My school life

My school life

In the United Kingdom compulsory education ends at the age of sixteen. However, many students stay on and complete two more years. For some (and I include myself in this category) school just becomes a habit, something you don't want to give up as it is so familiar to you. School is your world and you know nothing else and so you just keep on going.

Imagine my feelings when sixth form was over and there were no more classes to complete! Instead of feeling a sense of joy and relief I panicked — what was I, Jack McHall, to do? The logical and the best option was to go to university and continue my studies there, so that is, of course, what I did.

Unfortunately, the end of secondary education in the U.K. is not marked by any sense of celebration, like in other countries, for example, like the USA where students graduate at the age of 18 and have a fancy ball. (In the UK you have to wait until you finish college or university before you can have that privilege). In the UK you just 'finish school!' The lucky ones have a respectable collection of qualifications to their name as souvenirs; the unlucky ones may have slipped through the net somehow and end up going back to education at a later date when they feel more like studying. Education is more than qualifications, I admit that. But they are what count at the end of the day.

Ask anyone what they remember most about school and they'd probably say the teachers. They are what makes education a humanistic experience and, therefore, are the most memorable: the good ones, the bad ones, the kindest ones, the most generous ones... I was sad to leave them all, but I always was far too nostalgic.

School dinners, as for me, are remembered for a lot of wrong reasons: the long queues, the fat dinner ladies, the tasteless food. Thank goodness, they have introduced healthy eating plans in schools! Pupils are luckier nowadays!

Principally, school is all about belonging to a certain community and sitting in and making a contribution. I remember difficult times in the year, trying to find time for musical productions and athletics competitions. I wanted to do everything and make my school proud. What was more – an athlete or a musician? I was both, and a scholar too; an ‘all-rounder', I suppose you could say. Luckily, I was able to rely on my natural ability to get me through the exams and didn't have to spend too much time studying. I just listened to my teachers and got through that way. I thank them, really I do.

So, it will come as no surprise to you to find out that I became a teacher after I finished university. I couldn't get enough of school and so I stayed there! But this time it's different. Now I can give something back to society. I face many challenges everyday but keep going.

1) When Jack completed sixth form he

a) felt relaxed.

b) started working.

c) went on to further education.

d) took a break from studying.

2) In the UK students have special celebration

a) earlier than in the USA.

b) when they finish school.

c) at the age of 18.

d) on completion of university.

3) According to Jack, school dinners

a) were a pleasant experience.

b) are remembered by all students.

c) are bad for you.

d) are better now than before.

4) Jack had difficulty at school

a) deciding what to be.

b) combining the activities.

c) studying for exams.

d) listening to teachers.

5) When Jack says he "couldn't get enough of school" in the last paragraph, he means that

a) he was tired of it.

b) he really liked it.

c) he found it boring.

d) he was afraid to leave.

⇐ Предыдущая 12