METU/SFL Spring 2022

DBE
RHO13
INTERMEDIATE GROUP
(Student's Copy)
1 In 2004, Woodland Park High School’s chemistry teachers Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams came up
with an idea. They were having difficulty finding the time during class hours to reteach lessons for absent
students. Therefore, they spent $50, bought a software program that allowed them to record the lessons,
and posted the lessons online. Absent students loved this opportunity; however, surprisingly, the
students who had not missed the class also benefited from the online material. They, too, used the
videos to review the classroom lessons. Furthermore, these students had the chance to strengthen their
knowledge on many of the subjects. Soon, Bergmann and Sams realized that they had the opportunity to
rethink how they used class time.

2 This method is called “the flipped classroom.” This method, in a way, flips* the traditional teaching
approach. With its help, instructions that used to be given only in classrooms can now be accessed at
home before lessons. The student can watch the pre-recorded lecture at home before coming to the
class. Therefore, the classroom time can be used in different ways. In a traditional classroom, the
background instructions take up a lot of time and, because of time limitations, students cannot analyze
any of the concepts in detail or participate in group activities. However, when students watch the lecture
before coming to the classroom, class time can be spent in performing such activities.

3 Bergmann says one of the most important benefits of the video lessons is meeting the needs of individual
students. Typically, in traditional classrooms, the most outgoing and engaged students ask questions,
while lower-level students may be left behind. Bergmann notes that he now spends more time with such
struggling students. In addition, the advanced students have more freedom to learn independently. All of
the students can move at their own pace; they can review what they need, when they need to. The
flipped classrooms also have fewer management issues than a traditional classroom because the
students do not get bored easily. They are not sitting down and listening to their teacher, and the teacher
is not trying to keep them quiet. Instead, the classroom is filled with activity and learning.

4 Andrea Smith, a sixth-grade math teacher, focuses on a different aspect of the flipped classroom. Smith
immediately saw the benefit for students, but says she was mostly attracted by the opportunity to
improve teaching practice and the teaching profession as a whole. As Smith explains, preparing a great
ten-minute video lesson is a very challenging task for the teacher because it is difficult to explain a
concept in a precise manner in those short videos. Moreover, the teacher has to be ready for the detailed
discussions and group activities that take place inside the classroom, and this takes a lot of work
beforehand. Some educators state the flipped classroom may cause a fierce fight between teachers and
technology, as teachers may fear that they might be replaced by computers and other technologies.
However, without quality teachers, it is impossible for this method to work at all.

5 Although flipped classrooms have proven successful in many schools, there is also a backlash directed
towards the method. Many teachers who work in rural schools report that this method assumes that
every student owns a computer and has access to the Internet. However, this is hardly the case for the
students in those schools. Another disadvantage that is put forward is the fact that if everyone starts
flipping classrooms, students will end up sitting in front of a screen for hours every night as they watch
the required videos. As many teachers can tell you, not everyone learns best through a screen.

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6 In the end, why should we care so much about the flipped-classroom model? The main reason is because
it is forcing teachers to rethink how they reach their kids. It is inspiring for the teachers to change the
way they have always done things. As long as learning remains the focus, and as long as educators are
constantly asking themselves whether they are doing the right thing, there is hope in the world of
education.
*To flip: to move something with a quick sudden movement so that it is in a different position.
A. Find the word in the text that means the following. Write ONE word, and DO NOT change the form
of the word.

1. exact (para. 4) : _________________________

B. Find what the following word refers to in the text.

1. They (para. 1) : _________________________

C. Answer the following questions according to the text.

1. What was the main purpose behind starting “the flipped classroom” method?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. According to paragraph 2, how can students spend the classroom time in a flipped classroom?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

3. The phrase “to move at their own pace” probably means to move _____.
a) at a speed that is comfortable for them
b) faster than the other students
c) at their own risk
4. What can be inferred from paragraph 3?
a) Lower-level students have no freedom to learn independently.
b) Lower-level students may not benefit from traditional teaching methods.
c) In traditional classes, all students sit silently and listen to their teachers.
5. What is true according to paragraph 4?
a) Teachers have become obsolete because of the popularity of this method.
b) The flipped-classroom method requires teachers to be well-prepared.
c) This method is not beneficial in terms of instructors’ professional development.

6. Why might the idea of flipped classroom fail in rural schools?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

7. What is the writer’s tone in paragraph 6?

a) doubtful b) optimistic c) pessimistic

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 COLLOCATIONAL VOCABULARY
RHO13
 to benefit from sth (v.): if you benefit from
something, or it benefits you, it gives you an
advantage, improves your life, or helps you in
some way
 benefit (n)
 beneficial (adj.)
 to strengthen (v.): to become stronger or make
something stronger
 approach (n.): a way of considering or doing
something.
 to access sth. (v.): to find information, especially
on a computer
 to have access to sth. (n.): the right to enter a
place, use something, see someone etc.
 to participate in sth. (v.): to take part in an
activity or event
 participation (n.)
 aspect (n.): a particular part or feature of
something.
 challenging (adj.): difficult in an interesting way
 precise (adj.): precise information, details, etc.
are exact, clear, and correct
 to replace sth.(with sth.) (v.): to take the place
of sth., or to put something or someone in
the place of something or someone else
 replacement (n.)
 to assume sth. (v.): to accept something to be
true without question or proof.
 to make an assumption (n)
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* Thousands of people have benefited from the
new treatment.
* I’m sure you’ll benefit greatly from the visit.
* The organization's aim is to strengthen the
cultural ties between Britain and Germany.
* Since our research so far has not produced any
answers to this problem, we need to adopt a
different approach to it.
* Users can access their voicemail remotely.
* The library’s database can be accessed via
workstations in the reference room.
* Cats should always have access to fresh, clean
water.
* Everyone in the class is expected to participate
actively in these discussions.
* Voter participation declined by 5% in 2017.
* Dealing with people is the most important aspect
of my work.
* Planning a wedding reception for over
1,000 guests will be a very challenging task.
* The precise cause of the disease is unknown.
* Tourism has replaced agriculture as the
nation's main industry.
* If the product doesn't work, you are given
the choice of a refund or a replacement.
* I assumed that you knew each other because
you went to the same school.
* These calculations are based on the assumption
that prices will continue to rise.
D. Choose the correct vocabulary item for each statement.
1. Our main aim while renovating our house was to modernize various ____________ of the house
without changing its essential character.
a) participations b) assumptions c) aspects d)approaches

2. The _____________ that was made about the economy’s rate of growth proved to be incorrect.
a) replacement b) aspect c) participation d) assumption

3. As a child, he was very much an outsider. He never __________ in the games other children played.
a) replaced b) participated c) strengthened d) benefited

4. Having such easy ___________ to some of the best cinemas and theaters is one of the advantages of
living in Sydney.
a) aspect b) approach c) access d) replacement

5. We do not know the __________ details of the story yet. We’ll let you know when we have more
information.
a) precise b) challenging c) beneficial d) assumed