Unit 1: Education

Reading 1: A Chinese approach to learning

A recent experiment carried out by the BBC to bring Chinese teachers to the UK is a little unusual. China is a country with
a different culture and set of expectations of behavior in class. It was perhaps only inevitable that the teachers would be
shocked by the behavior they found. The young people themselves admitted to behaving worse than they usually would.
Coming from an educational culture where shame and social pressure are the main method of controlling the class,
Chinese educators were never going to introduce their methods without protest. Why would anybody expect anything
different?

A The reasons behind the experiment were obvious. Chinese students regularly come near the top in internationals
comparison tests of students around the planet. They triumph in Maths, Reading and Science, while in the UK, young
people have been getting lower marks in recent years. Many in Britain have been wondering if it is time to adopt
Chinese methods of education here.

B In the experiment five teachers were brought from China and put in a UK school. They taught a group of 50 students
maths, reading, science and modern languages. The students in the study group, and another control group who
received regular lessons, were tested at the end of the period and an analysis of the results was carried out. In addition,
both teachers and students who participated in the experiment were given interviews with one of the researchers on
how they felt about what happened.

C The biggest difference between the two cultures was the lack of discipline in British schools. One Chinese teacher
pointed out, 'In China we don't need classroom management skills because everyone is disciplined by nature, by
families, by society.' Interestingly, students admitted that they found themselves behaving worse during the experiment
than they normally would for their British teachers. Many pointed to the fact that the unfamiliarity of the teacher made
them feel less comfortable than they normally would. The 'survive or die' approach to education was so unfamiliar that
many students reacted negatively to it.

D Another key issue was that of the role of creativity in a classroom where discipline is king. While it was obvious that
the British students would benefit from settling down and paying more attention to their lessons, it was also clear that
the UK education system does, sometimes, encourage students to think outside of the box, be risk-takers, ask questions
and challenge ideas. The Chinese teachers were uncomfortable with any attempt to ask questions, as it would stop the
flow of the lesson they had planned in which there was no opportunity for free-thinking.

E All of this suggests that an obsession with testing does not exist in the UK, which would be untrue. The purpose of the
experiment was to see if British students would benefit from the Chinese approach. However, the message that the test
result is the only thing that matters may not be getting through to students. One young person commented that 'Their
teaching methods did get results but we didn't always feel we were learning much. They get results because we are in
school for so long.'

F It is not just the contrast between Chinese and British education systems. In India, a far more radical approach is being
taken. At the cutting edge of educational research is the ide hat a little chaos in the classroom is not necessarily a bad
thing. Professor Sugata Mitra has introduced the “Classroom ass in the Cloud' based on his “Hole in the walls”
experiments, which have shown that students can teach themselves and each other through self-instruction. In fact, his
research suggests that the presence of someone in charge is neither essential nor desirable. This minimally invasive
education is a practical example of the argument that 'the mind is not a pot to be filled, but a fire to be started', but yet
to be tested.

G From the experiment we can draw two conclusions. Firstly, no one has the monopoly on what is right and wrong with
teaching and learning (no even the Finns, currently the world's leaders in education). Secondly, each country has an
educational approach which is unique and reflects the values and expectations of its society, decades, if not centuries, of
experiment and practice. If nothing else, this experiment proves that point to be true.
Task 1.Read the title and the introduction of the reading passage. What is it about? b Each paragraph contains one
idea. Read the first sentence of each paragraph and match the paragraphs (A—D) to the topics (1-4).

1 the differences in discipline that they observed

2 a description of how they carried out the experiment
3 the different attitudes to creative thinking that they observed
4 the reasons for carrying out the experiment
Task 2: Read the summary.

The BBC introduced an experiment to bring Chinese teachers to a British school because of the 1 success of Chinese
students in exams. The test results of students with the Chinese teachers were compared to the results of a 2 …………….
and they were asked about their 3…………….. at the end of the experiment. Chinese teachers thought their students
were better 4………………….. than the British children. However, the British children 5 ………………… that they were
particularly naughty because they felt uncomfortable. In addition, the class rules meant that the children felt unable to
use their 6 ……………………. well.

Choose the correct word from the box. Look for synonyms of words in the passage.

admitted behaved control group denied educated experiences

imagination study group instructors time

Task 3. Read about the conclusion of the experiment. Complete the summary using the list A-I below.

The author believes the British have an excessive 1………………….. in student results. Students felt that the positive
results of Chinese educators was thanks to their teaching 2……………….. more than anything else. In India, some
educational experts have seen a disorderly classroom as a 3………………… . In one project, researchers have tried
removing 4…………………. from classrooms with some success. The author concludes that education systems tend to be
the result of the 5……………………… around them.

A unnecessary B technology C styles D hours E interest F environment

G teachers H benefit I classmates

Reading 2:

Questions 1-7 The reading passage has nine paragraphs, A-I. Choose the best headings for paragraphs B-H from the
list of headings below.

List of headings

i The effect of emphasis on short-term educational goals

ii The limited effects of music
iii The future of music
iv Benefits for health
v The effects of early exposure to music
vi The skills involved in musical activity
vii A playwright's perception of music
viii Early exposure to music in the USA
ix Music without instruments
x The Mozart effect'
xi Order or chaos
xii The creation of The Voices Foundation
xiii A method for training singers
xiv The use of music in Shakespeare's plays
Example Paragraph A xi
1 Paragraph B…………… 2 Paragraph C…………… Paragraph D…………… 4 Paragraph E…………… 5 Paragraph F……………
6 Paragraph G…………… 7 Paragraph H…………… Paragraph I ……………

A Even the Greeks couldn't agree about it. Was music a source of order and proportion in society, regulating its innate
chaos in ways similar to the disciplines of geometry and architecture? Or did its ability to express passionate emotions
beyond the reach of words create the potential for disorder and anarchy? Compare the behaviour of an audience
listening to classical string quartets with headbangers at a rave, and the age-old conflict between Apollo and Dionysus is
made manifest all over again in our own time.

B Shakespeare, though, came clean. For him, 'the man who hath no music in himself, Nor is not mov'd with concord of
sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils; The motions of his spirit are dull as night ...' Throughout his
plays, Shakespeare perceives music as a healing force, an art whose practice makes man whole.

C Yet, despite the growth of the science of music therapy within the last two centuries, and despite the 20 huge weight
of books published on the miraculous `Mozart effect', our schools and colleges have fallen strangely silent. The so-called
'Mozart effect' presents anecdotal and statistical evidence for advances in both social and academic skills in those
children exposed in their formative years to the music of Mozart. But, in an age obsessed by pragmatism and by short-
term vocational learning, music has been marginalized in both primary and secondary education. Compared with the
holy trinity of reading, writing and arithmetic, music is regarded as an unimportant pastime. As a result, children are
leaving school not only totally ignorant of their own musical heritage, but lacking in social, physical and mental skills
which musical performance can uniquely promote.

D Playing an instrument requires a degree of concentration and coordination which brings into play a plethora of mental
and physical skills which are being eroded in our push-button world. Socialization and teamwork are also involved.
Schools with wind bands, string ensembles, jazz groups and orchestras are right up there at the top of the league tables.
In excelling in musical activity, the students' performance in many other fields of learning is refocused and radically
improved.

E There are medical aspects too. Long before British primary schools discovered the recorder — that most basic of all
modern woodwind instruments. Australian Aborigines had developed the didgeridoo. Like the clarinet and the flute, this
haunting and beautiful instrument helped to overcome both upper and lower respiratory tract problems and
encouraged better sleep. In playing a wind instrument, abdominal muscles are used to support the breathing system.
And these are the very muscles which come into play when an asthmatic is experiencing an attack.

F But what of those individuals and schools which simply cannot afford a musical instrument? What of those institutions
where not a single member of staff can read music? This is where the human being's most primitive form of music-
making comes into its own. Singing is free. Everyone possesses a voice. And, with it, the body expresses itself in the most
fundamental and organic way.

G The Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly knew this and developed his own system of training ear and voice within a
simple yet comprehensive system of body language. Today, an organization called The Voices Foundation adapts and
applies Kodaly's methods, aiming to give children back their singing voices, and to make our schools ring with music-
making once again. Their advisors and teachers have already achieved extraordinary turn-around effects the length and
breadth of Britain and in schools in the troubled areas of South Africa.

H Important work is currently being done in Finland, Israel and the United States on pre-school, even pre-birth, musical
education. Music in the womb is very much part of the life of the unborn future citizens of Finland. And one has only to
look at the educational standards, health records and professional musical activity in this small nation to see what
dividends music in education pays from the earliest days of human life.

I Mozart has been celebrated in his anniversary years of 1991 and again in 2006. By the time of the next Mozart-Year,
shall we have allowed music to conjure a better society for us all? Or, relegated to the ranks of mere entertainment, will
music be eroded of its unique power to heal and to make whole?
Questions 8-10 Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the reading passage?

Write

YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims

NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
8 In Shakespeare's dramas, music is seen in a positive light.
9 Schools lack the funds to buy luxury items like musical instruments.
10 Musical activity can only lead to a slight improvement in children's social, physical and mental skills.
Questions 11-13 Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

11 According to the writer, studying music

A may not help all students to improve in other areas of their studies.
B means that students spend less time on reading, writing and arithmetic.
C helps students to improve enormously in other areas of their studies.
D means that students will excel as professional musicians.
12 The didgeridoo is an instrument that
A has a negative effect on those suffering with breathing problems.
B benefits those suffering with breathing problems.
C tends to send those who listen to it to sleep.
D sounds sad to most people.
13 Which of the following is the most suitable heading for Reading Passage ?
A The growth of music in the school curriculum
B Music throughout the ages
C Music for everyone
D The beneficial effects of a musical education

Part 2 – Listening

Section 1&2: Complete a form and label a map

Task 1: Listen and match the pictures 1-5 with the sentence you hear a-e. (Track 1)
Task 2 :To complete a map, you need to be able to follow directions. Look at the map and complete the directions a-e
with the numbers 1-5 on the map.

a To get to …………………….. you need to go along the road from the supermarket.
b Turn right out of the supermarket and take the first right …………………………. is at the end of the road.
c Walk over the bridge and just keep going straight along the road and you'll find …………………………..
d Go left out of the Post Office and take the first left. …………………… is on your right.
e Go over the bridge and make a left turn. Then take the first right ……………………. is on the left hand side of the street.

Look at the map again. You are going to hear two young people discussing what there is for university students to do
in their town. Listen and write the names of the places 1-5 from the map in Exercise 4. You will not hear the same
directions that were used in Exercise 4. (Track 2)

1……………………………. 2……………………….. 3………………………… 4…………………………….. 5……………………………..

Task 3: You are going to hear a conversation between a student who is enrolling at university and a university
administrator. Listen and complete the form below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.
(Track 3)

Task 4: Complete the notes with the information in the sentences a-d. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A
NUMBER.

a Students may borrow up to eight books from the library at any one time.
b The lecture on molecular biology has moved from room 102 to room 105.
c There are a limited number of university tours taking place this week so make sure you book your place as soon as
possible to avoid disappointment. You can book in person through the Students' Union office or by telephoning Student
Services.
d Feedback on your essay will be given by your personal tutor during the tutorial times. If you cannot attend the tutorial
time, please speak to the administrator in the faculty office to arrange a more convenient time.

You are going to hear a student asking questions about the Students' Union services. Listen and complete the notes.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER. (track 4)

SECTION 1 QUESTIONS 1-4

Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer. (track 5)
QUESTIONS 5-7
Label the plan below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer. (track 6)

QUESTIONS 8-10
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer. (track 7)

Section 3: Identify similarity and difference

A student is comparing two university courses. Listen and complete the table with a tick (✓) if the feature is offered or
a cross (X) if it is not. (track 8)

Bartlett Rugby
good course programme?
year's work placement?
good options?
better teachers?
rowing team?
b Match the beginnings of the sentences (1-5) with the endings (A—E).

1 I think that both universities

2 Unlike Rugby, where there's no work experience,
3 There are the same options
4 I think the main difference is that there are
5 Neither university
A better teachers on the Bartlett course. B have a great course programme.
C on both these courses. D has a rowing team. E at Bartlett you can spend a year on a placement.
Complete the test practice.
Questions 1-5 Classify the university courses named in the table which are likely to (Track 9)
A disappear in the near future. B see reduced numbers of students.
C continue to be important for many years.
Name of the course Future security
Architecture 1………………….
Medicine 2………………….
Computer programing 3………………….
Fashion 4………………….
Creative writing 5………………….