isn‘t a break in your education. But, otherwise, you should go to school.
Girl 4: I don‟t agree with you. There are lots of advantages with learning at home. There isn‘t
any bullying, for instance.
5
Girl 5: I don‘t think people understand how important education really is for young people. I
mean, what kind of a future can you have without a good education these days?
Girl 6: A lot of people have good lives without doing well at school. I‘m completely against
this idea that education is the only way to do well.
Drill 4
Read these opinions about education. Match the conversations 1–5 with their
opinions a–e.
a „Children should not be taught at home unless they are ill.‟
b „Going to school teaches children to get on well with other people.‟
c „Not all children should go to university.‟
d „Education is one of the most important parts of a young child‟s life.‟
e „Children should start school when they are three years old.
Conversation 1 .........
Conversation 2 .........
Conversation 3 .........
Conversation 4 .........
Conversation 5 .........
What do you think STEM subjects are at school?
Think about school subjects which begin with the S, T, E and M.STEM SUBJECTS
Science, technology, engineering and maths were taught in schools long before the
invention of the internet. However, we now live in a time when these subjects are more
important than ever. This does not mean that music, history, languages and other subjects
are not important.
However, understanding the so-called STEM subjects can be an important bridge to a good
job in the future. Many businesses do not have enough people with knowledge of the STEM
subjects. For that reason, they are keen to give jobs to young people with these skills.
In the past, STEM subjects were often seen as difficult. To change this idea, many businesses
now run open days at which students can try building car engines, using a bike to make
electricity, or playing computer games to practise maths.
Schools, too, are helping students to realise that these subjects can be both interesting and
fun for boys and girls of all abilities. Schools might not have the equipment to build engines,
but many now use different experiments and computers so that students can learn by doing
things, and not just by reading a text. This also helps with critical thinking skills which
students can use in other subjects.
It is said that 80% of jobs in the future will need students to have skills in the STEM subjects. Of
course we will also need artists, musicians, language teachers and other experts, but skills in
STEM subjects will help students to become the problem solvers and inventors of the future.
Pre-reading Question