Topics to discuss.

1. Public schools.

2. Private schools.

3. Q test.

4. After-school education.

TEXT II B

ACADEMIC STANDARD TESTS.

However, a high school diploma is not a ticket that allows someone to automatically enter a university. There are two widely used standardized tests for high school students who wish to attend a college or university. One is the SAT* (Scholastic Aptitude Test) consisting of three parts : Math, English and Logic. The other is ACT (American College Testing program), more commonly used in the western part of the US Both tests are of the multiple-choice type, i.e. you have to choose the most suitable answers out of the four given. Each year over three million high school students take those tests, set by non-profit, non-governmental organizations, at specific dates and locations throughout the US The results of the test are mailed to students. The maximum score for each subject is 800 points, a score of 700 is very good, 550 is the lowest score for getting into university.

In general, colleges and universities, whether state or private, are quite free to determine their own individual standards, entrance and graduation requirements, therefore admission policies differ considerably throughout the country, but the main principles are almost the same. If you want to apply to a university you should write an application, and sometimes an essay of some kind, and submit a copy of your high school transcript and letters of recommendation. Your good transcript and high SAT or ACT scores prove you are a good scholar while the letters should speak for your character.

The system of higher education in the US is rather competitive, and it becomes extremely selective the higher the level of education.. A lot of individuals seek admission to world-known private universities, although they must pay a high fee even to apply for admission. The best universities are the most difficult to get into: they admit about 15-17 percent of all applicants, while admission to law or medical schools has always been even more selective. Needless to say, those children who have attended better schools, worked hard, or come from wealthy families, often have an advantage over those who haven’t.

The most prestigious universities are the oldest private universities like Harvard (founded in 1636), Yale (1701), Princeton (1746), Pennsylvania (1740), and some others. They are called Ivy League (from ivy* climbing over the brick walls of the old university buildings). Private universities are generally smaller, and, therefore, very competitive; tuition fees are much higher, and academic standards* are also very high; the most famous professors teach at them, and the wealthiest students attend them. The quality of education is always better, and an Ivy League University diploma gives much better career opportunities. So, it’s worth all the money that goes into it. Americans believe that the more schooling you have the more money you will earn when you leave school.

State universities, unlike private colleges are partly subsidized by state governments, so the tuition is lower. They also bring in money for research being done at the university. On the whole, they are about the same as private universities: the same classes, similar faculties, roughly the same courses. Of course, the professors won’t be so famous, or the students so rich. Young people usually go to the university in the state they live, for they have to pay less in their own state and don’t have to compete because some public colleges and universities accept nearly all applicants. However, many state-supported universities have very good reputations, and the best of them, like the University of California at Berkeley, or State University of New York (SUNY) are rather competitive, and have many students from other states and countries.

The academic year in all types of educational institutions is divided into two terms, or semesters ( unlike British universities that have three terms)-fall and spring semesters. Upon term completion children break up for holidays, whereas university students have vacations.

NOTES SAT - Scholastic Aptitude Test - a test for determining the probability of a person’s success in learning.

Vocabulary:

to allow - позволять, разрешать;

widely - широко;

to attend – посещать

scholastic - учебный; школьный;

aptitude - способность; склонность;

commonly - обычно;

multiple - множественный, многократный, состоящий из нескольких(вариантов);

choice - выбор;

suitable - подходящий,

non-profit - некоммерческий;

non-governmental organization (NGO)- негосударственная/общественная

организация;

specific - определенный;

throughout - здесь: по всей (стране); to mail - посылать по почте;

score - счет (количество баллов);

point - очко, балл;

whether... or... - или... или..;

to determine - определять;

entrance - поступление;

graduation - завершение;

requirement - требование;

considerably - значительно, очень;

therefore - следовательно;

aptitude - склонности, способности

scholar - ученый (человек)

scholastic - ученый (научный)

ivy - плющ

academic standards - требования, предъявляемые к учащимся/студентам;

to apply (to) - обращаться (куда-то, к кому-то);

scholar - ученый; здесь: учащийся; competitive - состязательный, соревновательный;

to seek - искать;

applicant - абитуриент;

while - в то время, как;

Law School - юридическая школа (колледж);

selective - отборочный, ибирательный, разборчивый;

advantage - преимущество, достоинство;

ivy - плющ;

to climb over - виться (вверх) по..; взбираться по..;

brick - кирпич;

tuition fee - плата за обучение; to earn - зарабатывать, получать;

to leave(left, left) - здесь: заканчивать, покидать (школу);

unlike - в отличие (от);

partly - частично;

to subsidize - субсидировать, финансировать;

research - научно-исследовательская работа;

in the whole - в целом;

faculty - профессорско-преподавательский состав;

roughly - грубо, примерно;

to accept - принимать, допускать;

nearly - около, приблизительно;

state-supported – финансируемый штатом;

academic year - учебный год;

to divide - разделять;

term - семестр;

whereas - в то время как.

COMPREHENSION

Ex.1: Answer the following questions:

1. What do abbreviations SAT and ACT mean?

2. What for are these standartisized tests used?

3. What kind of tasks do they include?

4. Who are these tests arranged/set by?

5. When and where are they conducted?

6. How are the test results delivered to the applicants?

7. What documents should apllicants submit to the university?

8. Why do young people seek admission to world-known private universities?

9. What are the most prestigious U.S. universities?

10. What is the number of terms in the U.S.? in Great Britain?

Ex. I Explain the following words and expressions and give their Russian equivalents:

public school, elementary school, basic subjects, boarding school, written and oral assignments, scores, mandatory, to seek employment, furher education, vocational, multiple-choice type, to apply to a university, to submit documents, competition, competitive, to admit, to attend, academic standards, to accept, terms, vacations, it’s worth all the money.

WORD STUDY

Ex1:. Match the pairs of synonyms among the following words:

holidays; to differ; to support; to leave; while; term; to get into; fall; scores; to accept; to vary; to subsidize; semester; whereas; ability; to admit; to graduate (from); autumn; aptitude; points; vacations; to enter.

Ex.2: Match the phrases with their Russian equivalents:

1. suitable answer a/ юридический колледж

2. 2. non-governmental organisation b/ некоммерческий

3. specific date and location c/ общественная организация

4. throughout the country d/ требования по вступлению

5. brick walls e/ определенная дата и место

6. Law School f/ старшеклассник

7. admission policy g/ выбор из многих (нескольких)

8. entrance requirements h/ финансируемый штатом

9. non-profit i/ максимальное количество баллов

10. partly subsidized j/ учебный год

11. academic year k/ политика/правила приема

12. state government l/ кирпичные стены

13. multiple-choice m/ частично финансируемый

14. maximum score n/ правительство штата

15. state-supported o/ по всей стране

16. high-school student p/ подходящий ответ

Ex.3: Match the phrases with their Russian equivalents:

1. to enter a university a/ быть вынужденным состязаться

2. to attend a college b/ обращаться в университет

3. to be commonly used c/ предоставлять документы(кому, куда)

4. to be mailed (to) d/ поступать в университет

5. to differ considerably e/ посещать колледж

6. to apply to a university f/ обычно применяться/использоваться

7. to submit documents (to) g/ значительно различаться

8. to have to compete h/ отправлять по почте

Ex.4: Translate the following phrases from the text and use them in the translation below.

high school diploma/transcript; to enter; to choose; automatically;

to mean; standartisized tests; high-school student;

multiple-choice type test; the most suitable answer; to take tests; set by; throughout the country; non-governmental organisation;

at specific dates and locations; to mail; maximum score; applicant; admission requirements; to vary; to differ; application; to submit; letter of recommendation; to prove; opportunity; state government; tuition fee; lower; scholar; to compete; partly; to subsidize;

state-subsidized

1. Диплом об окончании школы не означает, что вы автоматически поступаете в университет.

2. Существуют два стандартных теста для учащихся старших классов, которые хотят поступить в колледж или университет.

3. К каждому вопросу даны 4 ответа, из которых вы должны выбрать наиболее подходящий ответ.

4. Каждый год свыше 3-х миллионов старшеклассников проходят эти тесты, проводимые негосударственными организациями в определенные сроки ив определенных местах.

5. Результаты тестов рассылаются учащимся(students) по почте.

6. Максимальное число баллов по каждому предмету - 800, хорошим результатом считается 700 баллов.

7. Требования к поступлению в разных учебных заведениях различаются.

8. Если вы собираетесь поступать в университет, вам следует написать заявление и своего рода (of some kind) эссе, предоставить копию вашего аттестата, результаты теста SAT и рекомендательные письма.

9. Аттестат и результаты теста доказывают, что абитуриент имеет хорошие учебные успехи, а рекомендательные письма говорят о его характере.

10. Американцы считают, что чем лучшее образование ты получишь, тем больше у тебя возможностей для хорошей карьеры.

11. Университеты штатов частично субсидируются правительством штата, поэтому плата за обучение в них ниже.

12. Молодые люди обычно идут в университеты своего штата, ибо в этом случае им не надо состязаться.

13. Университеты штата принимают почти всех абитуриентов, проживающих на территории штата.

14. Учебный год в университете разделяется на два семестра - осенний и весенний.

Ex. 5: Find synonyms from the two columns:

Establishment	subsidize
Receive	final
Finish	semester
Admit	accept
Support	choose
Scores	obtain
Differ	finance
Standards	autumn
Term	graduate
Fund	holidays
Select	requirements
Fall	results
end-of-the year	vary
Vacations	institution

Ex.6: Translate the following expressions into Russian in the accordance with the example:

news program = программа новостей

public school system; university program; high school student; end-of-the-year examinations; upper-class children; tuition fees; American College Testing program; maximum score; entrance standards; Ivy League University diploma; career opportunities; fall semester; IQ.

Ex. 7: Study the word formation and complete the sentences:

to differ (v.) - different (adj.) - difference (n.)

1. The curriculum is ... at various universities. 2. What is the ... between private and state colleges? 3. The Harvard diploma ... from that of a state university. 4. You may select ... courses at the University. 5. Tastes ... .

to compete (v.)- competitive (adj.) - competition (n.)

1. The system of higher education is rather ... in this country. 2. To become a student you have to ... . 3. The ... is very high. 4. Our product is very ... . 5. We must win the ... .

to apply (v.) - application (n.) - applicant (n.)

1. To ... to a University you should write an ... and send it by mail. 2. They admit only 15 % of all ... . 3. They must pay even to ... for admission. 4. Where is the ... form? 5. I’d like to ... for this job.

to admit (v.) - admission (n.) ; to accept (v.) - acceptance (n.)

1. ... policies differ throughout the country. 2. Some public colleges ... almost all applicants. 3. ... to law faculty is very selective. 4. He is ... to Yale.

Ex. 8: Match the words and their definitions given below:

grade, high school, curriculum, diploma, vocational, score, higher school, graduate from, standards, selective subjects, term, tuition fee, admission, applicant, vacations, middle-class, boarding school, mandatory subjects, part-time studies.

• educational certificate of proficiency;

• a school where pupils study and live;

• a person who wants to be a student;

• being accepted to a school, a club;

• the mark given to a student for his work;

• subjects that every student must study;

• institution for giving secondary education;

• course of study in a school, college, etc.;

• successfully complete an academic course;

• subjects that a student may choose;

• academic requirements;

• professional;

• record of points;

• when a person combine study with work;

• weeks during which universities stop work;

• universities;

• class of society between the poor and the rich;

• one of the periods into which the academic year is divided;

• payments for teaching.

Ex. 9: Give English equivalents to the following words and expressions:

начальное образование, собирать налоги, ВУЗ, среднее образование, финансировать, основные предметы, старшие классы средней школы, получать оценки, умный, профессиональное обучение, предметы по выбору, результаты тестов (2 варианта), богатые, учебный план, выполнение устных заданий, плата за обучение, похожий, могут позволить, интернат, прослушать курс, заканчивать школу, обязательное бесплатное образование, успешное завершение, должны решить, так и не закончить, поступать в ВУЗ, удостоверение, получить профессиональное образование, дневная форма обучения, вечерняя форма обучения, подходящий ответ, некоммерческая организация, посещать Университет, выполнять тесты, отправлять по почте, имеют право устанавливать свои требования, попасть в Университет, прием в ВУЗ, ученый, подать документы в колледж, предоставить копию аттестата, качество образования, большой конкурс, прием на юридический факультет, иметь преимущество, частично финансируются государством, стоит тех денег, почти такой же, осенний семестр, получать деньги за проводимые исследования, уходить на каникулы, принимать всех абитуриентов, зачислять иностранцев.

Ex.10: Answer the questions:

1. Is there any difference between grades, examinations and assignments in American and Russian schools?

2. What do you think of IQ test?

3. Is it easy to enter an American University?

Ex. 11: Fill in the blanks with the words given below:

Primary and Secondary Education in the USA

American children at the age of five enter ... which is the beginning of primary education. At the age of six they start first ... and ... for 6 years. The 7th grade is the start of ... education which continues for six ... years. As a rule last four years at school are called ... school.

Most of secondary education in the US is ... in contrast to private education. It is ... and requires no ... fees. The public schools are ... by local ... and state and federal .... Secondary education is ... in all states.

Basically the American system of ... is based on “C” being “...”, “B” being “...” and “A” being the ... grade. “D” is below the ... and “F” or “fail” receives no credit for the course. Students who show excellent ... can take ... courses. Starting in junior high school, students have some ... in deciding what ... they may take. Such ... are called “electives”; e.g. any foreign ... is an “elective”.

------------------

average, choice, high, advanced, tax, kindergarten, grade, subjects, secondary, good, more, abilities, study, free, mandatory, satisfactory, language, tuition, top, government, grades, public, financed, subjects.

Text II-C.

UNIVERSITY STRUCTURE.

SCIENTIFIC DEGREES.

Institutions of higher education in the US for the most part are referred to as colleges or universities. The first American universities divided courses into various fields of learning and called the departments (each teaching one branch) colleges or schools. Within a university they may be similar in structure to the “department ” at different universities all over the world, such as School of Business, Law School, or College of Chemistry, etc. Thus a university is made up of schools and colleges. The word “college” may also mean a separate institution which specializes in a specific branch of knowledge, like College of Engineering.

The number of departments, their titles and the subjects they teach varies from one university to another. Here is the list of basic departments and subjects they teach:

- Department of Arts (the Humanities) includes English, modern languages and classics (both languages and literature), History, Philosophy, sometimes Drama;

- Department of Science (or Natural Sciences, or pure science) teaches natural sciences, like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Geography;

- Department of Engineering (or technology, or Applied Science);

- Department of Social Science(s) teaches Economics, Sociology, Political science;

- Department of Business Administration (or business studies) is a fairly new speciality combining the study of Economics, Accountancy, Commercial Law, Marketing;

- Department of Medicine, usually called medical school;

- Department of Law;

- Department of Education.

The dean is in charge of students and educational matters. He or she is assisted by Faculty Board including both professors and students.

A distinctive feature of American university is its two levels. The first level is Undergraduate School that lasts four years. The first two years (the freshman year and the sophomore year) are aimed at providing general education, i.e. broadly-based studies in the humanities, social sciences, applied and natural sciences. In the spring of the sophomore year students choose an area of concentration. During the last two years (the junior and the senior years) the students (the undergraduates) major in one special subject, so they take the majority of courses in this one area. Juniors are usually engaged in independent work and seniors - in a year-long project, thesis. This undergraduate education culminates in a Bachelor’s degree. These degrees are usually referred to by their initials, both in speech and writing : BA (Bachelor’s of Arts), B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science), BEd (Bachelor of Education). Bachelor’s degrees are at two levels: Honors and General/Pass. At some institutions an Honors degree, abbreviated as BA (Hons),is awarded after a more specialized course, at others the course is the same for everyone and Honors degree is given to those students who are more successful in their examinations.

A Bachelor’s degree can be often considered as a background for a higher, or advanced, or further degree, that is awarded after further study, usually involving research. There are two levels of higher degrees : the Master’s degree and Doctor’s degree usually called the Ph.D. They can be obtained in Graduate School, which is the second level of university education. To obtain the Master’s degree a graduate student should work for two or sometimes three years. During this time he takes courses, passes exams, does some laboratory research guided by a competent professor, masters a foreign language, and submits a thesis (though a thesis is not always required). The name of the degree depends on the field of specialization, thus there are : MA (Master of Arts), MSc (Master of Science), MBA (Master of Business Administration), etc.

The highest degree in the American graduate school is the research doctorate, or Doctor of Philosophy, often referred to as the Ph.D. This name is invariable for all specialities. If a the graduate student is accepted into the Ph.D. program, he takes two or three years of advanced studies in his field of interest, passes the exams and does independent research, which culminates in a written dissertation. The dissertation must be an original contribution to knowledge. The candidate for Ph.D. should defend the conclusions of his dissertation before a panel of experts who finally decide whether he deserves the degree.

Vocabulary:

institution - учреждение;

to be referred to - называться;

to divide - (под)разделять;

field - сфера, область;

department - факультет;

specific - определенный;

within - внутри, в пределах;

similar (to) - подобный, сходный (с);

Law School - Юридическая Школа/колледж;

thus - таким образом;

to be made up (of) - состоять (из);

separate - отдельный;

engineering - инженерное дело;

number - число, количество;

title - название;

to vary - варьировать, различаться;

list - список;

art - искусство;

humanities - гуманитарные науки;

to include - включать;

natural sciences - естественные науки;

pure - чистый;

applied - прикладной;

political science - политология;

fairly - здесь: сравнительно;

to combine - соединять;

accountancy - бухгалтерское дело;

commercial law - торговое право;

dean - декан;

to be in charge (of) - быть ответственным, отвечать (за); возглавлять;

matter - вопрос;

faculty - профессорско-преподавательский состав; преподаватели; Board - Совет;

distinctive - отчетливый;

feature - черта;

level - уровень;

freshman - первокурсник;

sophomore - второкурсник;

to be aimed (at) - иметь своей целью;

to provide - обеспечивать;

general - общий;

to last - длиться;

broad - широкий; свободный;

concentration - здесь: специализация;

to major (in) - специализироваться (в);

majority - большинство;

junior - младший;

senior - старший;

to be ingaged (in) - заниматься (чем-то);

independent - независимый;

thesis - диссертация;

to culminate (in) - завершаться (чем-то);

Bachelor's degree - степень бакалавра;

initials - инициалы (начальные буквы слов);

with Honors - c отличием;

background - образование; опыт;

further - дальнейший;

to award - вручать;

the same - одинаковый, тот же самый;

to be considered - рассматривать(ся), считаться;

Master - магистр;

Ph.D. = Doctor of Philosophy - доктор (ученая степень);

graduate - выпускник;

to obtain - получать;

research - научно-исследовательская работа, исследование;

guided by - под руководством;

to master - овладевать;

to submit - предоставлять;

to require - требовать(ся);

to depend (on) - зависеть (от);

invariable - неизменный;

to accept - принимать;

advanced - продвинутый, повышенного типа/уровня;

contribution - вклад;

to defend - защищать;

conclusion - вывод;

panel of experts - совет экспертов/специалистов;

finally - в конечном итоге;

whether - ли;

to deserve - заслуживать.

COMPREHENSION to the Text C

Ex. I Answer the following questions:

1. What is a college? Is it the same as a Russian University?

2. What is the difference between Undergraduate School and Graduate School?

Ex. II Explain the following words and expressions and give their Russian equivalents:

Arts, natural sciences, engineering, business administration, Law School, an undergraduate, general education, honors, Batchelor’s degree, Master’s degree, a graduate, to do research under a professor, thesis, to master a language, original contribution to knowledge, flexibility, liberal arts, emphasis, scholarship, loans, “on campus”, ever-increasing number, essay questons, problems to solve, to grade exams, in the mail, to flunk out.

WORD STUDY to theText C.

Ex. I. Find synonyms from the two columns:

arts almost the same

natural sciences questions

similar specialize in

engineering broad based education

matters humanities

liberal arts result in

culminate in differ

obtain pure sciences

seniors technology

higher at the same time

award get

vary undergraduates in their last year

concentrate in further

simultaneously give

Ex. II. Study the word formation and complete the sentences:

to employ(v.) - employer (n.)- employee (n.) - employment (n.) - unemployed (p.)

1. Do you want to seek ... or continue with your education? 2. McDonald’s is the largest foreign ... in Russia. 3. Over 2,000 ... were dismissed last year. 4. He’s been ... for about a year. 5. I don’t think we can afford ... a new manager.

responsible (adj.) - responsibility (n.)

1. Mr. Smith is ... for accounts. 2. Could you describe my ... as an expert. 3. The administration is the ... of the Dean.

special (adj.) - speciality (n.) - to specialize (v.) - specialized (part.)

1. What’s your ... ? - I’m an accountant. 2. Our company ... in designing and constructing remote control systems.. 3. There are a lot of ... schools in St. Petersburg. 4. We can do that research only with the help of some ... devices.

Ex. III. Match the words and their definitions given below:

department; administration; matters; Undergraduate School; freshman; to major in; B.Sc.; thesis; degree; scholarship; loan; dormitory; to earn; mid-terms; essays; to flunk out, college; employers; a graduate; campus; MBA.

• management of affairs, an organisation;

• grounds of a school, college or university;

• academic title, or grade given by a university;

• sum of money given to a person who should return it;

• first-year student;

• piece of writing on any subject;

• to be asked to leave the university because of failing the exams;

• one of several divisions of a university;

• first university degree, for example, in chemistry;

• place where students live;

• place for higher or professional education;

• person who gives work, usually for payment;

• holder of the second university degree in management;

• first university level leading to bachelor’s degree;

• yearly grant given to a student to continue his study;

• research paper submitted for a university degree;

• specialise in a certain subject;

• get money as payment for work;

• some problems to be considered and solved;

• exams held in the middle of the semester;

• person who has completed the course at an educational institution.

Ex. IV. Fill in the missing words:

1. Physics is taught at the faculty of ...of our University. 2. Our School of ... teaches economics. 3. Undergraduate education culminates in a ... degree. 4. The Master’s degree can be obtained in ... School. 5. During their studies undergraduates ... courses and ... exams. 6. A graduate should do some .. under a competent professor and ... a thesis. 7. Students are free in ... all courses available. 8. Where should I study to become a teacher? - At the faculty of ... . 9. Undergraduate School studies ... four years. 10. The faculty board consists of ... from all departments. 11. Colleges are eager to help needy students with ... and speial programs. 12. At math classes you have different ... to solve. 13. It takes a lot of time for teachers to ... written exams. 14. The dissertation must be an original ... to knowledge.

Ex. V. Give English equivalents to the following words and expressions:

Область знания, высшее образование, присуждать степень Бакалавра, студент первого курса, юридический факультет, декан, специализироваться в технических науках, курсовая работа, кафедра, бухгалтерия, похожие предметы, заниматься независимой работой, диплом с отличием, аспирантура, проводить исследования по руководством профессора, средняя стипендия, большое внимание уделяется гуманитарным наукам, все имеющиеся курсы, представить и защитить диссертацию, степень Магистра в области муниципального управления, кроме этого, займы, плата за обучение, заработать самим на обучение, решить математическую задачу, выполнить письменное задание по экономическому праву, оценивать работы, получать по почте, вылететь из университета, свободны в выборе, общее образование.

Text II-D