24. Read the article from a British newspaper about religious education at school. Retell the article in 10 sentences. Breaking down religious barriers

Critics say religious education simply produces better-informed racists - but others argue there has never been a greater need for a deeper understanding of other faiths and cultures and that schools should take up the challenge.

BBC News Online's Katherine Sellgren joined a group of trainee primary school teachers as they visited a mosque in an attempt to broaden their own awareness. Female students were asked to cover their heads and everyone was asked to remove their shoes before entering Watford Mosque. It was all part of learning more about Islam for the group of Bachelor of Education students from the University of Hertfordshire.

They may be future primary school teachers - and are allowed to opt out of teaching RE if they wish - but each student must get a grounding in Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism and Buddhism as part of their degree course.

Jean Mead, senior lecturer in religious education, said it was vital teachers understood pupils' different religious backgrounds, whether they went on to teach RE or not.

"Also, if they are contributing to children's education of the society and world around them, they need to give an authentic, accurate portrayal, rather than perpetuating misunderstanding, stereotypes and superficial inaccuracies," said Mrs Mead.

Facts and attitudes

Mindful of the criticisms of creating better-informed racists, Mrs Mead said her trainees learned to give pupils a grasp of a religion's attitudes, offering them more than just facts and information. She told a story of one secondary teacher who, after covering Islam in his lessons, was horrified to see some of his pupils taking part in a National Front march.

When challenged, they said they thought it was cruel that goats were slaughtered for the Eid festival. "So they had taken snippets from their lessons to reinforce their own prejudices," said Mrs Mead. "The teacher then saw it was important to deal with attitudes as much as facts. "RE must deal with attitudes as well as information and then you're not creating better-informed racists. You need that balance," she said.

Multi-cultural society

Second year student Alison Salmon said there was little doubt teachers themselves needed an understanding of the major religions if they were to relate to their pupils in today's multi-cultural society.

"The number of schools we go into where all the kids are white and Christian is tiny.

"Almost anywhere you go in this country, you're going to have at least two children in any class you teach who are of a different religious or cultural background and to not know about them and what they believe would be awful.

"It's important to know how other people live and what they believe - teachers have a responsibility, otherwise they can't treat children right," she said.

Alison mentioned a school she had visited where pupils were making sandwiches in a food technology lesson. No problem on the face of it - but it was during the month of Ramadan and many of the Muslim pupils were fasting.

School trips

Student Nicole Harrison said she valued the trips to the mosque and other places of worship. "Because we've done the visits ourselves, we can see the benefits and will take the children on visits too."

Nita Modha, who is from a Hindu background, said by visiting places of worship, such as the mosque, pupils and students got an insight into a living community. "The things you see are not necessarily the things you read in a textbook - it's more active," she said.

And understanding a person's religion helped understand their actions and attitudes. "It's breaking down barriers, that's the key - we need to establish that there are a minority of people that don't want to go against the teachings of their religion."

Dr Ally Soodin, a worshipper at Watford Mosque, hosts visits from schools on a regular basis and believes they are an important way to put Islam into context.

"The problem is lack of knowledge - if they don't have the right information, then they tend to collect the information from the wrong people like the national parties and so on," Dr Soodin said.

So, in the light of recent international events, does Mrs Mead feel her subject is vindicated? "It makes it more important, although I am disappointed it hasn't had more of an impact so far, what with the riots in Oldham and so on.

"But I don't think we should stop trying," she said.

25. Now read an article about religious education in Russia. Render the article in English. Dwell on the topic of religious education comparing and contrasting the British and Russian approaches. Do you think that Religious Studies should be a necessary part of any school curriculum?

Алексей Волин: государство не должно указывать гражданам, во что им верить 

Как сообщила накануне "Газета", Минобразования РФ разослало письмо министра Владимира Филиппова региональным органам управления образованием о "Примерном содержании предмета "Православная культура". Этот 30-страничный документ должен стать ориентиром в вопросах содержания и организации изучения православия в начальной, средней и старшей школе.

Сегодня своими мыслями по поводу этого документа поделился с "Газетой" заместитель руководителя аппарата правительства Алексей Волин.

По мнению правительственного чиновника, "любое изучение религии в школе должно носить более чем факультативный характер". Будучи светским государством, Российская Федерация "не должна позволять преподавать в государственной школе любое религиозное учение. Оптимально – за пределами здания школы".

Алексею Волину странным представляется уже то обстоятельство, что Министерство образования занимается разработкой стандартов факультативного образования. По словам Волина, "от этого документа, распространенного Министерством "веет средневековьем и мракобесием".

"Если Минобразование считает необходимым ввести религиоведческий курс, тогда в нем должны быть основы всех религиозных мировоззрений, а заодно история атеизма", считает замруководителя правительственного аппарата.

Алексей Волин отдельно подчеркнул, что "православие не является единственной христианской религией. Кроме православных, есть католики и протестанты – в том числе и в России, не говоря уж о чисто российских ответвлениях вроде староверов и баптистов. Если говорить вообще о преподавании православия, то в условиях многонационального и многоконфессионального государства это опасно".

"Образование должно объединять нацию, – убежден собеседник "Газеты". В той же ситуации, которая может сложиться в нашей стране, не исключено, что "россияне-православные будут изучать православие, россияне-буддисты – буддизм, а россияне-мусульмане – ислам ". "Школа должна готовить человека к жизни в обществе. Непонятно, какую помощь окажут в этой подготовке знания об ангелах и падших духах", – считает Алексей Волин.

Комментируя распространенное ныне мнение, что большинство россиян сегодня положительно относятся к преподаванию религиозных дисциплин в школе, замруководителя аппарата Правительства отметил, что, на его взгляд, уровень религиозности нашего общества чрезмерно преувеличен. "Социологические опросы показывают, что большинство людей считают себя верующими. Но при более детальных вопросах выясняется, что они не ходят в церковь, не знают молитв и не соблюдают постов", – считает Волин.

Вера в Бога в сегодняшнем российском обществе, по мнению Алексея Волина, "сродни вере в коммунизм образца 1985 года". "Особо радует повышенная набожность бывших членов партии", – иронично отметил он, скептически отозвавшись также об опыте преподавания в нашей школе какой-либо идеологии вообще. "Отношение детей к обязательному изучению в школе Закона Божьего будет примерно такое же, как к истории КПСС. И в результате вместо религиозных прихожан Минобразование и Церковь получат миллионы воинствующих атеистов".

Религия, по убеждению Алексея Волина, – "сугубо индивидуальное дело каждого человека. Если в семье считают, что ребенок должен знать про ангелов и духов, его отведут в воскресную школу при Церкви". Если же государство "начинает считать возможным вмешиваться в личную жизнь граждан и указывать, во что им верить и что думать, – это первый признак тоталитаризма", – отметил правительственный чиновник.

26. Mark Lawson speaks with Hollywood movie star John Travolta, a high profile member of the Church of Scientology, about his beliefs and his faith (Originally transmitted as part of "The Big Question" series). Read the interview and with a partner do two-way consecutive translation.

Celebrities and their Faith

Mark Lawson

Вы родом из большой итальянско-ирландской семьи. Как повлияло на вас то, что Ваша семья исповедовала католицизм?

John Travolta

I have to be honest with you although I was brought up a Catholic I wasn’t sure I understood it. I felt the confession aspect of it was good but I didn’t know that you were actually supposed to confess things that you did. I thought you were supposed to make up things that you did to get through confession. Now I realise that is probably a very good thing, that if someone really wanted to unload their heart and their mind, they should go and do it.

Mark Lawson

Ваши родители строго придерживались различных традиций, например, посещение мессы и так далее?

John Travolta

We did go every week, every Sunday.

Mark Lawson

Но кажется это не очень повлияло на вас, вы, по-видимому, став взрослым, отказались от всего этого?

John Travolta

Well what happened to me when I was about 20-21. I meet an actress who introduced something new to me called Scientology, introduced me to the works of L. Ron Hubbard. I was so impressed with these works. I suddenly had a sense that I wasn’t just a body, that I was actually a spirit in a body. My life changed from that moment and I knew I was going to live for ever.

Mark Lawson

По всей видимости, ваше обращение к новой религии дало вам то, что не могло дать католичество?

John Travolta

I have never compared the two. To be honest, because as I said, I don’t think I grew up understanding enough about Catholicism. I get a sense of clarity on what makes people tick. I get a sense of clarity on being a spiritual being.

Mark Lawson

Как вы относитесь к личности Рона Хаббарда? Рассматриваете ли вы его как человека, обладающего сверхъестественным или божественным происхождением? Как известно, христиане полагают, что Библия есть слово Божие, мусульмане полагают то же самое о своих священных книгах. Когда вы читаете книги Рона Хаббарда о Дианетике, рассматриваете их как произведение обычного человека или как нечто большее?

John Travolta

I believe it’s the work of a human being that did a lot of research on human beings and found out certain things worked and only gives you what works the best on planet earth here, the components of understanding people, the components of being in good communication with them and where that takes you, surviving well, being happy, healthy. I think that’s what his goals were.

Mark Lawson

Позвольте задать вам наш обычный вопрос: вы верите в бога? Такой вопрос вообще можно задать сайентологу?

John Travolta

Sure. Let’s put it this way, I think the whole idea of Scientology is to think for yourself. And that’s really what Mr Hubbard wanted. It’s not for you to think necessarily like anyone else but what you think is right for you, what you think is appropriate for you. If you ask me personally, I think yes there’s God. But each day through a lot of the studying that I do, I think I get to understand, possibly, what God is about but I don’t think I fully get the picture yet.

Mark Lawson

Чувствуете ли вы, что ваше предназначение – попытаться обратить людей в сайентологию?

John Travolta

I try to help people and I help them whether they want to become a Scientologist or not. It’s not about that. It’s about that when I know something can help someone then I have to use it, I can’t sleep if I don’t use it. I don’t necessarily think it will turn you into a Scientologist but I know you will feel better.

Mark Lawson

Как вы относитесь к тому, что сайентологию называю культом? Вас не коробит такое определение?

John Travolta

It’s annoying. It’s something to fight for because it’s incorrect. From the 22 years that I have been involved, I can only observe the good that has been done. People do better, they survive better, they’re happier, healthier.

Mark Lawson

Как ваша религия изменила вас как личность? Люди часто смотрят фильмы с вашим участием, например, Без лица, или Криминальное чтиво. Это замечательные фильмы, но в них очень много насилия. Беспокоит ли это вас?

John Travolta

No, because it’s art and you are welcome to communicate whatever you want in the fields of art . No one can guarantee taste in art. But then it is also subjective what is taste and what is good art. I would like, from my perspective, yes to ban all things that I think are tasteless. You can’t do it, it’s not the way it works. It’s subjective whose to judge then someone has to play God over the arts, some people try to but I don’t know if that’s possible.

Mark Lawson

А каково мнение сайентологии о том, что происходит с нами после смерти?

John Travolta

I think that the body ends and you as a spirit go on. It’s up to you what you are going to do.

Mark Lawson

Это переселение душ?

John Travolta

It could be if that is what you chose to do. You want to get back into another body or if you just want to hang out, whatever you feel like.

Mark Lawson

А вы верите в переселение душ?

John Travolta

Yes, I do, absolutely, I don’t even believe I just know that it’s the truth.

Mark Lawson

Актеры, можно сказать, продолжают жить и после смерти, потому что они остаются в фильмах. Эта мысль приносит вам утешение?

John Travolta

Yes, I like the idea that an actors contributions will always be there. I think that’s wonderful. I don’t want to be forgotten, I’d like to think that I did something that contributed to somebody’s life, I’d like to be missed.