UNIT 5 EDUCATION

AIMS: This unit is aimed at providing the students with

- more vocabulary and ideas for education – related topics
- the use of adverb clauses and the passive
- further practice in writing essays education-related topics

I. LEAD-IN

a. It is said that education shapes your life. What do you think about the statement?
b. Do you think the best way to secure a good job is to go to university? Why/Why not?
c. It is never too old to learn. What do you think about the statement?

II. READING TEXT

Task 1: Read the reading text below and do the tasks that follow.
Education is a long process that not only provides us with basic skills such as literacy and numeracy, but is
also essential in shaping our future lives. From the moment we enter kindergarten as small children, and as
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we progress through primary and secondary education, we are laying the foundations for the life
ahead of us. We must discipline ourselves to work hard so that we can pass exams and gain the
qualifications we need to secure a good job. We must also learn valuable skills so that we can fit in and
work with those around us. And of course further educations helps us to understand how we can stay fit and
healthy.
For most people, this process ends when they are in their mid-to-late teens. For others, however, it is the
beginning of a lifetime of leaning. After they finish school, many progress to higher education where they
will learn more useful skills such as computer literacy or basic business management. Others will enroll on
a program of higher education at the university where, with hard work, they will have the opportunity to
graduate after three or four years with a well-earned degree. After that they may work for a while before
opting to study for a higher degree – an MA, for example, or a PhD. Alternatively, they may choose to
attend an evening class after work or, if they have a sympathetic employer, obtain day release so that they
can study during the week. If they live a long way from a college or university, they might follow a
correspondence course using mail and the Internet. In fact, it is largely due to the proliferation of computers
that many people, who have not been near a school for many years, have started to study again and can
proudly class themselves as mature students.
We live in a fascinating and constantly changing world, and we must continuously learn and acquire new
knowledge if we are to adapt and keep up with changing events. Our schooldays are just the beginning of
this process, and we should make the best of every opportunity to develop ourselves, whether we are
eighteen or eighty. You are, indeed, never too old to learn.
(From Check your vocabulary for English for the IELTS examinations – A workbook for students
by Rawdon Wyatt)

Task 2: Give a title for the above reading text.

Task 3: Find the words or expressions in the text that have a similar meaning to these phrases.
a. the ability to read, write and do calculations:
b. form your life in the way you want:
c. finish primary and secondary school:
d. establish the foundation for your life:
e. have discipline to work hard:
f. have a good job for a long time:
g. a life-long learning process:
h. go to university:

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 i. computing skills:
j. study for an MA or a PhD:
k. have the admission to study in the day time:
l. development of computers:
m. students who work and study at the same time:
n. learn new knowledge:
o. grasp every chance to improve ourselves:

Task 4: Cross out the phrase in each list the does not form a collocation with the word in bold.
a. provides us /supply us /to equip us /to give us with basic skills
b. gain/earn/acquire/offer qualifications
c. learn/acquire/obtain/attain/take valuable skills
d. enroll on /register for/enter a program of higher education
e. attend/take/participate in/join/get an evening class after work

III. LANGUAGE NOTES

1. USING ADVERB CLAUSES

Adverb clauses add meaning to a verb, an adjective or an adverb of the main clause in the function
of an adverbial modifier.
Time when, whenever, while, Whenever I had to speak in front of people, I was
as soon as, after, since, paralyzed.
as, before, until, ..
Place where, wherever, I saw unfriendly, critical faces everywhere I looked.
everywhere, anywhere
Manner as I tried as hard as I could to calm myself.
Distance as + adverb + as I tried to act as if I were not afraid.
Frequency as if /as though

Reason because, since, as Since I need to make speeches for career

advancement, I enrolled in a speech class.
Purpose so that, in order that I took a speech class so that I could overcome my
fear of public speaking.

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 Result so + adjective/ adverb + At first, making a speech made me so nervous that I
that got a stomachache before every class.
such a(n) + noun + that During the semester, I made so many speeches that
so much/little + noun + I lost some of my fear.
that
so many/few + noun +
that
Concession although, even though, Even though I am a politician, I still don’t enjoy
(unexpected though, speaking in public.
results)
Contrast while, whereas As a child, I never tried out for school plays,
(direct whereas my best friend usually got a starring
opposition) role.
Condition if, even if, … In the first year, universities normally let students
resit an exam if they fail it the first time.
If the Government employed more teaching
assistants, it would make teaching a much easier
and less stressful job.
If I had studied hard last term, I would have
passed the exam.
If I had listened to my father, I would be at
university now.

Using conditional sentences to write about solutions

It is important to show a good understanding of grammar when you write about solutions. Using
first and second conditional sentences can be an effective way to do it.

- If University fees were lower, more poor people could afford university.
- If salaries were higher, teaching would be more popular among graduates.
Using adverb clauses of purpose

Very often in IELTS essays, it is useful to explain why something is done.

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 - We must discipline ourselves to work hard so that we can pass exams and gain the
qualifications we need to secure a good job.
- We must also learn valuable skills so that we can fit in and work with those around us.

So that in the above sentences can be replaced by so as to and in order to.

- We must discipline ourselves to work hard so as to/ in order to pass exams and gain the
qualifications we need to secure a good job.
- We must also learn valuable skills so as to/in order to fit in and work with those around
us.
2. USING THE PASSIVE

It is important to show a range of grammar in the exam. Accurate use of both active and passive
structures will help you to achieve this.

- The educational systems in some societies are still dominated by formal examinations.
- Even though formal examinations have been used in the past, they should no longer be
used as the only means of assessment because they can be an unfair indication of the
student’s overall ability.

You can also use some fixed passive expressions to add style to your writing. This can be especially
useful in the topic sentences of your essays.

In mid-position
- Firstly, studying abroad is believed/thought/considered to be the best way to secure a
successful job in the future.
- Working part time is believed to be beneficial to students as it helps them accumulate
experience.
In first-position
- It is often thought/argued that/said that single-sex schools help reduce the level of
school violence.
- It is often argued that learning a skill through work experience is better than learning it
in a classroom.

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IV. PRACTICE
Practice 1: Identify the adverb clauses in the reading text and write them down.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Practice 2: Write sentences about the topic EDUCATION below, using so that, in order to, so as to.

Example: learning a foreign language

- Many young people spend a few months in an English-speaking country after graduating
so that they can improve their English quickly.
- Many young people spend a few months in an English-speaking country after graduating
so as to/in order to improve their English quickly.
1. financial support from the government in education
2. examinations
3. discipline at school
4. group work
5. cheating
Practice 3: Complete the following statements with the appropriate words.

1. Whilst it is unarguable that technology has provided many to

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 students, helping them with their studies, it is also possible that there are
which negatively impact their ability to use their own initiative and
mental facilities.
2. There are many why some children leave full-time education too
early to benefit them; it is therefore important to take to prevent this
damaging behavior.
3. There is no doubt that people have differing about who
should have access to university education. According to many, it is important that the most
able students go.
4. Men tend to outnumber women in math and engineering course for a number of
. These vary from social expectations to personal
preference but the is the same – fewer females choose particular
subjects to study.
5. Nowadays, some schools offer in addition to normal study,
giving students the chance to gain some insight into real working situations while also
having more traditional academic . Some employers have recently
suggested that young people can graduate from school or university lacking the necessary
tools to survive in the world of employ.

Practice 4: Complete the text with words from the box.

concentrate do learn overcome organize study take teach review revise

Even the most studious among you will probably have difficulty studying at some stage in you
academic career. If or when this happens, the only way to (1) this problem
is to go back to basics. First, make sure you have a comfortable environment to (2)

in. Some students need to have a quiet space to themselves and cannot

(3) if there are too many distractions. Others need some sort of
background nose, such as music or the company of friends. Whatever your personal preference is,
you need to (4) this first of all. Next, make sure you have all of the
equipment or tools that you need. For example, if you are (5) a
geography course and you have to (6) about countries and their

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capital cities then you will need to have our atlas to hand. If you are (7) _
your math homework, then be sure to find your calculator, ruler, protractor and compass before you
start. Perhaps you’re not preparing a homework assignment or project, but are trying to (8)

for an exam. If so, you need to know what is on your curriculum, you

also (9) _______________ your notes and make sure that you have a clear understanding of what your

lecturers have (10) _________________you. Of course, people with a learning disorder such as

dyslexia may need to work harder than others at their studies, as they have to struggle or read even

relatively simple texts.

(Adapted from Cambridge vocabulary for IELTS, Self-study vocabulary practice by Pauline Cullen,
Cambridge University Press, 2008)
Practice 5: Write sentences about the topics below, using the passive.

Example: joining a club

- Joining a club is thought to be a good way to make new friends.
- It is thought that joining a club is a good way to make new friends.
1. learning a foreign language
2. voluntary work
3. using the Internet
4. single-sex schools
5. studying IELTS

Practice 6: Study the following question and the table giving some ideas for it. Then fill in the
numbered space with the appropriate ideas.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

In order to be truly employable, the educated person should be able to demonstrate not just
knowledge but also the ability to work independently in teams. How can teamwork best be
encouraged and assessed in educational settings?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience. Write at least 250 words.

How can teamwork best be encouraged and assessed in educational settings?

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 Solutions Specific action Possible consequences Drawbacks
1 Require Assign group - Motivating for - (1)
students to research project students
work on group investigating aspect - Students would
projects outside of local history learn to work as a
school team
- Students would
make more friends Some projects would
be of poor quality

2 Group project As students to - (2) Some teachers

could be done periodically present wouldn’t be good at
partly in school, “work in progress” this
partly outside in class Time-consuming
school for large classes

- It’s better for students

to be in classrooms
because that’s what
people expect
3 Some teacher (3) Burden of monitoring Some students would
monitoring + and assessing progress dishonestly claim that
student’s self- shared by teacher and they worked harder
assessment students than they did

(Adapted from Writing for IELTS by Anneli Williams, Collins English for Exams, 2011)

Practice 7: Write an essay on ONE the following topics. For the others, make an outline for each.

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Topic 1

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

In some countries young people have little leisure time and are under a lot of pressure to
work hard on their studies. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can
you suggest?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

Topic 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

In the modern world, more and more emphasis is being placed on the acquisition of
practical skills rather than knowledge from textbooks or other sources. Discuss the
advantages and disadvantages of this trend.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience. Write at least 250 words.

(From Ready for IELTS, Coursebook with key by Sam McCarter, Macmillan Exams, 2005)
Topic 3

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

In the last twenty years, the assessment of students has undergone major
transformation. Many educational institutions no longer use formal examinations as a
means of assessment as they believe formal examination results are an unfair
indication of a student’s ability. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience. Write at least 250 words.

(From IELTS to success, preparation tips & practice tests by Eric van Bemmel & Janina Tucker, Hawthon
Institute of Education, 1996, pages 41-42)

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