Talk about education

B2

Talk about education

Learn about different education systems and
engage in a debate about private education.

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 Talk about education

Let’s talk about education

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 Talk about education

Discuss

In pairs, discuss your time at school.

● Find at least two similarities between your schools.

● Find at least two differences.

What subjects did you study?

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 Talk about education

Read the text

A public education?

When someone tells you they went to public school what do you imagine? If you think of a free
education in a big, diverse institution then it’s likely you’re not familiar with the English school system in
which a “public” (or independent) school is a very expensive fee-paying school.

The term “public school” emerged in the 18th century as word spread of certain schools that had begun
taking non-local students whose parents could afford the residential fees, unlike local schools that only
took students within a specific area. As a result, most public schools are also boarding schools, meaning
that students board at the school during term time. The schools that became public schools mostly
originated in the late Middle-Ages or Renaissance and were charitable foundations, almost always all
male, that took in local boys from fairly modest backgrounds. However, from the 17th century onwards
they became associated places where the upper-classes were prepared to enter the ancient universities
of Oxford and Cambridge and then enter into public life by working for the government, with this
providing another reason for the name.

Today, public schools like Eton, Harrow and Charterhouse still retain their elitist reputations with
incredibly high fees and strong links to Oxbridge and government. Indeed, there have been five
Eton-educated Prime Ministers of the U.K. since 1945. The impact of the public school system on life in
Britain has been immense in terms of shaping public policy, reinforcing the class structure, and
projecting a very specific international image of the U.K., even though most of its citizens have a very
different educational experience from that image.

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 Talk about education

Answer the questions

1. Are public schools free in England?

2. What was the difference between public schools and local schools?

3. Were public schools always for rich people?

4. What does ‘to board at a school’ mean?

5. What kind of work were students from public schools expected to go into?

6. Name three public schools.

7. Which public school has produced five U.K. Prime Ministers since 1945?

8. What does ‘Oxbridge’ mean?

9. What do you think of the English public school system?

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 Talk about education

Sort the phrases into the correct category

Giving opinions Agreeing and disagreeing Giving counter-proposals

Yes, but isn’t it more You’ve got a point,

I couldn’t agree more
a question of but what about

I’m sorry but I think you’re

I feel the same way about Have you thought about
wrong

I’m afraid I don’t agree

I suppose that’s true, but I totally agree with you about
with you about

As I see it To my mind I personally think

I feel differently about In my opinion I can see what you mean, but

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 Talk about education

Phrases for debate

Giving opinions Agreeing and disagreeing Giving counter-proposals

I personally think I totally agree with you about I suppose that’s true, but

In my opinion I feel the same way about Have you thought about

You’ve got a point,

To my mind I couldn’t agree more
but what about

I’m afraid I don’t agree Yes, but isn’t it more

As I see it
with you about a question of

I’m sorry but I think you’re wrong I can see what you mean, but

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 Talk about education

Match the items

1. ______________ that education should be free for everyone.

Have you thought about
2. ______________ with your view on public schools as I think
they create social division.
I couldn’t agree more
3. ______________, you don’t learn anything worth knowing at
school. I personally think

4. ______________ the other side of the argument? I disagree

5. ______________ with you about school exams. Your As I see it
suggestion for assessment is a much better idea.

6. ______________. People who have had a private education I’m sorry, but I think you’re wrong
are definitely no smarter than people who don’t.

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 Talk about education

Ask and answer

● Did you have a private or state education?

What was it like?

● What were your favourite and least favourite

subjects at school?

● Do you think you got a good education?

Why/why not?

● What changes would you make to your country’s

education system if you could?

● What was the most useful part of your education?

● Do you think that children nowadays receive a

better education than you did?

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 Talk about education

Debate

Choose a debate topic from the list below and split into
teams.

Team A: you agree with the statement.

Team B: you disagree with the statement.

In your team, think of arguments for/against this idea.

Take turns debating between teams – use the language
from this lesson to help you.

Private schools should be banned.

Maths and science education should be

prioritized over the arts.
Single-gender schools should be
banned.

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 Talk about education

In this class, I was able to...

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