- •Волгоградский государственный технический университет
- •Unit I education and career
- •A. University’s Attractions
- •1. Study the list of some features that can make a university interesting. Say what attracted you to the University.
- •3. Here are some words from the text below. Match the adjectives (1-5) with the nouns (a-e) and the verbs (6-10) with the nouns (f-j).
- •5. Answer the questions.
- •6A. Use the above questions as the example and write down 3 questions you would like to be asked about your choice of the University.
- •6B. Work in pairs. Exchange question sheets and interview one another using these questions. Tell the class what you have found out about your partner.
- •7. Study this information about Sheffield University. Would you like to study at this University? What would attract you to this University?
- •8. Work in groups of four. One of you plays the role of a student from Sheffield University and the others interview him/her about studies at the University. B. Student Life
- •1. Study the words and phrases from the text below and put them into two groups: studies or sociallife.
- •2. Read the email exchange between two girls. What do they do?
- •3. Complete the following sentences using the information from the emails. Develop the idea.
- •2. Answer the questions.
- •3. Study “How to write a Cover Letter” on your own, then work in pairs and agree on the strong and weak points of the application above.
- •4. Listen to the dialogue between the Chairperson of the “International Society” and a newly-arrived student. Complete the sentences by filling in the gaps.
- •5. Practice the dialogue with another student. Then act out a conversation between you and the Chairperson.
- •Text a. “Massachusetts Institute of Technology”
- •1. Read and translate the text. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- •2. Answer the following questions on the text.
- •3. Match the italicized words from the text with the meanings (1-10).
- •4. Read the text again and decide if the sentences below are true (t) or false (f).
- •Text b. “The First Diploma in Engineering”
- •2. Read the text again and decide if the sentences (1-5) below are true (t) or false (f).
- •3. Read Text c again and match the following people with a suitable course. One person isn’t suitable for any of the courses.
- •4. Work in pairs. Discuss with your partner the following questions. Then present your ideas to the rest of the class.
- •4. Comment on the ‘Job hunting hints’. Which of them do you agree or disagree with? Add at least two hints of your own.
- •3. Work in groups of 3 or 4 and comment on the differences about the work customs in the usa and Russia.
- •5. Listen to the interview again and fill in the gaps.
- •6. Work in pairs. Use the questions from the interview and talk about your country.
- •3. Work in pairs. Ask each other questions about your last vacation. Talk about:
- •5. Read the story, title it and retell in the name of the author’s neighbour (wife or husband).
- •6. Discuss all the advantages and disadvantages of this work. Would you like to have such a job?
- •Text a. “What is a cv?”
- •Personal details: your name, address, date of birth, telephone number and email.
- •3. In the text find the English equivalents to the following Russian words and expressions.
- •4. Complete the following sentences based on the information from the text.
- •Text b. “Your cv”
- •1. Read the following cv. Compare it with the cv layout you have made on the basis of Text a.
- •2. Read the cv again and mark the sentences below true (t) or false (f).
- •2. Answer the following questions on the text.
- •3. Read the following phrases from the job advertisements and choose the correct meaning of the words in italics.
- •4. Read the definitions and find words in the text that mean:
- •5. Read the following e-mail application letter written in response to the first job ad. Is this message formal or informal? Justify your answer.
- •Unit III
- •3A. Complete the following sentences using information from the emails. Develop the idea using the following words and expressions:
- •3B. Write a letter to Margaret (Email 3).
- •4. Work in pairs. Ask and answer these questions about you and your friends.
- •4. Read the advertisement below for the Hope Valley and comment on the following:
- •5A. Write a similar advertisement for some place in your region or country.
- •2. Answer the following questions on the text.
- •3. Match the italicized words in the text with the definitions below.
- •4. Translate the following sentences into English.
- •5. Complete the definitions below with the following standard international (si) units and the people they are named after.
- •6. Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions with your partner.
- •Text b. “The usa Science Centers”
- •1. Read and translate the text.
- •2. Answer the following questions on the text.
- •3. Using a dictionary, find the English definitions and the translations of the following words from the text. Make up 3-4 sentences of your own with any of these words.
- •4. Complete each sentence with the correct ending a-f from the box below.
- •5. Use the Internet to find information about world-famous science centers.
- •2. Answer the following questions on the text.
- •3. Work in pairs and talk about your answers to the questions in the text.
- •3. Answer the questions.
- •2. Read the conversation, fill in the gaps with the appropriate word from 1, then act out the dialogue.
- •3. Study useful words and expressions.
- •4. Listen and complete this shopping dialogue using the words from 3.
- •5. Work in pairs. One of you plays an assistant. The other one is a customer. Change some of the details in 4 and act out the conversation.
- •2. Based on the information from the text, decide if the sentences below are true (t) or false (f).
- •3. Complete the definitions (1-6) below with the italicized words in the text.
- •4. Read the warnings below (1-8) and match the sentences with the signs (a-j).
- •2. Match the italicized words from the text with their translations.
- •3. Answer the following questions on the text.
- •D. Nobili Spa Sun Lamp Faucet
- •2. Read the texts again and match the characteristics below with the gadgets.
- •3. Decide if the sentences below are true (t) or false (f).
- •4. Match the italicized words from the text with the meanings (1-10) below.
- •5. Think of a gadget you use in your home. Describe it (without naming it) to the class using the following plan:
- •3. Think of the leisure activities which are popular in your country and complete the column about Russia in the chart.
- •4. Listen to the interview with Jessica from Canada, and decide where these questions go.
- •5. Practice the dialogue with another student, then take turns to talk about your time off using questions a-f in 4. B. A day out
- •Factfile
- •2. Fill in the chart about the events you read.
- •2. Answer the following questions on the text.
- •3. Using a dictionary find the English definitions and the translations of the following words from the text. Make up 3-4- sentences of your own with any of these words.
- •4. Complete each sentence with the correct ending a-e from the box below.
- •5. What other tv programs do you know which popularize scientific or engineering achievements? Choose one and tell about it to the class according to the following plan:
- •Text b. “a Price to Pay”
- •1. Read the text. Choose the most suitable heading from the list (a-h) for each part (1-7) of the text.
- •Danger when a computer becomes your best friend
- •2. Read the text again and decide if the sentences below are true (t) or false (f).
- •3. Match the italicized words from the text with the definitions below (1-14).
- •4. Translate from Russian into English using the vocabulary from the text.
- •1. Read and complete the text by putting a word or number from the box in each space.
- •2. Answer the following questions on the text.
- •3. Match the numbers in the box with their verbal nominations below (1-10).
- •4. Work in pairs. Dictate your numbers to your partner so that he/she could write them down correctly.
- •Unit VI modern science and technology
- •3A. Translate the adjectives. Say what they describe in the reviews.
- •1) How is Sam going to test the greatest crowd density at a music gig?
- •4. Match the sentences 1), 2), 3) with the advances a, b, c in 3.
- •6. Listen to the interview with a scientist from the Space Flight Center. She appears in a new National Geographic Channel series "Known Universe." While listening tick the correct sentences.
- •7. Listen again and fill in the gaps:
- •8. Discuss the questions in class.
- •4. Discuss the following questions.
- •1) Look at these words: “My father always told me, ‘Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life’. Do you agree with Jim Fox? What words in Jobs speech have a similar idea?
- •5. Discuss and defend your aims in life.
- •Text a. “Nanotechnology”
- •1. Read and translate the text. Nanotechnology
- •2. Based on the information from the text, decide if the sentences below are true (t) or false (f).
- •3. Answer the following questions on the text.
- •4. Complete the definitions below (1-8) with the italicized words from the text.
- •5. Below, some of the most frequently asked questions (faQs) on nanotechnology are listed. Choose one of them and prepare a short report on it. Discuss your findings and ideas with the class.
- •How can I participate in or influence the nanotech revolution?
- •2. Answer the following questions on the text.
- •3. Using a dictionary find the English definitions and the translations of the following words from the text. Make up 5 sentences of your own with any of these words.
- •4. Complete each sentence with the correct ending a-e from the box below.
- •5. Complete the text by putting one word from the box in each space. Check the meaning of any new words in your dictionary.
- •Text c. “Futurology”
- •1. Read and translate the text. Futurology
- •2. Answer the questions on the text.
- •3. Match the italicized words from the text (see the box) with the meanings
- •4. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English using the vocabulary from the text.
- •5. Read the following predictions made by futurists. Which of the predictions would you like or not like to come true? Why?
- •6. Work in pairs. Make predictions about each other in twenty years’ time. Say what you think about your partner’s predictions.
- •Supplement
- •Tapescripts Unit 1 Section I c
- •Unit II Section I b
- •Unit 1ii Section I c
- •Unit 1v Section I c
- •Unit V Section I a
- •Unit VI Section I c
- •Библиография
- •Master english
3. Complete the following sentences using the information from the emails. Develop the idea.
1) Elly is happy because she …
2) She is going to do a course in …
3) In order to come to University in England you have to …
4) Most of the students in England live …
5) Elly will live in …
6) Hall life is …
7) The course will last …
8) She is unlikely to do …
4a. Look at the following aspects of student life and choose the five most important aspects for you. Number them (1-5) in order of importance. Give your reasons.
1) Your accommodation
2) The subjects you study
3) Staff-student relations
4) Teaching and learning resources
5) The social side of life
6) Sport facilities
7) Money in your pocket
8) The city where you study
4b. Work in groups of four and discuss your ideas. Agree on the top five aspects and number them in order of importance. Use the following words and phrases:
To agree/support other people’s opinions:
I (fully) agree with you / Yes, that’s right.
I think so, too / Exactly.
To disagree/ contradict other people’s opinions:
I don’t agree / I don’t think so.
That’s not the point/problem… / Oh, no.
(See ‘List of Speech Acts’, p. 104)
Report your decision back to the class.
5. In relation to the University you study at, award either one or five points for each of the above aspects (ex. 4a). How does it score? Work in pairs and compare your results. Try to give your reasons.
6. Write an email to your friend in England about your reasons for entering the University. Use the examples from 2.
C. Career Progress
1. Read this Cover Letter and decide what research program the candidate is applying for: Technology Entrepreneurship, Information Technology or International Business.
Dear Dr Reymen,
I am interested in applying for the job of a PhD student in ... posted on your web site.
I have recently graduated from MIPT with a Master degree in Applied Mathematics and Physics. My specialization is “Technical and organizational systems control”. Doing my research I also acquired good knowledge of business development and English. I have a Certificate of Business English (B2), I speak English well, I have basic knowledge of German and I am a fast language learner.
I successfully defended my Master thesis “Modeling of human capital in the tasks of organizational systems management” and I’d like to continue my training in Holland as I find the research program … quite appealing. I will be able to support your strategy as I am very creative, hardworking, enthusiastic and ready to develop new interests. Technology with its challenges of management and business is crucial in today’s fast-moving world. And if you want to become a lifelong agent of change it is necessary to be preapared for it. And I really do!
Besides, my 3 years’ working experience for Information Business Systems Company is also a big plus. I worked as a system analyst on 6 Information Technology Development projects for the Central Bank of Russia in the team with architects and programmers. I developed technical tasks, project, working and in-line documentation to the designed systems. The biggest and enjoyable part of my job is working with people (interviews, business trips, consultancies). I recently got a position of the project manager and I am very excited about that.
Due to all these activities and different courses I gained good technical, analytical and communicative skills which in combination with my profound education are sure to be an effective match for your qualifications. I would seriously like to be considered as a candidate for the position of a PhD student and look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Marina Gurova