English for Engineering Students

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2.3Complete the sentences with the words and expressions given above in the correct form.

1.During the second … the students will have to a lot of individual work.

2.The universityis staffed with … teachers.

3.Tomsk State University … in 1788 became the first university in Siberia.

4.Full name of TUSUR is Tomsk State University of … … and Radioelectronics.

5.In what … of science and technology does TUSUR cooperate with foreign universities?

6.The effect of electromagnetic radiation … space was demonstrated byH. Hertz in 1888.

7.Having a … degree gives additional … to find a good job after you graduate.

8.Many labs in our research institute are … with modern devices.

9.This … is not veryefficient.

10.Do you … to be a full-time student or to study … ?

2.4Match the wordswith similarmeaning.

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2.5 Read the text.

TOMSK STATE UNIVERSITY OF CONTROL SYSTEMS

AND RADIOELECTRONICS

TUSUR (Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radio Electronics) was founded on 21 April, 1962 on the basis of two faculties of Tomsk Polytechnic Institute: Radio Engineering faculty and Radio Control faculty. In 1997 the institute acquired the status of the university and was renamed TUSUR. Now there are 13 full-time and part-time faculties at the university: Radio Engineering, Radio Design, Electronic Engineering, Computer Systems, Control Systems, Human Sciences, Law, Economics, Security, and Innovation Technologies. Currently, about 5,000 students study remotely, which makes it possible to get higher education without leaving their native places.

More than 11500 students (including 2000 students from 36 countries) are trained in 140 specialties in the field of radio engineering, electronic engineering, information technology, electronic and computing equipment, information security, economics, social work, and much more.

The academic year at TUSUR consists of two terms: fall term which starts in September and spring term which starts in February and continues till the end of May. The students have lectures which are intended to guide them through the course material by explaining main points of a topic, give the most up-to-date information and introduce new topics for detailed study in practical classes. Laboratory works and workplace practical training are supposed to develop the students’ practical skills under supervision of experienced staff. The students may also have individual consultations with the instructors where they may get more focused guidance on the work theydo.

At the end of each term the students take credits or examinations to show their knowledge which may be written or computer tests, as well as oral examination or interview.

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Today TUSUR offers 28 bachelor programs, 39 Master and 10 Postgraduate ones.

Bachelor program is characterized by practice-oriented approach, it involves four years of training and is granted a diploma of higher professional education.

Master program takes two more years of training and offers wide career and employment opportunities both in Russia and abroad.

Postgraduate program is available for those who have obtained a specialist degree (five years of education) or a master degree. On its completion, the academic degree of “Candidate of Sciences” is conferred. Education in TUSUR provides top-notch professional training, studying recent computer technologies, computer tools, and telecommunication means, and acquiring unique knowledge of science-intensive business functions.

In combination these components ensure high quality education and great employment opportunities.

TUSUR is providing support to the schools of Tomsk and Tomsk region: more than 20 digital volunteers address technical and organizational aspects of e-learning. The university has also made its own technologies and infrastructures available to schools and has launched a hotline that will process anyinquiries and request for volunteer assistance.

The mission of TUSUR is to create educational, research, and innovative environment to serve the country and the world. Now the university is the primary source of HR specializing in electronics, information and telecommunication technologies. The university cooperates with 20 universities and organizations from the USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Taiwan and other countries in eight priority research areas such as aircraft and space engineering, railway transport, surgery and emergency assistance, metallurgy, machine building and chemical industry.

TUSUR University has 29 active sports clubs for the students interested in academic rowing, sports orientation, powerlifting, judo, aerobics, basketball, volleyball, football, athletics, a good sports complex with halls for tennis, sports grounds for mini-football, gyms, oriental and street dance studios, a debate and rock clubs and much more.

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2.6Match the following words and expressions with their Russianequivalents.

2.7Decide if the sentences are true orfalse.

1.Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radio Electronics was founded in the middle of the 19th century.

2.TUSUR is located in the center of Tomsk opposite Novosobornaya square.

3.There is no possibility to get higher education distantly in TUSUR.

4.On completion of bachelor’s course the students do not receive a higher education diploma.

5.Many universities from all over the world cooperate with TUSUR in the sphere of education and research.

6.The students of the universityare not engaged in doing sports.

7.TUSUR takes active part in international programs.

8.Getting a master’s degree gives the students of the university the opportunityto find a promising job.

9.The development of new technologies give the students new opportunities.

10.TUSUR is not among the leading universities in our country.

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2.8Read the textagainand answer the questions.

1.When was TUSUR founded?

2.What’s the full name of the university?

3.Is TUSUR a humanitarian university?

4.How many faculties are there in TUSUR? What are their names?

5.Is it possible to get higher education at the university without leaving native towns or cities? How?

6.How many specialties are the students trained at? Can you name some of them?

7.What foreign universities does TUSUR cooperate with? In what fields?

8.What sports are popular in TUSUR?

9.How does TUSUR support the schools of Tomsk and Tomsk region?

10.What’s the main goal of the university?

11.What can the students do in their free time?

2.9 If you talked to a foreign student, what would you tell him/heraboutyouruniversity?

Text B

HIGHER EDUCATION IN RUSSIA

Pretext exercises

2.10Read the following words and word combinations and try to guess theirmeaning.

Specialist, progress, teacher, engineer, doctor, professional, Russian, student, fundamental, mathematics, physics, history economics, to concentrate, special interest, course, percent, to sponsor, sport center, process, culture, information.

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2.11 Readthe following words and mindtheirpronunciation.

2.12Complete the sentences with the words and expressions given above.

1.In my opinion, higher education … … … in our life.

2.Our university… future bachelors and masters.

3.In Russian … … … the … usually starts on the 1st of September.

4.The students obtain thorough … in the fundamental sciences.

5.The … include foreign languages, historyand economics.

6.… … will help students to become good specialists.

2.13 Read the text.

HIGHER EDUCATION IN RUSSIA

Higher education plays an important part in the life of any country as it provides the country with highly-qualified specialists for future development and progress. It trains people to become teachers, engineers, doctors and other professional workers.

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In Russian higher educational establishments the academic year usually lasts 9 months and is divided into two terms. The firstand second-year students obtain thorough instructions in the fundamental sciences of mathematics, physics, as well as computer engineering and a number of others. The curricula are enriched and broadened by instructions in such subjects as foreign languages, history and economics. At the third year students get more advanced knowledge and begin to concentrate on their special interests and take many courses in this subject. Specialized study and courses will help students to become specialists and prepare them for their future work.

After four years students will get a bachelor's degree. Then the students may go on with their studies and in a year or two of further study and research get a master's degree. After graduating from the university they may go on with their studyand research and mayget a still higher degree. About 75 percent of students receive state grants and 15 percent are sponsored byenterprises.

Universities have their own students' hostels and some of them have large and excellent sport centers.

Education is a process through which culture is preserved, knowledge and skills are developed, values are formed, and information is exchanged.

Education is the wayto success.

2.14Decide ifthe statementsare true orfalse.

1.Higher education is of great importance.

2.In Russian higher educational establishments the academic year is divided into three terms.

3.At the third year students take many specialized courses. After four years students will get a bachelor's degree.

4.About fifty percent of students are sponsored byenterprises.

5.All universities have large and excellent sport centers.

6.Education leads to success.

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2.15 Answer the questions.

1.What part does higher education play in the life of anycountry?

2.How long does the academic year usually last?

3.What subjects do the curricula include?

4.When will students get a bachelor's degree?

5.When may theyget a master's degree?

6.How many percent of students receive state grants?

7.Do universities have their own students' hostels?

8.Is education the wayto success?

Window onBritain: Schools

2.16Watch the video and decide if the statements are true or false.

1.90% of British schools are independent, that is parents pay for their children’s education.

2.British students have a wide choice of subjects.

3.Some of state schools are boarding schools: the students don’t live at home.

4.British children do or play a lot of sports after school.

5.The most popular foreign languages in Great Britain are Spanish and Italian.

6.At school students don’t wear a uniform.

7.After leaving a secondary school about 40% of all students go to university or another kind of education or training.

8.At 18 the students take “A Level” examination.

9.On average in a secondary school class there are about 27 students.

10.Eton is a very famous independent school near Windsor.

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2.17Watch the video again and answer the following questions.

1.How long do English students studyat primary school?

2.What examination do theytake at 16?

3.What subjects do they learn at secondaryschool?

4.What are the most popular foreign languages?

5.What sports do the students like to play after school?

6.Are state schools free?

7.What are boarding schools like?

8.Do you think education in Britain is better than in our country? Why?/ Whynot?

2.18Read about the style of teaching in Oxford University and decide if the sentencesbelow are true (T) orfalse (F).

For many new students, the style of teaching at Oxford University may be unfamiliar. At the beginning of each term (there are three terms in the Oxford academic year) a list of lectures is published and every student can choose which lectures he will attend. Attendance at lectures is not compulsory, and no records of attendance are kept.

Apart from lectures, teaching is realized by means of the tutorial system, which is a system of individual tuition. Each student goes to his tutor’s room once every week to read out an essay which he has written, and for an hour he and the tutor discuss the essay. A student does not necessarily go only to his own tutor but may be assigned to another one when he is studying some particular topic which is outside the special interest of his own tutor.

1.There are two terms in the Oxford academic year.

2.Each undergraduate has his own tutor.

3.Students of Oxford must attend all the lectures.

4.There are no records of attendance.

5.Students may go to another tutor.

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