6min english soldier teachers pdf

8/4/2019 6min English Soldier Teachers PDF

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BBC Learning English6 Minute English

Soldier Teachers

NB: This is not a word for word transcript

6 Minute English bbclearningenglish.com 2011

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Rob: Hello, I'm Rob

Cath: AndI'm Cath.

Rob: And this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Today we're talking

about teachers and how one school is planning to only use people who were in

the armed forces to work there.

Cath: The Armed Forces. We mean the army, the navy and the air force.

Rob: Yes, that's right. It's thought that former soldiers could make excellent teachers.

Well let's see how much you learnt at school because I've got today's question

for you.

Cath: OK.

Rob: According to Government figures, approximately how many school pupils are

there in England? Is it:

6.1 million

7.1 million, or

8.1 million

Cath: I have no idea but I am going to go for the one in the middle, 7.1 million.

Rob: OK, well, we'll see if you're right at the end of the programme. Now let's talk

more about this idea to use only former soldiers as teachers at a free school in

Manchester.


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Cath: A free school. Free schools are part of the British government's reforms in

education. They allow local parents, teachers or charities to establish or set

up - their own schools.

Rob: And The Phoenix Free School wants to use former soldiers as teachers because

they have a lot of life experience. Literally, they have experienced life.

Cath: That's true but does that mean they'll make ideal teachers?

Rob: This is the concern. They will not be qualified teachers.

Cath: So by not being qualified it means they will not have trained to be teachers.

Rob: Yes. But let's hear from Tom Burkard who is on the committee for the new

school. He thinks that's not an issue. Listen out for another word he uses that

means qualified:

Tom Burkard, member of the committee for the Phoenix Free School

The reason for this is simply based on three major American studies that have been done in

the last few years. They found that teachers who have little or no training perform just as well

as those who are fully certified. The test results of their pupils there is no statistically

significant differences.

Rob: So Tom Burkard is not concerned that these teachers are not fully certified

or qualified. He says 3 different American studies show unqualified teachers

perform just as well.

Cath: And their performance or their good work is proved by the fact that there is

statistically no difference in the test results of the pupils.

Rob: Statistically means the numbers or figures the numbers or figures show there

is no difference.

Cath: So does this imply that maybe teachers don't need training?


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Tom Burkard, member of the committee for the Phoenix Free School

All free schools are free to employ people who don't have teaching qualifications. The only

teacher you have to have who is qualified is the special needs co-ordinator. We're not asking

for any special exemption in this. We're just following what the Department of Education is

saying right here.

Rob: Free Schools are 'free to' employ unqualified teachers. They are allowed to by

law.

Cath: And he's doesn't want to be treated specially. That's what he means when he

says we're not asking for any special exemption.

Rob: It's the Department of Education that says Free Schools can recruit unqualified

teachers.

Cath: Well it's an interesting and very controversial idea. I suppose parents don't have

to send their children to this school?

Rob: Yes that's true. But I'm afraid, Cath, you had no choice in trying to answer

today's question!

Cath: OK.

Rob: I asked you According to Government figures, approximately how many

school pupils are there in England?

6.1million7.1 million, or

8.1 million

Cath: I thought 7.1 million but I don't really know!


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Rob: And you are absolutely wrong because the actual answer is 8.1 million pupils

in England.

Cath: That's a lot. No wonder I can't get on the bus in the morning!

Rob: OK, well we're almost at the end of the programme, so Cath could you please

remind us of some of the vocabulary we've heard in today's programme?

Cath: Of course! We had:

armed forces

reforms

qualified

certified

statistically

critics

undigested

ridiculous

approaches

exemption

Rob: Thanks Cath. See you next time!

Both: Bye!


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Vocabulary and definitions

armed forces army, navy and air force of a country

reforms changes and improvement to a law, social system or

institution

qualified someone who passed the examination in order to work in a

particular profession

certified to be issued a certificate saying that a person completed

training in order to work in a particular profession

statistically relating to information shown in numbers

critics here, people who disapprove of an idea or suggestion

undigested here, unchanged

ridiculous very foolish or absurd

approaches methods or system

exemption freedom from obeying a rule or a duty

More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9578000/9578615.stm http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14754069

Read and listen to the story online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/09/110915_6min_english_soldier_teacher_page.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9578000/9578615.stmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14754069http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/09/110915_6min_english_soldier_teacher_page.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/09/110915_6min_english_soldier_teacher_page.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14754069http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9578000/9578615.stm

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