INTRODUCE
In some countries, students are forced to take out big loans to be able to study at a university. However, in countries like Germany, public universities are free for local and international students.
PRESENT
STEP A EXPRESSIONS
Go over the first two expressions with your tutor and answer the questions. Then, guess the meaning of the third expression based on the clues provided.
1. Tuition is money that students have to pay to take classes at a school.
I have a part-time job to pay for my tuition for this year.
Q: Is university tuition usually expensive in Japan?
2. To subsidize something means to pay part of the cost of it for someone.
The construction company subsidizes meals for its workers.
Q: Do you think companies should subsidize meals for their employees?
3. .
She went to a progressive high school where students are allowed to choose which subjects they want to study.
Q: What do you think progressive means?
STEP B SPEAK YOUR MIND
Sometimes you want to make a statement that you believe is true or reasonable.
The staff here have been struggling to answer most of my questions! It’s actually kind of frustrating.
Yeah. I think it’s fair to say that they need more training.
UNDERSTAND
SPEAKING
Christian, a German man, and his American friend, Greg, are talking about going on a trip.
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- Christian:
A week-long holiday’s coming up. Do you have any plans?
- Greg:
Nah. I think I’m just going to stay at home and catch up on some TV shows.
- Christian:
That’s not the way to spend a holiday! I’m actually planning on going to Spain. You should go with me instead of spending the holiday like a couch potato!
- Greg:
Sorry, man, but I can’t. Money’s a bit tight. Student loans, you know?
- Christian:
You’re still paying for your student loans?! Didn’t you graduate like five years ago?
- Greg:
Yup, and I’ve got about fifteen more years to go.
- Christian:
Fifteen more years?! You’ve got to be kidding me! Man, I’m so glad I studied here in Germany. I don’t have student loans to worry about because tuition is free for public universities. When I was in college, all I had to pay for was housing and administration costs. I shared an apartment with a roommate, so my expenses were halved, and the administration fee was only about 250 euros a year.
- Greg:
I’m so jealous! In the US, students have to pay for housing and administration costs on top of our tuition. People end up graduating with tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.
- Christian:
Yikes. Here, the government subsidizes public education for each student. It means taxes are a bit higher than in other countries, but it means that anyone who wants to get a higher education is able to. I think it’s fair to say that Germany has one of the most progressive education systems in the world.
- Greg:
You know, I always wanted to be a doctor, but just one thought of the crushing student loans for medical school stopped me from applying.
- Christian:
Well, our public universities may not have tuition, but they do still have standards. I’m not so sure you would get in… (laughs)
TRIVIA
Did you know that as of 2019, over 44 million people in the US have student loans? The average American student graduates from university with about $30,000 (about ￥3.2 million) in debt, although some graduate with more than $200,000 (about ￥21.6 million) in debt. It’s very common to take between 10 and 20 years to pay off student loans.
PRACTICE
Choose the best follow-up sentences.
1. The university just announced that there will be a 10% increase in tuition next year. __________.
- The students are planning a big protest.
- The students are very pleased.
2. Griffin Inc. is the most progressive company I’ve ever worked for! __________.
- The managers are not afraid to take risks and ask all employees for their suggestions.
- The managers turn down new ideas because the old ones still work.
3. The local government agreed to subsidize the construction of new homes for low-income residents. __________.
- Officials are asking the residents to take out loans to cover the full cost.
- Officials have promised to cover 60% of the expenses.
4. There’s no way you can call the principal progressive. _________.
- He got rid of the dress code because he feels that the school’s focus should be on education, not appearances.
- He feels that female students shouldn’t even wear pants!
5. I really think the government should subsidize the healthcare bills for those affected by the tragedy. _________.
- The victims shouldn’t have to pay them all on their own.
- It’s a shame, but the victims need to pay their own bills in full just like everyone else.
CHALLENGE
Challenge 1
Your foreign friend is visiting you in Germany. He/She wants to study abroad but is worried about his/her financial situation. Talk about free education in Germany.
Today's Expressions
- tuition
- subsidize something
- progressive
Speak Your Mind
- I think it’s fair to say…
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Challenge 2
What do you think? What does your tutor think? Discuss.
If TimeAllows
1 FREE EDUCATION |
2 BEING PROGRESSIVE |
|---|---|
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1 FREE EDUCATION
|
2BEING PROGRESSIVE
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FEEDBACK
I can discuss the idea of free education.
LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT
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4
Very GoodCould complete the task with ease
-
3
GoodCould complete the task with some clarifications
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2
FairCould complete the task with additional instructions
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1
PoorCould somehow complete the task with difficulty
PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK
- RANGE
the ability to use a wide variety of vocabulary - ACCURACY
the ability to speak correctly - FLUENCY
the ability to speak smoothly without pauses or fillers - COHERENCE
the ability to speak logically and at length
