2. Use text b to tell about your native town.

Kursk

Kursk is one of the biggest Russian cities, which was founded about a thousand years ago, in 1032. It is located on two hills and three rivers: the Kur, the Tuskar and the Seim. At the end of the 10^th century it became a fortress, which often repulsed the raids of the nomads. Heroism of the Kursk warriors was glorified by the author of the “The Lay of Igor’s Host”, during the Great Patriotic War the citizens of the Kursk Region rose up to defend their country together with the other Soviet people.

Its population is about 400 thousand people. Kursk is one of the major industrial cities. Such branches of industry as light, heavy, food-stuff are developed there. There are many large enterprises there. Mobile power stations, computers, batteries of all kinds, spare parts for tractors and motor cars, various electric apparatus, chemical fibres, rubber and other articles with the Kursk trade mark are popular throughout the city.

Kursk is a cultural city. Our Kursk Drama Theatre is considered to be one of the oldest in Russia; it is more than 200 years old. There are a number of museums: the local lore museum, the museum of Kursk Battle, etc. we have also such cultural institutions as: the Picture Gallery, the Philarmonic Society, the Plenetareum, some Cultural centres, Regional Library with 1.500.000 books.

There are a few sightseeings in Kursk: Sergiev-Kazan Cathedral, a lot of churches and the Znamensky monastery.

Kursk is also an educational centre. We have three main universities: South-West State University, Kursk State University, Medical University and the Agricultural Academy. Kursk is a home city of any prominent personalities, whose names are inscribed in the annals of the world culture: the self taught astronomer Semyonov, the famous progressive actor Shchepkin, the remarkable inventor Ufimtsev and the well-known artist Deineka.

There are many parks, public gardens and squares in Kursk. The streets are lined with trees and beautiful flowerbeds. Kursk is one of the most beautiful cities in the Central Black-Soil Region.

Unit iveducation in great britain

I. Read and translate text a.

Vocabulary:

primary school – начальная школа

secondary school – средняя школа

comprehensive school – единая средняя школа

financed from public funds – финансируемый государством

boarding school – пансион, закрытое учебное заведение

General Certificate оf Secondary Education – аттестат о среднем образовании

vocational training – профессиональная подготовка

university graduate – выпускник университета

bachelor’s degree – степень бакалавра

B.S – бакалавр естественных наук

В.А – бакалавр гуманитарных наук

Master `s degree – степень магистра (кандидата).

to realize – реализовать

subjects – предметы

to take exami­nations – cдавать экзамены

knowledge – знания

to enter university –поступить в университет

to get a place at a university – получить место в университете

free education – бесплатное образование

to attend – посещать

either … or – или…или

to wear uniform – носить униформу

to be fierce – является жестоким

to apply to – обращаться к кому либо

a personal interview – собеседование

to decide – решать, принимать решение

to offer three- and four-year degree courses – предлагать трех и четырехлетние курсы обучения для получение степени

to choose – выбирать

to be independent – быть независимым

to develop new interests – развивать новые интересы

to earn a lot of money – зарабатывать много денег

local education authority – местный орган образования

to find a job – найти работу

to drop out – выбыть

to combine studies with work – совмещать обучение с работой

to have their own in-house training schemes – иметь собственные, обучающие схемы

in particular – в особенности

a formal professional qualification – формальная профессиональная квалификация.

аttainment – знания, навыки

Education in Great Britain (part I)

The aim of education in Great Britain is to realize the potential of all students, for the good of the individual and society as a whole.

In Britain all children from five to sixteen go to school. They spend six years at primary school, and then go on to secondary school.

Primary schools vary in size and location, some hav­ing as few as two teachers and others as many as 30. Pu­pils at primary school have such subjects as English, mathematics, science, history, geography, music, art and physical education.

Compulsory secondary school age is from 11 to 16. At secondary school children build on the knowledge they have acquired at primary school and also start to learn a foreign language.

At the age of 16 secondary school students take exami­nations to get the General Certificate of Secondary Edu­cation. It does not allow school-leavers to enter university but to start work or do some vocational training. Those who want to get higher education stay at school for two more years and at the age of 18 take A (Advanced) level exams in two or three subjects. Good A-level results are necessary to get a place at a university.

Most children of compulsory school age receive free education financed from public funds. State schools usu­ally teach both boys and girls together.

A small number of children attend private, or "inde­pendent" schools, not financed by the state. A private school for children between the ages of 8 and 13 is called "preparatory". A private school for students aged 13 to 18 is called "public".

Public schools are usually schools of separate education for either girls or boys. Many of them are boarding schools. Children stay at school all the time and only come home for the holidays. Students usually wear uniform. Typical English public are Eton and Harrow. They prepare boys for Oxford, Cambridge, and other prestigious universities. Academic standards of such public schools are very high.

Only 25 per cent of the student population goes on to higher education. Competition to get into one of Britain`s universities is fierce and not everyone who gets A levels can go. Students apply to universities months before they take their A-levels. The students are given a personal interview and the universities then decide which student they want. They offer them a place which depends on A-level results.

Most big towns in Britain have both a university and collage of higher education. There are 91 universities in Britain and 47 colleges of higher education. University offer three- and four-year degree courses; colleges

of higher education offer both two-year HND( Higher National Diploma) courses, as well as degree courses.

A degree is qualification you get from university when you pass your final exams. You are then awarded a BA (Bachelor of Arts), BSc (Bachelor of Science) or BEd(Bachelor of Education).

Living at university (part 2).

Most British students choose to go to university a long way from their home town: university is seen as a time to be independent, to live away from home and develop new interests.

British students do not have to pay to go to university, but do need money to live away from home while they are studying. Some students whose parents do not earn a lot of money are given a grant (money) from a local education authority. If students do not get a grant, parents are expected to pay for their children. Some students borrow money from the bank which must be paid back after they leave university .In theory the grand pays for rent, food, books, transport and socializing. In fact, the grand is not a lot of money. Students use to work during the holidays to earn more money, but it is now difficult to find such a job. The result is that more students are dropping out, failing to finish their courses.

Not all students study full time at university or collage. Many people combine their studies with work. Some companies release their staff for training one or two days a week or for two months a year. Large companies often have their own in –house training schemes.

The British government is very enthusiastic about such training schemes, in particular because so few people go to university. It wants at least half the workforce to have a formal professional qualification.