UNIT 2

SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD

-Read

http://www.mbctimes.com/english/20-best-education-systems-world

Listen

-Finland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_W2oS6HvTo

-Japan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A09HhxXht4

-Korea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooKYJo3PDOw

-Germany

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iFDIbxaH_w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0QHV--nelc

-Australia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck4muvlQdiM

-Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nJH3qFjgvM

-UK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osY8Ynk7DOM

EXPRESSING REGRET AND HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS

I should have been more ambitious.

EXPRESSING REGRET

-I should have studied something more practical when I was in college

-I shouldn’t have waited so long to get my driver’s license (driving licence)

HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS

-If I’d been more ambitious in college, I could have learned another language

-If I hadn’t wasted so much money last year, I would have my own apartment now  

SPEAKING ACTIVITY

For each statement, write a sentence expressing regret. Then talk with a partner about which statements are true for you.

1. I was very rebellious when I was younger	1. I should have been more conscientious when I was younger.
2. I didn’t pay attention to what I ate as a kid.	2.
3. I didn’t make a lot of friends when I was in high school	3.
4 .I was very argumentative when I was a teenager	4.
5. I was too naïve when I started looking for my first job	5.

Match the clauses in the left column with appropriate information in the right one. Then share with a partner.

1. If I’d listened to my parents, …	a. I wouldn’t be as broke as I am now
2. If I’d been more active, …	b. I could have learned a lot more
3. If I’d been more ambitious, …	c. I would have made more pragmatic decisions
4. If I’d studied harder in school, …	d. I wouldn’t be overweight
5. If I’d saved my money, …	e. I could have gotten a promotion

WRITING ACTIVITY

Writing a letter of apology: Think about something you regret doing that you want to apologize for. Consider these questions. Then write a letter of apology. What did you do? What were the consequences? Is there any way you can undo those consequences?

Dear Charles,     I’m so sorry you worked so hard making all those sandwiches for my party! I should have told you the party was canceled, but I got really busy at work and I didn’t get around to calling everybody.  If I’d been more conscious…

READING ACTIVIY

IF YOU COULD DO IT ALL AGAIN

Skim the article. Who wanted to be a teacher? Who wants to be a musician? Who wants to go to college?

Pat After I finished high school, I just wasn’t ready to go on to college. I really needed sometime to figure out what I wanted to do. I had saved up a lot of money, so I used it to travel through Asian countries for six months. It was an amazing experience, and I learned a lot about myself. Once I got home, I was ready to start college. Now the only trouble is that I don’t have enough money to pay for it! Before I decided to take such an expensive trip, I should have thought more pragmatically about my financial decisions.

Kevin By the time I was 22, I was the head of the public relations department in a major telecommunications firm. Now I’m a vice president. I love the excitement, the status, the security, and the money.  But sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and wonder, “what am I doing? Who am I?” When I was growing up, I always thought I would become a teacher or maybe an artist. Sometimes it seems like I have everything, and yet I have nothing.

Jo I started playing the violin when I was only five. By the time I was in high school, I knew I wanted to be a musician. Then last spring, I was chosen to participate in a summer music program in London. This was a huge honor that I wasn’t expecting. Unfortunately, my brother’s wedding was also planned for the summer. Of course, I couldn’t miss the wedding, so I had to say “no” to London. Now I sort of resent that I couldn’t go. Sometimes I think that if I’d been a little more selfish, I could have done both.

.

Read the article. Then check ( √ ) the correct boxes to answer these questions
	Pat	Kevin	Jo
1. Whose success could be described as…? a. a financial success b. the courage to explore new things c. a commitment to family	-- -- --	-- -- --	-- -- --
2. Whose regrets could be described as…? a. a missed opportunity b. losing oneself to achieve success c. being shortsighted	-- -- --	-- -- --	-- -- --
3. Whose problem cloud be described as…? a. a financial problem b. feeling cheated c. feeling confused	-- -- --	-- -- --	-- -- --
Group work: Which one of them seems the happiest? The least happy? Do you have any regrets about things in your past? What would you done differently?