Unit 8
Video scripts
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Schools around the world
8.1
How are school experiences different for students
around the world?
Is it their school building? Or the subjects you study?
Most schools offer the usual subjects, like – History and
Maths, Science and Geography, Music, Art and Foreign
Languages. So what makes school different for the
students in different countries?
Let’s take a look at some schools from around the world
and find out.
First stop: Russia - where the school experience always
starts on … the 1st of September. And guess what it’s
called? Knowledge Day! It doesn’t matter if it’s at the
weekend, school always starts on the first.
Next it’s France. Do you eat lunch at school or
at home? If you eat at school, do you have enough
time? In France, schools provide a three-course meal
for students. And lunch can be two hours long!
Homework is another difference that can affect your
school experience. How much homework do you do
each week? Five hours? Maybe ten hours? Students in
China have 14 hours of homework a week! That’s a lot
of homework.
But in Finland, there’s almost no homework and there’s
more free time. Also, students in Finland don’t start
school until they’re seven years old.
And finally, what about school subjects? Have you ever
thought about studying fashion design? What about
writing a graphic novel? Or how about a course using
video games?
In one school in Sweden, 13-year-olds play games to
develop their creativity. And in Iceland, students
study ... knitting.
So how is your school experience similar or different to
the schools in these countries?
Is it special in some way? What things would you
change?
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LANGUAGE IN ACTION 1
O
 dd school rules from around
the world
8.2
I recently told you that boys at our school
aren’t allowed to have long hair, not past their
shoulders. And as I said, I think people should
be allowed to do what they want with their hair.
It’s not fair! I mean, girls can have long or
short hair.
Anyway, let me read a few school rules people
sent me:
Emiko from Japan says: ‘Me and my friends
wear friendship bracelets to help us do well at
school. But our school said we can’t wear more
than one friendship bracelet.’
I think I need a friendship bracelet!
Here’s a note from Wu Yan in China: ‘At our
school, we’re allowed to take 30 minute naps
after lunch. We sleep on our desks.’
Wow! I’m not allowed to do that! Can you
imagine sleeping at school? I would love to
have a nap after lunch.
That´s all for today.
On my next blog I’ll be asking the question:
How late are you allowed to stay up?
Language in action
can / can’t
am / is / are (not) allowed
Let’s talk about the vlog.
Which language did the vlogger use to talk about things
people can and can’t do at school?
We say you are allowed to do something when you have
permission.
We’re allowed to take 30 minute naps after
lunch.
It is more formal than can.
Girls can have long or short hair.
Notice the form: am / is / are (not) allowed plus the
infinitive with to.
I’m not allowed to do that.
Own it! 3 Unit 8 – Video scripts

How late are you allowed to stay up?
But we use the infinitive without to after can.
We can’t wear more than one friendship
bracelet.
Language in action
have to, must and need
Let’s talk about the vlog.
Which language did the vlogger use to talk about rules?
We use have to, must and need to to talk about
obligation.
You’ll learn quickly when you need to.

Can you imagine sleeping at school?

We must practise speaking Spanish.
Use it!
Tell your partner what you’re allowed to do.
Everyone has to work hard.
Use can / can’t / (not) be allowed to.
I can ride a bike to school.
We use don’t / doesn’t need to to say something is not
Now you try. necessary.
We’re not allowed to cheat in a test.
I’m allowed to stay up late at the weekend. She doesn’t need to study.
We can’t use a phone in class.
We’re not allowed to sleep on our desks. We use mustn’t to say something is not allowed or give
strong advice.
LANGUAGE IN ACTION 2
You mustn’t be afraid to make mistakes.
8.3
Outdoor school
We use don’t have to to talk about something that is
Hola! I’ve just signed up to do a course in optional.
southern Chile for a month. It’s a school where
you can go backpacking, learn Spanish and We don’t have to carry our own tents.
have cultural experiences!
Everyone has to work hard. Every day we’ll Why does she need to study?
hike, camp and cook our own food. What does she have to carry?
And we have to carry our own backpacks, so
I mustn’t take too much stuff or I won’t be able Use it!
to carry it! But luckily, we don’t have to carry Complete the sentences using the words and the
our own tents. The guides will take those language of obligation provided.
for us. We must wash our hands before we eat.
Every morning we’ll have Spanish lessons.
And to practise our Spanish, we’ll stay in small Now you try.
towns and help people on their farms! I need to study every night.
The school says we must practise speaking We mustn’t use phones in school.
Spanish because many farmers don’t speak We have to wear a uniform.
English. I thought that sounded scary, but my She doesn’t need to get up early.
friend Anna said that everyone is really nice
and you’ll learn quickly when you need to.
Anna is going on the course, too. But she
doesn’t need to study; her Spanish is great.
She’s always telling me, ‘You mustn’t be afraid
to make mistakes.’
I’m excited about this adventure. If you have
any advice for me, let me know!
Bye!

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