Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- commencement /kuh-MENS-muhnt/
- impose /im-POHZ/
- flood with /fluhd with/
- administration /ad-min-uh-STREY-shuhn/
- anticipate /an-TIS-uh-peyt/
[noun] – the beginning of something
Some courses have an early commencement date.
[verb] – to officially force a rule, tax, punishment, etc. to be obeyed or received
Congress can impose strict conditions on the bank.
[phrasal verb] – if you are flooded with letters, phone calls, messages, etc., you receive so many that you cannot deal with them
We were flooded with calls from our customers.
[noun] – a period of government, or the people who are in government
Education has been given a high-priority rating by the new administration.
[verb] – to imagine or expect that something will happen
Are you anticipating a lot of people here tonight?
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
The DepEd Order No. 034 series of 2022, which was signed on July 11 by Vice President and Secretary Sara Z. Duterte, sets the commencement of classes on August 22 and the end on July 7, 2023. Some students have never been able to sit next to a friend, wear a school uniform, or raise their hands to ask a teacher a question. They have only ever had a screen from a laptop or phone connecting them to their school. The government of the Philippines imposed one of the longest lockdowns in history to stop the spread of COVID-19, forcing 27 million additional students around the nation to study online for two years.
And now that the students are in class, they must learn new rules. There was little chit-chat in the classes at the Palanan Elementary School in the Makati neighborhood of Manila. Many of the pupils were diligently copying their class schedule into their workbooks as they concentrated entirely on their teacher. These scenes could be found in nearly half of all schools in the Philippines. Local television stations were flooded with information about the safest bus routes for kids to use to get to school, as well as beautiful images of delighted little kids running through the gates in brand-new uniforms. Some even wore headbands that stated, “eager to learn,” for the day. On August 22, about 46% of students began five days of in-person instruction; the remainder will initially continue taking certain courses online. The administration anticipates that by November, every student who has registered for school will be back in the classroom.
And now that the students are in class, they must learn new rules. There was little chit-chat in the classes at the Palanan Elementary School in the Makati neighborhood of Manila. Many of the pupils were diligently copying their class schedule into their workbooks as they concentrated entirely on their teacher. These scenes could be found in nearly half of all schools in the Philippines. Local television stations were flooded with information about the safest bus routes for kids to use to get to school, as well as beautiful images of delighted little kids running through the gates in brand-new uniforms. Some even wore headbands that stated, “eager to learn,” for the day. On August 22, about 46% of students began five days of in-person instruction; the remainder will initially continue taking certain courses online. The administration anticipates that by November, every student who has registered for school will be back in the classroom.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- When you were younger, how did you usually feel on the first day of school? Could you tell me about it?
- What are the usual scenarios on the first day of classes in your country? Could you tell me about it?
- If you were to choose between online and face-to-face classes, which would you choose and why?
- Do you agree that all students are delighted to go back to school?
- Why do you think only 46% of students began the face-to-face classes?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- set
- uniform
- concentrate
- delighted
- register