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 extra-curricular activities. What options are there in your country to take online classes through distance learning, even for children?

Speak Up, Take a Stand! Instructions for Getting the Conversation Started

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, moving, and talking! The goal is to explore ideas, share opinions, and get ready for the next part of the lesson.

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? Then, pair students with members of the other group and have students explain their reasons. Rotate partners for more practice.
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. What do others think? Do you agree or disagree with them?
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. This helps you get ready to speak and join real conversations in English. Consider recording your ideas and self-assess your progress.

1. It 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. School 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

A. Listen to the interview and answer the questions.

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?

Back to Easy Quizzes

See Listening Transcript

Language Games

General Listening Quiz