Teacher Notes
Objectives & Sequence: This lesson is intended to be used as a preview of Grammar - Have to & Need to.
The following vocabulary words are used in this activity:
Part One: Warm Up
Discuss the following questions with a partner or group:
- What age do children in your country start school? How long should they stay in school?
- What was your elementary school life like? What did you like about it? What did you dislike about it?
- What do you think is the same or different about elementary school around the world?
Part Two: Listening
Exercise
Open Exercise #1 to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document. Then, go on to Exercise #2.
#1
Transcript
Person 1: What is elementary school like in Japan?
Person 2: Well, I think our elementary schools are mostly the same as other ones around the world. We study, we play sports, talk with our friends, you know, usual things.
Person 1: Okay. Tell us about a usual day.
Person 2: Okay. Well, we have to be at school by 8.30. One thing that might be different from other countries is that in Japan, we mustn't wear our shoes in the school. So we change to inside shoes when we get to school.
Person 1: Oh, really? Do you wear a uniform in school?
Person 2: No, not in elementary school. We don't have to wear a uniform until we get to middle school.
Person 1: I see. What kinds of things do you study in elementary school?
Person 2: We study Japanese, math, music, and so on.
Person 1: Do you study English?
Person 2: We didn't need to when I was in school, but students have to study it now.
Person 1: Is there anything else that makes school in Japan different?
Person 2: Well, one thing might be that we have to clean our classrooms. My friend in America told me they don't have to do that.
#2
Transcript
Person 1: Nellie, you grew up in Finland, right?
Nellie: Yeah, I lived there when I was a kid.
Person 1: Finland is very famous for its great schools. So, how is elementary school in Finland special?
Nellie: Well, one of the biggest differences is that they don't have any grades in Finnish elementary schools.
Person 1: No grades? None at all?
Nellie: No, not until middle school.
Person 1: Do children have to take tests or do homework?
Nellie: They need to do some homework, but not very much.
Person 1: Are there any other differences?
Nellie: Well, they don't have to start school until they are seven years old. It's later than most countries, I think. They also have pretty short school days.
Person 1: How long is the school day?
Nellie: They start school in the morning, and they usually go home around lunchtime.
Person 1: Wow, that's short. Do they wear uniforms?
Nellie: They don't need to wear uniforms. Everything is pretty relaxed at school.
Person 1: Do Finnish children study English in elementary schools?
Nellie: They can choose which language they want to study, but yes, most kids study English.
#3
Transcript
Person 1: So, how long is the school day in Mexico?
Person 2: We can actually choose when we come.
Person 1: What do you mean?
Person 2: Well, students can either come in the morning or come in the afternoon.
Person 1: Oh, that's interesting. So you don't need to stay all day?
Person 2: No, we stay in school for about four hours. It's pretty short compared to some countries.
Person 1: Do kids wear uniforms?
Person 2: Yes, all public school students in Mexico have to wear uniforms.
Person 1: Are they nice?
Person 2: It depends. Each school has its own style of uniform. I didn't like my uniform when I was in school.
Person 1: Do you study English?
Person 2: Yes, we started a few years ago. Every elementary student in Mexico must study English.
Person 1: Is there anything that makes Mexican school special?
Person 2: One special thing is art. We need to take a lot of art classes. They help us learn about our culture and they're a lot of fun.