Английский язык. Практический курс. Уровень Intermediate. Практикум

3. Read the text.

Educational System in Russia

Children start school at the age of six in Russia. The course of studies at school is eleven years: four years of primary school and seven years of secondary school.

Children under the age of six are taken to crèches and nursery schools. There is a wide choice of schools nowadays: state schools, private schools, lyceums and gymnasiums. The majority of schools is free of charge, but in some (usually private ones) parents have to pay for the education of their children. In ordinary schools, parents sometimes pay for additional subjects in the curriculum, such as a foreign language or arts. In primary school there are three or four lessons a day, they usually are Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. The list of subjects under study is further extended during the second, third and fourth years and includes the World History of Arts, Fundamentals of Security, History, Geography, and others. At primary schools all lessons are usually conducted by one teacher.

At the age of ten, children pass to the second stage of education, known as secondary school. In secondary school, there is a wide variety of subjects under study, and teachers specialize. After finishing the ninth form and getting the Certificate of Basic Secondary Education, schoolchildren may either continue their education in the tenth form, or leave school and go to technical (vocational) schools and colleges, which offer joint professional and secondary general education for 3 to 4 years and skilled workers’ training at different levels. After eleven years at school, the school leavers take Unified State Exams and get the Certificate of Complete Secondary Education.

Higher education is provided by public and non-public accredited higher education institutions. There are two levels of higher education: basic higher education (4 years) leading to the Bachelor’s degree, the first university level degree; postgraduate higher education (5-6 years or more). After two years, students are entitled to receive a Master’s degree. Students must carry out a year of research including practice and prepare and defend a thesis, which constitutes an original contribution, and sit for final examinations. After a Master’s degree, students can continue to study towards a doctoral degree: Candidate of Science’s degree and Doctor of Science’s degree. Students must learn teaching methods, ICTs, and pass qualifying exams. They carry out independent research, prepare and defend a dissertation in public.

After reading

4.Answer these questions.

1.When does education in Russia start?

2.What is the difference between public and private schools?

3.How many lessons a day are there in primary school?

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4.Who conducts lessons in secondary school?

5.What document do pupils have, if they leave school after the 9th grade?

6.Where can they enter?

7.What happens for those, who continue their studies at school?

8.How many levels of higher education are there?

9.What degrees can be awarded in Russian universities?

10.What degree can be achieved after Master's degree?

5.Agree or disagree with the following statements and prove your point of view. Use the following phrases: I agree that... It’s true... I disagree because... I can’t agree with this statement because... It’s false...

1.The course of studies in Russian schools lasts 10 years.

2.Education in pre-primary educational institutions are compulsory for all children.

3.Lessons in primary school and in secondary school do not differ.

4.The admission to higher educational institutions is depended on results of schoolleaving examinations.

5.Higher educational institutions do not provide a variety of degrees and only

Specialist’s degree can be obtained.

6.Fill in the gap.

1.Many working parents find that a … is an ideal place for their children to go to whilst they are at work.

2.Reading, Writing and Arithmetic are taught by one teacher in … .

3.List of school subjects are usually included in … .

4.School leavers must sit for … before they enter any higher education institutions.

5.… is a document that every school leaver has after the 11th grade.

6.If a pupil wants to get a profession and then to start working, he or she enters … .

7.4 years of study in a university leads to the … .

8.… can be achieved after 2 or 3 years of postgraduate studies.

9.Student must pass qualifying exams before they defend their … .

10.Students must learn teaching methods and … classes, when they do their postgraduate

studies.

7.Give the English equivalents of the following:

Детский сад; большой выбор; государственная школа; дополнительные предметы; первая четверть; школьные правила; включать; изучаемые предметы; выпускники; выпускные экзамены.

8.Translate these phrases from Russian into English.

1.В России в настоящее время существует несколько типов школ, как государственных, так и частных.

2.Родители могут по своему усмотрению отдать детей в гимназию, лицей или частную школу.

3.Иногда при поступлении в такие учебные заведения дети проходят тестирование или сдают экзамен.

4.Стандарт образования – общий для всех школ, однако школы могут сами выбирать методы работы и учебники.

5.Как правило, до школы дети ходят в ясли и детские сады, где приобретают навыки работы в коллективе, что делает учебу в школе легче.

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6. Курс обучения в школе длится 11 лет, после чего дети сдают Единый Государственный экзамен.

7. Дети младше шести лет посещают ясли, а затем детский сад.

8. Обучение в государственных школах, в отличии от частных, бесплатное. 9. В возрасте 17 или 18 лет дети продолжают учёбу в университете.

10. После базовой средней школы ученики могут поступить в технические училища.

9. Prepare a retelling of the text «Educational System in Russia».

Speaking

10. Read and translate this dialog.

Discussing exam results

M a k a y l a : Oh, hi Jack. How’s it going?

J a c k : Hmm, all right ... not great.

M a k a y l a : Have you got your exam results?

J a c k : Yeah …

M a k a y l a : How did you do?

J a c k : All right. I mean, it could have been worse.

M a k a y l a : But …?

J a c k : I didn’t get the grades I need in maths or science.

M a k a y l a : Oh no, bad luck. What are you going to do?

J a c k : I don’t know. I’m not sure whether to retake maths and science or change my plans completely.

M a k a y l a : But I thought you really wanted to do medicine.

J a c k : No, it’s what my parents want me to do.

M a k a y l a : OK. And what do you want to do?

J a c k : I don’t know, exactly. I like history and languages. I got an A in French!

M a k a y l a : Ah, that’s great! Maybe it would be better for you to do something like that at uni. J a c k : Even if I can get the grades I need in maths and science, I’m still not convinced about doing medicine.

M a k a y l a : Mmm, well you have many talents, Jack, but maybe being a doctor isn’t for you. J a c k : No, it’s not. Although my parents aren’t going to be happy.

M a k a y l a : Well, you need to make the right decision for you, even though they might not like it.

J a c k : Yeah, you’re right. Maybe I should talk to them.

M a k a y l a : You never know. They might be more understanding than you think. J a c k : Yeah! Aww, thanks, Makayla.

11. In pairs, create your own dialog and present it to your groupmates.

Writing

12. What are advantages and disadvantages of studying in Russian schools? What problems does it have? What is it worth to change in Russian schools? Answer these questions in a short essay (200-250 words).

Before reading

1.In pairs, discuss these questions.

1.What facts about British educational system do you know?

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2.How does British education differ from Russian one?

3.What famous British educational institutions do you know?

2.Pay attention to these words and word combinations.

3. Read the text.

Educational System in Great Britain

Education in Great Britain is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of 5 and 16. There are many children who attend a nursery school from the age of 3, but it is not compulsory. In nursery schools, they learn some elementary things such as numbers, colours, and letters.

Compulsory education begins at the age of 5 when children go to primary school. Primary education lasts for 6 years. It is divided into two periods: infant schools (pupils from 5 to 7 years old) and junior schools (pupils from 7 to 11 years old). In infant schools, children don’t have real classes. When pupils are 7, real studying begins.

Compulsory secondary education begins when children are 11 or 12 and lasts for 5 years. Secondary school is traditionally divided into 5 forms: a form to each year. Children study English, Mathematics, Science, History, Art, Geography, Music, a Foreign language and have lessons of Physical training. English, Mathematics and Science are called core subjects. At the age of 7, 11 and 14 pupils take examinations in the core subjects.

There are 3 types of state secondary schools in Great Britain. They are:

1)comprehensive schools, which take pupils of all abilities without exams. In such schools pupils are often put into certain sets or groups, which are formed according to their abilities for technical or humanitarian subjects. Almost all senior pupils (around 90 per cent) go there;

2)grammar schools, which give secondary education of a very high standard. Entrance is based on the test of ability, usually at 11. Grammar schools are single sexed schools;

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3) modern schools, which don’t prepare pupils for universities. Education in such schools gives good prospects for practical jobs.

After five years of secondary education, at the age of 16, pupils take the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examination.

After finishing the fifth form pupils can make their choice: they may either leave school and go to a Further Education College or continue their education in the sixth form. Those who stay at school after GCSE, study for 2 more years for «A» (Advanced) Level Exams in two or three subjects which is necessary to get a place at one of British universities.

There are also about 500 private schools in Great Britain. Most of these schools are boarding ones, where children live as well as study. Private schools are also called preparatory (for children up to 13 years old) and public schools (for pupils from 13 to 18 years old). The most famous British public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

After leaving secondary school young people can apply to a university, a polytechnic or a college of further education.

There are 126 universities in Britain. They are divided into 5 types: The Old universities were founded before the 19th century (Oxford and Cambridge); The Red Brick were founded in the 19th or 20th century; The Plate Glass were founded in 1960s; The Open University, offering extramural education. Students learn subjects at home and then post ready exercises off to their tutors for marking; The New universities are former polytechnic academies and colleges. After three – four years of study a university graduate get the Degree of a Bachelor of Arts, Science or Engineering. Many students then continue their studies for a Master’s Degree and then a Doctor’s Degree (PhD).

After reading

4.Answer these questions.

1.When does compulsory education start?

2.What periods does primary education have?

3.What do children study in secondary school?

4.What is core subjects?

5.When does examination take place?

6.What is the difference between comprehensive, grammar and modern schools?

7.When do British students get GCSE?

8.What certificate is necessary for students who is going to study in a university?

9.What does boarding school mean?

10.How many types are British universities classified in?

5.Agree or disagree with the following statements and prove your point of view. Use the following phrases: I agree that... It’s true... I disagree because... I can’t agree with this statement because... It’s false...

1.Compulsory education starts in nursery schools.

2.At the age of 14 pupils take final examinations.

3.GCSE-A is necessary for those, who is going to enter vocational schools.

4.The Open University doesn’t provide a degree courses.

5.Specialist’s degree can’t be awarded in British higher educational institutions.

6.Fill in the gap.

1.Mike goes to a … school in Birmingham.

2.His parents wanted to send him to a … school but Mike was against it.

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3.He likes his school and his studies, and he thinks that if he went to a … school, he would miss his home.

4.English, Mathematics and Science are … in secondary school.

5.Mike’s favourite subject at school is IT. He says he wants to become a programmer when he … .

6.When he leaves his school, he would like to … to a university.

7.Before that, he must sit for exam and obtain … .

8.He must study in a university for four years to get the … .

9.Distant education is provided by the … .

10.… can be awarded after Master’s degree.

7.Translate these phrases from Russian into English.

1.Обязательное образование начинается с поступления в начальную школу.

2.В начальной школе учителя присматривают за учениками, настоящие занятия начинаются в 7 лет.

3.В средней школе дети знакомятся с историей, географией, естествознанием и другими предметами.

4.Общеобразовательная школа принимает всех без исключения учеников и без экзаменов.

5.В Британии немало частных школ, многие из которых являются школамипансионами.

6.Экзамен продвинутого уровня сдают для того, чтобы подать заявление в один из британских университетов.

7.Некоторые университеты имеют вечерний факультет.

8.Учёба в университете заканчивается присуждением степени бакалавра.

9.В Британии есть 5 типов университетов: «старые», краснокирпичные, «из листового стекла», открытый, новые университеты.

10.Многие студенты продолжают учиться дальше после получения степени бакалавра и тогда они могут получить степень магистра или доктора наук.

8.Prepare a retelling of the text «Educational System in Great Britain». Additionally, you can write a chart of educational system and use it during the presentation of your topic.

Speaking

9. Read and translate this dialog.

New school

B e t t y : Hi, Irene. How are you? Haven’t seen you for ages!

I r e n e : Hi, Betty. I’m fine, thank you. It’s good to see you. We have moved to a new apartment and I now go to another school.

B e t t y : I see. And, how is your new school? Do you like it?

I r e n e : It’s ok. I quite like it, although I miss my old classmates and teachers. B e t t y : You can always come and visit them, you know.

I r e n e : Yes, I know. I’ll do that soon.

B e t t y : Tell me a little bit more about your new school. Is it large or small? How many floors are there?

I r e n e : It is a newly built three-stored building right behind our block of flats. So it takes five minutes to get there.

B e t t y : That’s a real advantage. Is the school well-equipped?

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I r e n e : The classrooms are large and light and they are situated on each floor. However, the ground floor is mostly occupied with the gym. The equipment is up-to-date. There are new and comfortable chairs with desks. This school also has a number if laboratories in different subjects, such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics. There are even language laboratories there.

B e t t y : I see. Sounds like you’re getting used to your new school. What is your favourite place at school?

I r e n e : I have a few. Firstly, I really like the school swimming pool. Secondly, I enjoy being at the PE ground, which is outside. And, thirdly, I like the library.

B e t t y : Does this school have a large library?

I r e n e : Yes, it does. It has a huge library with a good choice of books. I often stay there after the lessons. You can find even foreign literature there.

B e t t y : That’s great, Irene! Does your new school have any computer classes?

I r e n e : Yes, there is a modern classroom for Informatics. Each student gets a computer of his own there. I enjoy these lessons.

B e t t y : Sounds good. And, have you already made friends with somebody from your new class?

I r e n e : No, I still haven’t made any close friends there. However, there are several pupils who I often talk to. We sometimes go for a walk after school and I enjoy their company.

B e t t y : I wonder if it’s hard to study at your new school. Do teachers set lots of home work there?

I r e n e : It’s just the same as in my old school. It depends on a teacher. Some of them set lots of home work, some not. In general, I like the teachers in this school. They manage to explain everything well and they put just marks.

B e t t y : I’m glad that you are enjoying your new school. May I visit you sometimes?

I r e n e : Of course, you may. I’ll be happy to see you. Here is my new address and phone number. Call anytime.

10. In pairs, create your own dialog and present it to your groupmates.

Writing

11. Compare Russian and British educational systems. Mention age of admission to schools, term of compulsory education, subjects, exams, admission to colleges and universities, study in higher education institutions (250-300 words).

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Module IV. Discover countries

Unit 10. Travelling

Before reading

1. In pairs, discuss these questions.

1 Have you ever been abroad? Where did you go? 2 How do you usually travel? Why?

3 Where did you spend your last holiday?

2. Pay attention to these words and word combinations.

3. Read the text.

Benefits of travelling

Many people like to travel because it is interesting, attractive and you can see new different

places.

Traveling provides tremendous opportunities for fun, adventure and discovery. When we visit places in other countries, we gain a better understanding of the people living there. We learn their cultures, history and background.

Traveling helps to enrich our lives. It increases our knowledge and widens our perspective. When we visit interesting places, we discover and learn many things. We discover new people, surroundings, plants and animals. If we want to make our travels more exciting and challenging, we can choose to plan our own tour and select the specific places we want to visit.

Traveling is refreshing and revitalizing. It is a psychological necessity, especially for people who has stressful jobs. Taking periodic vacation trips reap better results for them. After the break, they feel more energize to return to work.

There are different means of travel. For example, we can travel by air, by rail, by sea or by road. Of course, travelling by air is the fastest and the most convenient way, but it is the most expensive too. Travelling by train is slower than by plane, but it has its advantages. You can see much more interesting places of the country you are travelling through. Modern trains have very comfortable seats and you can choose seat facing the engine or back to the engine. There are also sleeping cars and dining cars that make even the longest journey enjoyable. Speed, comfort and safety are the main advantages of trains and planes.

Travelling by sea is very popular. Large ships and small river boats can visit foreign countries and different places of interest within their own country.

Travelling by car is also very convenient. You needn't reserve tour tickets or carry heavy suitcases. You can stop wherever you wish, and spend at any place as much time as you like.

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After reading

4.Answer these questions.

1.Do you think travel helps a person to become wiser?

2.How can travelling enrich our lives?

3.How can it increase our productivity?

4.What means of travel do you know?

5.What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling by air?

6.What are the advantages of travelling by train?

7.What are the advantages of a sea-voyage?

8.What kind of people usually object to travelling by car?

9.What is, in your opinion, the most enjoyable means of travel?

10.What way of travelling affords most comfort for elderly people?

5.Explain the meaning of the following words and word combinations.

1.They feel more energize to return to work

2.Ticket

3.Dining car

4.River boat

5.Suitcase

6.Fill in the gap with words from the text above.

1.Traveling provides us opportunities to learn history and … of people living there.

2.Travel by plane can be exciting and …

3.Travelling is a psychological necessity for people who has stressful jobs to have …

4.Planes, trains, ships and cars are …

5.Usually you have dinner in a … of your train.

6.Before your trip, you should … tickets.

7.The main advantages of trains and planes are …, …, …

8.Travelling by train is … than by plane.

9.When buying tickets, you choose between seat … or …

10.Travelling by car, you needn’t carry ... by your own.

7.Translate these phrases from Russian into English.

1.Многие путешествуют, потому что это заманчиво и доставляет удовольствие.

2.В прошлом месяце группа наших студентов отправилась самолётом в Англию.

3.Вы уже купили билет на поезд?

4.Совершать периодические поездки – психологическая необходимость.

5.Покупая билет, вы выбираете место по ходу или против движения поезда.

6.В поезде был всего лишь один спальный вагон, в котором не было ни одного свободного места.

7.Путешествуя, мы открываем для себя историю страны и культуру жителей тех

мест.

8.Он не мог позволить себе ехать на поезде, потому что это было слишком дорого.

9.Я не очень люблю морские путешествия и предпочитаю путешествовать на

поезде.

10.Путешествие на корабле позволяет отдохнуть от беспокойной работы и восстановить силы.

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8. Prepare a retelling of the text «Benefits of travelling».

Speaking

9. Read and translate this dialog.

Different means of travel

A l e x: Personally I hate seeing people off. I prefer being seen off myself. I’m extremely fond of travelling and feel terribly envious of any friend who is going anywhere. I’d like to be in his place.

B e r t : But what method of travelling do you prefer?

A l e x : For me there is nothing like travel by air; it is more comfortable, more convenient and quicker than any other method. There is none of the dust and dirt of a railway or car journey. Besides, flying is a thrilling thing. Don’t you agree?

B e r t : I think I should say a word or two for trains. With a train you have speed, comfort and pleasure combined. From the comfortable corner seat of a railway carriage you have a splendid view of the whole countryside. If you are hungry, you can have a meal in the dining car. Besides, do you know any place that is more interesting than a big railway-station? There is the movement of people going away or waiting to meet friends; the crowds at the booking-office getting tickets. No, really! Do you know a more exciting place than a big railway-station?

С е с i l : I do.

A l e x : And that is?

С е с i l : A big sea port. I like travelling by boat. I love to feel the deck of the boat under my feet, to see the rise and fall of the waves, to feel the fresh sea wind blowing in my face. And what excitement, too, there is in coming into the harbour and seeing round us all the ships, steamers, cargo-ships, sailing ships.

D a v i d : Well, I can go on a walking tour at any time. The walker goes along little winding lanes where cars can't go. He takes mountain paths through the heather, he wanders by the side of quiet lakes and through the shade of woods. He sees the real country and feels the quietness and calm of nature. And besides, no one can deny that walking is the cheapest method of travelling.

10. In pairs, create your own dialog and present it to your groupmates.

Writing

11. Write a story (200-250 words) about your favourite journey.

Unit 11. The Russian Federation

Before reading

1.In pairs, discuss these questions.

1.What the biggest Russian cities do you know? What sights do they have?

2.What industries are well developed in Russia?

3.What do tourists like to visit in Russia?

2.Pay attention to these words and word combinations.