School Matters – Polish inclusion – vocabulary
‘School matters’ is a double entendre – it means 1) questions, or topics about school and 2) school is important (music really matters to me = is really important for me)
In the first instance matters is a noun, and in the second a verb.
polarised – divided into two sharply contrasting views, set of beliefs or groups
to make much of something – to discuss sth a lot, to view sth as important, to give sth great importance (usually in conversation and often with the implication is that someone is making too much of sth.)
‘Much is made of‘ = There is / (has been) a lot of discussion about…….., there has been a lot of emphasis on ……
an impact – a marked effect or influence
a unit – a distinct, self-contained section of a building or organisation. Eg a maternity unit for expectant mothers; also a distinct part of an educational course – eg, a modern history unit (or module)
To manage / run a unit – to organise a distinct part or an organisation
to oversee – to watch or organize a job or an activity to make certain that it is being done correctly
to be excluded from school – to be stopped from attending mainstream classes at school (usually because of unacceptable behaviour)
On paper it shouldn’t work – the idea or theory of a project is strange or impossible. Sometimes used in conjunction with the phrase in practice – eg, It looked terrible on paper, but in practice it was wonderful.
aspiration – noun – hope or ambition, what you hope to achieve
eg He has aspirations to become a professional musician.
learn on the job – to learn the skills required while doing the actual job, ie while at work, not on a course
"We’re very much into personalised learning here."
To be into sth – informal – to be keen on, enthusiastic about, committed to
To personalise sth – to produce sth to meet an individual’s needs and requirements, rather than a group’s.
to pick out – to select
to mean – to have the consequence that
eg Having an extra beer at the pub meant he missed the last bus home (= had the consequence that….)
To mean something = to be meaningful for him, not meaningless.
Grammar: How long has Mateusz been at the unit? Be careful – Mateusz uses the present tense, which is usual in many languages – but in English he needs the present perfect – he has been there for 4 weeks. He also mentions talking ‘with‘ English people, which English people often say, but should really say speak ‘to‘.
As and when – informal – only at the time that something happens – eg we don’t book a holiday – we just go off as and when (we decide to go).
To cope with – to manage successfully
mainstream – adj – normal, conventional
be / get up to speed in / with a subject or activity (here their language skills) – to have all the latest information about it and be able to do it well
to bring someone up to speed about sth – informal – to inform someone about sth, to train a person up to the necessary level
miss a go – miss a turn – to miss one’s turn in a game
assess – evaluate or estimate the nature, value or quality of
monitor – observe and check over a period of time
If you hear the next comment made by Julia Shepard, the Headteacher, about pupils being invited to the school for 4 mornings in one week and being given an induction!
to be given an induction – to be given some formal introduction and guidance in an organisation or task
make an assessment – produce an evaluation / estimation of the nature, value or quality of
To be taken back / to go back to the table – to be presented at a meeting
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