I. Từ vựng

• compulsory [kəm'pʌlsəri] (a)=mandatory/obligatory: bắt buộc
• education level (n): cấp học
• curriculum  [kə'rikjuləm] (n): chương trình học
• tuition fees [tju:'i∫n fi:z] (n): học phí
• general education: giáo dục phổ thông 
• state school : trường quốc lập
• independent school : trường tư
• - public school: trường dân lập
• academic year [,ækə'demik jiə:]: năm học
• certificate  [sə'tifikit] (n): chứng chỉ, giấy chứng nhận

II. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý:

• to be separated  ['sepəreitid]: được tách ra
•  to be made up: được tạo nên bởi
• to put into force: có hiệu lực

III. Hướng dẫn giải bài tập

1. Before you read:

 Read the facts below and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then compare your results with your partner’s.

(Đọc những sự kiện dưới đây và sau đó quyết định những câu nói đúng (T) hay sai (F), sau đó so sánh kết quả của em với kết quả của bạn cùng học.)

2. While you read:

Đây là bài đọc của unit trong sách giáo khoa:

Schooling is compulsory for all Englgish children from the age of 5 to 16. The academic year in Enland runs from September to uly and is divided into 3 terms Autumn Term is from the beginning of September to mid-December. Spring Term is from the beginning of January to id-March and Summer Term from early April to mid-July Each term is separated by a one-week-break called half-term, usually at the end of October, mid-Ferbruary and the end of May.

There are two parallel school systems in England. The first is the state scool system, which is free for all students and paid for by state. The second category is the”Independent” or “public” school system, which is fee-paying. The state school system, which educated 93% of the pupils in England, can be divided into two levels of education: Primary education and secondary education.

See the table below for more information about the school education system in England.

The National Curriculum is set by government and must be followed in all state schools. It is made up of the follwing subjects: English, Design & technology, Geography, maths, Information technology, Musicin the national examination at certain , sience, art, physical education, history, and a Modern Foreign Language. English, Maths and science are core subjects, which are compulsory in the nation examinations at certain stages of the school education system.

School education system in England:

Task 1: Find words or phrases in the reading passage which have the same following meanings.

(Tìm những từ hoặc cụm từ trong bài đọc có cùng những nghĩa sau.)

• 1. Schools in which all children can attend without paying tuition fees

state school           

• 2. A stage of study for children aged from 5 to 10

primary education

• 3. A stage of study for children aged from 11 to 16

secondary education  

• 4. Put into force by the law

compulsory

• 5. The examinations children sit at the end of compulsory education

the General Certificate of Secondary Education   

• 6. A detailed plan for a course of study offered in a school or college

Curriculum

Task 2: Answer the questions. (Trả lời các câu hỏi)

• 1. When do children in England start their compulsory education at school? (Lúc nào thì trẻ con ở Anh bắt đầu giáo dục bắt buộc ở trường?)

They reach the age of 5.

• 2. How many terms are there in a school year in England? (Có bao nhiêu học kỳ trong một năm học ở Anh?)

There are three terms.

• 3. What are the two school systems in England? (Hai hệ hống trường ở Anh là gì)

The two school systems in England are the state school system and the "independent" or “public” school system.

• 4. Do children have to pay fees if they go to “independent” or “public” schools? (Trẻ em có phải trả học phí nếu đi học ở trường tư ở bên Anh không?)

Yes, they do.

• 5. How many core subjects are there in the national curriculum? (Có bao nhiêu môn chính ở trong chương trình học quốc gia?)

There are three core subjects in the national curriculum: English, Maths and Science.

•  6. When can students take the GCSE examination? (Lúc nào thì học sinh có thể tham gia kì thi GCSE?)

When they finish the secondary schools, they have 10 take an examination called the General Certificate of Secondary Education. (GCSE)

3. After you read: 

Work in groups. Tell the others one of the most difficult school subjects you are studying and what you would like your friends and your teacher to dc to help you learn that subject more effectively. 

(Làm việc từng nhóm. Kể cho các bạn khác một trong những môn học khó nhất ở trường em đang học và những gì em muốn các bạn em và giáo viên của em làm để giúp em học môn đó hữu hiệu hơn.)

Gợi ý hội thoại

• A: Is there any subject you find the most difficult?
• B: Yes, it's English.
• C: What do you find difficult about it?
• B: Its pronunciation. Most of my friends do think so.
• C: Do you ask your teacher to help you?
• B: Why not? But after a lot of practices I still find I cannot pronounce and read the words correctly.
• A: Well, from my experience, in order to speak English well and correctly we should be patient and constant. It takes a lot of time and patience. You read a word or a sentence many times until you find it good enough.
• C: And you should study with your friends to help one another in speaking. If possible, you can ask your teacher to correct you when you find you‘re run good or not confident in yourself.
• A: You will speak more easily and better if you're patient and practise frequently.