Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second oldest university in both England and the English-speaking world and the seventh oldest university globally. Academically, Cambridge ranks as one of the world's topmost universities, as well as the leading university in Europe, and contends with Oxford for first place in UK league tables. The University is a member of the Russell Group of research-led British universities, the Coimbra Group, the League of European Research Universities and the International Alliance of Research Universities. It forms part of the “Golden Triangle” of British universities.

Cambridge is one of the two main universities of England which is located at the Cam River. It was founded at the beginning of the 12th century. The University consists of (состоит из) 24 different colleges including 4 colleges for women. Each college is self-governing (самоуправляется).

The head of the University is the chancelor who is elected for life. The teachers are commonly called «dons» and «tutors». Part of the teaching is by means of lectures organized by the University. Besides lectures teaching is carried out by tutorial system for which Cambridge University is famous all over the world. This is a system of individual tuition (обучения) organized by the colleges.

Each student has a tutor who practically guides him through the whole course of studies. The tutor plans the student's work and once a week the student goes to his tutor to discuss his work with him. The training course lasts 4 years. The academic year is divided into 3 terms. The students study natural and technical sciences, law, history, languages, geography and many other subjects.

After three years of study a student may proceed (получить ученую степень) to a Bachelor's degree, and later to the degrees of Master and Doctor. Students are required to wear gowns (мантия) at lectures, in the University library, in the street in the evening, for dinners in the colleges and for official visits. All the students must pay for their education, examinations, books, laboratories, univer­sity hostel, the use of libraries, etc. Very few students get grants. Not many children from the working class families are able to get higher education, as the cost is high. The cost of education depends on the college and speciality.

A number of great men, well-known scientists and writers stud­ied at Cambridge. Among them are: 15 British Prime Ministers, including Robert Walpole (First Prime Minister of Great Britain), 25 foreign Heads of Government, including the current Prime Ministers of India, Singapore and Jordan, and the current Presidents of Zambia and Trinidad and Tobago, 9 monarchs and a large number of other royals, The Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, Erasmus, the great Dutch scholar, Bacon, the philosopher, Milton and Byron, the poets, Newton and Darwin, the scientists.

The university is also the essential birthplace of the computer with mathematician Charles Babbage having designed the world's first computing system as early as the mid-1800s. Alan Turing went on to invent what is essentially the basis for the modern computer and Maurice Wilkes later created the first programmable computer. The webcam was also invented at Cambridge University, as a means for scientists to avoid interrupting their research and going all the way down to the laboratory dining room only to be disappointed by an empty coffee pot.

In 2000, Bill Gates of Microsoft donated US$210 million through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to endow the Gates Scholarships for students from outside the UK seeking postgraduate study at Cambridge. The University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, which taught the world’s first computing course in 1953, is housed in a building partly funded by Gates and named after his father, William Gates.

Questions:

1. 1. Where is the Cambridge University?

2. How are the teachers called commonly?

3. What does the tutor do?

4. What does the education cost depend on?

5. What famous people studied at Cambridge?

• Read and write questions to the text.

Cambridge University dates back as the 13th century. Today there are more than 30 colleges. The University is situated on the River Cam. The colleges line the right bank. The oldest university is Peterhouse (founded in 1284) and the most recent is Robinson College (1977) Bu1 the most famous is the King's College. The building is the real example of English 15th century architecture.

Until 1871 the University was only for men. In 1871 the first worn college was opened. In 1970s most colleges admitted both men and women.

Students at Oxbridge have different societies and clubs. Different sports are very popular. But the most popular sports are rowing and minting.

Every year at the end of March (or in early April) contests between Oxford and Cambridge universities take place on the River Thames. The course is the 4 1/4 mile stretch of river. The race usually starts at midday or at 3 o'clock. By 1966 Cambridge had won 61 times, Oxford — 50 times.

Exercise 2. Fill in the table.

University	The time of foundation	Number of colleges	The oldest college	The most famous college	The main characteris-tic feature
Oxford
Cambridge

Do exercises from Macmillan English grammar in use.

• Speak about:

Oxford and Cambridge are the main centers of higher education

Make a presentation of Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Lesson 5.

Higher education in the USA

Grammar: Времена группы Continuous

Continuous шақтары тобы

Preliminary exercises

Do exercises from Macmillan English grammar in use.

Before start. Make round table discussion.

Many students choose to attend schools or universities outside their home countries. Why do some students study abroad? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

Reading