Английский язык. Higher education

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: