08 OnScreen B2plus Module 8
08 OnScreen B2plus Module 8
Vocabulary
Education
A Fill in: do, enrol, fail, get, pass, pay, retake, sit in the correct form.
1 Nora is very upset that she ......................... 5 If I ......................... my final exam, I’ll be
her Physics exam. able to go abroad this summer.
2 Jane has to ......................... her final 6 I’d like to ......................... on the
exams because she didn’t do very well last computer programming course.
time. 7 How do you expect to learn if you
3 I’m afraid I didn’t have time don’t ......................... attention in class?
to ......................... my homework last night. 8 Paula always ......................... good marks
4 I’m very busy studying as I have in English.
to ......................... an exam next week.
B Fill in: compulsory, mark, heart, intensive, nursery, peer, primary, private.
1 When I was in primary school, I had to 5 What .................................. did you get
learn lots of things by ................................ . in your French exam?
2 A lot of teenagers start doing things they 6 Claire’s dad is very rich and sends her to
don’t really want to because a .................................. school.
of .................................. pressure. 7 .................................. school is for
3 Little James is three and will be going children from about the age of 5 to 11.
to .................................. school soon. 8 My sister needs to improve her English
4 Mathematics is .................................. in quickly and is attending
most schools so all kids have to do it. a(n) .................................. English
course every day.
C Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verbs from the list.
1 Did you sign up for the English language 4 Frank graduated/left from university
course/programme? with a degree in History last year.
2 I’m going to get a private teacher/tutor to 5 There are over 2,000 pupils/students at
help me with Maths. the university.
3 Professor Wright’s lessons/lectures are 6 Jason is afraid he won’t meet the
always very interesting. deadline/term for his Science project.
Types of schools
3 A lot of kids go to .......... schools to learn 6 Most kids between the ages of about 11
a second language in the evenings. and 16 go to .......... school.
A grammar B language A secondary B specialist
G Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in bold.
1 The ................................... got angry because the pupils were making noise. LIBRARY
2 Our career guidance officer is always very ................................... and gives HELP
great advice.
3 I would like to become a professional ................................... and go to the CYCLE
Olympics.
4 The Physics ................................... is very patient and explains everything TEACH
carefully.
5 ................................... to the museum can purchase an audio guide in a VISIT
number of languages.
6 My dad is a heart ................................... . SPECIAL
7 A lot of kids dream of becoming ................................... when they grow up. SCIENCE
8 Jenna has a great imagination for stories and wants to become WRITE
a ................................... .
Phrasal verbs
Prepositions
1 Many students find it difficult to focus in/on 4 Jane won’t be coming tonight as she has
their studies right before the summer to study for/to her exams.
holiday. 5 Sandra did a degree in/with English
2 Sharon got into trouble for being absent Literature at university.
from/to school too often.
3 It’s not good to rely over/on your parents
for everything.
A Complete the sentences using modal verbs. More than one answer is
possible.
1 You are not allowed to eat in the 5 Would you like me to read your essay?
classroom. ................................................................
................................................................ 6 Is it possible for you to check my
2 Let’s form a study group. answers for me?
................................................................ ................................................................
3 I’m sorry but I am not able to help you with 7 I wasn’t able to spell very well when I
your Science project today. was young.
................................................................ ................................................................
4 I am able to speak three languages. 8 Would it be OK if I leave early today?
................................................................ ................................................................
1 Greg can/may solve Maths problems very 4 Shall/Would we study together this
quickly. evening?
2 Could/Would I borrow your dictionary, 5 I would/was able to walk when I was
please? ten months old.
3 You might/may open your exam papers 6 Shall/Might I have a quick word with
now. you, please?
1 You ask your friend to help you fix your 5 Tell your friend you were not able to find
computer. an answer to the Maths problem.
................................................................ ................................................................
................................................................ ................................................................
2 Ask your teacher if it is allowed to use the 6 Offer to help your mum with the
Internet for your homework. housework.
................................................................ ................................................................
................................................................ ................................................................
3 Suggest going to the cinema together to 7 You tell your sister that she’s allowed to
your friend. use your laptop.
................................................................ ................................................................
................................................................ ................................................................
4 Ask your brother if you can borrow his 8 Ask your teacher to repeat what they said.
bicycle. ................................................................
................................................................ ................................................................
................................................................
1 Carl ......... have been happy to get a 5 He didn’t call. He ......... have forgotten it.
place at university. A can’t B must C mustn’t
A can’t B may not C must
6 That ......... be the new teacher. Let’s go
2 You ......... have been listening. Otherwise and introduce ourselves.
you would understand. A must B might C can’t
A can B can’t C might
7 He ......... have done it. He was with me all
3 I’ll repeat it because they ......... have the time.
understood. A can’t B mustn’t C could
A may not B could C mustn’t
8 There was no answer when I called her.
4 Jim ......... have failed his exam. He She ......... have left work already.
doesn’t look happy. A could B can’t C must
A can B may not C may
1 I’m sure this isn’t the correct answer. 5 Perhaps you are right.
................................................................ ................................................................
................................................................ ................................................................
2 I’m convinced she cheated on the exam. 6 Maybe, she is still sleeping.
................................................................ ................................................................
................................................................ ................................................................
3 It’s possible that he didn’t know about the 7 I think there is a slight chance that the
timetable change. exam will be cancelled.
................................................................ ................................................................
................................................................ ................................................................
4 I’m sure he didn’t see the answers to the 8 I’m sure he will pass the oral exam.
exam beforehand. ................................................................
................................................................ ................................................................
................................................................
It’s common knowledge that schoolchildren can’t bring their mobile phones into the classroom. If
they do, they may be taken away from them until the end of the lesson. Not so in Forsyth County
Schools in Georgia, USA, however. In 2010, they introduced a new educational approach called BYOT
(Bring Your Own Technology). Under this scheme, students were able, for the first time, to use their
own personal technology in class – smartphones, netbooks, iPods, handheld games consoles –
anything, in fact, which could connect to the Internet. As the Chairwoman of the South Forsyth High
School science department expressed it: “I thought we were behind the times, not allowing the
students to use something that was such a part of their lives and such a powerful tool for instruction.”
You might think BYOT is not really that helpful in the learning process, apart from activities such as
doing calculations or online research. In fact, though, BYOT is particularly useful for project-based
learning. For example, in a maths class, students can video a group while it solves a maths problem
and then post the video online for future reference. In a Biology lesson, they can take photos of
experiments, which they can label and discuss at a later time. In one high school Literature class,
students watched a film version of Shakespeare’s Othello after having read the play. They were able
to answer their teacher’s questions about the differences between the two by instant-messaging each
other in a chat room, in real time, while the film was showing.
It can’t have been easy for schools to adapt to this new scheme. Obviously, there were several
major challenges. Schools had to invest in a good Wi-Fi networking infrastructure to cope with the
extra demand. Moreover, they needed to install filters to prevent access to inappropriate websites.
Then there was the question of training teachers to adapt their lessons to the new technology.
However, it wasn’t necessary for them to learn how to actually use all the different devices that
students might bring to class; more often than not, the students were the experts and could teach the
teachers! What teachers do have to ensure is that students follow the rules: no listening to music and
no sending text messages or making calls during class time. Nevertheless, as Forsyth County
Schools’ Chief Technology and Information Officer Bailey Mitchell explains: “The instructional benefits
[of BYOT] far outweigh any concerns we may have had.”
How do parents and the students themselves react to BYOT? The main parental concern seems to
be how much educational value personal technology really has and how exactly it is used in the
classroom. In response, Forsyth County Schools hold meetings where teachers can demonstrate
some practical activities to reassure the parents. Teachers also stress the value of using technology in
class, as it equips children for success in the job market later on. As for the students, BYOT must be
working for them. Children who bring their own technology to school produce higher quality work, get
better test marks and attend classes more regularly. Not only that, but there are fewer discipline
issues, as their handheld devices are now an approved part of the lesson!
Tim Clark, Forsyth County Schools’ Coordinator of Instructional Technology, says that youngsters
should be encouraged to tackle a project using whatever device appeals to them. As he points out, “It
gives students more control and freedom in the classroom.” This student-oriented approach to
education may be the key to BYOT’s popularity. Since 2010, schools in many other US states have
followed Forsyth County’s example, and with proper guidance it may soon become a worldwide trend.