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Read the following story by Rob Kawada. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Have you ever wondered what classrooms will look like 20 years from now? Rob Kawada, managing director of the online learning company English Gang, shares his vision.
TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION
Will we soon have robots at the front of the classroom, teaching us about computer programming, languages and science? Technology has been at the forefront of education for many years, assisting teachers in the classroom in many different ways. For example, simply having computers in your school with an Internet connection allows you to get answers to questions that you would otherwise not have known. You can communicate with classrooms in other countries to share ideas, learn about new cultures and teach them about your own culture as well.
OPENING DOORS
The influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) in education has been unprecedented. It’s currently having a significant impact in Thailand as well. Now, instead of just reading about the Pyramids of Egypt, students can put on headsets and explore them as if they were actually there. What about a trip to Paris from the comfort of your classroom? This is now possible with technology that can allow you to explore different parts of the world and the history behind them.
REMOVING BARRIERS
Most households these days have Internet access. This allows for distance learning to occur with teachers all over the world. One popular online English school in Thailand is www.englishgang.com where students can learn one-on-one with English teachers from the UK, the US and Canada from the comfort of their own homes. Learning English online in Thailand is much more convenient now because most people have a smartphone, tablet or computer with Internet access. Once you’re connected to English Gang, simply choose the teacher that you like, choose a time and start learning.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Technology moves extremely quickly. Internet speeds, memory capacity and Internet costs are all improving rapidly. As you read this, people are working on amazing new IT products that will make education more interesting, fun and accessible. Those in this field look at the world, see a problem and try to develop technology that will fix it. They also look to the future to try and see what the world will need in the next 10 or more years. If you can dream it, you can make it.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Look around your home and school or at what you see on your daily commute. What would you like to change? Now think about what kind of technology could help you achieve this change. Remember that no idea is too big to get started on. Every business starts with an idea. After that, it just takes perseverance, passion and hard work to make the dream a reality. Who knows? You might become the leader of a new technology company that changes the world!
Section 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the article about?
a. Technology and education.
b. Robots in the classroom.
c. Starting your own tech company.
2. What is English Gang?
a. A group of teachers.
b. An online English school.
c. A language-learning application.
3. Which of the following best describes “virtual reality”?
a. An interactive computer-generated experience that takes place within a simulated environment.
b. The creation of intelligent machines that work and react like humans.
c. The use of computer systems for storing, retrieving and sending information.
4. What is one benefit of technology in education?
a. Technology reduces the number of subjects taught in school.
b. Technology enhances the learning process.
c. Both a and b are correct.
5. Which of the following does English Gang provide?
a. IT-related courses.
b. A course on teaching English as a foreign language.
c. English language courses.
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the article?
a. English Gang provides English teachers from Australia.
b. English Gang has branches all around world.
c. With access to the Internet, people can learn online anywhere in the world.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?
a. AI stands for artificial intelligence.
b. English Gang is based in the UK.
c. Rob Kawada is managing director of English Gang.
Section 2
Find words used in the story that are synonyms of the following words.
8. feasible
……………
9. persistence
……………
10. instructors
……………
11. solve
……………
12. desire
……………
13. dissimilar
……………
Section 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
The English Gang curriculum was …..14….. for Thai students from beginner to …..15….. levels and focuses …..16….. speaking, listening and building …..17….. with English. With everybody …..18….. able to access online, it doesn’t matter if you’re in a big city or a small town. A good education is just …..19….. click away.
14.
a. create
b. created
c. creation
15.
a. advancing
b. advance
c. advanced
16.
a. in
b. at
c. on
17.
a. confidence
b. confident
c. confidential
18.
a. is
b. was
c. being
19.
a. a
b. an
c. the
Section 4
Write down the adjective forms of the following words used in the story in the space given.
20. culture
…………………………
21. connection
…………………………
22. history
…………………………
23. passion
…………………………
24. communicate
…………………………
Answers
Section 1
1. a.
2. b.
3. a.
4. b.
5. c.
6. c.
7. b.
Section 2
8. Possible.
9. Perseverance.
10. Teachers.
11. Fix.
12. Passion.
13. Different.
Section 3
14. b.
15. c.
16. c.
17. a.
18. c.
19. a.
Section 4
20. Cultural.
21. Connected.
22. Historical.
23. Passionate.
24. Communicative.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
