Hello, I'm Victoria from Surinam, and my question is, what would you change about the educational system in your country?
Well, there are many things that need to be changed in my country regarding the educational system, but I would start with two things. The first one is teachers pay in the whole Caribbean. The wages in my country for teachers is the second lowest, which is actually very bad and very saddening. Because of this, many teachers either leave the country or have side hustles, which is understandable and consciously or unconsciously, this will undoubtedly affect the quality of our profession. So rewarding teachers for their important role is a great motivator.
Secondly, I would invest in ICT because learning and 21st century skills go hand in hand now, but the situation is very bad. So access to these modern technologies is limited, which affects the way we teach and the way we learn. So I would really invest in ICT and teacher pay to begin with.
Answer the following questions about the interview.
1) What is very low?
2) What do many teachers have?
3) What would she invest in?
How to Practice Vocabulary
Review the vocabulary.
Complete the blanks below with correct words.
Check your answers. Correct any wrong answers!
saddening
Meaning: Something that causes feelings of sadness or disappointment.
Examples:
It’s saddening to see how poorly teachers are treated.
The news about the school’s closure was truly saddening.
side hustle
Meaning: An additional job or activity people do to earn extra money outside their main job.
Examples:
Many teachers need side hustles to make ends meet.
Her side hustle as a photographer her helps pay her bills.
consciously or unconsciously
Meaning: Done either with full awareness or without realizing it.
Examples:
He consciously or unconsciously avoids talking about his mistakes.
People consciously or unconsciously imitate the behavior of those around them.
undoubtedly
Meaning: Without a doubt; definitely true or certain.
Examples:
This decision will undoubtedly improve the lives of teachers.
Access to better education will undoubtedly benefit the country.
ICT
Meaning: Technologies used for storing, retrieving, and sharing information, such as computers and the internet.
Examples:
Schools need to invest in ICT to prepare students for the modern workforce.
ICT plays a crucial role in improving the way we learn and teach.
go hand in hand
Meaning: For two things or qualities to be closely associated with a situation.
Examples:
Success and hard work go hand in hand.
In a good restaurant, delicious food and excellent service go hand in hand.
Vocabulary Quiz
Complete the sentences with the vocabulary above.
saddening • side hustle • consciously
undoubtedly • ICT • hand in hand
