Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. Educational methods include storytelling, discussion, teaching, training, and directed research. Education frequently takes place under the guidance of educators, but learners may also educate themselves. Education can take place in formal or informal settings and any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational. The methodology of teaching is called pedagogy.
Education is commonly divided formally into such stages as preschool or kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and then college, university, or apprenticeship.
A right to education has been recognized by some governments, including at the global level: Article 13 of the United Nations' 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights（联合国1966年《经济、社会和文化权利国际盟约》第13条）recognizes a universal right to education. In most regions education is compulsory up to a certain age.
Lead-in
Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions, and then share your answers with the whole class.
Describe your favorite teacher to your partner and tell him/her the reason why you love the teacher.
What do you think is the meaning of the following quotation（引语）?
The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives -- Robert M. Hutchins
Why should we emphasize creativity in every level of education?
Task 1
In this passage, you'll hear two people are interviewed about their ideas on eduction.
A. Answer the following questions.
1) What is the interview about?
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2) Who are the two people being interviewed?
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3) What is their attitudes towards permanent education?
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B. Complete the following sentences with what you hear on the tape.
1) When I ________ at school, I ________ it. I couldn't ________ it. I wasn't happy until I __________.
2) ... but I can’t understand people who want to spend ______________ in school.
3) Of course, there are _______________, but they aren't _______________.
Task 2
Listening Aids
nursery school: a school for children who are between three and five years old
voluntary (adj.): done willingly and without being forced
In this passage, two people are talking about primary schooling.
A. Fill in the following chart.
| Age | Schooling |
| Four | |
| Seven |
B. Answer the following questions.
1) How long was John in nursery school?
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2) Is John's memory of nursery school good or bad? What did he do there?
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3) What was the Junior School different from John's previous schools?
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4) What was the name of the exam students took at the age of eleven? What was the purpose of
this exam?
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