Words connected with the theme of the Unit

Imagine that you have been contacted by a principal of a specialized school and asked to work there. Write a reply either accepting or rejecting the proposal and give reasons for your decision.

Write a feature article about the improvements that could be made in secondary education in this country.

Writing

Hold a round-table conference on the following subjects.

General discussion

Discuss the following questions.

C) Discuss and decide the best project from among all those worked out in the class.

1. Why do some parents choose to opt out of the conventional school system?

2. What are alternative school systems in this country? What are their advantages/disadvantages?

3. Would you work there as a teacher?

For more ideas and new information read the supplementary text Why Parents Choose to Opt out of the State System.

· The priorities of the ideal school.

· Typical national characteristics of Belarusian conventional schooling.

· Conventional schooling in Belarus: problems and ways of their resolution.

· Alternative school systems: pros and cons.

· Educational opportunities in this country. Are they equal?

· School-leavers and their concerns.

· Employment prospects for school-leavers and university graduates.

abolish v	to ~ fagging, subjects, corporal punishment
academic adj	~ achievement, development ~ success, performance
account for v
apply v	to ~ for a job
application n	~ form
applicant n
apprentice n
apprenticeship n	part-time ~
approve of v
assess v
assessment n	continuous ~, ~ tests
attach v	to ~ importance
breed n, v	love ~s love

bully v, n
child-centred adj	~ approach
competitive adj
conclusive adj	~ evidence, argument, proof
conventional adj	~ schooling
counterpart n
credit n
decline n, v	standards have ~ed, on the ~
default n
default on v	~ on a debt, loan
defaulter n
disadvantaged adj	~ background, child, home
disdain v
disdainful adj	~ of industry
docile adj	~ pupil
docility n
dole n	on the ~
downtrodden adj
draw up v	to ~ a plan
drop out v, n	to ~ of school/college
egalitarian adj, n	~ approach
elite n
elitist adj
entrance n	~ requirements, to sit for ~ examinations
entry n	~ fee, form
fake v	to ~ an exam
fit into v	to ~ a group, society
fuss v, n	to make a ~ of sb
fussy adj
gear n	in ~, out of ~
gear up to v	to be ~ed to (for) sth
heredity n
hereditary adj
imprint n, v	~ of the society
inarticulate adj
inborn adj	~ talents, gifts, abilities
incentive n
innate adj	~ gifts, qualities
innately adj	~ good, gifted
linger v	to ~ on, over sth

manpower n
mediocre adj	~ teacher
obsess v	to be ~ed with an idea
opt out v	to ~ out of the state system
option n
optional adj	~ classes
overrate v
overtax v	to ~ oneself, one’s abilities
promote v	to ~ to the next grade
prospective adj	~ student, college
regardless of adv
renounce v	to ~ discipline, uniform
renunciation n
retain v	to ~ in a grade
retention n
stifle v	to ~ creative imagination, to feel ~ed; ~ing atmosphere
survey n, v	to conduct/carry out a ~
suspend v
swot v, n
tailor n, v	to ~ to one’s interests, needs
truant n, adj	to play ~ from classes
truancy n
undervalue v
workforce n	to come into ~
Phrases
below/above average intelligence	to be a number
basic skills	mixed-ability classes
the three R’s	a socially divisive institution
a selective school/education	extra curricular activities
a school-leaver	a fee-paying institution
to get a first	a graduate-level job
child/learner-centred approach	a non-government school
literacy and numeracy	a student defaulter
to stuff with knowledge	liberal education
mental gymnastics	to put oneself through a university
conventional schooling	to be (come up) to scratch
GCSE	to scrape through exam/school/college
perfect command of the language	love breeds love
to make the school fit the child

to go on for higher education	employment prospects
to sit for public/entrance examinations	to penalize students
core subjects	to meet standards, requirements
a school syllabus	to implement reforms, exams
the right opening	statewide testing
corporal punishment	graduation exams
a trainee teacher	a parent/teacher meeting
vocation oriented courses	to advance to a new grade
to load teachers down with paper work	comprehensive school/system/training
to lower the passing score	vocationally relevant subjects
promotion requirements
to catch up with the peers
dropout prevention

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