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Lesson 2 - School
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This page: Read an article about a type of special school.

school

"Magnet Schools"
Reading Lesson

Key Words

Below you will find a list of key vocabulary you need to know to understand the lesson. Click on each word to hear it and practice its pronunciation.

curriculum
the subjects and lessons taught in a school
method
a way of doing something
technology
tools like computers and machines
waiting list
a list of people waiting for an opening
immigrant
a person who moves to live in another country
skills
abilities to do things well
grade level
a year in school
enroll
to sign up for school or a class
pay
to give money for something
describe
to tell what something is like
design
to plan or create something
attract
to bring or draw people in
offer
to give or provide something
full
with no space left
Which
asks to choose between options
throughout
in all parts of something
generally
usually; most of the time
quickly
fast
further
more or to a greater level
higher
more advanced or above another level
public
open to everyone and paid for by the government
private
not controlled by the government; paid for by individuals

 

Exercise - Key Words

Read the definition and select the word that was defined.

1. a list of people waiting for an opening
   

2. abilities to do things well
   

3. a way of doing something
   

4. the subjects and lessons taught in a school
   

5. a person who moves to live in another country
   

6. tools like computers and machines
   

7. to plan or create something
   

8. to sign up for school or a class
   

9. to give money for something
   

10. to tell what something is like
     

11. a year in school
     

12. to bring or draw people in
     

13. asks to choose between options
     

14. fast
     

15. to give or provide something
     

16. usually; most of the time
     

17. with no space left
     

18. in all parts of something
     

19. open to everyone and paid for by the government
     

20. not controlled by the government; paid for by individuals
     

21. more or to a greater level
     

22. more advanced or above another level
     

 

Reading

Magnet Schools

A magnet school is a school that offers a special curriculum designed to attract students from throughout the school district. Magnet schools generally use different teaching methods or offer special curriculum in areas such as technology or the arts. Students can enroll in regular public schools or these special magnet schools. Many magnet schools are so popular that parents need to put their children's names on a waiting list before enrolling. Some schools have waiting lists for a year or more. Magnet schools are not private schools, they are public schools which are usually funded by the local school district.

In one magnet school in the San Diego area students spend half the day with a Spanish-speaking teacher and half with an English-speaking teacher. Starting in kindergarten, native Spanish-speakers (many are Mexican immigrants) and native English-speakers are in the same classroom. The children play together and quickly become bilingual. Their language skills develop further in higher grade levels where they learn subject areas such as science and history in English one month and in Spanish another month.

► Listen to the reading

 

Exercise

1. What does the word "funded" mean in the sentence below?

2. If you want to enroll your child in a magnet school, but the school is full, what can you do?
   
   

3. Who usually pays for magnet schools?
   
   

4. If a child doesn't speak any English, can he go to the school described in the second paragraph?
   
   

5. Which is an example of a magnet school?
   
   

 

Writing

Write a paragraph describing your school.

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Irregular Plurals in English

 

Intermediate English - Lesson 2 - School
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