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SINGLE-SEX SCHOOLS http://www.ToLearnEnglish.com - Resources to learn/teach English |
I) ANTICIPATING
> "There are many private schools in the United States that accept only boys or only girls. But there are only eleven single-sex public schools. A twelfth will open next fall in Houston, Texas. "
1) What will this lesson be about? 2) What is a private school? a public school? 3) What will open soon in Houston, Texas? 4) Why is it important?
II) READING COMPREHENSION
>> TEXT:
The Bush administration recently announced support for separate public schools for boys and girls. The decision represents a major change in American educational policy. For thirty years, the government has generally disapproved of these single-sex public schools. It has done so because of a 1972 law called Title Nine. This law bans unequal treatment based on sex.
Under Title Nine, single-sex schools face possible legal action. In January, however, Congress passed an Administration measure that provides 3 million dollars for single-sex schools. Congress also told the Education Department to change the way it administers Title Nine.
Education Department officials say they will reconsider the law. The goal will be to give local officials more choice in operating their schools without violating the law. More single-sex schools may be able to receive federal money as long as both boys and girls have equal chances to learn. However, some legal experts say these schools would still violate the law. They say the new policy will be tested in the courts.
>> QUESTIONS:
1. What is a single-sex school?
a) A school where students must live in Florida
b) A school where there are only boys or girls.
c) A small school with only a few students
2. What has the Bush government recently announced?
a) Their support for summer schools
b) Their support for single-sex schools
c) Their support for boarding schools
3. US governments have always approved single-sex schools.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE
4. What is "Title Nine"?
a) The title of a book
b) A law
c) A school
5. "Title Nine" bans unequal treatment based on
religion.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE
6. Why can we say that the US government now supports single-sex
schools?
a) Because Congress has given money to these schools
b) Because Congress has abolished Title Nine
c) Because Bush has visited a single-sex school
7. The US Education Government is going to change the law.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE
8. These schools will never break the law again.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE
III) ORAL COMPREHENSION
Here is the script of the tape. Fill in the gaps with the missing words:
children, education, educators, girls, help, religions, results, success, teachers
Some _________ (1) believe children can learn better in single-sex schools. Others say _________ (2) need to be with children of the opposite sex. Scientists have shown that boys and _________ (3) learn information in different ways. However, research about the effects of same-sex schools has shown mixed _________(4). Most of the research has involved girls.
During the 1990s, the American Association of University Women completed major studies on _________(5). The organization said girls who attend school with boys may not do as well as the boys. It said some _________ (6) and schools do not treat girls equally. But it also said single-sex education generally does not appear to _________ (7) girls.
The oldest single-sex public school in the United States has gained great _________(8). Western High School in Baltimore, Maryland was established in 1844. More than one thousand girls from several races, ethnic groups and _________ (9) attend Western. Almost all of the girls go on to college.
IV) GRAMMAR
> Future
Education Department officials say they will reconsider the law. The goal will be to give local officials more choice in operating their schools without violating the law.
>> Main uses:
- predictions (John won't win the race; the weather
will be very bad tomorrow.)
- scheduled events (the show will start at 10
tonight).
- promises: I will help you to do your homework
tonight.
>> Syntax: S + WILL +
base form
Will you help me?
Yes, I will. / No, I won't.
I will help / You will help / He will help / We will help / You will
help / They will help
| At 10 pm | listen to music / go to a concert... |
| Tomorrow | play tennis / football... |
| Next weekend | go to school / the swimming pool... |
| Next summer | tour Italy / the USA... |
| In the future | live in a big town / a village... |
V) VOCABULARY
Find the correct definitions.
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A) an educator B) a child (pl. children) C) a girl D) a result E) education F) a teacher G) help H) a success I) a religion |
1) The favorable or prosperous termination of anything attempted; the attainment of a proposed object; prosperous issue. 2) One whose business or occupation is to instruct others. 3) Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. 4) Someone who educates [syn: pedagogue] 5) A female child, from birth to the age of puberty. 6) The act or process of educating; the result of educating, as determined by the knowledge skill, or discipline of character, acquired 7) A phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon. 8) A person between birth and puberty. 9) Strength or means furnished toward promoting an object, or deliverance from difficulty or distress |
VI) ANSWERS
> Reading Comprehension: 1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (b) 5. (b) 6. (a) 7. (a) 8. (b)
> Oral Comprehension: 1. educators - 2. children - 3. girls - 4. results - 5. education - 6. teachers - 7. help - 8. success - 9. religion
> Grammar: (examples) At 10 pm today, I will go to a concert. I will play tennis tomorrow afternoon. Next weekend, I won't go to the swimming pool because I will be too tired. Next summer, I will tour the USA. In the future, I won't live in a big town. I would like to live in a village.