Vocabulary

Authority - власть; авторитет

competition- конкуренция; состязание; соревнование

education- воспитание; образование; обучение

play – игра

reference - ссылка; сноска

to advance - делать успехи

to depend (on) - зависеть от

to fund - финансировать

to express - выражать

tograduate(from) - оканчивать высшее учебное заведение

tolink- соединять, связывать

direct- прямой, непосредственный

further- дальнейший

independent- независимый, самостоятельный

primary- первоклассный; первый; начальный

private- частный, личный

secondary- средний

senior- старший

successful - успешный, удачный

without - без

to be responsible for - отвечать за что-л. (кого-л.)

ЗАДАНИЯ К ТЕКСТУ:

1. Прочтите текст, сделайте устный перевод и расскажите об истории университетов и колледжей.

2. Прочтите текст повторно и найдите английские эквиваленты следующих русских словосочетаний.

все еще действующий; монастырские школы; юридическая школа; унифицированное обучение; для удобства; всех возрастов; проживая в гостиницах; арендуя жилье; играть в игры.

3. Закончите следующие предложения.

1. University education originated in ... . 2. Lectures and lessons were conducted in ... . 3. The word “college” was at first associated with ... . 4. The first college originated in ... . 5. Oxford and Cambridge have much in ... and they are called collectively as ... .

4. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What institution is responsible for education in Great Britain/the Russia? 2. At what age do children go to school in Great Britain/the Russia? 3. What pre-school institutions are there in Britain/the Russia? 4. At what age do boys and girls leave school in England/the Russia? 5. What does the “0”- or “A”-level of the General Certificate of Education depend on? 6. What educational institutions provide higher education in England/the USSR? 7. What is the first scientific degree in England? 8. How long does the course for the first degree last? 9. How long do the post-graduate courses for a master's degree last? 10. How many more years of research studies arc needed for Ph.D.?

Universities in great britain

There are 45 universities in Great Britain (including the Open University). The character of an English university can be understood from the history of its foundation and development only.

Oxford and Cambridge are known as the oldest unique universities founded in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, respectively. These universities developed from a great number of independent colleges and still remain unique in the strength of their collegiate traditions. Cambridge is a federation of 20 colleges, while Oxford consists of 48 colleges, of which some admit only men, others admit only women, and some are coeducational. The general proportion of men to women students in the country is about three to one; at Oxford and Cambridge it is over four to one.

The colleges of Oxbridge are residential institutions and they mainly use a tutorial method of teaching, which brings the tutor into close and personal contact with the student. Each tutor has 10-12 students.

Until the fifteenth century the history of Cambridge was not as significant as that of Oxford. But by the end of the seventeenth century the University was the home of Sir Isaac Newton – professor of mathematics from 1669 till 1702 whose influence was deep. At that time serious tests were offered to the candidates for degrees. During the early part of the nineteenth century examinations were greatly improved and written examinations were more often used than oral.

At the same time there were built a number of laboratories for natural sciences, among them the Cavendish Laboratory. The Cavendish Laboratory organized by the well-known Scottish mathematician and physicist Maxwell was opened in 1871. It was named after the English scientist of the 18th century Sir Henry Cavendish. Now it is one of the greatest physical laboratories known throughout the world.

Besides Oxbridge there are six more collegiate universities in Great Britain, but their structure and methods of teaching vary from one another. However, on the whole, the collegiate system can be described as follows: a collegiate university is a federation of colleges where each college is largely independent. Each college has its own separate legal foundation (building and staff of teachers) as well as its own sources of income. Colleges admit students, organize programmes and students' studies as well as residence, laboratories, libraries and term examinations, while the university is an examining and degree-granting body only. The university is responsible for organizing final examinations for all the body of college students and confers degrees to them on successful passing these examinations.

Social changes have certainly transformed the collegiate universities considerably. Many of the traditions have gone in the past. However, in spite -of all these changes Oxbridge colleges have not lost their distinctive character.