Higher education in russia

It is known the basic types of higher educational establishments in Russia are:

1) universities with the departments of history, philology, philosophy, law, economics, physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, geography, foreign languages, oriental studies and journalism;

2) teachers’ training colleges, technical colleges, agricultural colleges, medical colleges, schools of fine arts.

At all the institutions there are full-time, part-time and correspondence departments. Every territory and region has its universities or colleges and specialized schools. Persons who have completed a secondary or specialized secondary education are eligible for the day departments of university-level schools.

There is practically no age limit for the students entering the evening departments or for those who study by correspondence. All applicants must take entrance examinations in their major subjects. Entrance examinations are compulsory at every higher educational establishment. Those who get the greatest number of points during entrance exams are enrolled in the institute. It is known as entry competition. Higher educational establishments maintain close ties with secondary schools and offer help to the senior pupils in choosing their future professions.

There are regular lecture courses for senior pupils offered by main universities and many colleges. On Visitors’ Day all the laboratories, study rooms and libraries are open to the future students. The curricular of all university-level educational establishments consist of three major divisions of subjects: socio-economic, educational and various major subjects. After graduating all the students receive diplomas qualifying them as specialists in a given field.

Vocabulary exercises:

I. Read the words paying special attention to the pronunciation of new words and expressions:

General, courses, to continue, technical, opportunity, extramural, academic, vocational, to receive, scholastic, phrase, secondary, guaranteed, scholarship, knowledge, specialist, scholar, degree, primary, schematic, college, job, to continue, school, scheme.

II. Pronounce correctly and give the Russian equivalents of the following word combinations and expressions:

The right to education, to be guaranteed by the Constitution, not only a right but a duty too, to study academic subjects, to go to a vocational school, to attend a technical school, to give general knowledge, to have the necessity to study, to train specialists, different fields of science, education is free, well-trained, an opportunity, a profession, to get a scholarship.

III. Translate into English:

Право на образование, получить среднее образование, продолжить образование, подготовить специалиста, поступить в университет, одновременно работая, аспирантура, присвоить степень кандидата, получать стипендию.

IV. Make up 5 sentences using the following word combinations and expressions:

To get a scholarship, the young generation, graduate courses, a secondary education, private schools, academic subjects, an extramural department, without leaving a job, to get practical experience, a profound knowledge, to enter the university, education is free, to get knowledge, to train specialists, a secondary school, to receive a profession, to go on excursions.

V. Translate into English:

1. Право на образование в России гарантируется конституцией.

2. В средней школе ученики изучают общеобразовательные предметы.

3. После окончания 9 класса средней школы молодые люди могут пойти в техникум, где они изучают общеобразовательные предметы и получают специальное образование.

4. Молодые люди могут продолжить образование в 10 и 11 классе или колледже и получить углубленные знания по одному или нескольким предметам.

5. Молодые люди, поступившие в университет, учатся 4 или 5 лет.

6. Студенты вечернего и заочного отделений могут получить образование, одновременно работая.

7. Начальное и среднее образование бесплатно в большинстве школ.

VI. Complete the sentences:

1. All people in Russia have … .

2. After finishing the 9^th form of a secondary school … .

3. Universities train … .

4. Graduate courses give … .

5. Young people can start … .

VII. Answer the questions using the Vocabulary Notes:

1. What does the phrase “the right to education” mean?

2. Why is education a duty too?

3. What subjects do pupils study at school?

4. What can young people do after finishing the 9^th form?

5. What subjects do young people study at technical schools and at colleges?

6. What can pupils do after finishing the 11^th form?

7. What are the basic types of higher educational establishments in Russia?

8. What departments are there at universities and colleges?

9. Who is eligible for the day departments of university-level schools?

10. What do the curricula of university-level educational establishments consist of?

11. How do higher educational establishments maintain close ties with secondary schools? What is a Visitors’ Day?

12. Do children and young people have to pay for education in Russia?

VIII. Summarize what you know about the system of higher education and speak about it according to the following plan (See Appendix 1):

1. the system of organizing higher education;

2. types of higher educational establishments;

3. the most famous institutions of higher education;

4. the way of entering them;

5. the degrees of graduation;

6. student’s life;

7. training teachers.

IX. Draw a scheme of the system of higher education in Russia. Comment upon it.

X. Speak about your university using (See Appendix 1):

a) the plan:

1. Entrance examinations;

2. Subjects studied;

3. The system of training;

4. Students’ life.

b) or the following questions:

1. Why have you decided to enter our University?

2. What is your future speciality?

3. How long does the University course last at the Institute?

4. Do you have many credit-tests and exams during your examination session?

5. How many classes a day do you have?

6. What lectures and seminars do you have today according to the timetable?

7. Do you live at home or in the hostel? Do you like your hostel?