EDUCATION CONVERSATION QUESTIONS

1. What was your (least) favourite subject when you were at school?
2. Have you ever cheated in an exam?
4. Do you get nervous when you take exams?
5. Have you ever *aced an exam?
6. Who is mainly responsible for a child’s academic success - the parents or the teachers?
7. Do you agree that “Most of the work that adolescents do is simply a waste of time, energy and patience. It
robs youth of its chance to play.”
8.If you were giving advice to a young person about useful subjects to study, what would you recommend?
9. Did you ever play truant at school? What should (or could) be done to reduce this problem?
10. Were you ever accused of being a teacher’s pet? Was there one in your class? What sort of things did
he/she do?
11.What do you think of the idea of boys-only or girls-only schools?
12. What did your teacher do to preserve order and discipline in class?
13. Did you go to a public (private) school or a state-run school? Would you say there was much
difference in the quality of education provided? How would you describe the difference?

University

1. Did you use to cram before taking an exam or did you *knuckle down several months
before? What would you say is the best system? (* to work hard)
2. What percentage of people drop out of the university system in your country? Is it harder or
easier for them to find jobs?
3. What does the education system do to prepare people for work or to assist them to find jobs? Is it
efficient?
4. Some people in the UK get jobs through their school or university connections. Do many
people in your country get jobs through the "old school tie"? What other connections could be useful if
you wanted to get a job?

Look at the school rules and their consequences. Which rules do you think are fair? Are any the same as
you have/had at school?

a. If you are caught skipping class, you are suspended from school for three days.
b. If you are caught dropping litter, you have to stay behind after school and sweep the
whole school.
c. If you are caught smoking in school, you get expelled.
d. If you say something while the teacher is talking, you get a warning, if you do it again, you
have to go and see the headmaster.
e. *Ace: Slang

a. To receive a grade of A on: She aced the exam. b. To perform with distinction on: aced the interview.