National Management Degree College
Department of English
Semester – I
Tutorial I
EPP – 1101 Communicative Skills
Read the following passage.
Education is usually defined as the passing or teaching of knowledge and skills to
students. But education can come in many forms. When a person typically thinks of education,
school may be the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, going to school is one form of
education called formal education. It is usually structured and organized teaching. Students
typically learn in a classroom with a teacher who is trained to educate students at a certain grade
level or in a certain subject matter. Formal education includes both public and private schools.
Formal education, if taken all the way to the university level, can lead to a degree and a career in
a chosen field.
Vocational education, or an apprenticeship, is another form of education. Apprenticeships
started in the 14th and 15th centuries. This is how trades such as making clothes, working with
metal, working with wood, and baking were passed on. The master or an expert in a certain trade
would hire an apprentice. The apprentice would be a young person, usually 10-15 years old. The
apprentice would typically have an interest in the trade or desire to become a master in the trade
himself. So, the apprentice would work for the master for little or no money for about seven
years to learn the trade. In return, the master would provide the apprentice with a place to sleep
and food to eat. Today, apprenticeships may not look like what they did in the 14th and 15th
centuries. However, they are still common for those who are interested in work such as repairing
cars or building houses.
Informal education usually does not have structure. Therefore, it may not always be an
obvious form of education. However, it is an important form of education that can happen almost
anywhere. For example, informal education could happen in the home when a child is watching a
parent cook dinner. It could include helping with household chores. Informal education could
happen outdoors while children are playing, or at a community center while playing with other
children or learning how to share. In this way, much of informal education is the knowledge and
skills learned through observing and interacting with others.
Think about something you know now that you did not know a year ago. Did you learn
this knowledge or skill through formal education, vocational education, or informal education?
Answer the following questions.
I. Choose the correct answer for each question. (1 Mark)
1. What is the main characteristic of formal education?
a. It is unstructured and casual.
b. It is structured and organized.
c. It happens at home.
d. It involves working for little or no money.
2. What was the purpose of apprenticeships in the 14th and 15th centuries?
a. To help children play and learn with others.
b. To teach young people how to manage schools.
c. To train young people in specific trades.
d. To provide a free education to everyone.
3. Which of the following is an example of informal education?
a. Attending a university lecture.
b. Taking a carpentry apprenticeship.
c. Watching a parent prepare a meal.
d. Studying for a school exam.
4. What does the text suggest about apprenticeships today?
a. They are no longer practiced.
b. They are only available for young children.
c. They are used in trades like car repair or construction.
d. They require seven years of unpaid work.
II. Write True or False for each statement. (1 Mark)
5. Formal education can lead to a university degree.
6. Apprenticeships started in the 20th century.
7. Informal education only happens outdoors.
8. Vocational education focuses on teaching academic knowledge.
9. Informal education often happens through observation.
10. Public and private schools are examples of formal education.
III. Answer the short questions.
11. What is one benefit of formal education mentioned in the text?
12. Explain how informal education differs from formal education in terms of structure.
13. Based on the text, why might someone choose an apprenticeship over formal education?
IV. Reflect on a new skill or knowledge you gained recently. Was it through formal,
vocational, or informal education? Briefly explain. (approximately 80 words)
