School Now and in the Past

Type: Vocabulary
Topic: |
Level:
Originally published on June 30, 2019 and last updated on February 4, 2023
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There is no doubt that education and methods of teaching children have changed a lot during the last 80 years. Any conversation with an elderly person about their experiences at school will highlight some huge differences between then and now.

Whether the changes that have been made have a positive or negative effect on the overall education of children is up for debate with some claiming that a return to schooling from years ago would solve many of today’s problems when it comes to the younger generations.

Instructions:
Go through the vocabulary below with your students and ask them to try and use this vocabaulry where possible when discussing the different conversation questions.

Useful Vocabulary

Try and use the following vocabulary when answering the question. Click to look up the definition in the dictionary

  • education (noun)
  • learn (verb)
  • school (noun)
  • discipline (noun)
  • strict (adjective)
  • teach (verb)
  • student (noun)
  • teacher (noun)
  • misbehaviour (noun)
  • misbehave (verb)

Conversation Questions

  • What are the main differences between school now and 80 years ago?
  • What do you think school was like for children 80 years ago?
  • Do you think schools are better now than 80 years ago?
  • What do you think was better 80 years ago?
  • What do you think is better now?
  • Do you think children have a higher education now than 80 years ago?

Keep The Conversation Going!

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Gregory
This conversation topic was prepared by Gregory

Gregory is a qualified TEFL teacher who has been teaching English as a Foreign Language (ESL) for over a decade. He has taught in-person classes in Spain and to English learners around the world online.