Think: imagine walking into a huge education fair where every stand opens the door to a completely different future. At one stand, students are building robots. At another, young performers are preparing for a musical. Across the hall, athletes are testing their speed, while future chefs are decorating cakes. Some students live at their school. Others study from home. Some learn languages, practise sports or develop technical skills. But how can you decide which type of school is right for you?
Learn: ready to unlock the new words? Read and listen to the text carefully, then use the clues around the highlighted words to guess what they mean.
On Saturday morning, Form 9 students from Greenhill School visited an education fair to explore the different opportunities available after completing their current studies. The large hall was filled with colourful displays, interactive activities and students who were eager to share their experiences. Marta and her classmates soon discovered that choosing a school was not simply about selecting a building. Different schools could offer very different learning environments.
At the first display, the students learned about a boarding school, where students live and study during the school term. Marta imagined sharing a room with new friends, studying together in the evenings and returning home during the holidays. Next to it was a day school. Students at this type of school attend lessons during the day but go home afterwards. Both schools were co-educational, which meant that girls and boys studied together.
The next stand belonged to an international school attended by students from more than twenty countries. Some subjects were taught in English, and the school organised cultural events throughout the year. Marta was fascinated by the idea of studying alongside classmates with different traditions and experiences. Her friend Markuss was more interested in the nearby language school, where students could improve their English, Spanish or German after their regular lessons.
Several displays introduced schools that could meet a wide range of learning needs. A teacher explained that a mainstream school provides general education for students with different abilities. Some students receive additional support during their lessons. A representative from a special school showed the class adapted learning materials and explained how specialised teaching can help students develop their individual strengths. The students also learned about a non-selective school, which accepts students without choosing them according to their academic results.
At another stand, a student was taking part in a science lesson from home. She attended an online school, where lessons were delivered remotely through digital platforms. This flexible form of learning could be particularly useful for students who could not attend school in person every day.
The liveliest part of the fair was the performance area. Students from a performing arts school presented a short musical filled with energetic dance routines and original songs. Across the hall, young athletes from a sports school invited visitors to test their reaction speed and balance. Markuss, who trained in basketball several times a week, immediately wanted to learn more about the sports programme.
Before leaving, Marta visited two final displays. At a technical school, students demonstrated robots, electrical systems and 3D printers. They explained that their studies combined general education with practical technical skills. At a vocational school, visitors could watch future chefs decorate cakes, trainee hairdressers create unusual hairstyles and construction students design model houses. On the way home, Marta realised that there was no single perfect school for everyone.
At the first display, the students learned about a boarding school, where students live and study during the school term. Marta imagined sharing a room with new friends, studying together in the evenings and returning home during the holidays. Next to it was a day school. Students at this type of school attend lessons during the day but go home afterwards. Both schools were co-educational, which meant that girls and boys studied together.
The next stand belonged to an international school attended by students from more than twenty countries. Some subjects were taught in English, and the school organised cultural events throughout the year. Marta was fascinated by the idea of studying alongside classmates with different traditions and experiences. Her friend Markuss was more interested in the nearby language school, where students could improve their English, Spanish or German after their regular lessons.
Several displays introduced schools that could meet a wide range of learning needs. A teacher explained that a mainstream school provides general education for students with different abilities. Some students receive additional support during their lessons. A representative from a special school showed the class adapted learning materials and explained how specialised teaching can help students develop their individual strengths. The students also learned about a non-selective school, which accepts students without choosing them according to their academic results.
At another stand, a student was taking part in a science lesson from home. She attended an online school, where lessons were delivered remotely through digital platforms. This flexible form of learning could be particularly useful for students who could not attend school in person every day.
The liveliest part of the fair was the performance area. Students from a performing arts school presented a short musical filled with energetic dance routines and original songs. Across the hall, young athletes from a sports school invited visitors to test their reaction speed and balance. Markuss, who trained in basketball several times a week, immediately wanted to learn more about the sports programme.
Before leaving, Marta visited two final displays. At a technical school, students demonstrated robots, electrical systems and 3D printers. They explained that their studies combined general education with practical technical skills. At a vocational school, visitors could watch future chefs decorate cakes, trainee hairdressers create unusual hairstyles and construction students design model houses. On the way home, Marta realised that there was no single perfect school for everyone.
boarding school — [ˈbɔː.dɪŋ ˌskuːl] — a school where students live and study; internātskola
When Marta first arrived at the boarding school, she felt nervous about living away from home, but by the end of the week she had already made new friends and joined the school drama club.
co-educational (also: coeducational) — [ˌkəʊ.edʒ.uˈkeɪ.ʃən.əl] — having male and female students being taught together in the same school or college rather than separately; skola, kurā kopā mācās meitenes un zēni
Most schools in Latvia are co-educational schools.
day school — [ˈdeɪ ˌskuːl] — a private school where students attend lessons during the day but do not live at the school; dienas skola
After spending several years at a boarding school, Emily chose a day school so that she could return home each afternoon and train with her local volleyball team.
international school — [ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.ən.əl skuːl] — a school that usually follows an international curriculum or teaches students from different countries; starptautiskā skola
Students from many different countries attend the international school.
language school — [ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ skuːl] — a school where students study one or more foreign languages; valodu skola
She attends a language school twice a week to improve her Spanish.
mainstream school — [ˈmeɪn.striːm skuːl] — a school that provides general education and is attended by students with a range of abilities and learning needs; vispārizglītojošā skola
Many students with additional learning needs attend a mainstream school and receive extra support.
non-selective school (also: nonselective) — [ˌnɒn.sɪˈlek.tɪv skuːl] — a school that does not choose students according to their academic ability; skola, kurā skolēnus neuzņem pēc viņu sekmēm vai akadēmiskajiem sasniegumiem
A non-selective school accepts students with different academic strengths.
online school — [ˈɒn.laɪn skuːl] — a school where students take lessons remotely using digital tools and the internet; tiešsaistes skola
An online school can be suitable for students who cannot attend lessons in person.
performing arts school — [pəˌfɔː.mɪŋ ˈɑːts skuːl] — a school with a strong focus on subjects such as music, dance and drama; skola ar skatuves mākslu ievirzi
Students at a performing arts school may have regular music, dance and drama lessons.
special school — [ˈspeʃ.əl skuːl] — a school that provides specialised teaching and support for students with physical difficulties or problems with learning; speciālā skola
A special school can provide individualised support and adapted learning materials.
sports school — [ˈspɔːts skuːl] — a school or educational institution where students receive regular training in one or more sports; sporta skola
He attends a sports school and trains in basketball several times a week.
technical school — [ˈtek.nɪ.kəl skuːl] — a school where students develop practical and technical skills for future studies or employment; tehnikums
At a technical school, students can combine general education with practical training.
vocational school — [vəʊˈkeɪ.ʃən.əl skuːl] — a school that prepares students for a particular profession by combining theoretical knowledge with practical training; arodskola
A vocational school can prepare students for careers such as cooking, construction or hairdressing.