Гроза, 9. Students book. Unit 3. Lesson 3. Exercise 2c

– the school year in British schools
– Core and optional subjects
– What British students wear
– At what age they go to comprehensive school
– At what age they go to primary school
– How they get to school Tapescript:
Interviewer: Janice, when did you start school?
Janice: Err, when I was just under five … Yes. The year when I turned five.
Interviewer: Oh! So young! You must have felt quite confused!
Janice: Yes. I was very nervous. I didn’t know anyone! And the others were playing and laughing and … umm … they all looked the same to me.
Interviewer: You probably all wore uniform?
Janice: Yeah … most schools in Britain have uniforms.
Interviewer: So, that was primary school?
Janice: Yes.
Interviewer: And you went up to the age of …
Janice: Eleven. At the age of eleven, after finishing Year six, children change school. I had to go to Torrington …
Interviewer: Did you get a bus?
Janice: Yeah … the school bus that takes you in every morning …
Interviewer: What type of school is it?
Janice: It’s comprehensive school. I’ll be here from eleven to sixteen.
Interviewer: That’s five years, is it?
Janice: Yes. Year seven to eleven …
Interviewer: Janice, when does the school year begin in Britain?
Janice: Umm … It’s a bit different in different places. In our school we start in the first week in September … Then we have three terms and in summer school closes for about six weeks.
Interviewer: And you have …
Janice: Summer holidays! The best time!
Interviewer: Right. Is six weeks enough of a rest after studies?
Janice: Yes, but many people think that six weeks is too long and some people want to have four school terms and shorter holidays.
Interviewer: Would you go for that?
Janice: No, I don’t think it’s a clever idea.
Interviewer: What year are you in now?
Janice: Year ten.
Interviewer: What subjects are you taking?
Janice: Urn … English … Maths … Computer Studies, these are core subjects … German, and Russian … and …
Interviewer: Do all students study Russian in Britain?
Janice: No, certainly not all. It’s an optional subject in our school.
Interviewer: Why did you choose it?
Janice: Eh … It’s a big country and I would like to learn more about it … but I am making slow progress!
Interviewer: Do you have exams every year?
Janice: We have exams every year … And when you are sixteen you take a national exam, the GCSE …
Interviewer: What does that mean?
Janice: General Certificate of Secondary Education.
Interviewer: And after that?
Janice: If I don’t fail, I’ll probably go to the College of Further Education in Barnstaple … It is about 15 miles from here.