B1 Lesson 28: Compound Nouns + Education

WARM UP

Think about education and student life.

• Did you enjoy your school education? Why or why not?
• Have you ever had to apply for a course, job, or university?
• What do students usually do to celebrate good exam results?
• Do you think it is possible to succeed after doing badly in an exam?
• Would you like to study as an undergraduate again?

Answer in full sentences.

VOCABULARY – EDUCATION

• break up – terminar (las clases) / separarse
Example: Schools usually break up for the summer in June or July.

• do badly – hacerlo mal
Example: Some students do badly in exams because they do not prepare enough.

• education – educación
Example: A good education can create many opportunities.

• undergraduate – estudiante universitario de grado
Example: She is an undergraduate studying engineering.

• apply for – solicitar
Example: Many students apply for university places every year.

• ordinary – ordinario / normal
Example: It was an ordinary school day until the surprise announcement.

• celebrate – celebrar
Example: Students often celebrate after finishing their final exams.

• surrounded by – rodeado de
Example: The university is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Say each word out loud.

Think about your own educational experiences.

GRAMMAR – COMPOUND NOUNS

A compound noun is made from two or more words that work together as one noun.

Compound nouns are extremely common in English, especially in education, business, and everyday communication.

Examples

• classroom = class + room
• homework = home + work
• notebook = note + book
• timetable = time + table
• school bus = school + bus
• university student = university + student

Types of Compound Nouns

Noun + Noun

• classroom
• homework
• textbook
• school year

Adjective + Noun

• blackboard
• greenhouse
• full-time job

Verb + Noun

• swimming pool
• washing machine
• dining room

Examples

• Our classroom is very modern.
• I completed my homework yesterday.
• Every student needs a textbook.
• The school year finishes in June.
• She travels on the school bus every morning.

More Examples

• The undergraduate checked the timetable before class.
• Students often discuss their coursework together.
• The university opened a new computer room.
• The education system has changed significantly.
• Many students use an online learning platform.

DIALOGUE – UNIVERSITY PLANS

Anna: Have you decided where to study?

Mark: Yes, I'm going to apply for a university in Madrid.

Anna: What would you like to study?

Mark: Computer science. I will be an undergraduate next year.

Anna: That's exciting. Is the campus nice?

Mark: Yes, it's surrounded by parks and green spaces.

Anna: Will you celebrate when you get accepted?

Mark: Definitely! After all the hard work, I will celebrate with my friends.

Read again and practise.

SHORT ARTICLE

Last year, my cousin completed secondary school and decided to apply for university. His education had always been important to him, although he occasionally did badly in some exams. Fortunately, he improved his study habits and achieved excellent results. He was accepted as an undergraduate at a university surrounded by mountains and forests. During his first week, he received a new student card, a detailed course timetable, and several textbooks. Although the campus looked much larger than his old school, he quickly adapted to university life. At the end of the semester, he passed all his exams and went out to celebrate with his classmates.

Read the article twice.

Focus on the compound nouns.

LANGUAGE SUPPORT

Education expressions

• apply for university
• get a good education
• do badly in an exam
• celebrate success
• be surrounded by nature

Common compound nouns

• classroom
• homework
• textbook
• school year
• student card
• course timetable
• computer room

Full sentence model

• The undergraduate received a new student card and checked his course timetable on the first day of university.

PERSONAL QUESTIONS

Answer in full sentences.

• Did you enjoy your education at school? Why or why not?
• Have you ever applied for a university course or qualification?
• What subjects did you do badly in at school?
• Which subjects did you do well in?
• Have you ever studied as an undergraduate?
• What would you like to study if you returned to university?
• How do students usually celebrate passing important exams in your country?
• Is there a university surrounded by nature near where you live?
• Which compound nouns do you use most often in daily life?
• What changes would you make to the education system in your country?

HOMEWORK (WRITE & RECORD)

Writing

Write 10 sentences:

• 5 sentences using the vocabulary from the lesson.
• 5 sentences containing compound nouns.

Use at least 6 vocabulary words and 5 different compound nouns.