A Day at School

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Easy	Education	Man – Boy	01:35

Pre-Listening Exercises

Describe a normal school day in the life of a student in your country including hours, class subjects, meals, rules, dress, and extracurricular activities. What options are there in your country to take online classes through distance learning, even for children?

Agree or Disagree? Let’s Spark Some Conversation!

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, exploring ideas, and sharing opinions.

In a face-to-face classroom: Read each statement aloud. If you agree, move to one side of the room; if you disagree, move to the other. Talk with your group—why do you feel that way?
In an online classroom: Use polls, emojis, or the chat box in your online platform to show your opinion. Then, join the conversation as a group or in breakout rooms.
For independent learners: Read each statement and think about your opinion. Then say your answer out loud and explain your reason, as if you’re talking to a classmate.

1. It is always best to follow every school rule.
2. Students should sit in the same seat every day.
3. Group work is better than working alone in class.
4. Being quiet in class shows you are learning.
5. Students should help clean the classroom, not just the teacher.
6. Arriving five minutes late to class is not a big problem.
7. It is okay to ask the teacher questions during a test.
8. Saying “thank you” to the teacher every day is important.
9. Schools should always celebrate holidays with parties.
10. You do not need to do homework if you understand the lesson.

Idioms

“crack the books” = start studying
“The reason why he isn’t doing very well is that he rarely cracks the books.”

“cut class” = miss school
“Although some of my daughter’s friends cut class a lot, she is at school every day.”

Listening Exercises

Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Here are some words that appear in the recording:

stuff (noun): things
– Please put your stuff in your backpacks.
bow (verb): bend your head and waist to show respect and thanks to another person
– You should bow in Japan when you meet people in formal situations.
math (noun): mathematics
– I don’t like math. It’s hard for me.

Vocabulary Practice

Try this activity to practice the vocabulary from the conversation:

Gap-fill Exercise

Post-Listening Exercises

What thing did you most enjoy about your school life in your country? Talk with a partner. Explain and discuss some of these topics:

the length of the school year
a typical day at school
teacher and student interaction
extra activities after school

Online Investigations

Use the internet to learn about the school system in another country and find the answers to these questions:

How do students get to school?
Do students meet inside a building or outside?
What subjects do students learn each day?
What time does school start and end?
What do students eat for lunch? Is it something they bring with them, or does the school have a cafeteria?
How many students are in a class?

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See Listening Transcript

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Language Games

General Listening Quiz

“A Day at School”