. Complete it asking the questions about the education systems in Great Britain and the USA

Decide whether the following statements about the USA education are true or false.

1. The USA like many other countries has a national system of education.

2. More American children study in private schools than in public schools.

3. American children must attend school until a certain age.

4. It would be difficult to describe a ‘typical’ American school because there are many differences from place to place.

5. All US schools teach the same subjects and use only the materials approved by the state board of education.

6. All American universities are very expensive.

7. College students with poor grades have to repeat the course.

8. Sports and extra-curricular activities are important school subjects as they develop ‘social skills’.

9. Many US students enjoy sports activities free of charge.

A: Is the education system in Britain the same as in the United States, Alex?

B: Well, Bill, it’s fairly similar, but in most of the country we don’t have what you call junior and senior high schools. We just have secondary schools.

A: ……………………………………………………………………………..

B: Yes? They do.

A: ……………………………………………………………………………..

B: Well, most of them start when they’re eleven. Then all students continue until they’re sixteen and many continue till they’re eighteen.

A: ……………………………………………………………………………..

B: It is a school where some or all of the pupils live as well as study during the term.

Here are some phrases to help you:

– Do public schools differ in Britain and the USA?

– What is a boarding school?

– And how old are children when they enter secondary school?

3. Test yourself:

1. Music, English and Mathematics are different sorts of ______.

a) terms b) curricula c) qualifications d) subjects

2. The ______ are the teachers working in a school.

a) pupils b) staff c) persons d) helpers

3. The person in charge of a school is called the ______ or the ______.

a) headmaster/headmistress b) deputy head c) staff d) teacher

4. A school where the pupils are made up of both boys and girls is called a ______ school.

a) single b) co-educational c) preparatory d) public

5. In England and Wales, the school year is divided into three ______.

a) terms b) times c) years d) months

6. The ______ is everything that is taught in a school.

a) material b) subject c) curriculum d) term

7. Education in Great Britain from 5 to 16 is divided into two levels – ______ and _______.

a) primary / secondary b) public / primary c) infant / junior d) elementary / infant

8. If you want to know what day or time you have a particular lesson, you can always look at the _____.

a) subject b) term c) time-table d) curriculum

9. A ______ school is one where pupils live all the time and only go home to their families in the holidays.

a) junior b) primary c) public d) boarding

10. Most children in Great Britain go to ______ schools.

a) state b) boarding c) public d) single-sex

4. Pay attention to the essential vocabulary:

School an institution for educating children

attend / go to school

start school

leave school

in / at school in the school building; attending a school

be absent from school

school year

school rules

school holiday (s)

school yard

school playground

school building / schoolhouse

schoolroom

school library

school-time lesson time at school

schoolwork = classwork

school bag

schoolbook = textbook

school uniform

school tie

school bus

school report a written statement by teachers about a child’s work at school which is sent to his or her parents

school meal

school dinner

school age

school-age child

school-leaving age

school children / pupils

schoolboy / schoolgirl / child / kid

school friend / schoolfellow / schoolmate

school-leaver

schoolteacher

schoolmaster / mistress

after-school activities

nursery, day care center (in the US) a place where small children between three and five years old are looked after while their parents are at work

playschool ( in Britain playgroup) a type of school where children below school age meet regularly and play together while supervised by adults

nursery school a school for children from two or three to five years old (= kindergarten)

infant school a school in Britain for children aged between four and eight

first school a school in Britain for children between the ages of 5 and 8 or 9

primary school a school for children in England and Wales between 5 and 11 years old

elementary school / grade school a school in the US where basic subjects are taught for the first six years of a child’s education

junior school a school in Britain for children from the ages of 7 to 11

junior high school a school in the US and Canada for children aged between 12 and 14

middle school (1) a school in Britain for children between the ages of 8 and 12; (2) a school in the US for children between the ages of 11 to 14

secondary school a school for children between the ages of 11 and 16 or 18

high school a secondary school in the US and Canada for children of 14 or 15 to 18 years old

preparatory school / prep school (1) a private school in Britain for children between 8 and 13 years old whose parents pay for their education; (2) a school in the US, usually a private one, that prepares students for college

public school (1) a private school in Britain, esp. England for children aged between 13 and 18 whose parents pay for their education. Public school usually provide food and accommodation for pupils. (2) a free local school in the US, Australia, Scotland controlled and paid by the government

private school a school where education must be paid for by the children’s parents

comprehensive school / comprehensive a state school in Britain for children over the age of 11 of different abilities

grammar school a school in Britain for children over the age of 11 who have to pass a special examination to go there. The school concentrates on academic rather than technical or practical courses.

state school a British school which receives money from the government and provides free education

academy a secondary school in Scotland that prepares pupils for higher education

boarding-school a school where some or all of the pupils live as well as study during the term

day-school a school attended daily by pupils living at home

night school lessons giving in the evening for adults in a wide range of subjects, eg languages, sport or cooking

Sunday school a class held on Sundays at which children learn about the Christian religion

finishing school a private, expensive school where girls are taught how to behave in fashionable society

independent school a school not owned or paid for by the government

single-sex school a school where only boys or girls are taught

coeducational school a school where only boys or girls are taught together; the system of educating boys and girls together in the same building and classes

Key to the Test (p.132):

1. d 4. a 7. a 10. c 12. a

2. b 5. d 8. c 11. d

3. b 6. b 9. a

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