Chinese maths teachers to help UK schools

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

The UK wants Chinese teachers to try to increase the level of maths in its schools. Chinese students have the highest international test results. There is a huge difference in maths levels between the UK and China. A newspaper said: "The children of cleaners in Shanghai outperform those of UK doctors and lawyers in global maths tests." The UK will hire 60 of Shanghai's best maths teachers to help improve the ability of one million British students.

The UK is far behind many countries in maths. Poor numeracy costs the UK economy $30 billion a year. Britain's education minister went on a fact-finding mission to China. She said: "We have some brilliant maths teachers…but what I saw in Shanghai… strengthened my belief that we can learn from them." She added: "They have a can-do attitude to maths and I want us to match that." Maths qualifications can equal higher salaries and better jobs.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/education-26533428
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10691030/Chinese-teachers-sent-into-English-schools-to-boost-results.html
http://news.tes.co.uk/b/news/2014/02/18/china-39-s-poorest-children-outperform-uk-39-s-wealthiest-in-international-maths-tests.aspx

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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	increase the level of maths	a.	international test results
2.	Chinese students have the highest	b.	million British students
3.	There is a huge	c.	in its schools
4.	outperform those of	d.	difference
5.	The UK will hire 60 of Shanghai's	e.	UK doctors
6.	improve the ability of one	f.	best maths teachers

MY e-BOOK

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

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	The UK is far	a.	my belief
2.	poor	b.	minister
3.	Britain's education	c.	and better jobs
4.	went on a fact-	d.	behind
5.	strengthened	e.	numeracy
6.	higher salaries	f.	finding mission

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The UK wants Chinese teachers (1) ___________________ the level of maths in its schools. Chinese students have (2) ___________________ test results. There (3) ___________________ in maths levels between the UK and China. A newspaper said: "The children of cleaners in Shanghai (4) ___________________ UK doctors and lawyers in global maths tests." The UK (5) ___________________ best maths teachers (6) ___________________ ability of one million British students.

The UK (7) ___________________ countries in maths. Poor numeracy costs the UK economy $30 billion a year. Britain's education minister went on (8) ___________________ to China. She said: "We have some brilliant maths teachers…(9) ___________________ Shanghai… strengthened (10) ___________________ learn from them." She added: "They (11) ___________________ to maths and I want us to match that." Maths (12) ___________________ higher salaries and better jobs.

MATHEMATICS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about maths 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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