Chapitre 3 · Semestre 1 · Unité 1
Education
Units 1 – 5
Theme: Education
Education is a basic right and a key to development. It gives people knowledge and skills, improves employability and helps build responsible citizens. Challenges include school dropout, illiteracy, overcrowded classrooms and the gap between education and the job market.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| compulsory education | education that is required by law |
| curriculum | the subjects taught in a school |
| to drop out (of school) | to leave school before finishing |
| illiteracy / literacy | inability / ability to read and write |
| higher education | university studies |
| vocational training | training for a specific job |
| scholarship | money given to a student to pay for studies |
| to enrol / to graduate | to register / to obtain a degree |
| distance learning / e-learning | studying online |
Grammar: conditionals
| Type | Structure | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | If + present, present | general truths | If you heat ice, it melts. |
| First | If + present, will + verb | real / likely future | If you study hard, you will pass. |
| Second | If + past, would + verb | unreal present / unlikely future | If I had a scholarship, I would study abroad. |
| Third | If + past perfect, would have + p.p. | unreal past (regret) | If he had worked harder, he would have passed. |
Unless = if… not: You won't succeed unless you work hard.
Function: giving advice and making suggestions
- Advice: You should… / You'd better… / If I were you, I would… / Why don't you…?
- Suggestions: Let's… / How about + gerund? / What about + gerund? / I suggest (that) we…
Writing: a formal letter (letter of application / to a newspaper)
- Sender's address and date (top right), recipient's address;
- Dear Sir / Madam, … Yours faithfully, (name unknown) — Dear Mr X, … Yours sincerely, (name known);
- Paragraph 1: reason for writing; paragraph 2: details; paragraph 3: request / conclusion;
- Formal language, no contractions.
Exercise 1 — Conditionals
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.
- If you (not / revise), you will fail the exam.
- If I (be) the Minister of Education, I would build more schools.
- If she had got a scholarship, she (study) abroad.
- If you mix blue and yellow, you (get) green.
Voir le corrigé
- don't revise (first) 2. were (second) 3. would have studied (third) 4. get (zero)
Exercise 2 — Advice
A friend wants to improve his English. Give him three pieces of advice using different expressions.
Voir le corrigé
- You should read English books every day.
- If I were you, I would watch films in English with subtitles.
- Why don't you join an online conversation club?
Summary — Education
- Vocabulary: compulsory education, curriculum, to drop out, illiteracy, vocational training, scholarship, to enrol, to graduate, e-learning.
- Conditionals: zero (present/present); first (present/will); second (past/would); third (past perfect/would have + p.p.); unless = if not.
- Advice: should, had better, if I were you, why don't you…?
- Suggestions: let's, how about + -ing, I suggest…
- Formal letter: Dear Sir/Madam → Yours faithfully; Dear Mr X → Yours sincerely.