Unit 3: Education

”Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Nelson Mandela

Vocabulary: Education

Types of Education

There are many types of education but the most frequent ones are: Formal, Non-formal, and informal education

•  Formal education: refers to the types of learning that are taking place in an educational institution, where there is a syllabus, and a teacher, and is usually recognized in a qualification or a certificate.
• Non-formal education: refers to learning through a program (like formal education ) but it is not usually evaluated and it does not lead to certification.
• Informal education: refers to any learning resulting from activities related to our daily life.
• Vocational education: Prepares learners for careers or professions related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation
• Special education: Describes an educational alternative that focuses on the teaching of students with special (behavioral, health academic, or physical) needs that can not be met using traditional programs or techniques.
• Inclusive education: It is the one that addresses the learning needs of children, youth, and adults, especially those who vulnerable to marginalization and exclusion
• Gifted education: is a broad term for special practices, procedures, and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented
• Basic education: The whole range of educational activities taking place in various  settings (formal, non-formal, and informal) that aim at meeting basic learning needs such as reading, writing, and arithmetic
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Examples of Education

•  Formal education: Secondary school vocational training workshop-university studies.
• Non-formal education: Evening classes, literacy classes.
• Informal education: Theater, television, daily life in general.

Collocations

A collocation is a pair of words that generally goes or occurs together. Here are some related to education.

Educational system/goals/background
School subject/year/uniform
Private lessons/institution/school
Equal opportunities/rights/status

Other Collocations:

• higher education
• university graduate
• free classes
• learning needs
• mixed classes
• cultural background
• adult illiteracy
• Higher education
• Primary education
• Secondary education
• Vocational education
• Distance learning
• E-learning
• Lifelong learning
• Inclusive education
• Special education
• Educational technology
• Educational research
• Educational psychology
• Student achievement
• Curriculum development
• Educational policy
• Teacher training

Functions: Expressing Purpose

Expressing Purpose can be done in different ways, some of them are with: To, In order to, so as to, So that, In order that, For, In case, and Lest.

Expressing Purpose With To + Infinitive

• He joined a language center to learn English. (the purpose behind his joining a language center was to learn English)
• She went to the library to study. (the purpose behind her going to the library was to study)
• They stopped to talk to him (the purpose behind their stopping was to talk to him)

Expressing Purpose With In Order To + Infinitive

• He joined a language center in order to learn English. (the purpose behind his joining a language center was to learn English)
• She went to the library in order to study. (the purpose behind her going to the library was to study)
• They stopped in order to talk to him (the purpose behind their stopping was to talk to him)
• He joined a Gym in order not to get fat.
• She woke up early in order not to be late for school.

Expressing Purpose With So As To + Infinitive

• He joined a language center so as to learn English. (the purpose behind his joining a language center was to learn English)
• She went to the library so as to study. (the purpose behind her going to the library was to study)
• They stopped so as to talk to him (the purpose behind their stopping was to talk to him)
• He joined a Gym so as not to get fat.
• She woke up early so as not to be late for school.

Expressing Purpose With So That + Subject + Modal Verbs

• He joined a language center so that he could learn English. (the purpose behind his joining a language center was to learn English)
• She went to the library so that she could study. (the purpose behind her going to the library was to study)
• She goes to the library so that she can study.
• They stopped so that they could talk to him (the purpose behind their stopping was to talk to him)
• He exercises regularly so that he will not get obese
• She woke up early so that she would not be late for school.

Expressing Purpose With In Order That + Subject + Modal Verbs

• He joined a language center in order he could learn English. (the purpose behind his joining a language center was to learn English)
• She went to the library in order that she could study. (the purpose behind her going to the library was to study)
• She goes to the library in order that she can study.
• They stopped in order that they could talk to him (the purpose behind their stopping was to talk to him)
• He exercises regularly in order that he will not get obese
• She woke up early in order that she would not be late for school.

Expressing Purpose With For + Gerund Or Nouns

• I exercise for pleasure
• This lesson is for explaining purpose
• A key is a tool for opening doors

Expressing Purpose With In Case

In case means in order to be prepared for something that may happen

• I’ll make a sandwich in case you are hungry
• She keeps aspirin in her house in case she feels sick.

Expressing Purpose With Lest

Lest means for fear that or with the intention of preventing. It is usually used in formal written English

• People are afraid of going out lest they get infected by the COVID-19 disease
• she was worried lest she had a bad mark in the test

Grammar: The Past Perfect

Click here to see THE PAST PERFECT LESSON

Writing: A Report

A report must at least contain these elements:

• Place of the event.
• Time of the event.
• The number of attendants.
• What happened.
• Your evaluation/opinion.

Also when writing a report keep in mind:

1. Identify your audience. Who will be reading your report? Consider their age, interests, and level of knowledge about the topic you are writing about.
2. Gather and organize your information. Collect relevant data and sources, and organize them in a logical and clear way.
3. Write a clear and concise introduction. Introduce your topic, explain the purpose of your report, and provide an overview of the information you will present.
4. Use linking words to break up the text and make it easier to read.
5. Conclude your report with a summary of the main points and any recommendations or conclusions you have drawn.
6. Edit and proofread your report carefully to ensure that it is free of errors and easy to understand.

Normally the topic is as follows: Write a report about………..

Last………. (write the date) ……… I attended / there was a…….. (name the activity)…….. It took place in ………(country, city, place)………… The …. (event)…. was about ………………… Several people attended it, and approximately ……(number of the attendants)……….. were present. The activity continued for …………….. (say for example 4 hours, half a day, 2 days, 1 week, etc.) ………………………… There were different activities during the event, such as …………………(say what happened throughout the event)………………………
Finally, I …………………. (give your opinion/evaluation of the event)…………………because it was time for me to (give some reasons to justify your evaluation)

Example of a Report on a Seminar on Dropout Students

Last week I attended an interesting seminar. It took place in the conference room at our school. The seminar was about dropout students Several people attended it, and approximately 100 persons were present. The activity continued for 4 hours. There were different activities during the event, such as discussions and interactive activities.
Finally, I really liked this event because it was time for me to broaden my knowledge on this issue and meet new people.

Example of a Report on a Seminar on Dropout Students (2)

The seminar on dropout students, held last week at our school, brought together a diverse group of educators, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss the issue of dropouts and identify solutions. The keynote speaker, our school headmaster, highlighted the importance of addressing dropouts, as research has shown that students who drop out of school are more likely to face challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and health problems later in life.

During the seminar, several other speakers presented various aspects of the dropout problem. A teacher from another school discussed the role of poverty in dropout, explaining that students from low-income families are more likely to struggle academically and ultimately drop out of school. Our English teacher focused on the importance of engagement and motivation in preventing dropouts, highlighting the need for schools to create a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.

The discussions and interactive activities at the seminar generated a number of ideas and strategies for addressing dropouts. One suggestion was to provide more support and resources for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as tutoring, mentoring, and financial assistance. Another idea was to involve parents and the community more actively in the education process, through initiatives such as parent-teacher conferences and community involvement programs.

Overall, the seminar emphasized the need for a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to addressing the issue of dropouts.