VII. Compare two systems of education

 

VIII. Read and translate the text using the dictionary:

Education in Athens

In ancient Athens the purpose of education was to produce citizens trained in the arts, to prepare citizens for both peace and war.

Besides, requiring two years of military training that began at age eighteen, the state left parents to educate their sons as they wanted.

Schools were private but the tuition was low enough, so that even the poorest citizens could afford to send their children for at least a few years.

Until age six or seven, boys were taught at home by their mother or by a male slave. Boys attended elementary school from the time they were about seven years old, until they were thirteen or fourteen. Part of their training was gymnastics. The younger boys learned to move gracefully, to do calisthenics and play ball, and other games. The older boys learned running, jumping, boxing, wrestling, discus and javelin throwing. The boys also learned to play the lyre and sing, to count, to read and write. But it was literature that was at the heart of their schooling.

The national epic poems – Homer’s “Odyssey” and “Iliad”– were a vital part of the Athenian people’s life. As soon as their pupils could write, the teachers dictated passages from Homer for them to take down, memorize and later act out. Teachers and pupils also discussed the feats of the Greek heroes described by Homer.

The education of mind, body and aesthetic sense was, according to Plato, so that the boys “may learn to be more gentle, harmonious, rhythmical and so more, fitted for speech and action”.

IX. Make up a plan of the text in the form of questions.

X. Render the text in a written form.

XI. Mind the following words and word-combinations:

a goal – мета

well-drilled – добре підготовлений

obedient [q'bJdIqnt] – слухняний

to endure (to undergo) hardships – виносити тяжкі випробування

rigorous ['rIgqrqs] – суворий

XII. Listen to the text “Spartan education” and try to understand it.

XIII. Answer the following questions:

1. How was the Spartan system of education organised?

2. What was the goal of this system?

 

XIV. True/ False statements:

1. The goal of Spartan education was to produce an educated person.

2. Boys in Sparta lived in a communal style.

3. At the age of 30 boys were moved up to the next stage of education.

Unit 7