Unit 2. The value of education

Text A Higher Education in Russia Text B Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics Grammar: Present Simple, Present Progressive, Future Simple, Past Simple, Present Perfect

Text A

Higher Education in Russia Pretext exercises

2.1. Read the following words (expressions) and try to guess their meaning.

History, Russia, University, initiative, plan, revolution, to guarantee, Soviet, Constitution, examination, grant, result, the Russian Federation, democratic state, start, democratic reform, sphere, system, school, colleague, lyceum, gymnasium, mechanism, social, speciality, faculty, innovative business ideas and theories, region, nation, prestigious, specialist, person, baccalaureate, magistrate.

2.2. Read the following words and notice their pronunciation.

knowledge	[`nOlIG]	generation	[`Genq`reISqn]
accordance	[q`kLdqns]	importance	[Im`pLtqns]
speciality	[speSI`xlItI]	sphere	[sfIq]
examination	[Ig`zxmI`neISn]	opportunity	[`Opq`tjHnqtI]
foreign	[`fOrIn]	initiative	[I`nISqtIv]
powerful	[`pauqful]	entrance	[`entrqns]
prestigious	[pres`tIGqs]	guarantee	[`gxrqn`tJ]
colleague	[`kOlJg]	lyceum	[laI`sJqm]
Region	[`rJGn]	theory	[`TIqrI]
baccalaureate	[bxkq`lOrIqt]B	magistrate	[`mxGIstrqt]

Memorize the following words and expressions

higher education	высшее образование	aim	цель
on the initiative of smb.	по инициативе кого-л.	humanities	гуманитарные предметы
in accordance with smth.	в соответствии с чем-л., согласно чему-л.	powerful	значительный, сильный, мощный
secondary education	среднее образование	social development	общественное развитие
to pass entrance examinations	сдать вступительные экзамены	school leaver	выпускник школы
educational establishment	образовательное учреждение	to enter the university	поступить в университет
monthly grant	ежемесячная стипендия	wide choice of smth.	большой выбор чего-либо
to fail (in) an examination	не выдержать экзамен	to graduate from the university	закончить университет
to take place	происходить, случаться, иметь место	well-paid job	хорошо оплачиваемая работа

2.3. Read the text. Higher Education in Russia

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today”.

(Malkom X.)

The history of higher education in Russia goes back to 1755 when the first University was founded on the initiative of M.V. Lomonosov and in accordance with his plan. Later, universities were opened in many other big cities of the country. After the revolution in 1917, education was guaranteed to Soviet citizens by the Constitution and was free of charge. Higher education was not the exception. Those who got the secondary education and passed entrance examinations to higher educational establishments received monthly grants if they had good results during the term and did not fail the examination at the end of each term. Course of study lasted five years.

In 1991, the Russian Federation, one of the biggest and the most powerful countries in the world, began to be developed as a democratic state. From the very start democratic reforms began to take place in many spheres of life as well as in the system of higher education. Its aim was to prepare the younger generation for independent life and work in new conditions. There have appeared a lot of private schools, colleges, lyceums, gymnasiums and different courses where students can study sciences and humanities as well as foreign languages.

Since the year 2010 the system of higher education in Russia has been greatly changing into the two-level one: the Baccalaureate (undergraduate studies) and the Magistrate (MA course).

Higher education in Russia is becoming a powerful mechanism for the social development of the country. The level of higher education has greatly changed. Nowadays school leavers have opportunities to enter any university in the city where they live as well as in any other cities in accordance with their future speciality. Universities offer the high level of knowledge and have a wide choice of departments and faculties. The universities provide the faculties for innovative business ideas and theories that shape the fortunes of cities, regions and even nations. It is becoming prestigious and important to graduate from the university and get a well-paid job both in Russia and in other countries of the world.

Higher education is of great importance not only in Russia but also all over the world and you have to do your best to be a good specialist and to follow the conditions and requirements of modern life. Nowadays a bright future of any person depends on higher education.