Objectives:
• to practise scanning for specific information
• to practise writing an essay
• to revise some grammar material
Warm up
Can you say that your school is your "second home"? Why? Why
not?
Introducing the Topic
Reading
A) Read the letter. In which paragraphs do you find information about
these things?
facilities, after-school activities, timetable, location
MY IDEAL SCHOOL
(1) At the moment, I go to a large school in the center of the city.
It's quite a good school, but obviously it could be better! In this essay, I'm
going to describe my ideal school.
(2) My ideal school would be in the center of the city, but near a big
park so that the students could go there after lunch to relax. There would also
be a coffee bar where we could get together during breaks. My school would also
have computers in all classrooms. Another thing would be a music studio where
we could play and record music.
(3) Students would study all the usual subjects such as math, science
and foreign languages. However, there would be some new optional subjects, for
example, driving lessons, cookery, or self-defence. In addition, all students
would have some free lessons in order to do private study or homework.
(4) As well as the subjects on the timetable, there would be many
after-school clubs, such as chess, drama, photography and sports. There would
be regular trips to places like museums and art galleries too.
(5) To sum up, I think my school would have a good variety of activities
— something for everyone. It's certainly a place I would like to go.
B) Do the linking words and expressions underlined in the essay show:
1. addition: (also, another thing, as
well as)
Writing
Write an essay describing your ideal school. Follow the stages below.
Stage 1. Write some notes about your imaginary school.
location: in the country
facilities: gymnasium, swimming pool
timetable: self-defence, free time
after school: drama club
Stage 2. Organise your notes into paragraphs.
Stage 3. Write your essay
Stage 4. Check your writing.
Speaking
Work in groups. Discussion.
Can you prove that your school develops all the aspects of the child?
Which aspect should your school pay more attention?
Grammar
Finding and correcting mistakes
There is one mistake in each line of this letter. Cross out the mistake
and write the correction in the margin.
Dear Samantha,
1 Thank you of (for) your letter. It was very interesting
2 to read about your live (life) in Chester and I would like
3 to find out more about it. How much (many) hours do you
4 spend ay school each day? Do (are) your teachers nice?
5 Do you have many (much) homework? Do you play any sports?
6 at school? At my school we plays (play) basketball and
7 football. Have you ever play (played) basketball? It'a
8 lot of fun! I like it but I'm not very good in (at) it!
9 What kinds of books are (do) you like reading? I like
10 adventure storys (stories). My favourite book is "Treasure
11 Island"! Anyway, I hope you will writing (write) back to me
12 and ask (answer) all my questions.
Best wishes, Juan
2. examples: (such as, for example)
3. conclusion: (to sum up)
4. contrast: (but, however)
5. purpose: (so that, in order to)
Homework
Prepare for the discussion: How do you imagine a school of the future.
Suggest your ideas. | 
