Level II
Chapter 4
Listening Speaking
English | Vietnamese
IC3, IT, TOEFL, Best Answer
English | Vietnamese
Assessment
School Systems
CHƯƠNG 4: GIÁO DỤC
How do you acquire and use knowledge in your culture?
Câu hỏi hướng dẫn:
Kiến thức được tiếp thu và sử dụng như thế nào trong nền văn hóa của bạn?
Introductory Transcript:
At a computer in the university library:
Trung: I didn’t expect to see you here.
Lan: Hi. I’m trying to log on to bendingbamboo.com and add my ideas to the forum.
Trung: What’s the topic?
Lan: We’re comparing Vietnamese schools with American schools--you know, describing how Vietnamese and American kids study.
Trung: School is school, isn’t it? Aren’t we all essentially studying the same things--math, science, reading?
Lan: Yeah, but that’s what I’m trying to figure out. How can I explain what we do in schools here in Vietnam? How do you think it’d be different? There’s a teacher at the front of the room. The kids sit at their desks, open their books, listen to the teacher, take notes, do their homework. Of course, there’s economic differences. . . so their classrooms must look different.
Trung: You could begin just with describing what the classrooms look like--you know, there’s a chalkboard in the front of the room, the teacher’s desk is close to it, the teacher faces the students. You could describe how the day begins for a high school student--how many classmates they have, what they have to wear, how they greet their teacher, that sort of thing.
Listen and fill in the blank:
Trung: I didn’t expect to see _____________ here.
Lan: Hi. I’m trying to log on to IC3.com and __________ _______ to the forum.
Trung: What’s the topic?
Lan: We’re comparing ______________ schools with American schools--you know, describing how Vietnamese and American kids ___________.
Trung: School is school, ___________? Aren’t we all essentially studying the same things--_________, science, reading?
Lan: Yeah, but that’s what I’m trying to figure out. How can I ________ what we do in schools here in Vietnam? How do you
__________ it’d be different? There’s a _____________ at the front of the room. The kids sit at their ___________, open their books, __________ to the teacher, take notes, do their ____________. Of course, there’s economic __________ . . . so their classrooms must look different.
Trung: You could _________ just with describing what the ____________ look like--you know, there’s a chalkboard in the ___________ of the room, the teacher’s desk is close to it, the__________ faces the students. You could describe how the _________ begins for a high school student-- how many ____________ they have, what they have to_________, how they _________ their teacher, that sort of thing.
In a small group, discuss the following questions:
1. What does a classroom look like in a Vietnamese high school?
2. How does the school day begin? Where are the students and where are the teachers?
3. What kind of supplies and equipment are used in a typical day?
4. What kind of schedules do students follow? What subjects do they study?
5. What types of activities do students typically do in a school day? Do they read a lot in school? Do they write a lot ? Do they discuss and talk a lot? Do they have to take a lot of notes?
6. Do students have a time to socialize with friends during lunch or breaks or other parts of the day?
7. How many hours per week do students spend on homework?
Vocabulary:
Common Idioms for Classroom and School
(from The ESL Teacher’s Book of Lists by Jacqueline E. Kress,
The Center for Applied Research in Education, West Nyack, New York, 1993)
to be absent to be present to be tardy to call the roll to collect homework to collect the papers to copy to cram to cut class to daydream to demonstrate to dictate to discuss to do an assignment to do an example to do homework
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to do research to erase the board to learn to lecture to line up to take a course to listen carefully to memorize to pass to pass the papers out to pay attention to play a tape, CD, DVD to play hookey to print to read to report on to report to the office to schedule
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to sign to sign in to sign up to study to take a course to take a test to take an exam to take attendance to take notes to take _______(a course) to talk about to type to work on the computer to write to write on the board to do math
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More Vocabulary:
Major
- Field of study
- Engineering
- Business administration
- Economics
- Finance
- Banking
- Law
- Computer science
- Literature
- Teacher education
- Food study
Types of Assessment
- Assignment
- Homework
- Types of assessment
- Assignment
- Homework
- Exercise
- Project
- Report
- Research paper
- Exam
- Presentation
- Practical
- Teach
- Tutor
- Coach
- Educate
People at University
- Professor
- Lecturer
- Instructor
- Teacher
- Tutor
- Teaching assistant
- Academic adviser
- Administrative officer
- Teaching methods
- Lecture
- Seminar
- Discussion
- Workshop
- Fieldwork
- Experiment
Study Skill A:
English Stress and Intonation Patterns in Sentences:
Wh- Questions and Yes-No Questions
(portions of this explanation is based on The ESL Teacher’s Book of Lists,
The Center for Applied Research in Education, 1993, p.158)
In English, there are two basic intonation patterns for sentences: (1) Rising and Falling; and (2) Rising.
Rising and Falling:
The rising and falling pattern is common for sentences that are simple statements, commands, or questions beginning with a question word (wh-question). In this pattern, the speaker’s pitch gradually rises throughout the sentence and then falls on the last words. Usually the end of the sentence is indicated by this falling pitch.
Examples:
their classrooms look DIFFerent.
turn on the comPUter.
What’s the TOpic?
Rising:
Throughout the sentence, the speaker’s pitch gradually rises. The ending pitch is a higher-than-normal pitch. This pattern is especially common for questions requiring a yes or no answer, for tag questions, or for direct address.
Examples:
did you TAKE THE EXAM?
a school is school, ISN’T IT?
dr. PHUONG, are you HERE?
Wh Questions:
A Wh question is made by using a question word:
- What is your major?
- Which course do you like?
- How do you like school?
- When does the class start?
- Where is building B2?
- Who teaches us writing?
- Whose book is it?
- Why do you take finance as your elective?
A wh- question usually has a falling tone.
- What is your major?
- When does the class start?
- Where is building B2?
Listening for Wh- Questions
In a wh- question, the wh- word is usually stressed. It will tell you the information required. For example, 'where' tells you location, 'when', time; 'why', reasons and causes; 'who', people; 'what', things; and 'how', ways of doing something..
Intonation for Yes-No questions:
A Yes-No question is usually made by putting the verb be or the auxiliary verb (do/ does, am/is/are) at the beginning of the sentence.
- Are you a student?
- Do you like this course?
- Are you studying English here?
- As stated above, a Yes-No question usually has a raising tone:
- Are you a student?
- Do you like this course?
- Are you studying English here?
Exercises and Activities for Speaking Skill A:
Ex. 1
You will hear short conversations between two speakers. At the end of each conversation, a third voice will ask a question about what was said. Read the four possible answers and decide which one is the best answer.
Transcript
Conversation 1
M: I thought you said Yen went to Chau van Liem High school
W: No, she used to attend Nguyen Viet Hong, but after she graduated last year, she passed the entrance exam to Can Tho University where she is now studying.
Third voice: Where does Yen go to school now?
Conversation 2
M: Why didn't you have grammar class today?
W: Only five out of a class of twenty-four showed up. The teacher decided to cancel the class until everyone was present.
Third voice: Why didn't the class meet today?
Conversation 3
M: What did you do in class yesterday?
W: The teacher went over last Monday's lesson.
Third voice: What did the teacher do?
Conversation 4
M: Trang, Why didn't Viet Anh teach last year?
W: She couldn't. She won a scholarship to study in Australia
Third voice: What was the reason given for Viet Anh's not teaching?
***end of transcript***
Answer sheet for Conversations:
Conversation 1
___a. Yen goes to Chau Van Liem High School
___b. Yen goes to Nguyen Viet Hong High School
___c. Yen goes to Can Tho University
___d. Yen does not go to any school
Conversation 2
___a. The teacher was sick.
___b. The teacher was upset
___c. Many students were absent
___d. Too many students showed up
Conversation 3
___a. The teacher discussed the lesson
___b. The teacher reviewed the lesson
___c. The teacher skipped the lesson
___d. The teacher gave a test
Conversation 4
___a. The teacher gave a test She was not interested in teaching any more
___b. She had to make a trip to Australia
___c. She went to Austria for a conference
___d. She studied in Australia
Ex. 2
Summarizing the main ideas
You are going to listen to some short passages about Can Tho University. You may not understand every word, but before listening to each passage, you will hear two guiding questions. These questions will help you focus to get the main ideas. First, listen, then repeat the questions using the proper intonation. Then listen to the the listening passage. You will hear the questions again and this time answer the question.
Transcript:
You are going to listen to some short passages about Can Tho University. You may not understand every word, but before listening to each passage, you will hear two guiding questions. These questions will help you focus to get the main ideas. First, listen, then repeat the questions using the proper intonation. Then listen to the the listening passage. You will hear the questions again and this time answer the question.
Listening Passage 1:
Repeat the following two questions:
Where is the Mekong Delta? ***pause***
Why does the region need a highly trained and skilled labour force? ***pause***
Vietnam, a developing country, has a population of seventy-seven million people. The Mekong Delta, located in the south of Vietnam, is home to sixteen million inhabitants. As Vietnam strives for industrialization and modernization, the country and the region needs a highly trained and skilled labor force.
a. Where is the Mekong Delta?
b. Why does the region need a highly trained and skilled labour force?
Listening Passage 2:
Repeat the following two questions:
What does Cantho University want to set up? ***pause***
What is the purpose of the centre? ***pause***
Can Tho University, serving a student population of over 16,000, is located in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Despite the relentless efforts made to develop and improve the quality of its education and scientific research, Can Tho University requires the assistance of foreign universities to set up a " High Quality Instructional Center". The purpose of the center is to improve the quality of education by narrowing the educational gap between the students at Can Tho University and their counterparts at other universities worldwide.
c. What does Can Tho University want to set up?
d. What is the purpose of the centre?
Listening Passage 3:
Repeat the following two questions:
How many training programs is are offered by Can Tho University? ***pause***
How many years must a student study to get a bachelor degree? A medical degree?
***pause***
Can Tho University is offering 29 undergraduate training programs leading to bachelor degrees in agriculture, engineering, education, and economics, and it offers a doctorate in medicine. The bachelor degree programs last 4 to 5 years. The degree in medicine is a 6-year program.
e. How many training programs is are offered by Can Tho University?
f. How many years a student has to study to get a bachelor degree? A Medical degree?
***end of transcript***
Listening Passage 1:
a. Where is the Mekong Delta? __________________________________________________
b. Why does the region need a highly trained and skilled labour force? ______________________________________________________
Listening Passage 2:
c. What does Can Tho Unviersity want to set up?____________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
d. What is the purpose of the centre?_____________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Listening Passage 3:
e. How many training programs is are offered by Can Tho University?___________________
f. How many years a student has to study to get a bachelor degree? ___________________ A Medical degree?_________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Lecture/Presentation:
Listening Tasks
You will hear a small lecture about the educational system in Vietnam. Listen carefully then answer the questions below about what you understand from the talk.
Transcript
Education in Vietnam
Pre-higher education in Vietnam is divided into primary, lower secondary, upper secondary and technical and vocational secondary education. Students enter primary programmes at age six and must remain in school until completion of primary education, which marks the end of compulsory education. Students who continue beyond compulsory education and complete the secondary cycle of education sit for the Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Phổ Thông Trung Học, a universal graduation examination. Successful completion of this examination is the general admission requirement for admission into higher education. Public education at the primary and secondary level is free.
Higher education is provided by universities, polytechnics, teacher training institutes, and colleges. There are also many private institutions. Higher education institutions are under the authority of the Ministry of Education and Training and educational authorities at the provincial level. Faculties of Medicine are under the authority of the Ministries of Health and Education. In addition, some academic institutions are under the control of other ministries, such as the Ministry of Law or the Ministry of Transportation.
In addition to formal university study, distance education is offered at two open universities. There are also provincial centers that offer distance education. Several universities offer non-formal extra-mural education in areas such as rural development, draughtsman ship, agriculture, and animal husbandry. Vietnamese is the language of instruction at all levels of education.
Academic Year: September through June.
The school year at all levels of education consists of two terms or semesters; the first begins in September and ends in February and the second begins after the end of Tét (the Vietnamese lunar New Year celebration) and concludes in late June.
Teacher Education
Four-to five-year university courses are offered for teaching at secondary school level to graduates of secondary school. Provincial and municipal administrations offer three-year courses to train graduates of upper secondary schools to teach one main subject, plus a subsidiary subject in primary schools. Two-year courses taught at postsecondary institutions are available to enable teachers to teach at primary schools.
***end of transcript***
Discuss the following questions:
1. What is this talk about?
2. What are some of the pieces of information that you remember from the talk?
3. From the pieces of information remembered and heard by you and classmates, do you remember what in what order these pieces were spoken? Which came first? Which came last?
Study Skill B:
Using Outlines for Easier Understanding
An outline is a way to condense or shrink a lecture into a written form that shows the main ideas and supporting information. You may have used an outline to develop an essay in writing. Sometimes teachers and professors will help their students understand a lecture by giving them an outline to follow. Most likely, the teacher is lecturing from notes that are in lecture form.
Like structures being taught in Writing and Reading courses, the lectures of Western professors and teachers follow a structure of a topic and supporting ideas and information. Thus an outline represents this format and would look like this:
I. __(topic or main idea) _______
A. __(supporting idea) _______
a. __(more detail or explanation of (A)_______
b. __(more detail or explanation of (A)_______
c. __(more detail or explanation of (A)_______
B. __(supporting idea) ___________
a. __(more detail or explanation of (B)_______
b. __(more detail or explanation of (B)_______
c. __(more detail or explanation of (B)_______
C. __(supporting idea) ________
a. __(more detail or explanation of (C)_______
b. __(more detail or explanation of (C)_______
c. __(more detail or explanation of (C)_______
II. __(another main idea) __________
A.__(supporting idea) __________
a. __(more detail or explanation of (A)_______
b. __(more detail or explanation of (A)_______
c. __(more detail or explanation of (A)_______
B. __(supporting idea) _________
a. __(more detail or explanation of (B)_______
b. __(more detail or explanation of (B)_______
c. __(more detail or explanation of (B)_______
C. __(supporting idea) __________
a. __(more detail or explanation of (C)_______
b. __(more detail or explanation of (C)_______
c. __(more detail or explanation of (C)_______
III. __(another main idea) __________
A. __(supporting idea)________
a. __(more detail or explanation of (A)_______
b. __(more detail or explanation of (A)_______
c. __(more detail or explanation of (A)_______
B. __(supporting idea) __________
a. __(more detail or explanation of (B)_______
b. __(more detail or explanation of (B)_______
c. __(more detail or explanation of (B)_______
C. __(supporting idea) __________
a. __(more detail or explanation of (C)_______
b. __(more detail or explanation of (C)_______
c. __(more detail or explanation of (C)_______
Exercises and Activities for Listening Study Skill B:
Now listen to the lecture a second time. An incomplete outline is provided for you. As you listen, fill in the missing words to complete the outline.
Outline: Education in Vietnam
I. Structure
A. Pre-higher education in Vietnam includes
a. Primary
b. _____ _______
c. _______ ______
d. technical and vocational secondary education.
B. The completion of _______ ________ marks the end of compulsory education.
a. When students finish the cycle of ____ ________, they sit for Bang Tot Nghiep Pho Thong Trung Hoc.
b. Public education at primary and secondary level is ______.
C. Higher education is provided by
a. ________
b. polytechnics
c. teacher training institutes
d. ________
D. Higher education institutions are under the authority of ___ ______ ______ ___ _____ and educational authorities at the provincial level.
E. Distance education is offered at __________ _____ _____ and _________.
F. Vietnamese is the ____ ______ _____at all levels of education.
II. Academic Year
A. The school year at all levels of education consists of _____ ____ or semesters
a.The first begins in _______ and ends in _______.
b. The second begins after the end of _____ and concludes in _____ .
III. Teacher Education
A. In order to teach at secondary school level, a student needs to finish _____ to _____ year university courses.
B. ____ ____ courses taught at postsecondary institutions are available to enable teachers to teach at _____ _____.
Listening Skill C:
Politely Asking for Information
When we need to find out information we usually use one of the six question words to begin:
- Who....?
- What ....?
- When .....?
- Where.....?
- Why....?
- How....?
- How much/ many...?
- How long....?
- How far....?
- How big....?
In many situations, it would be considered almost rude to begin a question without some kind of basic courtesy. We don't just ask a question; we get the person's attention politely in one of these ways:
- Excuse me. When .....?
- Pardon me, ma'am, but where....?
- Sir, could you help me? How many...?
- Please. Mr...... why .....?
Exercises and Activities for Listening Skill C:
Ex 1:
Role Play
Each group will create an interview of High School principals--one American and one Vietnamese--in which the interviewer will ask questions about the policy, rules and guidelines for students in their schools. Use the following chart as a resource for information. The answers to questions from the American principal are provided. Each group must answer the questions for the Vietnamese principal. Then write/perform the interview. Use the question words explained in Skill C, and use any information that you have gathered in the Reading and Writing courses, Chapters 4.
School Policy, Rules and Guidelines
1. Dress Code: What do students wear to school? Are uniforms required? If not, are there any restrictions for what students are allowed to wear.
American: Many private schools have a uniform. But public schools usually do not have uniforms. We do, however, have a dress code. These dress codes vary with fashion. For example, if it is fashionable to have short skirts, most schools will have guidelines for how short the skirts can be. Sometimes certain pieces of clothing may show support of neighborhood gangs. We don’t allow students to wear that kind of clothing to school.
Vietnamese:
2. Transportation: How do students go to school?
American: Since education through most of high school is compulsory, it is the school district’s responsibility to provide students with transportation. Students that live more than a mile from school have access to school bus transportation. Students within the mile are expected to walk. Many parents drive and drop-off their kids, and some of our students who already have driver’s licenses, drive cars to school. We have a large parking lot to accommodate these cars.
Vietnamese:
3.How do students greet the teacher?
American: The high school environment is very informal. Students are not necessarily required to greet teachers, but many will say “hi” or “good morning” or whatever.
Vietnamese:
4.How do students address the teacher?
American: Teachers in the high school are usually addressed by “Mr.,” “Mrs.” or “Ms.” and their last names.
Vietnamese:
5.Are students supposed to arrive in class on time?
American: Our school policy is to discourage tardiness. Students that are chronically late will see their grades lowered and their parents will be contacted for a conference so that this kind of behavior will be ended.
Vietnamese:
6.What should students do when they want to ask a question?
American: very teacher creates a classroom environment in which there are procedures for asking questions. Most teachers will ask their students to raise their hands and be recognized in order to ask a question. Others who may have a more student-centered classroom may tell students to just speak up as if in a discussion.
Vietnamese:
7.Can students speak to the teacher from their desk?
American: Yes, its rather informal. Students needn’t stand up.
Vietnamese:
8.Is attendance important?
American: Attendance is extremely important. Most teachers feel that if students miss what is happening in the classroom, they have missed a lot. Teacher’s lectures or class discussions and activities can not be found in textbooks. In this high school, a student with 10 unexcused absences automatically fails the course.
Vietnamese:
9. What attitudes are students expected to have in class?
American: Attitude cannot be regulated in an American classroom. We hope that a teacher sparks the interest of students and motivates the students to learn. We try to maintain respect for our teachers and have rules that students must live by.
Vietnamese:
10.What should they do when absent?
American: Parents are expected to call or email the school when their child is going to be absent. If a parent fails to do so, then the school will contact the parents to notify them that their child is missing.
Vietnamese:
11.What grading system is used?
American: We have a letter grading system of A, B, C, D and F. A is the superior mark and F means the student is failing.
Vietnamese:
Ex 2:
Speaking Exercises
Discuss the following situations, decide what is appropriate in Vietnam and what is appropriate in another country.
Situation 1.
You saw your teacher walk past your class and you wish to catch his attention and say hello. What should you do?
- a. Say "Hello, teacher."
- b. Say Hello, Mr. Wessner"
- c. Wave your hand
- d. Snap your finger
Situation 2
Your grammar teacher has explained how to use the present perfect. You don't understand some of his/her explanations. What should you do?
- a. Have a friend explain about it to you
- b. Talk to the teacher after class
- c. Raise your hand and tell him/ her that you don't understand
- d. Try not to ask because it is very embarrassing
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