Education adviser attacks UK schools (15th October, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A top adviser to the British government has attacked the quality of British schools and teachers. The adviser, Dominic Cummings, has worked closely with the UK Education Secretary Michael Gove for many years. Mr Gove has followed many of his adviser's ideas and has become very unpopular with British teachers. Cummings has made teachers very angry about a new report he made on education in Britain. He said education in Britain is "between awful and mediocre". He said most teachers do not do a good job in the classroom and that "real talent is rare". He wrote: "In England, few teachers are well trained in the basics of extended writing or mathematical and scientific modelling and problem-solving."

Mr Cummings also attacked other areas of Britain's schools. He said billions of dollars are "wasted" on projects to help poorer students and on "pointless" university courses. He argues that many university courses in England teach students little and do not help them get a job. He said university students needed to work much harder. Cummings also angered teachers by saying 70 per cent of a child's ability in the classroom is because of his or her genes, and not because of teachers. Senior officials at the Department for Education have said Mr Cummings should be fired. One said he is the reason for a lot of the Education Secretary's "madder ideas". Many teachers also want Michael Gove to be fired.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/michael-gove-adviser-says-teachers-2366294
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/11/genetics-teaching-gove-adviser

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. TEACHERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about teachers. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

adviser / quality / ideas / unpopular / teachers / classroom / basics / problem-solving /wasted / pointless / university courses / ability / genes / be fired / madder ideas

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. SCHOOL: What were these subjects like for you? How were the teachers? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

	Good or bad? Why?	How were the teachers?
English
Your language
History
Maths
Sports
Science

4. JOB: Students A strongly believe a teacher's job is very difficult; Students B strongly believe a teacher's job is easy. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. A GOOD TEACHER: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the most important things about a teacher at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• sense of humour

• strict

• gives lots of feedback

• plays games

• answers questions well

• full of energy

• knows his / her subject

• cute

6. CLASSROOM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "classroom". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	A British government worker damaged some schools in England.	T / F
b.	The name of the adviser's boss is Michael Gove.	T / F
c.	Britain's Education Secretary is very popular with British teachers.	T / F
d.	The adviser said few teachers know how to teach extended writing.	T / F
e.	The adviser wants the government to use money more carefully.	T / F
f.	The adviser suggested a lot of university courses are a waste of time.	T / F
g.	Teachers are angry because of their students' genes.	T / F
h.	No one wants the adviser or his boss to lose their job.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	adviser	a.	useless
2.	quality	b.	average
3.	unpopular	c.	cause
4.	mediocre	d.	consultant
5.	rare	e.	misspent
6.	attacked	f.	disliked
7.	wasted	g.	criticised
8.	pointless	h.	standard
9.	reason	i.	dismissed
10.	fired	j.	unusual

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	A top adviser to	a.	is rare
2.	made teachers	b.	to work much harder
3.	real talent	c.	solving
4.	few teachers are	d.	very angry
5.	problem-	e.	them get a job
6.	He said billions of dollars	f.	the British government
7.	do not help	g.	ideas
8.	university students needed	h.	genes
9.	because of his or her	i.	well trained
10.	madder	j.	are "wasted"

GAP FILL

A top adviser to the British government has attacked the (1) ____________ of British schools and teachers. The adviser, Dominic Cummings, has worked (2) ____________ with the UK Education Secretary Michael Gove for many years. Mr Gove has followed many of his adviser's (3) ____________ and has become very (4) ____________ with British teachers. Cummings has made teachers very angry about a new report he made on education in Britain. He said education in Britain is "between awful and (5) ____________ ". He said most teachers do not do a good job in the classroom and that "real (6) ____________ is rare". He wrote: "In England, few teachers are well trained in the (7) ____________ of extended writing or mathematical and scientific modelling and problem-(8) ____________."

mediocre
ideas
basics
quality
solving
talent
closely
unpopular

Mr Cummings also attacked other (9) ____________ of Britain's schools. He said billions of dollars are "(10) ____________ " on projects to help poorer students and on "(11) ____________ " university courses. He argues that many university courses in England teach students (12) ____________ and do not help them get a job. He said university students needed to work much harder. Cummings also (13) ____________ teachers by saying 70 per cent of a child's ability in the classroom is because of his or her (14) ____________, and not because of teachers. Senior officials at the Department for Education have said Mr Cummings should be fired. One said he is the (15) ____________ for a lot of the Education Secretary's "madder ideas". Many teachers also want Michael Gove to be (16) ____________.

reason
little
wasted
genes
fired
areas
angered
pointless

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	A top adviser to the British government has attacked ______ British schools
	a. the quantity of b. the quality of c. the qualify of d. the qualifies of
2)	Mr Gove has followed many of his adviser's ideas and has become ______
	a. very popular b. very popularity c. very unpopulated d. very unpopular
3)	He said education in Britain is "between ______"
	a. awful and media car b. awful and mead or ochre c. awful and mediocre d. awful and needy ochre
4)	In England, few teachers are well trained ______
	a. of the basics b. in the basics c. to the basics d. on the basics
5)	extended writing or mathematical and scientific modelling ______
	a. and problem-solved b. and problem-solvers c. and problem-solution d. and problem-solving
6)	He said billions of dollars are ______
	a. "wanted" on projects b. "basted" on projects c. "wasted" on projects d. "waste it" on projects
7)	university courses in England teach students little and do not help ______
	a. them got a job b. them get a job c. them gets a job d. them getting a job
8)	70 per cent of a child's ability in the classroom is because of ______
	a. his or her jeans b. his or her gyms c. his or her genes d. his or her gene
9)	Senior officials at the Department for Education have said Mr Cummings ______
	a. should be filed b. should be fired c. should be fiery d. should be fried
10)	One said he is the reason for a lot of the Education Secretary's ______
	a. "madden ideas" b. "mad her ideas" c. "madder ideas" d. "maddest ideas"

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A top adviser to the British government has attacked (1) ___________________ British schools and teachers. The adviser, Dominic Cummings, has (2) ___________________ the UK Education Secretary Michael Gove for many years. Mr Gove has (3) ___________________ his adviser's ideas and has become (4) ___________________ with British teachers. Cummings has made teachers very angry about a new report he made on education in Britain. He said education in Britain is "between (5) ___________________ ". He said most teachers do not do a good job in the classroom and that "(6) ___________________ ". He wrote: "In England, few teachers are well trained in the basics of extended writing or mathematical and scientific modelling and problem-solving."

Mr Cummings also attacked other areas of Britain's schools. He said billions of dollars are (7) ___________________ to help poorer students and on "pointless" university courses. He argues that many university courses in England (8) ___________________ and do not help them get a job. He said university students needed to work much harder. Cummings also angered teachers by saying 70 per cent (9) ___________________ in the classroom is because of (10) ___________________, and not because of teachers. Senior officials at the Department for Education have said Mr Cummings (11) ___________________. One said he is the (12) ___________________ of the Education Secretary's "madder ideas". Many teachers also want Michael Gove to be fired.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Who has Dominic Cummings worked closely with?
2.	What has Michael Gove followed?
3.	What do teachers think of Michael Gove?
4.	What did Mr Cummings say about real teaching talent?
5.	What did Mr Cummings say about teachers in England?
6.	What did Cummings say was wasted?
7.	What did Cummings say was pointless?
8.	What did Cummings say about university students?
9.	What percentage of a child's ability did Cummings say was because of genes?
10.	What do many teachers want to do to Mr Gove?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Who has Dominic Cummings worked closely with?	6.	What did Cummings say was wasted?
	a) Michael Gove b) head teachers c) students d) parents		a) time b) talent c) food d) money
2.	What has Michael Gove followed?	7.	What did Cummings say was pointless?
	a) his head b) his heart c) Dominic Cummings' ideas d) rules		a) school b) pencils in classrooms c) some university courses d) his job
3.	What do teachers think of Michael Gove?	8.	What did Cummings say about university students?
	a) he has no real talent b) he isn't well-trained c) he's a genius d) they don't like him		a) they are better than ever b) they should study more c) they have no hope d) they wear strange clothes
4.	What did Mr Cummings say about real teaching talent?	9.	What percentage of a child's ability did Cummings say was because of genes?
	a) students are lucky b) it's rare c) it's everywhere d) it's amazing		a) 17 b) 30 c) 70 d) 83
5.	What did Mr Cummings say about teachers in England?	10.	What do many teachers want to do to Mr Gove?
	a) few are well-trained b) they are the best in the world c) they should be paid more d) they should teach overseas		a) cut his salary b) fire him c) make him teach d) friend him on Facebook

ROLE PLAY

Role A – A sense of humour

You think a sense of humour is the most important thing for an English teacher. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a lot of energy, giving feedback or being cute.

Role B – A lot of energy

You think a lot of energy is the most important thing for an English teacher. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a sense of humour, giving feedback or being cute.

Role C – Gives feedback

You think giving feedback is the most important thing for an English teacher. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a lot of energy, a sense of humour or being cute.

Role D – Cute

You think being cute is the most important thing for an English teacher. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a lot of energy, giving feedback or a sense of humour.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'teacher' and 'school'.

teacher

school

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

quality
closely
followed
report
rare
basics

areas
pointless
job
ability
senior
fired

TEACHERS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about teachers in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

TEACHERS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'teacher'?
c)	What is the quality of schools like in your country?
d)	Are you surprised a government advisor is attacking British schools?
e)	What is your image of schools in Britain?
f)	What do you think of the job of a teacher?
g)	Who was the best teacher you ever had (and why)?
h)	What do you think of your English teacher?
i)	What can teachers do to be better teachers?
j)	Do you agree that "real talent is rare" for teachers?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Why do teachers become teachers?
c)	How will teaching change in the future?
d)	Does having a university degree help you get a job?
e)	Is a child's ability from genes or from teachers?
f)	What would you do to make schools better?
g)	How are computers and iPads, etc. changing the way you learn?
h)	What would you teach if you became a teacher?
i)	What kind of teacher do you think you would be?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Mr Cummings?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A top adviser to the British government has attacked the (1) ____ of British schools and teachers. The adviser, Dominic Cummings, has worked (2) ____ with the UK Education Secretary Michael Gove for many years. Mr Gove has followed many of his adviser's ideas and has become very (3) ____ with British teachers. Cummings has made teachers very angry about a new report he made on education in Britain. He said education in Britain is "(4) ____ awful and mediocre". He said most teachers do not do a good job in the classroom and that "real talent is (5) ____ ". He wrote: "In England, few teachers are (6) ____ trained in the basics of extended writing or mathematical and scientific modelling and problem-solving."

Mr Cummings also attacked other areas of Britain's schools. He said billions of dollars are "(7) ____" on projects to help poorer students and on "pointless" university courses. He argues that many university courses in England teach students (8) ____ and do not help them get a job. He said university students needed to work (9) ____ harder. Cummings also angered teachers by saying 70 per cent of a child's ability in the classroom is because of his or her (10) ____, and not because of teachers. Senior officials at the Department for Education have said Mr Cummings should be (11) ____. One said he is the reason for a (12) ____ of the Education Secretary's "madder ideas". Many teachers also want Michael Gove to be fired.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	quality	(b)	qualify	(c)	qualification	(d)	quantity
2.	(a)	closeness	(b)	closed	(c)	closely	(d)	closeted
3.	(a)	dislike	(b)	popularity	(c)	unlike	(d)	unpopular
4.	(a)	among	(b)	between	(c)	if	(d)	either
5.	(a)	roar	(b)	rear	(c)	rarely	(d)	rare
6.	(a)	good	(b)	positive	(c)	well	(d)	talent
7.	(a)	wished	(b)	wasted	(c)	worsened	(d)	willed
8.	(a)	little	(b)	few	(c)	small	(d)	lessen
9.	(a)	much	(b)	many	(c)	most	(d)	medium
10.	(a)	jeans	(b)	dunes	(c)	genes	(d)	dines
11.	(a)	firing	(b)	fires	(c)	fiery	(d)	fired
12.	(a)	loads	(b)	lot	(c)	most	(d)	many

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	the iuylqat of British schools
2.	worked ceollsy with the UK Education Secretary
3.	become very rlppouaun with British teachers
4.	between luwfa and mediocre
5.	well trained in the sscbai
6.	problem-ilsgovn
Paragraph 2
7.	iosbliln of dollars
8.	"pointless" university suesrco
9.	Cummings also adgrnee teachers
10.	because of his or her eseng
11.	Senior soafcflii at the Department for Education
12.	teachers also want Michael Gove to be eirdf

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	education in Britain is "between awful and mediocre". He said most teachers do not do a good
( )	trained in the basics of extended writing or mathematical and scientific modelling and problem-solving."
( 1 )	A top adviser to the British government has attacked the quality of British schools and
( )	Mr Cummings also attacked other areas of Britain's schools. He said billions of dollars are
( )	ability in the classroom is because of his or her genes, and not because of teachers. Senior officials at the Department for
( )	with British teachers. Cummings has made teachers very angry about a new report he made on education in Britain. He said
( )	job in the classroom and that "real talent is rare". He wrote: "In England, few teachers are well
( )	of the Education Secretary's "madder ideas". Many teachers also want Michael Gove to be fired.
( )	years. Mr Gove has followed many of his adviser's ideas and has become very unpopular
( )	"wasted" on projects to help poorer students and on "pointless" university courses. He argues that many
( )	needed to work much harder. Cummings also angered teachers by saying 70 per cent of a child's
( )	teachers. The adviser, Dominic Cummings, has worked closely with the UK Education Secretary Michael Gove for many
( )	university courses in England teach students little and do not help them get a job. He said university students
( )	Education have said Mr Cummings should be fired. One said he is the reason for a lot

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	top A government British the to adviser.
2.	Gove many adviser's Mr followed his has of ideas.
3.	between awful and mediocre He said education in Britain is.
4.	do job most not good said do a He teachers.
5.	trained Few in teachers the are basics well.
6.	Britain's attacked schools other areas Cummings of also.
7.	said dollars on He of wasted billions are projects.
8.	get them help not do and little students Teach job a.
9.	classroom is because of genes A child's ability in the.
10.	be Many want to also Gove fired teachers Michael.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A top adviser to the British government has attacked the quantity / quality of British schools and teachers. The adviser, Dominic Cummings, has worked closely / close with the UK Education Secretary Michael Gove for many years. Mr Gove has followed / following many of his adviser's ideas and has become very dislike / unpopular with British teachers. Cummings has made teachers very anger / angry about a new report he made on / in education in Britain. He said education in Britain is "between / among awful and mediocre". He said most teachers do not do a well / good job in the classroom and that "real talent is rare / rarely". He wrote: "In England, few teachers are well trained in the basically / basics of extended writing or mathematical and scientific modelling and problem-solving."

Mr Cummings also / as well attacked other areas of Britain's schools. He said billions of dollars are "wasted" on / to projects to help poorer students and on "pointless" university courses. He argues / arguing that many university courses in England teach students small / little and do not help them get a job. He said university students needed to work much hard / harder. Cummings also angered / angry teachers by saying 70 per cent of a child's ability / talented in the classroom is because of his or her jeans / genes, and not because of teachers. Senior officials at the Department for Education have said Mr Cummings should be firing / fired. One said he is the reasons / reason for a lot of the Education Secretary's "madder ideas". Many teachers also want Michael Gove to be fired.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

_ t_p _dv_s_r t_ th_ Br_t_sh g_v_rnm_nt h_s _tt_ck_d th_ q__l_ty _f Br_t_sh sch__ls _nd t__ch_rs. Th_ _dv_s_r, D_m_n_c C_mm_ngs, h_s w_rk_d cl_s_ly w_th th_ _K _d_c_t__n S_cr_t_ry M_ch__l G_v_ f_r m_ny y__rs. Mr G_v_ h_s f_ll_w_d m_ny _f h_s _dv_s_r's _d__s _nd h_s b_c_m_ v_ry _np_p_l_r w_th Br_t_sh t__ch_rs. C_mm_ngs h_s m_d_ t__ch_rs v_ry _ngry _b__t _ n_w r_p_rt h_ m_d_ _n _d_c_t__n _n Br_t__n. H_ s__d _d_c_t__n _n Br_t__n _s "b_tw__n _wf_l _nd m_d__cr_". H_ s__d m_st t__ch_rs d_ n_t d_ _ g__d j_b _n th_ cl_ssr__m _nd th_t "r__l t_l_nt _s r_r_". H_ wr_t_: "_n _ngl_nd, f_w t__ch_rs _r_ w_ll tr__n_d _n th_ b_s_cs _f _xt_nd_d wr_t_ng _r m_th_m_t_c_l _nd sc__nt_f_c m_d_ll_ng _nd pr_bl_m-s_lv_ng."

Mr C_mm_ngs _ls_ _tt_ck_d _th_r _r__s _f Br_t__n's sch__ls. H_ s__d b_ll__ns _f d_ll_rs _r_ "w_st_d" _n pr_j_cts t_ h_lp p__r_r st_d_nts _nd _n "p__ntl_ss" _n_v_rs_ty c__rs_s. H_ _rg__s th_t m_ny _n_v_rs_ty c__rs_s _n _ngl_nd t__ch st_d_nts l_ttl_ _nd d_ n_t h_lp th_m g_t _ j_b. H_ s__d _n_v_rs_ty st_d_nts n__d_d t_ w_rk m_ch h_rd_r. C_mm_ngs _ls_ _ng_r_d t__ch_rs by s_y_ng 70 p_r c_nt _f _ ch_ld's _b_l_ty _n th_ cl_ssr__m _s b_c__s_ _f h_s _r h_r g_n_s, _nd n_t b_c__s_ _f t__ch_rs. S_n__r _ff_c__ls _t th_ D_p_rtm_nt f_r _d_c_t__n h_v_ s__d Mr C_mm_ngs sh__ld b_ f_r_d. _n_ s__d h_ _s th_ r__s_n f_r _ l_t _f th_ _d_c_t__n S_cr_t_ry's "m_dd_r _d__s". M_ny t__ch_rs _ls_ w_nt M_ch__l G_v_ t_ b_ f_r_d.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a top adviser to the british government has attacked the quality of british schools and teachers the adviser dominic cummings has worked closely with the uk education secretary michael gove for many years mr gove has followed many of his adviser's ideas and has become very unpopular with british teachers cummings has made teachers very angry about a new report he made on education in britain he said education in britain is "between awful and mediocre" he said most teachers do not do a good job in the classroom and that "real talent is rare" he wrote "in england few teachers are well trained in the basics of extended writing or mathematical and scientific modelling and problem-solving"

mr cummings also attacked other areas of britain's schools he said billions of dollars are "wasted" on projects to help poorer students and on "pointless" university courses he argues that many university courses in england teach students little and do not help them get a job he said university students needed to work much harder cummings also angered teachers by saying 70 per cent of a child's ability in the classroom is because of his or her genes and not because of teachers senior officials at the department for education have said mr cummings should be fired one said he is the reason for a lot of the education secretary's "madder ideas" many teachers also want michael gove to be fired

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AtopadvisertotheBritishgovernmenthasattackedthequalityofBritishschoolsa
ndteachers.Theadviser,DominicCummings,hasworkedcloselywiththeUKEdu
cationSecretaryMichaelGoveformanyyears.MrGovehasfollowedmanyofhisad
viser'sideasandhasbecomeveryunpopularwithBritishteachers.Cummingshas
madeteachersveryangryaboutanewreporthemadeoneducationinBritain.Hes
aideducationinBritainis"betweenawfulandmediocre".Hesaidmostteachersdo
notdoagoodjobintheclassroomandthat"realtalentisrare".Hewrote:"InEnglan
d,fewteachersarewelltrainedinthebasicsofextendedwritingormathematicala
ndscientificmodellingandproblem-solving."MrCummingsalsoattackedothe
rareasofBritain'sschools.Hesaidbillionsofdollarsare"wasted"onprojectstohel
ppoorerstudentsandon"pointless"universitycourses.Hearguesthatmanyuniv
ersitycoursesinEnglandteachstudentslittleanddonothelpthemgetajob.Hesaid
universitystudentsneededtoworkmuchharder.Cummingsalsoangeredteache
rsbysaying70percentofachild'sabilityintheclassroomisbecauseofhisorhergen
es,andnotbecauseofteachers.SeniorofficialsattheDepartmentforEducationh
avesaidMrCummingsshouldbefired.OnesaidheisthereasonforalotoftheEduca
tionSecretary's"madderideas".ManyteachersalsowantMichaelGovetobefired
.

FREE WRITING

Write about teachers for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

It isn't easy being a teacher but it's a great job. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about teachers. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. TEACHERS: Make a poster about what teachers do every day. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. TEACHING: Write a magazine article about teaching. Include imaginary interviews with teachers.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an education expert. Ask him/her three questions about teachers. Give him/her three of your opinions on what makes a great teacher. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	adviser	a.	consultant
2.	quality	b.	standard
3.	unpopular	c.	disliked
4.	mediocre	d.	average
5.	rare	e.	unusual
6.	attacked	f.	criticised
7.	wasted	g.	misspent
8.	pointless	h.	useless
9.	reason	i.	cause
10.	fired	j.	dismissed

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	UK Education Secretary Michael Gove
2.	Dominic Cummings' ideas
3.	He's unpopular
4.	It is rare
5.	Few are well-trained in the basics
6.	Billions of dollars
7.	University courses
8.	They needed to work harder
9.	70%
10.	Fire him

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

d

7.

c

8.

b

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Education adviser attacks UK schools (15th October, 2014)

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