Discover culture: compare two school profiles
Read two invented school profiles and compare routines. A cultural comparison should describe the people in the text without assuming that everyone in their country lives the same way. Use both, but and different times to organise the comparison.
Ta fiche PDF illustrée
Le support, la méthode et les exercices corrigés à imprimer.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- Compare people through the same categories
- Starting times, transport and preferences
- Keep an example separate from a national claim
Before you startRead simple English sentences; use the starter lesson if you need help with names or numbers.
Un bon cours, ça se partage.
How do I compare two school profiles without making stereotypes?
Compare the same detail for both pupils and limit the claim to the people described. Use both for a shared feature and but for a difference: Both pupils like art. Noor walks, but Ben takes a bus. A fictional profile does not establish a rule about every school in a country.
Compare people through the same categories
Both refers to two people or things together: Both pupils like art. But shows a difference: Noor walks, but Ben takes a bus. A profile describes one person in one situation. It does not prove a rule about every school in a country.
Record the same categories for each pupil: place, start time, transport and preferred subject. Compare only details given in the profiles. If a detail is missing, mark it not stated. You can ask a respectful follow-up question rather than filling the gap with a stereotype.
Starting times, transport and preferences
| Detail | Noor's profile | Ben's profile |
|---|---|---|
| Place | Rabat | Bristol |
| Start time | eight o'clock | half past eight |
| Transport | walks | takes a bus |
| Preferred subject | art | art |
Read Noor's and Ben's fictional profiles
Read and explain this example
Noor: I live in Rabat. My school starts at eight. I walk with my sister. I like art because I enjoy drawing. Ben: I live in Bristol. My school starts at half past eight. I take a bus with a friend. My favourite subject is art too. I like making cards.
Keep an example separate from a national claim
A comparison is strongest when the categories match. Noor's start time should be compared with Ben's start time, not with his favourite subject. After recording the details, decide which are shared and which differ. If a fact is missing, mark it as not stated rather than filling it from a belief about the country. A respectful follow-up question is more useful than an unsupported generalisation about how everyone lives or studies.
Remember
These profiles are fictional. Their school times are practice details, not national timetables. Use Noor starts at eight rather than claiming All Moroccan schools start at eight.
Step by step
Put the idea into practice
- Make one row for each detail and one column for each pupil.
- Write one similarity using both and one contrast using but.
- Check that every claim refers to the profiles rather than an entire country.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two school profiles without making stereotypes?
What should I do when one profile does not give a detail?
Can one school profile describe a whole country?
Quiz: 1 questions
1 questions are randomly selected from this lesson’s 1-question bank. Choose one answer for each question and get an immediate explanation.
Q1Which statement is supported?
Incorrect answer
Both profiles name art; the other claims go beyond the text.
Correct answer: Both pupils like art.
Both profiles name art; the other claims go beyond the text.
Your score
0/1
Start with the worked examples
Read the lesson in small sections. Write your own example for each rule and try the Easy exercises before returning to the quiz.
Review: 1 missed question
Which statement is supported?
Correct answerBoth pupils like art.
Both profiles name art; the other claims go beyond the text.
Exercises with answers
4 exercises, from easy practice to challenges. Try each one yourself, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Exercise 1
EasyWhat subject do both pupils like?
Answer and explanation
Both pupils like art. Their stated reasons are drawing and making cards.
Exercise 2
IntermediateCompare their starting times and transport.
Answer and explanation
Noor's school starts at eight, but Ben's starts at half past eight. Noor walks, but Ben takes a bus.
Exercise 3
ChallengeCorrect this claim using only the profiles: All pupils in Bristol take a bus.
Answer and explanation
Ben takes a bus. The text describes Ben, not every pupil in Bristol. A broader claim would require more evidence.
Exercise 4
IntermediateUse the profiles to write a similarity and a difference without the words all pupils.
Answer and explanation
Both pupils like art. Noor's school starts at eight, but Ben's starts at half past eight. These sentences describe the two profiles and do not claim that every school follows those times.