Unit 10
READING
Notes on lifelong learning

1. What do you think can facilitate lifelong
learning?
2.  How can people practise lifelong
learning?

1. Ask and answer the questions.
• 1. The government's education policy and
new technology are making lifelong
learning more and more accessible.
• 2. People can practise lifelong learning in
many different ways , depending on their
situation and circumstances. Some ways
include courses, programs, or talks at their
workplace or at home.

Read the text about lifelong
learning and choose a
heading for each paragraph.
• Defining lifelong learning
• Aims of lifelong learning
• Forms of lifelong learning

1. Defining

lifelong learning

'Lifelong learning' is the pursuit of knowledge
throughout life. In other words, learning is not
confined to the classroom environment and school
subjects. Instead, people can learn throughout
their adulthood, even in old age and in a variety of
situations, particularly in their daily interactions
with others and with the world around them.
Lifelong learning must be voluntary and selfmotivated. Therefore, lifelong learners should have
a strong desire to learn and explore the world.

2. Forms

of lifelong learning

Lifelong learning is facilitated by e-learning platforms.
Education is now no longer offered only by 'bricks and
mortar' institutions. Online courses have instead enabled
lifelong learning by providing learners, teachers, and
course providers with much more exibility in terms of
learning time, place, pace, and style. Learners, for
instance, can now have the course content taught to them
by a school located miles away from where they live or
work. In addition, young parents can select their group
meeting time late in the evening when their children have
gone to bed.

Aims of lifelong learning
Most importantly, lifelong learning should be regarded as
an attitude to learning for self-improvement rather than a
pathway to qualifications. This means the ultimate aim is to
better yourself for personal and/or professional
development rather than for some certificate to decorate
your CV. This type of lifelong learning may not necessarily
take place as part of a course. It may be done very
informally in any area of interest and at your convenience,
as long as it is well within your capabilities and/or improves
your skills. For example, researching the tidal cycles of the
sea where you often go fishing and the types of fish
available there is a form of lifelong learning.

3. Find the words that mean.
•
•
•
•
•

1. pursuit
2. confine
3. e-learning platform
4. bricks and mortar
5. ultimate

Read the text and find the words or phrases in
the text that have the following meanings.
Write them in the space below.
1. the action of trying one's best to find or follow
something

pursuit

2. to keep someone or something within limits of time
and boundaries of space

confine

3. interactive online services that provide teachers and
learners with information and tools

e-learning
platform

4. a building with physical presence rather than virtual
or online

bricks and
mortar

5. being or happening at the end of a process or a
series of actions

ultimate

Read the text again and answer the following
questions.
1. Which of the characteristics of lifelong learning
distinguishes it from compulsory education?
2. What makes people become good lifelong learners
according to the writer?
3. How is lifelong learning made possible or easier to
access?
4. What should be the objective of lifelong learning?

4. Answer the questions.
1. Lifelong learning is not confined to the
classroom environment.
2. Voluntary learning, self-motivation, and a strong
desire to learn make people become good lifelong
learners.
3. Lifelong learning has been facilitated by elearning platforms with a variety of online courses.
4. Lifelong learners should aim at learning for selfimprovement, rather than as a pathwayto
qualifications.