English 9 - Global Success: Unit 6 - VIETNAMESE LIFE STYLE - THEN AND NOW | Listening Test 3 - Luyện Nghe Tiếng Anh Global Success (Lớp 6-9)

Ms. Roberts compares schools in the past and present. Previously, school facilities were very simple. For example, the (1) were much smaller and had fewer books than they do today.

The teaching style was also different. In the past, teachers were extremely (2) , and students were not allowed to talk freely in class.

The main learning method involved (3) facts from textbooks, rather than understanding the "why" and "how".

However, the relationship between teachers and students was special. There was a great deal of (4) for the teachers.

Nowadays, the focus has shifted. Modern education helps students develop essential (5) such as teamwork and problem-solving.

PART 1: Interview between Alice and Mr. Jones
Alice: Mr. Jones, for my school project, could I ask you about your teenage years in the sixties?
Mr. Jones: Certainly, Alice. It was a very different time.
Alice: Let's start with transport. Did you have a bicycle to get to school?
Mr. Jones: I wished I had one! All the cool kids had bikes. But my parents couldn't afford it. There was a bus service, but it didn't go near my house. So, I had no choice but to go on foot. It took me nearly forty minutes each way.
Alice: Wow, that’s a lot of walking. And how did you communicate with friends? Did you have a telephone at home?
Mr. Jones: No, we didn't have a phone until I was twenty. If I wanted to contact a friend in another town, I sat down and wrote letters. It took days to get a reply, but it was exciting waiting for the postman.
Alice: That sounds very patient. What about entertainment? Did you watch TV in the evenings?
Mr. Jones: We actually got our first black and white TV when I was fifteen, but we only watched it on special occasions. Most evenings, the whole family sat around the radio. We listened to dramas and music shows together.
Alice: That sounds cozy. And what about food? Did you go to the supermarket?
Mr. Jones: Supermarkets weren't common then. We bought meat at the market, but for vegetables, we grew almost everything in our garden. Potatoes, carrots, beans... fresh from the ground.
Alice: And finally, clothes. Did you buy them at shops?
Mr. Jones: Rarely. Shop-bought clothes were expensive. My mother was very good with a sewing machine. She made all my shirts and trousers. I only went to a tailor for my first suit when I got a job.

PART 2: Monologue by Ms. Roberts
Ms. Roberts: As a teacher who worked for forty years, I have seen huge changes in education.
Let's look at facilities first. Today, you have computer labs and smartboards. In my early days, we just had a blackboard and chalk. The libraries were very basic back then, often just a small room with a few dusty shelves, unlike the massive media centers you have now.
The atmosphere in the classroom has changed, too. When I started teaching, teachers were very strict. Silence was the rule. If a student spoke without raising their hand, they would be punished.
Regarding learning methods, we focused heavily on memorising. Students had to learn dates, names, and formulas by heart from their textbooks. They didn't really need to understand the deep meaning, they just needed to pass the exams.
However, one thing I miss is the attitude. In the past, there was a deep sense of respect. Students stood up when a teacher entered the room and addressed us very politely.
Today, education is more practical. It's not just about knowledge anymore. Schools now focus on helping students develop soft skills. Things like presentation, teamwork, and critical thinking are now part of the curriculum.