Introducing myself

1. Find the meaning of the words in bold.

2. Fill in the necessary information to make up a topic “About Myself”.

First of all let me introduce myself. My name is _____ . My surname is _____ . I am ___ years old. I was born in Volgograd. I live in Sovetskiy district. This year I have finished school number ___ . The first thing I would tell you is my family, because it’s a place where I was born and socialized, ______ . My family is not very big, just a typical family: Dad, Mom, me and my elder sister. My father’s name is Vladimir Stepanovich. He is a teacher by education and a businessman by profession. My mother’s name is _____. She is a housewife. My sister graduated from University, she is an engineer. I love my family very much.

The second thing I would tell you about is the career I have chosen. This year I’ve entered Volgograd State Agrarian University, the faculty of _____. I’ve chosen this University, because ________ . I’ve chosen the faculty of _____, because ______ . I understand that it’s necessary to study a lot to become a good specialist.

Studying at our University gives a solid background in all spheres of knowledge and prepares for practical work. But now I don’t worry about finding a job. The most important thing for me now is to study well and to graduate from the University.

My aim is _____ , my dream is _____, because _____ .

The third thing I would tell you about is my hobby and how I spend my free time. In my free time I like listening to music, meeting with my friends. Besides, I like to swim and play badminton. I am very interested in learning English because I always wanted to become a businesswoman. I also think, that the knowledge of foreign language helps in everyday life and career.

My university

1. Answer the questions.

1. When did you graduate from the school?

2. Did you like your school? Why? Why not?

3. What subjects did you like? Why?

4. Do you know when your school was founded?

5. Do you know anything about the University? What do you know about it?

2. Read the text: “My University” and put the sentences in the correct order to make the plan of the text:

1.  The faculties at the University.

2.  The traditions of the University.

3.  The opening of the University.

4.  The Pedagogical Staff.

5.  The students at the University.

6.  The History of the University.

7.  VSAU nowadays.

My university

W ithin the years of its existence the University has turned out over 42 thousands of qualified specialists has trained hundreds of Candidates and Doctors of science, Readers and Professors. Our Higher Educational Institution is one of the biggest Agrarian Universities of the country at present.

In July, 1944, Soviet of People's Commissars took a decision to оpen the Stalingrad Agricultural Institute in the town of Urupinsk. The contingent of students admitted to the first course was 400 people. The opening of the Institute took place on October, 14^th, 1944.

In spring, 1948, the first graduates were turned out, 178 specialists were sent to the farms of the region and the country. The same year the Institute was transferred to Stalingrad. In spite of all the difficulties and economic dislocation, the Government managed to find necessary means for the construction of a new complex of buildings for the Institute in Stalingrad.

I n April 1994 the Institute was reorganized into the Volgograd State Agricultural Academy according to the decision of the Committee on Higher Schools of Russia. And in October 2011 the Academy was granted the status of the University.

Today there are 8 faculties in Volgograd State Agrarian University:

• Agritechnological Faculty;

• Faculty of Biotechnology and Veterinary Medicine;

• Faculty of Engineering and Technology;

• Faculty of Ecology and Land-Improvement;

• Faculty of Economics;

• Faculty of Electrical Engineering;

• Faculty of Service and Tourism;

10 thousand students, both full-time and correspondence-course students are studying at 8 faculties on 18 specialities. Besides, an educational-methodological centre is functioning successfully where hundreds of graduates from specialized secondary educational institutions are trained according to the accelerated training program.

The educational process is carried out at 49 Departments by 560 teachers and scientists, including 3 Academicians of Russian Academy of Agricultural science, 6 deserved men of Science RF, 17 deserved workers in various branches of people’s economy, 65 Professors and over 250 Readers.

At present almost 200 post graduates and over 100 competitors are studying at the post graduate courses.

Nowadays the Volgograd State Agrarian University includes 7 educational buildings, 6 students’ hostels, 4 residential houses for Teachers, a canteen, a fleet of motor vehicles, “Gornaya Polyana” economic base. There is also a scientific research complex, post-graduate courses, information and analytical center, centers of amateur art activities, center of pedagogical skills improvement, lecture rooms, laboratories, museums, a library, printing-works, and other subdivisions.

The University is rich in good traditions but the most wonderful one is to create all the necessary conditions for students so that they could develop their capabilities, expand their mental outlooks, improve their cultural level, physical state and political education.