This word is
uncountable.
This word never takes
the plural form.
Pen
Biro
Piece of paper
Exercise-book
This word is
uncountable.
This word never takes
the plural form.
Ruler
Paintbrush
Palette
Paint
Crayon
Pencil
Sharpener
Rubber
Rubber (gomma UK)
Eraser (gomma USA)
Glue
Craftknife
Globe
Map
This word is
uncountable.
This word never takes
the plural form.
Calculator
Set square
Protractor
Compass
Bunsen burner
Beaker
Flask
Funnel
Test tube
Highlighter pen
Pencil sharpener
Tippex
Paper shredder
Shredding machine
OHP
Whiteboard
Magnetic board
Chalk
Roll
Library
Bookshelf
Bookshop
- It is up on the board
- To rub the blackboard
- To call / to take the roll
- To be absent
- To answer the roll
- The teacher calls the roll / the register every morning
As well as the hardware (the
machines), you also need software (the
programs needed to work the machines). These programs are on disks, e.g. the hard disk inside the
computer, or floppy disks or
on CD-ROMs (Compact
Disk Read Only Memory, a CD on which you can put a large amount
of information).
A is word processor a
computer used to prepare documents or letters, or the software
that is used for this purpose. Many people use their computers
for word processing,
e.g. writing letters and reports. A lot of business people use spreadsheets (a program
used to enter and arrange numbers and financial information) and databases (programs which
allow you to store, look at or change a large amount of
information quickly and easily). Some people also use a graphics (the pictures
and symbols a computer program can produce).
More and more people are becoming computer-literate
(have experience of working with computers and
know how to use them) as many programs and machines are so user-friendly (easy to
use). You can now connect your computer to computers all over the
world using the Internet (a
system that allows computers to connect using telephone lines).
People send each other e-mail (electronic
mail) messages using this system or network.
If your computer is slow it may need more memory.
It may crash (stop
working) if there is not enough memory or if it has a bug (a software problem,
also a virus). Make
sure you make a back-up copy
of your work (an extra copy on a floppy disk).
What's your school building like?
It's big and moderm.
It's big but very old.
It's small and moderm.
It's small and old.
What kind of school is it?
It's a full time school.
It's a part time school.
It's a part time school but there are free activities in
the afternoon.
Do you ear at school?
Yes, there's a canteen in the school.
No, I must go back home and come back to school in the
afternoon.
No, I eat at home because I don't go back to school in
the afternoon..
What are your schoolfriends like?
Nice and noisy.
Nice and quiet.
Some nice and some unpleasant.
Unpleasant.
What are your teachers like?
Good but strict.
Bad but strict.
Very active and nice.
Very patient.
Impartial.
Partial.
Very nervous.
All right.
Who's your favourite teacher?
The Italian teacher.
The Maths teacher.
The P.E. teacher.
The English teacher.
The Art teacher.
The Music teacher.
Other teachers.
What's your favourite subject?
Italian.
Maths.
Science.
Woodwork/Technical drawing.
History.
Geography.
Art.
Music.
English.
An ideal teacher
is
good at teaching.
active.
impartial with all students.
friendly.
never boring.
never nervous or in a bad temper.
always patient when students ask the same thing over and
over again.
has
a good sense of humour.
clear handwriting.
gives
clear explanations.
little homework.
teaches
in a lively way.
makes
students learn.
listen to
students' problems.
maintains
discipline without shouting.
MANY
CHILDREN IN ENGLAND AND WALES FOLLOW THIS ROUTE IN THE STATE SYSTEM (FREE EDUCATION)
AGE
3
some go to nursery
school.
5
everyone starts to primary
school.
11
pupils go to secondary
school (AmEng. high school). This may be comprehensive (mixed
ability) or a grammar
school (children selected for their some
go to academic ability).
16
they leave school
and get a job or go to a college for vocational (job)
training, e.g. hotel management, secretarial courses, or stay at school
for two more years.
18
they leave school and get a job or
go to university
go to college
for further educational/training, e.g. teaching,
business studies.
NOTE
You go to school
(as a pupil to study) and go
to university (as a student to
study). You do not use the define article THE
here. Other expressions like this are go to bed
(to sleep), go into
hospital (when you are ill), go to church
(to pray/to worship).
In some areas of the UK there are not many
grammar schools.
There are also public
schools. In fact, these are
private, and parents pay to send their children
there. Some are expensive. About 5% of the
population go to public
schools.
Public school is
private school.
State school is
free.
Compulsory school
Remember that comprehensive
schools in the UK are for all abilities,
but grammar schools are
usually by competitive entry. Public
schools in the UK are very famous private
schools. Polytechnics are
similar to universities,
but the courses tend to be more pratically-oriented. Colleges include teacher-training colleges,
technical colleges and
general colleges of further
education.
Before an exam it is a good idea to revise for it.
If you SKIP CLASSES /
LECTURES, you will probably do badly in
the exam.
To obtain / win / fund /
apply for / give someone a scholarship, a
grant, a student grant. Scholar (colui
che ha la borsa di studio)
Some schools give pupils texts every week
or month.to see if they are making progress. The school-leaving exams are
held in May/June. In some schools, colleges and
universities, instead of texts and exams there is continuous assessment,
with marks,
e.g. 65% , or grades,
e.g. A, B+, for essays and projects during the term. If
you pass your university exams, you graduate
(get a degree), then you are a graduate.
Asking
somebody about their country's education system
What age do children start school at?
What's the school-leaving
age?
Are there evening
classes for adults?
Do you have state and
private university?
Do students get
grants for further
education?
NOTE --- A professor is
a senior university academic, not an ordinary teacher.
University and college teachers are usually called lecturers or tutors.
EDUCATION
- UNIVERSITY
You can normally do / study
these subjects at
university but not always at school.
medicine
psychology
business studies
law
sociology
agriculture
philisophy
architecture
history of art
engineering
politics
If you want to go to (enter) university, you
must first pass examinations that
most students take at the age of eighteen (called A levels). Most
students take three A levels (three examninations in three
different subjects) and they must do well in order to a get / obtain a place at
university because the places are limited. At the moment,
approximately 30% of young adults go to university in Britain.
If you get a place at university, the tuition
(the teaching) is free, and some students also get (receive) a grant (money to pay for
living expenses, e.g. food and accomodation) as well. Students at
university are called undergraduates
while they are studying for their first degree.
Most university courses last (goon
for / continue for) three years, some courses last four years,
and one or two courses, e.g. medecine, may be even longer. During
this period students can say that they are doing
/ studying history, or doing
/ studying for a degree in history, for example.
When they finish the course and pass their examinations, they
receive a degree (the
qualification when you complete a university course successfully).
This can be a BA (Bachelor
of Arts) or a BSc (Bachelor
of Science), e.g. I have a friend who has a BA in history, and
another who has a BSc in chemistry.
When you complete your first degree, you are a graduate. (In the US,
students also use this word as a verb and say, they "graduated
in history" or "graduated in chemistry", for
example). Some students then go on to do a second course or
degree (postgraduate course /
postgraduate degree). These students are then postgraduates. There are
usually three possible degrees.
MA (Master of Arts) or MSc (Master of
Science), usually one year
MPhil (Master of Philosophy), usually
two years
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), at least
three years.
When people study one subject in great detail (often to find
new information), we say they are conducting
/ doing / carrying out research (U), e.g. I am doing some research into / on the
languages of different African tribes.
At school you have teachers and
lessons, at
university you have lecturers and
lectures. When a
lecturer gives / does a
lecture, the students listen and take
/ make notes (write down the important
information), but do not usually say much, except to ask
occasional questions.
In her letter Maria is describing her school. From the
description can you guess which picture does it correspond to?
... my school is rather small but it has got a ground floor
and two floors. On the ground floor there are some laboratories,
a library, a canteen, an auditorium (you can see its long windows
on the left side of the picture),, the administrative offices, a
large gymnasium (you can see its windows on the right side of the
picture) and the headmistress's office too. There are no
classrooms on the ground floor, they are upstairs on the first
and second floor.
On the first floor there is a projection room too. I like going
there because you can see old films and interesting slides.
Outside the school there is a big garden (you can see it in the
picture) and a field where you can play football or basket ... We
generally play in the garden during the lunch break if the
weather is fine ....
Look at Ben's timetable and find out:
1. how many days a week he goes to school.
2. at what time school starts and finishes.
3. how long periods last.
4. how long breaks and lunch last.
Add another word, abbreviation, or part of a word, to
complete common computer words and phrases
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