Issue 241 - Home from school

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Basic

Vocabulary: School vocabulary

Look and listen.

 

Can you remember? Choose the correct option.

 

A news story

Read and listen to the news story.

Home from school

Many countries are trying to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Schools, academies and universities are closing for weeks. In Hong Kong, schoolchildren have not returned to school since the Lunar New Year holidays.

Rene Lam is an office worker and mother. Her two daughters, Lily and Agnes, are at a co-working space in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Lily and Agnes are doing online lessons with their school.

All over the world, educational institutions are closing to stop the virus. In some countries, children have been home from school for more than a month. Some families are taking this time as a holiday. Others don’t have this option. They are continuing their work and using alternative ways of connecting with learning content, teachers and classmates.

“At first it was very difficult,” says Lam, “but starting online classes brings back the school timetable and the routine, and the girls are happier now.” Lam is lucky. She has flexible work hours. It is easier to have the girls with her.

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Intermediate
A news story

Read and listen to a news story and then answer questions in the Comprehension section.

Home from school

As many countries act to stop the spread of the coronavirus, schools, academies and universities are closing for weeks to come. In Hong Kong, for example, schoolchildren have not returned to school since the Lunar New Year holidays.

Rene Lam, an office worker and mother, and her two daughters, Lily and Agnes, are at a co-working space in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Lily and Agnes are following online lessons on their iPad from their school, which has been closed as a precaution.

All over the world, educational institutions are closing in an attempt to reduce the spread of the virus. In some countries, children have been home from school for over a month. Some families are taking this time as a holiday. Others don’t have this option. They are continuing their work and schooling with modified routines and habits. This means using alternative ways of connecting with learning content, teachers and classmates.

“At first it was very difficult,” says Lam. “It was chaotic, but starting online classes has brought back the school timetable and the routine, and the girls are more at ease and happier now.” Lam is lucky as she has flexible work hours and this makes having the girls with her, or at home, much easier. “What it does mean,” continues Lam, “is that we are spending a lot more time together, so there are positive aspects to the situation we are in.”

Now answer the questions in the Comprehension section.

Comprehension: News story

Choose the best option.

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Advanced
A news story

Read and listen to a news story and then answer questions in the Comprehension section.

Home from school

As many countries are taking action to stop the spread of the coronavirus, schools, academies and universities are closing for the foreseeable future. In Hong Kong, for example, schoolchildren have not returned to school since the Lunar New Year holidays.

Rene Lam, an office worker and mother, and her two daughters, Lily and Agnes, are at a co-working space in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Lily and Agnes are following online lessons on their iPad from their school, which has been closed as a precautionary measure.

All over the world, educational institutions are following suit and closing in an attempt to reduce the spread of the virus. In some countries, children have been home from school for over a month. Some families are taking this time as a holiday. Others don’t have this option. They are continuing their work and schooling with modified routines and habits. This means using alternative ways of connecting with learning content, teachers and classmates.

At first it was very difficult,” says Lam, “It was chaotic, but starting online classes has brought back the school timetable and the routine, and the girls are more at ease and happier now.” Lam is lucky as she has flexible work hours, and this makes having the girls with her, or at home, much easier. “What it does mean,” continues Lam, “is that we are spending a lot more time together, so there are positive aspects to the situation we are in.”

Now answer the questions in the Comprehension section.

Comprehension: News Story

Choose the best option.

Interview: listen to more about the topic

Think about your answers to the following questions. Then listen to somebody answering the same questions. Were your answers similar?

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