Коммуникативная организация и языковые средства восприятия иноязычного текста практикум по английскому языку для инженеров. Учебное пособие

4.At the age of 16-18 … % of students continue at school. At 18 they take «A» levels (… level examinations).

5.… % of 18-year-olds go to university.

6.Another … % of 18-year-olds go on other kinds of education.

Ex. 8. Listen to four people talking about their careers. What subjects and jobs do they mention?

(from Cutting Edge: Elementary Student’s Book / Sarah Cunningham, Peter Moor. – London: Longman, Pearson Education Limited, 2005. – P. 113)

Ex. 9. Work in pairs. Who…

1.failed all his exams at school?

2.learnt French at primary school?

3.worked for a big finance company?

4.wants to do a career that is very difficult to get into?

5.wants to go to Lisbon soon?

6.stopped work for a few years?

7.worked as a van driver?

8.owns his own company now?

9.writes for his school magazine?

10.trains to be a teacher?

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Ex. 10. Prepare a story / a presentation / a slide show about your school and future career.

PART 2. DISCUSSING EDUCATION IN RUSSIA AND ABROAD

Ex. 1. a What do you know about the history of education in Russia? Read the words and phrases from the text given below. Pay attention to their pronunciation and meanings.

b Read the text and answer the questions below.

The History of Education in Russia

Ancient Rus was a leading country in the world history. The Slavonic written language came to Rus from Bulgaria in the 9th century. The replacement of religious books in Greek for books in the Slavonic language began in the end of the 9th century.

Between the 10th and 13th centuries the Russians developed a high civilization, which formed the foundation of the Russian culture in the following centuries. The written books of that time show that the level of

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knowledge on most natural phenomena was as high as that of Ancient Greece. Monasteries were cultural and educational centres. They had large libraries. And well-equipped book-making shops, in which church manuscripts were copied and translated as well as original books were written.

In pre-revolutionary Russia there were primary schools for common people, but illiteracy among them was very high. People also taught their children in grammar schools or commercial schools. There were also schools for nobles only. Entrance to those schools was limited. For example, at the lycee where A. Pushkin studied the number of pupils ranged from thirty to one hundred. Only boys at the age of 10 to 12 from noble families of high ranks were admitted and studied there for six years. Many different subjects were taught there. The most important were Russian literature, history, geography, mathematics, physics, logic, law, rhetoric and such foreign languages as French, German and Latin. Great attention was paid to different arts and physical training: riding, swimming, fencing and dancing.

The history of higher education in Russia goes back to 1755 when the first University was founded in Moscow on the initiative of M. Lomonosov. Later, universities were opened in many other big cities of the country.

After the revolution in 1917, studying at schools and universities was free of charge and was given in almost all national languages. School attendance was compulsory for children between 7 and 15. Higher education lasted five years.

Nowadays school and university education is free of charge, too, but there are a lot of private schools, and university specialties which are paid. The course of studying at universities lasts four years to get a

Bachelor’s Degree and two years more to get a Master’s Degree.

(from English for Engineers / T. Polyakova and others. – Moscow, 2006. – P. 34)

c Answer the questions to the text.

1.When did the Slavonic written language come to Rus?

2.Where did the Slavonic language come from?

3.Was ancient Rus a high civilization?

4.What were cultural and educational centres at that time?

5.How did people study in pre-revolutionary Russia?

6.What subjects were especially important in pre-revolutionary

Russia?

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7.Were arts and physical training important at that time?

8.What Russian university was founded first? When was it founded?

9.Who founded the first Russian university?

10.Was studying at schools and universities free of charge at that time?

Ex. 2. Complete the sentences with the right forms of the verbs in

Past Simple Tense.

1.The Slavonic written language … to Rus from Bulgaria in the 9th century.

2.People … to replace religious books in Greek for books in the Slavonic language in the end of the 9th century.

3.Later, the Russians … a high civilization.

4.Russian monasteries … large libraries with well-equipped bookmaking shops.

5.People … manuscripts in monasteries.

6.In pre-revolutionary Russia many common people … to primary schools, but illiteracy among them … very high.

7.Noble people … their children in grammar or commercial schools.

8.Children usually … at schools for six years.

9.At that time the Russians … much attention to arts and physical training.

10.In 1755 M. Lomonosov … Moscow University, the first university in Russia. And later, people … many universities throughout Russia.

Ex. 3. a What do you know about the first Russian University? Read the words and phrases from the text given below. Pay attention to their pronunciation and meanings.

b Read the text about Moscow University and answer the questions below.

Moscow University

Moscow State University is the largest university of Russia. When it was founded in 1755, it was the University of Moscow with three faculties. Today it ranks among the top universities of the world. The foundation of Moscow University was inspired by Mikhail Lomonosov. The University was established by the order of Elisabeth, the Russian Empress. In the late 18-th century Moscow University became the centre of advanced Russian science and social thought. MSU was renamed after Lomonosov in 1940 and was then known as Lomonosov University. It also claims to house the tallest educational building in Europe.

Moscow State University is known world-wide for its academic excellence. This largest educational institution in Russia teaches almost in all subject areas: Arts, Sciences, Law, Engineering, etc. The staff is knowledgeable in their subjects. The top research institutions of Moscow State University enable to keep research and teaching up to date. Here students can learn skills which fit them for a better career. Moscow State University reputation stays with its graduates and their achievements in turn add to that reputation.

Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy. More than 40,000 students (graduate and postgraduate) and about 7,000 undergraduates study at the University, and over 5,000 specialists do the refresher course here. More than 6,000 professors and lecturers, and about 5,000 researchers work for the faculties and research institutes.

Every year Moscow University enrolls about 4,000 international students and postgraduates from all over the world.

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Moscow University campus is an extremely complex system, with its 1 mln m2 floor area in 1,000 buildings and structures, with its 8 dormitories housing over 12,000 students and 300 km of utility lines.

MSU library system is one of the largest in Russia, with its 9,000,000 books, 2,000,000 of them in foreign languages, and the average number of readers 55,000, using 5,500,000 books a year.

(from http://www.msu.ru/en)

c Answer the questions to the text.

1.When was Moscow University founded?

2.Who founded the University?

3.What subject areas does the University offer to its students?

4.What can you say about the reputation of the University?

5.Who is the rector of the University now?

6.How many students study there?

7.Do any foreign students study at the University?

8.How big is the staff of the University?

9.What can you say about Moscow University campus?

10.What do you know about its library?

Ex. 4. Complete the text about studying at Cambridge University

Cambridge University

Cambridge University is one of the oldest and most ___

universities in the UK. There are 29 ___ within the university, many of them dating back to the 13th and 14th century. One of the oldest colleges

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is Corpus Christi, which has been maintained in the original ___. Christopher Marlowe, who was a ___ at the same time as Shakespeare, studied here. Corpus Christi used to be for ___ only. In 1660, however, they decided to allow women to ___ here too.

Living in Cambridge is like stepping backwards in time. The students at Cambridge University, who wear ___ for special occasions, like ___ day, talk about why they chose Cambridge. Many believe it to be one of the ___ universities in the country, so it offers good ___

prospects, also, it has an active social scene and there are lots of things to do in Cambridge, like go to clubs or bars, join in the ___ activities, or hire a punt (a boat which you move by pushing with a long stick) and relax on the ___ .

As for studying at the university, it is usually paid. The fee is usually very high. For example, one year of studying at Cambridge University costs about 25,000 pounds, though brilliant students can get a grant for studying. The course of studying at universities lasts four years to get a Bachelor’s Degree and one or two years more to get a Master’s

Degree.

(from Total English: Intermediate Student’s Book / Richard Acklam, Araminta Crace. – London: Longman, Pearson Education Limited, 2005. – P. 133)

Ex. 5. Answer the questions to the text about Cambridge.

1.When was Cambridge University founded?

2.How many colleges does it consist of?

3.What is the oldest college of the University?

4.Who could study there some time ago? And now?

5.How much is studying at Cambridge University?

Ex. 6. Watch the video «Cambridge in Numbers» http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwZsb2CkMsM and write down as much information about the university as you can. Discuss it in the group.

Ex. 7. Learn more about higher education in Great Britain and prepare the rendering of the text below in English.

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Оксфорд

К настоящему моменту Оксфорд является древнейшим университетом на территории Европы. Он был основан в XI веке. Его система обучения считается эталоном во всем мире.

Уже несколько столетий Оксфорд занимает первые строки рейтингов лучших университетов, обгоняя Кембридж и Гарвард. Его выпускниками были 6 английских королей, 25 премьерминистров, более 40 нобелевских лауреатов, а также 100 наиболее успешных бизнесменов мира. Среди наиболее прославленных выпускников такие легендарные люди как Льюис Кэрролл, Маргарет Тэтчер, Тони Блэр. Многие российские выдающиеся литераторы также получили степени в Оксфорде: Анна Ахматова, Иван Тургенев, Иосиф Бродский и др.

Оксфорд также является одним из первых университетов, предлагающих программы для иностранцев. По последним статистическим данным в университете обучаются около 30% иностранных студентов. Интересно, что в стенах учебного заведения действует русский клуб. Это сообщество русских студентов, которое является древнейшим из всех действующих сообществ в вузе. В сообществе наших студентов проводятся летние и зимние балы, а также тематические вечера. Специально для жителей России в Оксфорде были основаны две православные церкви. Все это свидетельствует о том, что поступление в Оксфордский университет – это не миф, а реальность, особенно, если учитывать целый ряд стипендиальных программ.

Начало учебного года в университете – в октябре, при этом весь академический год делится на три семестра. Каждый триместр имеет свое название: весенний – Тринити, зимний – Хилари, осенний – Миклмасс. В течение всего академического года

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студенты обучаются по образовательным блокам, которые делятся на теоретический курс, практические занятия, лекционный курс, семинары и специфические тьюториэлз-занятия (особые индивидуальные занятия с преподавателем). Введение тьюториэлз в Оксфордском университете позволило студентам максимально углубиться в специализированные, профильные предметы.

(from http://en-rus.co.uk/oxford-universitet.html)

Ex. 8. Watch the video about Oxford University «Knowledge is Great Part 1» http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/knowledge- great/knowledge-great-part-1. Do online exercises.

Ex. 9. Discuss the peculiarities of studying abroad. Compare them with the Russian educational system.

Ex. 10. Divide into 3-4 groups for a project work. Compare educational systems in Russia and other English speaking countries (e.g., England, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, etc.) and prepare a presentation of your research.

PART 3. STUDYING AT KUZSTU

Ex. 1. a What do you know about Kuzbass State Technical University? Read the words and phrases from the text given below. Pay attention to their pronunciation and meanings.

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b Read the text and answer the questions below.

Kuzbass State Technical University

Kuzbass State Technical University (KuzSTU) is one of higher educational institutions which train specialists for the economy of Kuzbass.

At first it was the Mining Institute founded on the basis of Kemerovo Mining Construction College in 1950. Then it was reorganized in Kuzbass Polytechnical Institute in 1965. Later, in 1993 it was renamed in Kuzbass State Technical University. The rectors were heroes of socialist labour, professors, leading engineers such as T. Gorbachev (1950–1954), P. Kokorin (1954–1967), V. Kozhevin (1967– 1977) and others.

Now it is the largest higher educational institution in the region. The University has imposing personnel’s potential; there are about 800 lecturers, among them there are some academicians and associate members, state prize and government prize laureates, and honoured scientists. At present there are 52 departments, many well-equipped laboratories, a research institute, a computer centre, a large library and museums. The training for 24 specialties is carried out. The total amount of students is about 20,000.

Kuzbass State Technical University campus has 9 buildings, 3 hostels (one is for family students), a group of dining-halls. The University has necessary technical devices for computer training of students. There are more than 700 PCs and 220 terminals of total use system. The University has access to the Internet.

The book stock of the University’s library is more than 500,000 copies. The University has international connections with some higher educational institutions and firms of the USA, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, China, and Mongolia. The best

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