English schools

English children must go to school when they arc five. First they go to infant schools, where they learn the first steps in reading, writing and using numbers.

When children leave the infant school, at the age of seven, they go to junior schools until they are about ele­ven years of age. Their school subjects are English, ari­thmetic, history, geography, nature study, swimming, mu­sic, art, religious instruction and organized games.

Towards the end of their fourth year in the junior school English schoolchildren have to write their Eleven Plus Examinations, on the result of which they will go the following September to a secondary school of a certain type. About 40% of elementary school leavers in Britain go to secondary modem schools. Modern schools are the most popular secondary schools, but they do not provide complete secondary education, because study program­mes are lather limited in comparison with other seconda­ry schools.

The secondary technical school, in spite of its name, is not a specialized school. It teaches many general subjects. The grammar school is a secondary school which offers a full theoretical secondary education including foreign lan­guages, and students can choose which subjects and languages they wish to study. They leave the school after taking a five-year course. Then they may take the Gene­ral Certificate of Education at the ordinary level. The others continue their studies for another two or three years to obtain the General Certificate of Education at the advanced level, which allows them to enter university. The comprehensive school combines in one school the courses of all types of secondary schools. There are many schools in Britain which arc not controlled financially by the state. They arc private schools, separate for boys and girls, and the biggest and the most important of them are public schools. They charge high fees and train young people for political, diplomatic, military and religious ser­vice. Other non-state schools which charge fees are inde­pendent and preparatory schools. Many of the indepen­dent schools belong to the churches. Schools of this type prepare their pupils for public schools.

Words and expressions

1. towards — по направлению к

2. certain — определенный

3. to provide — предоставлять, обеспечивать

4. in spite of - несмотря на

5. general — всеобщий, общий

6. General Certificate of Education of ordinary level — сви­детельство об окончании средней школы, не дающее право поступать в высшие учебные заведения

7. General Certificate of Education of advanced level — сви­детельство об окончании средней школы, открывающее доступ в университет

8. to combine — сочетать

9. to charge fees — взимать плату

Britain's Universities

There are about 90 universities in Britain. They are divided into three types: the old universities (Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities), the 19th century universities such as London and Manchester, and the new universities. Some yews ago there were also polytechnics. After graduating from a polytechnics a student got a degree, but it was not a university degree. 31 former polytechnics were given university status.

Full courses of study offer the degree of Bachelor of Arts Science. Most degree courses at universities last 3 years, language courses 4 years (including a year spent abroad). Medicine and dentist r courses are longer (5-7 years).

Students may receive grants from their Local Education Authority to help pay for books, accommodation, transport and food. This gr.. depends on the income of their parents.

Most students live away from home, in flats or halls of residence

Students don't usually have a job during term time because the lesson: called lectures, seminars, classes or tutorials (small groups), are time. However, many students now have to work in the evenings.

University life is considered «an experience». The exams competitive but the social life and living away from home are also important. The social life is excellent with a lot of clubs, parties, concerts, bars.

There are not only universities in Britain but also colleges. College offer courses in teacher training, courses in technology and some professions connected with medicine.

Topical Vocabulary

- a polytechnic	политехнический институт
to graduate from	окончить (вуз)
to get a degree	получить степень
a university degree	университетская степень
former	бывший
to be given university status	получить университетский статус
- a course of study	курс обучения
to offer the degree of	предоставлять степень
Bachelor of Arts or Science	бакалавр гуманитарных или естественных наук
a degree course	курс, заканчивающийся присвоением степени
to last	продолжаться, длиться
a medicine course	медицинский курс
a dentistry course	курс для будущих дантистов
- to receive a grant	получать стипендию
Local Education Authority	местный орган образования
to pay for accommodation	платить за жилье
to depend on the income of	зависеть от дохода кого-либо
- to live away from home	жить вне дома
a hall of residence	общежитие
a tutorial	практическое занятие
- competitive	конкурсный (об экзамене)
f» college	"колледж
|p offer a course in teacher training	предлагать курс подготовки учителей
fcdurse in technology	технический курс

Answer the questions:

1. What are the three types of universities in Great Britain?

2;AVhat degrees do students get after finishing full courses of study?

3. What grants do students receive?

4. Why don't students have jobs during term time?

5. Why is the university life considered «an experience»?

6. What courses do colleges offer?

Summary

The plan for rendering the text	Some expressions to be used while rendering the text
1. The title of the text	The text is headlined... The headlined of the text I have read is
2. The author of the text, where and when the text was published.	The author of the text is... The text is written by... It is (was) published in... It is (was) printed in...
3. The main idea of the text.	The main idea of the text is ... The text is about... The text is devoted to ... The text deals with... The text touches upon... The purpose of the text is to give the reader some information on... The aim of the text is to provide the reader with some material (data) on...
4. The contents of the text. Some facts, names, figures.	a) The author starts by telling the reader that... b) The author writes (states, stresses, thinks, points out) that... c) According to the text... Further the author reports (says)... The text goes on to say that... d) In conclusion... The author comes to the conclusion that...
5. Your opinion of the text	I found the text interesting (important, dull, of no value, too hard to understand...)