Unit 7 · Education & Learning · Lesson 31
School Days
Learn nuanced comparison language — 'nowhere near as', 'by far the most', 'marginally better'. You'll compare school systems and study choices with confidence.
Warm-up · §1
5 minGet talking
What's the single best lesson you remember from school? Why?
If you could change one thing about the school you attended, what would it be?
How were you graded — marks, letters, comments? Was it fair?
Grammar focus · §2
8–10 minNuanced comparison — beyond 'better' and 'worse'
Quick rule
Weak comparison → strong comparison → superlative. Add an intensifier (slightly, far, nowhere near, by far) to sound B2.
Pattern builder
Small difference
slightly / marginally / a bit + comparative
e.g. Slightly cheaper than last year.
Big difference
far / much / a lot + comparative
e.g. Far more demanding than I expected.
Equal
as + adjective + as
e.g. The maths course is as tough as the physics one.
Not equal
nowhere near / not nearly as + adj + as
e.g. Homework is nowhere near as heavy as before.
Top of the group
by far the + superlative
e.g. By far the best teacher I ever had.
Compare
| Meaning | B1 phrasing | B2 upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| A little better | Small positive difference | 'A bit better' → 'marginally better' |
| Much better | Big positive difference | 'Much better' → 'far and away better' |
| Not as good | Negative comparison | 'Not as good' → 'nowhere near as good' |
| The best | Top-of-group superlative | 'The best' → 'by far the best' |
Examples
- →
Finland's system is far more relaxed than ours.
- →
Homework here is nowhere near as heavy as it used to be.
- →
By far the biggest change was moving to project work.
- →
State schools are marginally better funded than they were.
- →
Private tuition isn't nearly as common as people think.
Common mistakes
It's more better.
✓ It's much better.
No double comparative.
The most cheapest option.
✓ By far the cheapest option.
No double superlative.
Nowhere near as cheaper.
✓ Nowhere near as cheap.
Use adjective, not comparative, inside 'as … as'.
Natural English
Chain two comparisons for real impact: 'It's far more flexible than before — and nowhere near as stressful.' Two moves, one sentence.
Deep dive (full explanation)
B2 speakers rarely say 'more good' or even just 'better'. They add precision: 'slightly better', 'nowhere near as good', 'by far the best', 'marginally cheaper'. This is what makes a comparison sound adult, not textbook.
Question 1.'Finland's system is ___ more relaxed than ours.'
Question 2.'Homework is ___ as heavy as it used to be.'
Question 3.'She's ___ the best student in the class.'
Question 4.'State schools are ___ better funded than before.'
Question 5.Which is wrong?
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.'Finland's system is ___ more relaxed than ours.'
Quick check 2.'Homework is ___ as heavy as it used to be.'
Vocabulary · §3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
state school
school funded by the government.
private school
fee-paying school.
compulsory
required by law.
curriculum
the subjects taught in a school.
grade / mark
score given for work.
streaming
grouping students by ability.
boarding school
school where students also live.
term / semester
one period of the school year.
extracurricular
activities outside the main curriculum.
rote learning
learning by repetition rather than understanding.
Activate it now
Use the new words in one line each.
- Make it yours#1
Was your school state or private? What difference did it make?
state schoolprivate school - Your view#2
Should uniforms be compulsory? Why or why not?
compulsory - Rank#3
Rank most to least useful at school: extracurricular clubs, streaming, exams, project work.
extracurricularstreaming - Discuss#4
Is rote learning ever useful?
rote learningcurriculum - Complete#5
Finish: 'The best thing on my school curriculum was ___.'
curriculum
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · §4
3–4 minStress in comparative phrases
In 'FAR more difficult', 'NOWHERE near as heavy', 'BY far the best' — the intensifier carries the stress. Push the volume onto it. Without stress, the nuance disappears and it sounds flat.
- FAR more relaxed
- MUCH better funded
- NOWHERE near as heavy
- BY far the toughest
- SLIGHTLY more flexible
Reading · §5
8–10 minTwo Schools, Two Systems
Listen to the passage
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
When Mia moved from São Paulo to Helsinki at fourteen, she noticed the difference within a week. Her Brazilian school ran from seven in the morning until two, with a heavy curriculum and constant testing. Homework was routine. Grades were public. Streaming by ability started young. In Helsinki, the day was shorter, the homework nowhere near as heavy, and testing far less frequent. Teachers rarely raised their voices. Students called them by their first names. Project work replaced most of the drilling she was used to. 'The strange thing,' Mia says now, 'is that I actually learnt more.' She isn't alone: Finland's system is often ranked among the best in Europe, partly because it puts trust in teachers and gives children real breaks. Of course, no system is perfect. Finnish teenagers report their own pressures, and results in mathematics have slipped in recent years. But Mia's takeaway is simple: 'It's not that one country is better. It's that they measure success differently.'
Question 1.How did Mia's Brazilian school day compare with Helsinki?
Question 2.How did Finnish students address teachers?
Question 3.Why is Finland's system praised?
Question 4.Mia's takeaway is that…
Q1.Homework in Helsinki was heavier than in São Paulo.
Q2.Finland's system trusts teachers.
Q3.Finnish maths results have improved in recent years.
Listening · §6
8–10 minTwo friends comparing their school days (about 1:30)
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Lena:Honestly, my school was nowhere near as strict as yours sounds.
Adam:Ours was intense. Uniform, silent corridors, streaming from year seven.
Lena:Streaming that early? That's a lot.
Adam:It was. And homework every night, no exceptions. By far the toughest part was the pressure.
Lena:Mine was more relaxed. But I sometimes wonder if we did too little.
Adam:Maybe. Though I'd say results aren't marginally better in strict schools — they're not much better at all, in the end.
Lena:The difference is stress, right? Not learning.
Adam:Exactly. Far more anxiety, not far more knowledge.
Lena:Would you send your own kids to a school like yours?
Adam:Not a chance. Somewhere with strong teachers, less pressure. Same results, better childhood.
Question 1.How does Adam describe his school?
Question 2.When did streaming start at Adam's school?
Question 3.Adam's view on strict schools' results?
Question 4.Would Adam send his kids to a strict school?
Exam skills · §7
5 minStrategy focus — Comparing in Speaking Part 2
Task
Part 2 asks you to compare two images or ideas. Weak answers list features. Strong answers use precise comparison language.
Strategy
Signpost your comparisons: 'The first is far more…', 'Whereas the second is nowhere near as…', 'By far the biggest difference is…'.
Example
The first picture shows a very traditional classroom — rows of desks, teacher at the front. The second is far more relaxed, with group tables. By far the biggest difference is the atmosphere: one feels strict, the other collaborative.
Practice · §8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.Homework is ___ near as heavy as before.
Question 2.She's ___ far the best teacher I've had.
Question 3.State schools are ___ better funded than ten years ago.
Question 4.Music is a great ___ activity.
Question 5.In many countries, school is ___ until 16.
Question 6.The ___ covers maths, science and languages.
Q1.Fill: 'It's ___ (far) more flexible than before.'
Q2.Fill: 'She's b__ far the best in the class.'
Q3.One word — 'required by law' = c___.
Writing · §9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 130–170 word comparison: 'The school I attended vs a school I'd want for my (future) children.' Use at least FOUR comparison structures and FIVE items of education vocabulary.
Your answer
Show model answer
My School vs Theirs My school was traditional. The curriculum was heavy, streaming started young, and homework was nightly. The corridors were silent — the atmosphere was far more formal than anywhere I've studied since. For my (future) children, I'd choose somewhere nowhere near as strict. A school where uniforms aren't compulsory, where extracurricular activities matter as much as marks, and where teachers are trusted to teach. By far the biggest change I'd want is less rote learning. My generation memorised. I'd rather my kids understood. Of course, results still matter. Universities look at grades. But the evidence is clear: strict schools aren't much better at teaching — they're just much better at creating anxiety. A calmer school with real breaks and real feedback is marginally more work for teachers and by far a better childhood for the child.
Speaking · §10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
ROLEPLAY — School Systems Chat. Your teacher/partner asks: 'How does your school system compare with one abroad?' Answer in 60–90 seconds using at least THREE comparison structures and FOUR items of education vocabulary. Then swap.
Useful phrases
- • It's far more ___ than ___
- • It's nowhere near as ___ as ___
- • By far the biggest difference is ___
- • Marginally better/worse than ___
- • The curriculum is ___
- • Streaming starts ___
- FriendSo how did your school compare with one abroad?
- You_______________
- FriendWas it worth the pressure?
- You_______________
- FriendWould you change one thing?
- You_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Optional group extensions. ~22 min total
Homework · §11
Take-homeTake it home
Write the 150-word 'My school vs their school' comparison.
Record a 60-second answer: 'What's the biggest difference between your school and one abroad?'
Write true sentences with: compulsory, curriculum, streaming, extracurricular, rote learning.
Read a 3-minute article on any education system and note two comparison phrases used.
Recap · §12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- You can compare with precision — slightly, far, nowhere near, by far.
- You can talk about school systems, curriculum and study experiences.
- You can compare your school with schools elsewhere in fluent B2.
- You're ready for Lesson 32 — 'I Wish I Had…' for reflection and regret.