Текст № 9 Finland to reform education for the digital age

Finland is not satisfied with constantly being top of the world's education leagues. The government is now planning to reform its education system so that young Finns are better prepared for the digital age. A key part of the proposed reforms is to place as much emphasis on digital and workplace skills as on more traditional subjects. An example of this would be to use 3D printers in history classes so students can create models of ancient buildings. The government also wants to promote vocational training and encourage learning in real-life work settings. Students' performance would be evaluated by a teacher as well as by an official from the company helping the student. One teacher, Kirsti Lonka, explained why a shift in educational methods was necessary. She said: "Traditionally, learning has been defined as a list of subject matters and facts you need to acquire, such as arithmetic and grammar. But when it comes to real life, our brain is not divided into disciplines in that way. We are thinking in a very holistic way, and when you think about the problems in the world - global crises, migration, the economy, the post-truth era - we haven't really given our children the tools to deal with this inter-cultural world." She added: "I think it is a major mistake if we lead children to believe that the world is simple, and that if they learn certain facts, they are ready to go."

 

Mark the following statements as true or false (T/F):

1. Finland is very happy being top of the world's education leagues. T / F
2. Finland wants to place more emphasis on workplace skills. T / F
3. Finland wants every student to make models of ancient buildings. T / F
4. Students will be encouraged to learn in simulated work settings. T / F
5. A teacher said a shift in educational methods wasn't necessary. T / F
6. The teacher said our brain is not split up into disciplines. T / F
7. The teacher said students need tools for an inter-cultural world. T / F
8. The teacher said kids should not learn that the world is simple. T / F

 

Provide the appropriate answers to the following questions based on the content of the text:

1. What does Finland's government want to prepare young Finns for?
2. What do teachers use in class to create models?
3. What does the government want to encourage?
4. What would be evaluated by a teacher and a company official?
5. What did a teacher say it was necessary to see a shift in?
6. What was not divided into disciplines according to teachers’ opinion?
7. What kind of crises did the teacher mention?
8. What did the teacher say children have not been given?
9. What kind of world do children need to deal with?

Translate the following sentences from Russian into English using vocabulary of the text:

1. Правительство Финляндии планирует реформировать свою систему образования, чтобы молодежь в стране была лучше подготовлена к веку цифровых технологий.
2. Как часть реформ предполагается уделять в школах больше внимания обучению цифровым навыкам нежели традиционным предметам.
3. Примером этого может быть использование 3D-принтеров на уроках истории, чтобы ученики могли создавать модели древних зданий
4. Правительство Финляндии также планирует содействовать профессиональному обучению и поощрять обучение в реальных условиях работы
5. Работа обучающегося будет оцениваться учителем, а также должностным лицом компании.

Read the text and mark the following statements as true or false:

Текст № 10 «Charity warns against uploading photos of children»

A child protection charity in the UK is urging parents to ask their children for permission before uploading photos and videos of them on social media. This follows a study by Ofcom, a communications supervisory body, revealing that parents are divided on whether it is right to post photos of their children online. The practice of parents uploading photos and videos of their kids is termed "sharenting". This is a combination of the words "share" and "parenting". Ofcom said the biggest reason for parents not sharing photos of their kids is to protect the privacy of under-18s. The NSPCC said: "Each time a photo or video is uploaded, it creates a digital footprint of a child which can follow them into adult life."

The website theatlantic.com highlighted how prevalent sharenting is in the USA. It said: "In the United States, the vast majority of 2-year-olds…already have an online presence. More than 80 per cent of babies younger than that are already on social media." The website said there is a conflict between a parent's pride in their children and his or her desire to share photos of them, and the potential dangers of sharing photos of their kids. Parents often include personal information about their children along with the photos they upload. This could put kids at risk of identity theft and digital kidnapping. There is also the danger of parents publishing real-time information about their children's whereabouts.

 

Mark the following statements as true or false (T/F):

1. A charity said parents should ask children's permission to post photos. T / F
2. The article says parents are split on the idea of posting kids' photos. T / F
3. "Sharenting" comes from the words "shark" and "resenting". T / F
4. Digital footprints can follow children into their adult life. T / F
5. Most 2-year-olds in the USA have an online presence. T / F
6. Fewer than 80% of US babies are already on social media. T / F
7. The article says parents never include personal details about children. T / F
8. Posting the real-time whereabouts of kids is not dangerous. T / F

Provide the appropriate answers to the following questions based on the content of the text:

1. What did a charity urge parents to ask children for?
2. Which two words is the term 'sharenting' from?
3. What did Ofcom say must be protected?
4. What kind of footprint is left when a photo is uploaded?
5. How many 2-year-olds in the USA have an online presence?
6. How many babies younger than two are present on social media?
7. What parental feeling is in conflict with wanting people to see their kids?
8. What danger was mentioned besides identity theft?
9. What real-time information do some parents upload about children?