Текст книги "Английский язык. Higher education "

Автор книги: Екатерина Филончик

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Complete the sentence with the best answer (a, b or c) according to the information in the text:

1. Scientific and intellectual potential is

a) the national pride of Belarus.

b) the main historical value of Belarus.

c) the main strategic resource of Belarus.

2. Nowadays the number of students attending different educational establishments

a) has increased.

b) has not changed.

c) has lowered.

3. The republic gives teachers and students freedom

a) in the choice of educational forms and methods.

b) in the choice of textbooks.

c) in attending schools.

4. The reform envisages

a) 11 year secondary education.

b) compulsory 10 year education.

c) 12 year secondary education.

PART V

DIRECTIONS:

Answer the questions:

1. What is the main strategic resource of Belarus?

2. What is the system of education in Belarus like?

3. Has the number of students changed in Belarus nowadays?

4. What does the republic guarantee its citizens?

5. What is the aim of the educational reform in Belarus today?

6. What does the reform envisage?

7. What are the main principles of education in Belarus?

8. What new types of educational establishments have appeared in Belarus lately?

9. What does the reform stimulate?

PART VI

DIRECTIONS:

Read the text once again and divide it into several logical parts. Think of the title to each of the parts.

PART VII

DIRECTIONS:

Put the sentences into the correct order:

1. Belarus is the country of universal literacy.

2. New types of educational establishments.

3. The educational reform.

4. The guarantee of the right to education.

5. The main principles of the educational system in Belarus

ACTIVITY I

SUPPLEMENTARY READING:

DIRECTIONS:

Read the text and translate it with the help of a dictionary.

State policy in the sphere of education

Intellectual resources are the major wealth of the Republic of Belarus. Therefore, development of the national education system is the top priority of the public policy. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and the Act on Education every citizen of the country has a right to receive tuition-free education. Besides, attendance of general educational establishments (school, gymnasium) is compulsory and is under state control. Having acquired basic knowledge (the 1st-10th form), one has several options: to continue school education (11th -12th forms) and complete secondary education; or to enter a vocation school (special secondary educational establishments) and acquire a profession. Both options are free of charge.

Special secondary and higher education is available both on free and paid basis. The latter option is for those who failed to get the necessary score at entrance examinations and did not win the entrance competition. The paying students can make use of lax credit system. On the other hand the state prohibits the increase of the places for paying students at the cost of reduction of budget places. For comparison Belarus is the only country in the CIS, which retained the same quantity of budget places at higher educational establishments as it had in 1991. In the near future the budget financing of the higher school is not going to be reduced. This policy is the major guarantor of the accessibility of all levels of education to all groups of population. Besides the citizens of Belarus and Russia have equal rights to education in both states according to the intergovernmental agreement signed not long ago.

Social state policy in the sphere of education envisages also financial and material support of students: a 50% reduction on public transport for students, nonresident students and pupils are provided with accommodation at hostels and boarding houses, advanced students receive monthly allowance. The most gifted young people can also apply for the scholarship from a special President fund on social support of gifted pupils and students.

The official languages of upbringing and education at the educational establishments of the Republic of Belarus are Belarusian and Russian. The state guarantees its citizens the right to choose the language of upbringing and education and creates adequate conditions for exercising this right. By applications of children’s legal representatives (parents or tutors) and on the decision of local authorities special groups can be established at preschool establishments and general schools, where education and instruction is fully or partially conducted in the language of a national community or the study of the language of a national community is introduced into a school curriculum.

Graduates of state establishments of the system of vocational, special secondary and higher education as well persons with specific features of psychophysical development, who received training on a special curriculum are guaranteed the first workplace in compliance with the labor legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

Another important issue is the control over the quality of education. Regardless of the pattern of ownership all educational establishments are subject to accreditation procedure, which takes place every five years. Accreditation is aimed at confirmation of adequate level of quality and contents of education and graduate training, which should meet the requirements of established educational standards. Accreditation entitles the educational establishment in question to issue a standard certificate of education of corresponding level.

It should be noted that the research work in the sphere of education and upbringing, humanities and social science as well as the major scientific, technical and economic developments, conducted by education system bodies are budget funded. In the whole, the volume of budget spending on education is fixed at 10% of national income.

UNIT 2

TOPIC “HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN”

TOPICAL VOCABULARY

to go on to higher education

продолжить образование в вузе

professional training

профессиональная подготовка

to take one's «A» level examinations in…

сдавать экзамены продвинутого

уровня по...

to accept students on the basis of «A» level results

принимать студентов на основе результатов экзаменов продвинутого уровня

to interview smbd.

провести собеседование с кем-либо

the Open University

открытый университет

formal qualifications

формальные результаты

a part-time student

студент-заочник или вечерник

to follow a degree course

проходить курс, ведущий к получению степени

a former polytechnic

бывший политехнический институт

an institute of higher education

институт, вуз

a Bachelor's degree in Arts or Science

степень бакалавра гуманитарных

или естественных наук

a postgraduate degree

ученая степень (присуждается после обучения в аспирантуре или докторантуре)

Master of Philosophy

to be awarded for smth.

research in Arts or Sciences

магистр гуманитарных наук

присуждаться за что-либо

исследования в области гуманитарных или естественных наук

the Council for National Academic Awards

Национальный совет по присуждению ученых степеней

a vocational area

область профессионального обучения

to take qualifications

сдавать экзамены

a professional body

профессиональный орган

to receive a grant

получать стипендию

a local authority

местный орган власти

to cover the cost of smth.

покрывать расходы на что-либо

living expenses

стоимость проживания

to make a contribution

зд.: возместить часть расходов

to pay smth. back

возвратить что-либо

to introduce a system of loans

ввести систему займов

to be famous for academic excellence

быть известным за великолепное

качество обучения

VOCABULARY EXTENSION:

Study the following words, which are often confused by students of English:

I. diploma – degree – certificate – licence – qualifications.

A diploma is often a lower qualification than a degree and may be awarded for a practical or more specialized skill.

E.g. Pat has a degree is maths. I did/took my degree at York. I did a course in hairdressing and gained a diploma.

A certificate is a document marking official recognition of smth.: a birth/marriage/death certificate.

A licence (Am.E.: license) is an official written/printed statement giving permission to do something, usually for a fixed payment and sometimes after a test: a driving licence/a dog licence.

E.g. When did you get your driving license/diploma?

Qualifications: proof of having passed essential exams.

E.g. What qualifications do I need to teach English as a Foreign language?

II. college – university

A university is an institution that awards degrees.

A college is any institution of higher learning, not always leading to a degree; in the UK a university may consist of different colleges; some independent schools use College as part of their title: e.g. Eton College.

E.g. Ann’s at York University.

Our daughter started college last October. Tom’s at college for three years to study engineering.

Ann’s going to college next October.

GETTING STARTED

What do you know about the system of higher education in Great Britain?

Do you think British universities differ much from those in your country?

ACTIVITY A

SCAN THE TEXT 1 HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN

DIRECTIONS:

You are going to read the text about the systemof higher education in Great Britain. Before you read, look at the sentences below and decide if you think they are true or false.

Students of the Open University get their education through the medium of television and radio.

Undergraduate courses in British Universities normally take three years of full-time study.

The Academic Year starts in October.

It is not necessary for pupils going on to higher education to take any qualifications at all.

ACTIVITY B

READING

DIRECTIONS:

Now read.

Higher Education in Great Britain

The UK post-school institutions of higher education are universities, polytechnics and other higher education colleges.

In general, there are forty-seven universities in Britain and thirty former polytechnics (now also universities), plus 350 colleges and institutes of higher education (some of which train teachers).

They are divided into three types: the old universities (Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities), the 19th century universities such as London and Manchester universities, and the new universities.

Pupils going on to higher education or professional training usually take «A» level examinations in two or three subjects. Universities accept students mainly on the basis of their «A» level results, although they may interview them as well.

In 1971 the Open University was started. It is a unique institution, which, as its name suggests, is open to all. It is not necessary for students of the Open University to have any previous qualifications. Nearly a quarter of all adult part-time students follow its degree courses through the medium of television and radio. The first graduates received their degrees in 1973.

Besides the Universities there are other institutions such as Polytechnics and Technical Colleges. These tend to offer courses of vocational nature as well as academic courses. Colleges of Education provide training and education for prospective teachers.

Undergraduate courses normally take three years of full-time study, although a number of subjects take longer, including medicine, architecture and foreign languages (where courses include a year abroad). They lead in most cases to a Bachelor's degree in Arts or Science. There are various postgraduate degrees, including Master and Doctor of Philosophy. The last two are awarded for research in arts or sciences. It may take any number of years to finish the original research work necessary to get these degrees.

Degrees are awarded either by the institution itself, or by the Council for National Academic Awards, particularly in vocational areas. Students of law, architecture and some other professions can take qualifications awarded by their own professional bodies instead of degrees.

At present, students who have been accepted by universities or other institutions of higher education receive a grant from their local authority, which covers the cost of the course, and may cover living expenses.

Parents with higher incomes are expected to make a contribution. Until 1990 the grant did not have to be paid back, but now a system of loans has been introduced.

The Academic Year has three terms; it starts in October, each term lasting eight weeks at Oxford and Cambridge, or ten weeks at other universities. Students have vocations at Christmas, at Easter, and the so called «Long Vac» in summer.

British universities greatly differ from each other. They differ in date of foundation, size, history, traditions and general organization. The most famous universities are Oxford and Cambridge, called «Oxbridge». They are famous for their academic excellence.

ACTIVITY C

VOCABULARY STUDY

PART I

DIRECTIONS:

Match the synonymous pairs.

to go on

a qualification

a scholarship

to interview

a postgraduate degree

to cover the cost

training

a student of correspondence courses

to inquire

a part-time student

an academic title

preparation

a grant

to continue

to defray the expenses

an examination

PART II

DIRECTIONS:

Match the words from the list with their definitions:

vocational, graduate, grant, academic, fee, term, tuition, undergraduate, keep, course, degree

1. – concerning education, esp. in a college or university (adj.)

2. – necessary goods and services, esp. food and lodgings

3. – a title given by a university to a student who has completed a course of study

4. – a set of lessons or studies

5. – a sum of money paid for professional services

6. – instruction or teaching

7. – a person who has completed a university degree course for a first degree

8. – preparing one for a job (adj.)

9. – a student who is doing a university course for a first degree

10. – any of the three periods of time into which the teaching year is divided at schools, universities.

11. – money given esp. by the state for a particular, purpose, such as to a student during a period of study.

PART III

DIRECTIONS:

Translate the sentences into Russian. Be ready to give their back translation.

She graduated from Oxford with a first-class degree in physics.

She’s a full-time student at the University.

I obtained my diploma by correspondence, but it’s none the less valuable for that.

Did you pass your history exam?

When will you know the exam results?

She failed her exams and will have to take them again.

In order to become a student one must pass a university entrance examination.

When do you take your finals?

You’ll be examined in French and German.

ACTIVITY D

READING COMPREHENSION

PART 1

DIRECTIONS:

Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. It is not necessary for students of the Open University to have any previous qualifications.

2. Universities accept students mainly on the basis of their «A» level results.

3. Polytechnics and vocationally oriented schools give higher education.

4. British students do not get grants.

5. It usually takes 5 years to get a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.

PART II

DIRECTIONS:

Answer the questions:

1. What is necessary to go on to higher education?

2. What types of higher educational establishments are there in the UK?

3. What courses of study are offered by higher education establishments?

4. What is the procedure of awarding degrees?

5. What are the conditions of receiving grants?

6. What are the Oxbridge universities famous for?

PART III

DIRECTIONS:

Translate into English:

1. В университеты принимают студентов в соответствии с результатами сдачи ими экзаменов продвинутого уровня.

2. В открытом университете не нужны формальные результаты.

3. В открытом университете учатся взрослые студенты-вечерники и заочники.

4. Вузы Великобритании подразделяются на следующие типы: университеты (в том числе бывшие политехнические институты), колледжи и институты.

5. Обучение на дневном отделении обычно длится три года и более.

6. Обучение студентов обычно приводит к получению степени бакалавра гуманитарных или естественных наук.

7. Степень магистра присуждается за исследования в области гуманитарных или естественных наук.

8. Экзамены на присуждение степеней сдаются в вузе, Национальном совете по присуждению ученых степеней или в профессиональных органах.

9. Студенты получают стипендии от местных органов власти, которые обязательно покрывают стоимость обучения и иногда – стоимость проживания.

10. Была введена система займов, и сейчас студенты должны возвратить стипендию.

11. Университеты Оксбриджа известны великолепным качеством обучения.

ACTIVITY E

ORGANIZING YOUR THOUGHTS

PART I

DIRECTIONS:

Working in groups discuss possible answers:

Would you like to be a student of the Open University of Great Britain? Why / why not?

ACTIVITY F

WRITE AND SPEAK

PART I

DIRECTIONS:

Give a summary of the text .

PART II

DIRECTIONS:

Express your opinion:

What are some differences between the educational system in the United States and the educational system in your country? Read the passage again and then write a paragraph describing some of the main differences.

ACTIVITY G

LISTENING COMPREHENSION:

PART I

DIRECTIONS:

Listen to the conversation between Helen and Toshi about Allen High School in Britain and then answer the alternative questions below, choosing the right alternative.

Are there any course requirements left at Allen High School or are the students allowed to choose all their courses?

Does Helen see any advantages in this way of organizing the studies or is her attitude to it negative?

Does Toshi like everything about the idea of «free» subject choice or does he see some weak points in it?

Did Toshi and Helen find any point they could agree on or did they go on arguing?

Allen High School

Helen: You know, Toshi, I heard that at Allen High School they're allowing students to choose their own courses from now on.

Toshi: Hey, that's great! You mean they're getting rid of course requirements entirely?

H: That's right. If you don't want to take English or math, you don't have to. Can you believe it?

T: What do you mean? I think that's a great idea! I mean, choosing your own courses makes students more motivated so they'll learn and achieve more that way.

H: Oh, I don't think so! I think students will end up taking only fun courses, like music, gym, and art.

T: Oh, come on! Teenagers are old enough to make responsible choices.

H: We'll end up with a country full of people who can't think and don't know anything about history or math or geography...

T: Oh, I don't think so. I mean allowing them to choose their own courses and teachers prepares them to be adults in the real world. I mean, they can't have choices made for them forever.

H: But students need to be told what to study. Forcing them to take subjects like math, science, and foreign language is the only way to get them to try new things.

T: Well, maybe, but if you take courses you don't like, you end up hating school. This way, you'd end up loving school!

H: Mm, I don't know. I disagree.

T: Well, hey! Here's something we can both agree on. There's a free rock concert in the park at eight o'clock tonight...

H: You're right! I'm sick of arguing! Let's go!

PART II

DIRECTIONS:

Express your own opinion:

• Do you approve or disapprove the fact that some educational establishments in Great Britain allow students to choose their own courses? Prepare arguments for and against.

ACTIVITY H

SELF-WORK:

PART I

DIRECTIONS:

Study the following topical vocabulary:

compulsory – обязательный

further education – дальнейшее образование (исключая университетское)

primary – начальный

secondary – средний

fee-charging – платный

book-keeping – бухгалтерия

shorthand – стенография

commerce – торговля, коммерция

research– (научная) исследовательская работа

PART II

DIRECTIONS: Now read .

Text 2 POST-SCHOOL EDUCATION

There are three stages of education in Great Britain: primary, secondary' and further education. Primary and secondary stages are school education. Further education means post-school education.

Compulsory school education lasts 11 years, from the age of 5 to 16.

At the age of 16 young people can choose their further education at school or outside school. They can continue studying at school until the age, of 18. They can leave school and continue their education in various colleges, polytechnics and vocationally oriented schools, such as drama schools, art schools, ballet schools or schools of librarianship and others. The most part of these institutions are private, i.e. fee-charging.

These institutions do not give higher, education they prepare a variety of professions for industry and commerce: shorthand, typing, book-keeping and many others.

In Britain there are a number of different kinds of institutions of higher education. First of all, of course, there are the universities.

Some years ago there were also polytechnics. After graduating from a polytechnic a student got a degree, but it was not a university degree. 31 former polytechnics were given university status in 1992. There are 46 universities in the country. The oldest of them are Oxford and Cambridge. Their history goes back to the 12th-13th centuries.

Admission to universities is by examination or selection (interviews). British students get grants from their local education authority.

A university graduate leaves with a degree. It usually takes three years to get a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. A Master of Arts or Master of Science degree may be got in one or two additional years.

Universities are centers of research as well as teaching and many postgraduates are engaged in research for higher degrees. The highest academic degree is the Doctor of Philosophy. It may take any number of years to finish the original research work necessary to get this degree.

Most students live away from home, in flats or halls of residence.

Students don't usually have a job during term time because the lessons, called lectures, seminars, classes or tutorials (small groups), are full time. However, many students now have to work in the evenings.

University life is considered «an experience». The exams are competitive but the social life and living away from home are also important. The social life is excellent with a lot of clubs, parties, concerts, bars.

PART III

DIRECTIONS:

Translate the sentences with the words of the Vocabulary into Russian.

PART III

DIRECTIONS:

Find in the text the English equivalents for:

1) могут выбрать; 2) такие как...; 3) большая часть этих учебных заведений; 4) и многие другие; 5) получают стипендии; 6) обычно требуется три года, чтобы получить степень бакалавра; 7) еще через два-три года; 8) многие аспиранты занимаются научной работой.

PART IV

DIRECTIONS:

Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. Pupils can continue studying at school until the age of 20.

2. All colleges, polytechnics and vocationally oriented schools are free of charge.

3. Polytechnics and vocationally oriented schools give higher education.

4. British students do not get grants.

5. It usually takes 5 years to get a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.

ACTIVITY I

SUPPLEMENTARY READING:

PART I

DIRECTIONS:

Read the text, translate it into Russian and retell in English. Pay attention to the Vocabulary:

chapel ['t/aepl] – часовня

row [rou] – ряд

valuable ['vaeljuabl] – ценный

Text 3 OXBRIDGE

OXBRIDGE is a combination of two famous names – Oxford and Cambridge. They are the oldest universities in Great Britain. They have dominated British education for seven centuries.

The University of OXFORD, situated in the city of Oxford in England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The first of its colleges was founded in 1249. The university now has 34 colleges and about 12 000 students, many of them from other countries. There were no women students at Oxford until 1878, when the first women's college, Lady Margaret Hall, opened. Now there are 5 women's colleges. Oxford is a member of the Russell Group of research-led British Universities. It has recently come top of some league tables which rank universities in Britain.

Oxford is, like Cambridge and others, a member of the Coimbra Group, a network of leading European universities, and the LERU (League of European Research Universities).

CAMBRIDGE is the second-oldest university in Great Britain. It was founded in 1284 when the first college, Peterhouse, was built. Now there are more than thirty colleges founded at different times, three of them are women's colleges. The first women's college was opened in 1869.

Cambridge has produced more Nobel prize winners than any other university in the world, having 80 associated with it, about 70 of whom were students there.

It regularly heads league tables ranking British universities, and a recent league table by the Times Higher Education Supplement rated it sixth in the world overall and first for science.

Oxford and Cambridge are famous for their first class education. The universities have societies and clubs for different interests. Sport is an important part of students' life.

Both of these university towns are very beautiful. They have some of the finest architecture in Britain. Some of their colleges, chapels and libraries are very old and full of valuable books and paintings. Both towns have many lovely gardens.

During term time the university towns are full of bicycles. Students ride along the streets on them, and there are rows and rows parked outside the colleges. In the towns of narrow streets, a bicycle is the best means of transport.

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge, often referred to together as Oxbridge, compete to be seen as the strongest overall university in the UK. Historically, they have produced a significant proportion of Britain's prominent scientists, writers and politicians.

PART II

DIRECTIONS:

Mark the statements below as ‘ True ‘ (T) or ‘ False ‘ (F)

The University of Cambridge is the oldest university in England.

The University of Cambridge was founded by scholars from Oxford.

Many Nobel Prize winners were students at the University of Cambridge.

Many scientists, writers and politicians were students at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

The University of Oxford is the oldest university in England.

Oxbridge is the old name of Oxford.

There has always been a competition between Cambridge and Oxford.

The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are members of the Coimbra Group.

T

F

UNIT 3

TOPIC “ HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE USA ”

TOPICAL VOCABULARY

Read the expressions and translate them into Russian:

Apply – to ask for;

applicant – a person who applies for a position;

record – facts known about the past of sb; high school record;

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) – a test which discovers the knowledge and skills of the student; community – the people living in one place, district or country; a community college;

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS) – a man or woman who has taken the first university degree in arts or science;

Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS) – the holder of the second university degree in arts or science;

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D) – a person who has received the highest university degree;

tuition – teaching;

tuition fee – a payment for teaching;

income – money received during a given period;

install – to place, fix (an apparatus) in position for use.

VOCABULARY EXTENSION

I. professor – teacher

A professor (BrE) has the highest position in a university department, or (AmE), teaches at a university. We address a man as Mr + surname or as Sir, and a woman as Miss/Mrs + surname; we address a professor, male or female, as Professor + surname. A teacher teaches in a school.

E.g. He was Professor of Physics and head of his university department at the age of 26.

Mr Jones was a teacher of History before he became a headmaster.

II. director – manager – headmaster (principal)

A headmaster/headmistress – a man/woman in charge of a school.

Syn.: the head, the headteacher, the principal

E.g. When I was at school, the headmaster always took charge of morning assembly.

A manager is a person who runs part of a business.

A director is someone in charge of a business. We can speak of the director of a language school because it’s a business.

E.g. Jack is very young to be a bank manager/a manager of a supermarket.

It has never been my ambition to be a company director.

III. programme – syllabus – curriculum – program.

A syllabus is set in one subject either by a school or by an examination board.

A curriculum is the general programme in all subjects.

E.g. There is a new syllabus for next year’s Certificate in Advanced English.

Art isn’t on our school curriculum.

A programme is a sequence of planned activities, or an information booklet.

E.g. What’s your programme for today?

This concert programme (BrE)/program (AmE) is very expensive.

A program is a computer program (BrE/AmE)

E.g. Have you seen Microsoft’s new program?

GETTING STARTED

What do you know about the system of education in the USA?

Do you know the difference between the US colleges and universities?

ACTIVITY A

VOCABULARY STUDY

PART I

DIRECTIONS:

Teacher and its alternatives.

Match the word on the left with their definitions on the right.

1. coach a. person who trains athletes or animals

2. educationalist b. person who teachers in a college or university

3. governess c. person who trains sportsmen and athletes or a student for an exam

4. guru d. female teacher who lives with a family and educates their children at home

5. instructor e. private teacher; directing the studies of undergraduates

6. lecturer f. an expert in educational methods

7. schoolmaster g. female teacher in a school

8. tutor h. one who gives information or knowledge or teaches particular skills

9. trainer i. trusted adviser

10. schoolmistress j. influential or revered teacher

11. mentor k. male teacher in a school

PART II

DIRECTIONS:

Fill in the blanks with the words from Vocabulary Extension.

Mr. Brown is a _________ of history at Oxford University.

That was a terrible meal; I’m going to complain to the ___________.