6. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What is computer?

2. What is the main purpose of computers?

3. Where are computers used?

4. What is the Internet?

5. What are servers?

6. When did public Internet appear?

7. Is it cheaper to use the Internet mail service instead of ordinary post office?

8. Why should we have the Internet?

Lesson Two (The Second Lesson)

1. Text: “The system of education in Russia”. 2. Words and word combinations.

Text: “The system of education in Russia”.

Preschool education and schooling in Russia.

Preschool education

There is a network of kindergarten in Russia where children are looked after while their parents are at work. The preschool education is for the children younger than seven. Nowadays the majority of children have learnt the letters in the kindergarten which is now a part of an elementary school.

Schools.

The citizens of Russia have the right to get education which is guaranteed by the Constitution. The education in our country is free at most schools. The Russian children begin to go to school at the age of 6-7 and they finish it at age of 17-18.There is a nine-year compulsory education in Russia but usually pupils study for 11 years. The stages of compulsory schooling in Russia include:

• elementary school (from the 1 till the 3 class);

• secondary school (from 4 (5) till the 9 th classes);

• senior school (the 10 th and the 11 th classes).

The elementary school gives the basic knowledge. Pupils are taught to count, to read, to write, to draw, to sing and dance. In some schools foreign languages are on schedule.

In the secondary schools pupils study a lot of subjects. Besides, they may choose some additional subjects from those which are offered by their school.

The senior school includes two final years of education.

After finishing the 9^th form young people can continue their school education and enter the 10^th form or finish school and enter a vocational school, a technical school, a normal school or a college. There they learn general subjects and receive a profession.

There are six main types of schools in Russia:

• specialized (for mentally retarded children);

• schools of general education;

• musical schools;

• art schools;

• schools of intensive study in certain subjects (specialized schools which can be associated with certain Russian institutes or universities);

• lyceums and gymnasiums where a variety of elective subjects are taught (they offer the profound knowledge in some fields of study).

After finishing the 9^th form young people get a certificate of incomplete secondary education. After the 11^th form they get a certificate of complete secondary education.

After finishing institutions of initial and intermediate professional education (after two years of study on the basis of secondary (complete) education) young people get diplomas.

Higher education in Russia

There are three kinds of higher education institutions in Russia:

• universities;

• academies;

• institutes.

A university includes a wide range of fields of study. An academy differs from universities by a narrower spectrum of specialties. An institute requires teaching of at least one discipline.

After finishing the senior school, lyceum or gymnasium young people can get higher education. All the school-leavers must take competitive examinations for entry to an institute or a university. Entrance examinations are held in July and August.

Some institutions of higher education are budget some are commercial. Not all parents can afford their children to get higher education.

The higher education institutions and universities offer a five-year program of academic subjects in a variety of fields.

The higher educational establishments are headed by rectors. Pro-rectors are in charge of the academic and scientific work. An institute or a university has a number of faculties. The faculties are headed by the Deans. There are three levels of higher education:

• incomplete higher education (which should include at least 3 years of education);

• the Bachelor’s degree which is given to a student after 4 years of higher education (in is not accepted in all institutes of higher education);

• complete higher education (which implies 5 years of education, passing the examinations and doing a degree work).