Rob: Hello, I'm Rob…
Cath: And I'm Cath.
Rob: And this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Today we're talking
about teachers and how one school is planning to only use people who were in
the armed forces to work there.
Cath: The Armed Forces. We mean the army, the navy and the air force.
Rob: Yes, that's right. It's thought that former soldiers could make excellent teachers.
Well let's see how much you learnt at school because I've got today's question
for you.
Cath: OK.
Rob: According to Government figures, approximately how many school pupils are
there in England? Is it:
6.1 million
7.1 million, or
8.1 million
Cath: I have no idea but I am going to go for the one in the middle, 7.1 million.
Rob: OK, well, we'll see if you're right at the end of the programme. Now let's talk
more about this idea to use only former soldiers as teachers at a free school in
Manchester.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
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Cath: A free school. Free schools are part of the British government's reforms in
education. They allow local parents, teachers or charities to establish – or set
up - their own schools.
Rob: And The Phoenix Free School wants to use former soldiers as teachers because
they have a lot of life experience. Literally, they have experienced life.
Cath: That's true but does that mean they'll make ideal teachers?
Rob: This is the concern. They will not be qualified teachers.
Cath: So by not being qualified it means they will not have trained to be teachers.
Rob: Yes. But let's hear from Tom Burkard who is on the committee for the new
school. He thinks that's not an issue. Listen out for another word he uses that
means qualified:
Tom Burkard, member of the committee for the Phoenix Free School
The reason for this is simply based on three major American studies that have been done in
the last few years. They found that teachers who have little or no training perform just as well
as those who are fully certified. The test results of their pupils – there is no statistically
significant differences.
Rob: So Tom Burkard is not concerned that these teachers are not fully certified –
or qualified. He says 3 different American studies show unqualified teachers
perform just as well.
Cath: And their performance – or their good work – is proved by the fact that there is
statistically no difference in the test results of the pupils.
Rob: Statistically means the numbers or figures – the numbers or figures show there
is no difference.
Cath: So does this imply that maybe teachers don't need training?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
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Rob: Well as a trained teacher myself, I think you do need to learn how to teach.
And I'm not the only one. There are other critics of the idea.
Cath: So a critic, here, is somebody who is against the idea.
Rob: Mary Bousted is a critic. She's from the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.
She thinks teacher training is necessary. What does she think teachers need to
learn?
Mary Bousted, Assosiation of Teachers and Lecturers
The idea that you can simply take the skills and abilities you've learnt in war or on the parade
ground or through army manoeuvres, and those can be translated undigested into teaching
without any further training is ridiculous. You need to learn about different approaches to
teaching and learning and need to learn the research theories about new approaches
particularly international approaches.
Cath: So Mary Bousted says the skills and abilities learnt in war can't be translated
undigested into teaching. Rob, what does she mean by undigested?
Rob: She's talking about transferring skills to the classroom without any thought or
without adapting them for children. She thinks the idea is ridiculous!
Cath: Ridiculous! That's a good word. It means silly or absurd. Mary Bousted thinks
teachers need to learn about different approaches to teaching and learning.
Rob: So she doesn't want these soldiers skipping teacher training courses.
Cath: Skipping means missing or avoiding. But Rob, isn't this school breaking the
law?
Rob: No it's not. According to Tom Burkard, this plan is legal. Here he is again
using the phrase 'free to'. What are they free to do?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
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Tom Burkard, member of the committee for the Phoenix Free School
All free schools are free to employ people who don't have teaching qualifications. The only
teacher you have to have who is qualified is the special needs co-ordinator. We're not asking
for any special exemption in this. We're just following what the Department of Education is
saying right here.
Rob: Free Schools are 'free to' employ unqualified teachers. They are allowed to by
law.
Cath: And he's doesn't want to be treated specially. That's what he means when he
says we're not asking for any special exemption.
Rob: It's the Department of Education that says Free Schools can recruit unqualified
teachers.
Cath: Well it's an interesting and very controversial idea. I suppose parents don't have
to send their children to this school?
Rob: Yes that's true. But I'm afraid, Cath, you had no choice in trying to answer
today's question!
Cath: OK.
Rob: I asked you According to Government figures, approximately how many
school pupils are there in England?
6.1 million
7.1 million, or
8.1 million
Cath: I thought 7.1 million but I don't really know!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
Rob: And you are absolutely wrong because the actual answer is 8.1 million pupils
in England.
Cath: That's a lot. No wonder I can't get on the bus in the morning!
Rob: OK, well we're almost at the end of the programme, so Cath could you please
remind us of some of the vocabulary we've heard in today's programme?
Cath: Of course! We had:
armed forces
reforms
qualified
certified
statistically
critics
undigested
ridiculous
approaches
exemption
Rob: Thanks Cath. See you next time!
Both: Bye!
