免費英文講義｜中級英文 B1 四天上課制與學生生活閱讀口說練習

Lesson Overview 課程重點

This free Intermediate B1 English handout helps students discuss four-day school weeks, school schedules, learning time, childcare and community needs.

Students read three B1 passages, learn useful education vocabulary, practice five dialogs, and use speaking frames for pair work and mini debate.

The material is original classroom content informed by education research and policy resources.

Reading 1 | Why Some Schools Try Four Days

In some places, schools are trying a four-day school week. Students go to school from Monday to Thursday, and Friday becomes a day without regular classes. To keep enough class time, the school day usually starts earlier, ends later, or both.

School leaders may choose this schedule for different reasons. Some rural districts have long bus routes, so transportation is expensive. Some schools also hope a shorter week will make teaching jobs more attractive. For teachers, one extra day can be useful for planning lessons, grading work, or spending time with family.

However, a four-day school week is not simply a long weekend. It changes the whole rhythm of school life. Students may feel tired after longer days. Parents may need to find childcare on Fridays. Clubs, sports, meals, and tutoring also need new plans.

For this reason, many communities discuss the idea carefully before making a decision. The question is not only, 'Do people like it?' A better question is, 'Can students still learn well, stay safe, and get the support they need?'

Reading 2 | Friday at Home

Mia is a ninth-grade student in a town with a four-day school week. From Monday to Thursday, she leaves home at 6:50 a.m. and returns after 5:00 p.m. Her school days are long, so she often feels tired after dinner. She usually does only light homework at night.

On Fridays, Mia does not have regular classes. In the morning, she helps her younger brother with breakfast because her parents are at work. After that, she reviews vocabulary, finishes math homework, and joins an optional online tutoring class. If she has basketball practice, she goes to school in the afternoon.

Mia enjoys having Friday free, but her mother has mixed feelings. The extra day helps Mia rest and manage homework. At the same time, it is not easy for the family when both parents work. If Mia were younger, childcare would be a bigger problem.

Mia says the schedule works for her because she is old enough to study by herself. Still, she thinks schools should offer quiet study rooms, meals, or activity programs on Fridays for students who need them.

Reading 3 | Is It Better for Learning?

Researchers do not all give the same answer about four-day school weeks. Some reports find that students, parents, and teachers like the schedule. People may enjoy more family time, lower stress, or more flexible Fridays. Some schools also say the schedule helps them keep teachers.

At the same time, research warns that learning time matters. If schools lose too many hours, students may make slower progress in reading or math. Longer school days do not always replace the value of seeing teachers five times a week. Younger students may also find long days difficult.

The most useful lesson is that details matter. A four-day school week may work better when schools protect learning time, plan lessons carefully, and support students on the day off. It may be risky when the fifth day becomes only an empty day without study, food, or safe activities.

A schedule is a tool, not a magic answer. Before choosing four days or five days, each community should look at its students, teachers, families, and local needs. After making a change, the school should check attendance, achievement, student health, and family stress over time.

Speaking Practice 口說練習

In my opinion, a four-day school week is ______ because ______.

One possible benefit is ______.

One possible problem is ______.

Compared with a five-day schedule, a four-day schedule ______.

This schedule may work well for ______, but it may be hard for ______.

Schools should provide ______ on Fridays.

I partly agree because ______. However, ______.

The most important thing to check is ______.

Role-play: A student, a parent and a teacher discuss whether the school should try four days.

Mini debate: Our school should try a four-day school week for one semester.

Short talk: A four-day school week may be good for ______, but schools must ______.

Teacher Notes 老師備課建議

Use Reading 1 to build background knowledge before asking students for opinions.

Use Reading 2 to connect the topic to family life, childcare and student responsibility.

For B1 speaking, require students to give a benefit, a concern and one support plan.

Source Notes 教材參考來源

NCSL Four-Day School Week Overview: https://www.ncsl.org/education/four-day-school-week-overview

RAND Does Four Equal Five? Implementation and Outcomes of the Four-Day School Week: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA373-1.html

NWEA What the research tells us about four-day school weeks: https://www.nwea.org/blog/2026/what-the-research-tells-us-about-four-day-school-weeks/