The Reading / Listening - Level 5

The British government wants Chinese teachers to try to improve the standard of maths in British schools. Students in Shanghai have the highest international test results according to a global testing agency. There is a huge difference in numeracy levels between the UK and China. A British newspaper reports: "The children of cleaners in Shanghai outperform those of UK doctors and lawyers in global maths tests." To try and change this, the UK will hire 60 of Shanghai's best maths teachers. It is part of a new initiative aimed at improving the mathematics ability of one million British students.

The UK said it was shocked it was so far behind many countries in maths. It warned that poor numeracy costs the economy $30 billion a year. Britain's education minister, who recently returned from a fact-finding mission in China, said: "We have some brilliant maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai and other Chinese cities has only strengthened my belief that we can learn from them." She added: "They have a can-do attitude to maths and I want us to match that." She said maths qualifications could mean higher salaries and protect against unemployment.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/education-26533428
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10691030/Chinese-teachers-sent-into-English-schools-to-boost-results.html
  • http://news.tes.co.uk/b/news/2014/02/18/china-39-s-poorest-children-outperform-uk-39-s-wealthiest-in-international-maths-tests.aspx


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

improve the standard of

a.

test results

2.

the highest international

b.

those of UK doctors

3.

according to a global

c.

million British students

4.

There is a huge difference

d.

maths in British schools

5.

The children of cleaners in Shanghai outperform

e.

in numeracy levels

6.

hire 60 of Shanghai's

f.

initiative

7.

part of a new

g.

testing agency

8.

the mathematics ability of one

h.

best maths teachers



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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

The UK said it

a.

qualifications

2.

it was so

b.

numeracy

3.

poor

c.

finding mission

4.

Britain's education

d.

far behind

5.

recently returned from a fact-

e.

unemployment

6.

strengthened

f.

was shocked

7.

maths

g.

my belief

8.

protect against

h.

minister

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The British government wants Chinese teachers (1) ___________________ standard of maths in British schools. Students in Shanghai have the highest international test (2) ___________________ a global testing agency. There is a huge difference (3) ___________________ between the UK and China. A British newspaper reports: "The children of cleaners in Shanghai (4) ___________________ UK doctors and lawyers in global maths tests." To try and change this, the UK (5) ___________________ Shanghai's best maths teachers. It is part of a new initiative aimed at improving the mathematics (6) ___________________ British students.

The UK said it was shocked (7) ___________________ many countries in maths. It warned that (8) ___________________ the economy $30 billion a year. Britain's education minister, who recently (9) ___________________ mission in China, said: "We have some brilliant maths teachers in this country (10) ___________________ Shanghai and other Chinese cities has only strengthened my belief that we can learn from them." She added: "They have (11) ___________________ maths and I want us to match that." She said maths qualifications could mean higher (12) ___________________ unemployment.

MATHEMATICS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about maths in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about maths for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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