Text 4. Oxbridge

Task 1. Read the text and say:

• What are the most prestigious universities in Great Britain?

• What is the most popular custom at Oxbridge?

• Who studied at Oxford and Cambridge?

The oldest and most prestigious universities in Great Britain are Oxford and Cambridge. They were founded towards the end of the twelfth century and are often called collectively Oxbridge to denote an elitarian education. Both universities are independent. Only very rich and aristocratic families can afford to send their sons and daughters to these universities because the fee for study is very high.

The academic year is divided into 3 eight-week terms. The tutorial system is one of the ways in which Oxford and Cambridge differ from all other English universities. Each student meets a tutor with whom he discusses his written work and whose advice he follows. Besides, the tutor acts as a parent to the student away from home. He helps in time of need and is an understanding friend to his pupils.

Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of a number of colleges. Each college has its name, its coat of arms. Each college is headed by a Master. Within the college one will normally find a chapel, a dining hall, a library, rooms for students, fellows and the Master, and also rooms for teaching purposes. Each college offers teaching in a wide range of subjects according to the chosen faculty: divinity, medicine, philosophy, law, music, natural sciences, economics, engineering, agriculture, commerce and education. The head of each faculty is the dean. After three years of study a student may proceed to a Bachelor’s Degree and later to the Degree of Master and Doctor.

Keeping to the customs of the past the students at Oxford and Cambridge wear long black gowns and students’ caps. Undergraduates try to get old gowns so that people would think that they have been at Oxford for years. Without his or her gown no student is allowed to call on a tutor, to have dinner in the college dining room or attend a lecture – where the gowns are rolled up and used as cushions.

Many great men studied at Oxford and Cambridge, among them Cromwell and Chamberlain, the statesmen, Bacon, the philosopher, Byron and Milton, the poets, Newton and Darwin, the scientists, John Galswothy, the writer, and Kapitsa, the famous Russian physicist.

Notes:

1. coat of arms – герб

2. Master – мастер (титул главы некоторых колледжей в Оксфордском и Кембриджском университетах)

3. fellow – младший научный работник Оксбриджа

4. Bachelor’s Degree – ученая степень Бакалавра

5. Master’s Degree – ученая степень Магистра

Task 2. Match the words with their definitions:

1) prestigious 4) fee 7) coat of arms

2) independent 5) tutor 8) gown

3) aristocratic 6)college 9) to afford 10) fellow

a) having or bringing respect based on good reputation, past achievements etc.;

b) amount paid for professional advice or service;

c) institution for higher education or professional training;

d) financed by private rather than government money;

e) design on a shield used as an emblem by a family, city, university, etc.

f) belonging to or typical of the highest social class;

g) loose flowing robe worn to indicate profession or status (eg. by a judge, lawyer, teacher, member of a university);

h) university teacher who supervises the studies of a student;

i) have enough money, time, space for a special purpose;

j) member of the governing body of some colleges or universities.

Task 3. Fill in the gaps with the words from task 2.

1. She may be a very … author, but she does not live at a very … address.

2. Most universities in Great Britain are … .

3. Her … says she is making a good progress.

4. Our daughter is going to … in the autumn.

5. She wears a BA … .

6. The … for study is very high in Oxbridge.

7. Our city has its own … .

8. They walked because they couldn’t … a taxi.

9. The college I studied at had a chapel, a dining room and rooms for students, … and the Master.

10. Only very rich and … families can afford to send their sons and daughters to these universities because the fee for study is very high.

Task 4. Complete the sentences:

1.	Oxford and Cambridge were founded …	… towards the end of the twelfth century.
2.	They are often called collectively …
3.	The fee for study is …
4.	The academic year is divided into …
5.	Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of …
6.	Each college has …
7.	Within the college one will normally find …
8.	The head of each faculty is …
9.	After three years of study a student may proceed to …
10.	Many great men studied at Oxford and Cambridge, among them …

Task 5. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Оксфорд и Кембридж были основаны в конце 12 века.

2. Только богатые и знатные люди могли позволить себе обучать своих детей в этих университетах.

3. Учебный год состоит из трех семестров.

4. Оксбридж состоит из нескольких колледжей.

5. У каждого колледжа свое название и свой герб.

6. В каждом колледже студентам предлагается широкий выбор предметов в зависимости от выбранного факультета.

7. По окончании трехгодичного курса обучения студентам предлагается получить степень Бакалавра.

8. Соблюдая древние традиции, студенты Оксбриджа носят форму.

9. Без формы студенты не допускаются на занятия с преподавателем, в столовую или на лекции.

10. В Оксфорде и Кембридже учились Байрон, Мильтон, Голсуорси и другие знаменитости.

Task 6. Answer the questions to the text:

1. What are the oldest universities in Great Britain?

2. When were they founded?

3. Are these universities independent?

4. Is the fee for study low or high?

5. How many terms is the academic year divided into?

6. What is the system of study at Oxbridge? Describe it.

7. Do Oxford and Cambridge consist of a number of colleges?

8. What can you normally find within the college?

9. What does each college offer?

10. What degree can a student proceed after 3 years of study?

11. What custom do the students at Oxbridge keep?

12. Why do they try to get old gowns?

Ознакомительные тексты для изучения материалов по теме «Высшее образование в Британии, США и России» (Higher education in Britain, The USA and Russia)

В этой подборке текстов вашему вниманию представляется информация о системе высшего образования трех государств — Великобритании, Соединенных Штатов Америки и Российской Федерации.

Еще раз обращаем ваше внимание на то, что вам рекомендуется прочитать данные тексты несколько раз: первый раз — чтобы выделить и выучить незнакомые слова, второй — чтобы ответить на вопросы, третий — пересказать.

University education in Great Britain

There are 46 universities in Britain. But not all universities are equal. They differ from one another in history, tradition, academic organization. Not all British universities are backed by a well-known reputation.

Oxford and Cambridge, the oldest universities are world-known for their academic excellence. The University of London has the size and breadth to rank among the UK’s top universities.

A university usually consists of colleges. The departments of the colleges are organized into faculties.

University teaching in the UK differs greatly at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels from that in many other countries.

An undergraduate program consists of a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes which in tots account for about 15 hours per week.

Following a particular program students take series of lecture courses which may last one academic term or the whole year. Associated with each lecture course are seminars, tutorials laboratory" classes which illustrate the topics presented in the lectures.

Lectures are given to large groups of students (from 20 to 200). Seminars and tutorials are much smaller than lecture classes and in some departments can be on a one-to-one basis (one member of staff and one student).

Students prepare work in advance for seminars and tutorials. And this can take the form of researching a topic for discussion by writing essays or by solving problems. Lectures, seminars and tutorials arc all one hour in length, laboratory classes last two or three hours. Much emphasis is put’ on the private study nature of a UK- degree. Each student has a tutor whom he can consult on any matter whether academic or personal.

The academic year is split into three terms. Formal teaching takes place in the first two terms which last for twenty four weeks in total. The third term is reserved for classes and examinations and lasts for six weeks.

Universities teach in all major subject areas: arts, science, law, engineering, medicine, social sciences.

University staffs are at the foreground of knowledge in their subject. The teaching encourages students to team in the most effective way.

University degree courses extend from three to four years. After three yeas of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science. He can continue to take his Master’s Degree and then the Doctor’s.

Vocabulary:

Arts — искусств

Science — наука

essay — письменная работа

tutor — наставник

staff — штат преподавателей (персонал)

academic year — учебный год

Questions:

1. How many universities are there in Great Britain?

2. What differs one university from another?

5. What does an undergraduate program consist of?

4. How long may a lecture course last?

5. How long one must study to get the Degree of Bachelor (Master, Doctor)?

University education in the United States of America

There is no National University in the USA. Each state controls and supports at least one University. The National Government gives no direct financial aid to these schools. The students do not go to the University free of charge. Everyone must pay a tuition fee. The amount is various from state to state. Students’ total expenses throughout the year are very high. This creates a financial hardship for some people. Though each University offers a number of scholarships many of the students have to work to pay their expenses.

Most of the Us Universities have a central campus. Colleges of Law, Business, Medicine, Engineering, Music, and Journalism can be found on one campus. Thus a student can attend courses at various colleges.

The students do not take the same courses. During the first two years they follow a basic program. It means that every student must select at least one course from each of the basic fields of study: English, science, modern languages or physical education.

After the first two years every student majors in one subject and minors in, another. A student can major in history and minor in sociality. In addition to these major and minor courses he can select other subjects according to his professional interest.

After completing four years of study the students receive a Bachelor Degree (either B. A. or B. S.) with an additional year of study he may receive a Maker’s

Degree and after two or three years of graduate work and writing of the dissertation he receives a Doctorate Degree. Over four years at tile end of each year students have a final written examination. They take oral exams and write a dissertation only for advanced degrees.

Education in Russia

Citizens of Russia have the right to education which is guaranteed by the Constitution and ensured by the broad development of compulsory secondary education, vocational, specialized secondary and higher education, by the development of extramural, correspondence and evening courses, by the provisions of state scholarships, grants and privileges for students.

In Russia there is a nine-year compulsory education, but to enter a university one has to study two years more.

School starts at the age of six for Russian children. But most of them have learnt letters in kindergarten which is now part of primary school. Primary and secondary schools together comprise eleven years of study. Every school has a «core curriculum» of Russian, mathematics, science, FT. A variety of elective subjects are taught at lyceums and gymnasiums.

After finishing secondary school, lyceum or gymnasium one can go on to higher education. All applicants must take competitive examinations. Entrance examinations are held in July and August. Higher educational institutions are headed by Rectors. Prorectors are in charge of the academic and scientific work. Higher educational institutions train undergraduates and graduate students in one or several specializations. The faculties are headed by the Deans. There are departments within faculties. The system of higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: decentralization of the higher education system, development of the autonomy of higher educational institutions, expansion of academic freedoms of faculties and students, development of new financial mechanism. All Russian schools until recently have been state-subsidized.

In the terms of the ration of students to the total population Russia ranks among the top ten countries in the world.

The Russian educational policy is a combination of economic and social objectives. An educated person contributes more to the society and education on the other hand gives a person the prospect for professional advance. The citizens of Russia show a great concern for education for themselves and their children.

Institutions of higher education include: technical training schools, teachers training colleges, universities which offer masters and doctoral, degrees programs. The faculties have specialized councils for conferring advanced academic degrees.

Mini-Project

Topic: The Academy I’d Like to Study at.

1. Draw it.

2. Write down 10 adjectives describing the Academy of your dream.

3. Make a schedule.

4. Advertise the various clubs and activities.