II. Learn the following words and word combinations:

extra-mural – заочний

secondary school – середня школа

to enter the university – вступати до університету

applicant – абітурієнт

competitive – конкурсний

to take credit test – складати залік

to show good results – показувати хороші результати

academic year – навчальний рік

term – семестр

to attend lectures – ходити на лекції

to carry out experiments – робити експерименти

senior student – старшокурсник

to acquire – набувати; одержати

to do a research work – виконувати дослідну роботу

professional skills – професійні вміння

practical training – практика

graduation thesis [׳θi:sis] – дипломна робота

department – відділення

to graduate from the university – закінчувати університет

to have close ties with – мати тісні зв’язки з

to get higher education – одержувати вищу освіту

scientist – вчений

to take part in – брат участь у

to strengthen – посилювати, зміцнювати

III. Answer the questions:

1. What forms of education do our institutes and universities use?

2. At what age may young people enter the institute or university?

3. What examinations do the applicants take to enter the Institute?

4. What must the students do during the academic year?

5. When do the students take credit tests and examinations?

6. Where do senior students acquire their professional skills?

7. Where do medical students have their practical training?

8. How long does the course of study last at different institutes?

9. Do the Ukrainian higher schools have ties with other countries?

10. What contacts do our scientists have with specialists from many countries?

Topic 81. System of Education in Great Britain

I. Brush up what you have already known about schools in Britain. Choose the right item. Check your partner's answers.

1. In Great Britain school begins at the age of... .

a) 5-6 b) 4-5 c) 6-7

2. The 1st schools to which children go are called ....

a) secondary schools b) junior schools c) infant schools

3. They leave their primary school when they are ... .

a) 8 b) 11 c) 10

3. They take the national General Certificate in Secondary Education exams at the age of... .

a) 11 b) 18 c) 16

5 To enter the British university you should ... .

a) take 'A'level exams b) attend preparatory course c) take GCSE exams

II. Read and translate the text: Education System in Great Britain

Primary education takes place in infant schools and junior schools. Children go to school at the age of 5 and start secondary education when they are 11 or 12. Compulsory secondary education lasts five years. Traditionally secondary schools are divided into five years called 'forms' (from 1 to 5). Unlike Ukrainian schoolchildren, English pupils go to the 1st form only when they are 11 or 12.

At the age of 16 they may either leave school or continue their education in the sixth form. Most British children get their secondary education at comprehensive schools.

At the age of 14 or 15 in the 3rd or 4th form of secondary school, pupils begin to choose their exam subjects and prepare for their General Certificate of Secondary Education which they take at the age of 16. Many people decide to leave school at the age of 16, and they can go to a Further Educational College, where they choose more practical courses, for example, typing, hairdressing or engineering.

Pupils who stay on into the 6th form, lasting 2 years more, prepare for their 'A' Level Exams. A stands for “Advanced”. Good A Level results in two or five subjects are necessary to get a place at one of British universities.

Secondary education is available to all children in Britain. Nevertheless some parents prefer private education for their kids. No more than 5 per cent attend private schools. They are expensive. Private schools are sometimes called 'independent' and those ones, which teach pupils aged 13 to 19 years old are called 'public'.

In a lot of public schools children live as well as study; they are called boarding schools. Among public schools there are boys' schools, girls' school and mixed schools. The most famous British public schools include Harrow, Winchester and Eton which date back to the 15th century.

Many people in Britain are against public schools. They believe that all children in the country should have equal opportunities at the start and go to a usual British comprehensive school.

Speaking about higher education, there are about 90 universities in Great Britain. The most popular are the Open University, Oxford and Cambridge Universities. They were established in the 13-th century.