Colonial education in Nigeria Exercise : Look at the elements around the text (title, introduction, source, picture and map) This document is entitled “An experience of colonial education in Nigeria”. It was written by Chinua Achebe. The story is told in the first person by Chinua so it’s an autobiography. It’s probably his school days. It probably take place in Nigeria, before its Independence.    

Choice of secondary school : Dennis Memorial Grammar School or Government College Elder brother of Chinua, John, chose for him William Simpson : mathematics teacher, from Cambridge He prohibited the reading of any book after school

Comparison between the two schools : Paragraph 1:  Government College is farther away from Chinua’s home than Dennis Grammar School. Dennis Grammar School is closer to Chinua’s home than Government College.  Government College is less known than Dennis Grammar School. Chinua’s brother’s choice is bizarre. Paragraph 2 : We chose “excessive devotion to book work is a real danger”. It means “if you only learn from manuals, it’s dangerous” I disagree with this idea because it’s important to work with manuals : with them, you can see pictures and read texts. You can also do exercises before a test. So, you must work with manuals.  Agree : because with manuals, you can’t do oral work (for some subjects like English).  Disagree : because with manuals, we can enrich the skills learned in class Cramming : Cramming, it’s when you only study for exams, ignoring all other aspects of education :  Developing my personality  Becoming more mature  Getting ready for my future job  Learning how to live with other people  Taking field trips  Discovering new things  Enriching my culture When I come to school, I can develop my personality, become more mature, get ready for my future job, learn how to live with other people, take field trips, discover new things and enrich my culture. The textbook act : Textbook

+ Read biographies and magazines Play ping pong Write letters Relax Read fictions / novels

In our class, most of us think it’s a good rule. Government College is a good school because many formers students have become famous Nigerian writers. © Quentin Gibaud Bernard - 2013

Translate into English : Ce roman s’intitule “New Projects”  This novel is untitled « New Projects » Il n’a pas été écrit par M. Morandi  It wasn’t written by Mr Morandi L’histoire se passe à Paris et est racontée à la 3ème personne  The story takes place un Paris and told in the 3rd person. Tu ne devrais pas lire ce manuel, il est mauvais.  You shouldn’t read this textbook, it’s bad Tu devrais jouer au ping-pong, c’est mieux.  You should play pingpong, it’s better. J’habite plus loin de l’école que toi  I live further away from home than you Write sentences about Liz and Ben. Use than. LIZ : 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.  1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

I’m 26 I’m not a very good swimmer I’m 1 meter 68 tall I start work at 8 o’clock I don’t work very hard I haven’t got much money I’m a very good driver I’m not very friendly I’m not a very good dancer I’m very intelligent I speak French very well I don’t go to the cinema very much

BEN : 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

I’m 24 I’m a very good swimmer I’m 1 meter 66 tall I start work at 8.30 I work very hard I got a lot of money I’m not a very good driver I’m very friendly I’m a good dancer I’m not very intelligent I don’t speak French very well I go to the cinema very much

Answers Liz is older than Ben Ben is a better swimmer than Liz Liz is taller than Ben Liz starts earlier than Ben Ben works more than Liz Ben has got more money than Liz Liz is a good driver than Ben Ben is friendlier than Liz Ben is a better dancer than Liz Liz is more intelligent than Ben Liz is better at French than Ben Ben go more often to the cinema than Liz

Write the verbs from the text which are in the preterit Paragraph 1 : “Had” : have “decided” : decide “was” : be “turned out” : turn out

Paragraph 2 : “set about” : set about “did” : do “passed” : pass

Paragraph 3 : “was” : be “made” : make “called : call “promoted” : promote “had” : have “prohibited” : prohibit

© Quentin Gibaud Bernard - 2013

Paragraph 4 : “was” : be “played” : play “read” : “read” “were” : be “added” : add