3.2 Dialogues

• I am Samokhvalova Yevgenia, Zhenya, for short. I study at Pedagogical University in Ufa.

• Hi, Zhenya. I am Diana Baker. I am a student at Manchester Teachers’ College. I train to be a primary school teacher. What about you?

• I will be a teacher of Math at a secondary school. We are future colleagues, Diana, aren’t we?

• Yes, we are. By the way, are the graduates of Russian universities given a degree?

• Yes, they are. The system of scientific degrees is the same in our countries now. A few years ago graduates of our universities were given diplomas of higher education.

• I see. The graduates of British colleges and universities are given the degrees of Bachelor or Master.

• Our teacher of English tells us a lot of interesting and useful information about Great Britain and its system of education.

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• How many departments are there at your university and what is the total number of students?

• Ten thousand students study at nine departments.

• Do students in Russia pay tuition?

• Those who passed entrance exams to the university with excellent marks get education free of charge. They get to the so-called budget groups, others pay tuition. The students from budget groups who pass exams at the university with good and excellent marks get scholarship. I think, young people value good education now.

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• Как студенты вашего университета проводят лето?

• In different ways. Some return home, some go to the university sports camp for a week or two, some have their practice in summer and are very busy.

• Как насчет спорта, увлечений, музыки, танцев?

• Well, I think those things always come first.

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3.3 Questions

1.Where do you study?

2.What will be your profession after you graduate from the University?

3.When was your University founded?

4.How many and what departments are there at your University?

5. Do your group-mates live in the hostel?

6.How many students study at the University full time?

7.Do all students get scholarship?

8.What degree do the graduates from the University get?

9.How many years do students study at your University?

10.Whom does the teaching staff of the University consist of ?

11.What sport facilities has the University got.

12.Do all students pay tuition?

13.What subjects are taught at the University?

14.What are your favourite subjects?

15.Who can become a student of your University?

4 The Russian Federation

Russia is the largest country in the world. It is situated in Europe and Asia. Its total area is over 17 million square kilometres. Because of the vast territory the country has different climate in different parts: from continental and subtropical to very cold arctic climate.

The landscape of the country is also different: from high mountains to deep valleys, from fertile soil zones to barren steppes.

The population of the Russian Federation is more than 142 million people. The European part of the country is densely populated. Most people live in towns and cities.

Russia is among the world leaders in mineral resources. It is rich in coal, oil, natural gas, iron, copper etc. Russia is a highly industrialized country. Its oil and chemical industries are well developed. People of Russia are very optimistic about economic and social progress in the country. As for agriculture, it is undergoing reforms and changes. These reforms are aimed at supplying the people of the country with agricultural products of high quality.

The Russian Federation is a free union of a number of regions, territories and republics called the subjects of the federation. Under the Constitution (1993) Russia is a presidential republic. The highest legislative body of the Russian Federation is Duma, the name of the Russian Parliament. The executive power is held by the president.

The capital of the country is Moscow. Founded in 1147 it has become over years the most important political, industrial, scientific and cultural centre of the country and the seat of the government. The Red Square, the Kremlin and lots of other sights and historic places attract tourists from all over the world to Moscow.

Russia has always played an important role in the world. Nowadays Russia remains a powerful state enjoying a high reputation among other nations of the world. It is a peace-loving country and a member of many peaceful organizations.