Interviewer Do you think it’s a good school?
Nathan Yes, it’s great. I love it. I learn what I want to
learn, and I learn when I want to learn – not
when a teacher tells me.
Interviewer Thank you, Nathan.
1.32 Lesson 2D, Exercise 1
Maisie Are you a member of a school club?
Ben No, I’m not. But I’d like to join one. Which clubs
do you go to?
Maisie I often go to photography club. It’s always good
fun. And I sometimes go to music club.
Ben Who takes photography club?
Maisie Mr Carleton, the art teacher.
Ben I like him. How often does the club meet?
Maisie Once a week. We usually meet on Fridays, after
school. But it’s sometimes on Thursday, in the
lunch break. Why don’t you come along?
Ben Good idea. Hey, when does the next lesson
start?
Maisie In two minutes. Come on. Mr Baker is always
cross when students arrive late!
1.33 Lesson 2F
The School Run How dangerous is your journey to school? Perhaps you
have to walk across a busy road or ride your bike in traffic.
But in general, your journey is probably safe. For some
children, it's very different …
1 Banpo Elementary School in China is on a mountain. The
path to school is very narrow and dangerous. The children
have to walk in a line. When they meet somebody, they
have to stand against the mountain while the person
passes. For the parents, it is very worrying. Fortunately, the
head teacher of the school walks with the children
every morning.
2 A group of children in Sumatra, Indonesia, have to cross
a wide river every morning on their way to school. The
bridge across the river is broken, so about 20 children have
to walk across a rope. The rope is ten metres above the
water. After that, they have to walk ten kilometres through
the jungle! And of course, at the end of the school day, they
have to do the same journey again on their way home.
3 Students in Minh Hoa in Vietnam have to cross a river on
their way to and from school every day. There are no
bridges or boats, so the children swim. They put their books
and clothes in large plastic bags so they do not get wet. The
bags also help the children to stay safe in the water. (The
water is 20 metres deep). When they reach the other side,
they take their dry clothes out of the bag and put them on.
4 Near Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, some children have to
cross a large valley to get to school. At the bottom of the
valley is the Rio Negro, a huge river. There is only one way
to cross the valley: on a zip wire. That’s a metal rope, 800
metres long and 400 metres above the river. The journey is
very fast. In fact, it only takes about one minute! Small
children cannot travel across the valley alone, so their
brother or sister puts them in a bag!
1.34 Lesson 2G, Exercise 1