Topic 3
Interaction skills in my new world
‘You can dream of such things
which you cannot even think of!’
You have already learnt that at university all members of the community are directly interacting at different levels. The academic interaction is not an exception. The academic staff are interacting within themselves, with students and with other parties of the university community. Students are actively involved within their group but also with the academic staff and their direct administration. Meanwhile, within the academic activities proper the main interaction is happening between studies and research. To make this latest interaction effective students are to realize their own interests and needs, to evaluate the other interacting party, its conditions, goals and ways. You’ll definitely manage all this as in this topic you are to learn about different types of thinking. You’ll look at yourself, the disciplines you study, and your studies in general from professional point of view.
You will learn
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what other students think about their studies at the university;
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that there exist different styles (types) of thinking and one can think according to a chosen type;
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what key words are and how to make a resume (summary) of the ideas expressed in texts;
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that everything can be treated from a research point of view that is in a ‘university way’.
You will be able to:
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build up and use topic vocabulary;
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formulate your model of studying at the university;
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choose key words and write summaries based on them;
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verbalize your opinion in accordance with a certain style (type) of thinking;
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look at your problems from the researcher’s point of view.
The total number of active units on the topic to be collected by students is about 60.
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Vocabulary building |
1.1. You are going to read an extract ‘Dreams’ from the novel ‘The Youth’ by Lev Tolstoy in its English translation by C. J. Hogarth (eBooks@Adelaide, 2004). Build a hypothesis on the content of this extract before you start reading: what do you expect to find in it?
1.2. Read the extract and check whether your expectations were right. Share your impressions of it. Compare yourself to Lev Tolstoy’s hero.
…I will walk every day, not drive, to the University. Even if someone gives me a drozhki [Russian phaeton.] I will sell it, and devote the money to the poor. Everything I will do exactly and always” (what that “always” meant I could not possibly have said, but at least I had a vivid consciousness of its connoting some kind of prudent, moral, and irreproachable life). “I will get up all my lectures thoroughly, and go over all the subjects beforehand, so that at the end of my first course I may come out top and write a thesis. During my second course also I will get up everything beforehand, so that I may soon be transferred to the third course, and at eighteen come out top in the examinations, and receive two gold medals, and go on to be Master of Arts, and Doctor, and the first scholar in Europe. Yes, in all Europe I mean to be the first scholar. – Well, what next?” I asked myself at this point. Suddenly it struck me that dreams of this sort were a form of pride – a sin which I should have to confess to the priest that very evening, so I returned to the original thread of my meditations. “When getting up my lectures I will go to the Vorobievi Gori [Sparrow Hills – a public park near Moscow] and choose some spot under a tree, and read my lectures over there. Sometimes I will take with me something to eat – cheese or a pie from Pedotti’s, or something of the kind. After that I will sleep a little, and then read some good book or other, or else draw pictures or play some instrument (certainly I must learn to play the flute). Perhaps SHE too will be walking on the Vorobievi Gori, and will approach me one day and say, ‘Who are you?’ and I shall look at her, oh, so sadly, and say that I am the son of a priest, and that I am happy only when I am there alone, quite alone. Then she will give me her hand, and say something to me, and sit down beside me. So every day we shall go to the same spot, and be friends together, and I shall kiss her. But no! That would not be right! On the contrary, from this day forward I never mean to look at a woman again.
1.3. Compose a Vocabulary Map on the topic “Studying at university”
1.4. Listen to and look through the opinions of different students on their university studies. How positive and negative are they? Prove your point of view.
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Michael Gordeev,
the Faculty of Economy, Dpt. of Management, 2nd year
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№ 1 I can’t really say it is hard for me to study here, but I have to admit it is very interesting. Our teachers are experts in their field and really know their onions. They have academic degrees in the field of economy alongside with the excellent practical experience in entrepreneurs’ associations, banks and government. The good thing about our faculty is that it provides us with a lot of theoretical knowledge. As regards practical skills, I don’t think we get as many of them as I personally would like to get. So it’s good that we have the University Students’ Association where I can testify myself in different activities and train myself as a leader. Every student has an opportunity to become a part of some projects and learn in practice.
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Olga Arishina,
Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Dpt. of Information and Communication, 3rd year |
№ 2 During the whole term I studied as an Erasmus Student in Poland in a small town to the north of Warsaw. At the very beginning I came across some language and cultural problems, and what was really bad, I had nobody to speak about it, no friends at all. Anyhow, I managed to overcome my problems rather quickly and got used to my new surroundings. Our studies were focused mostly on practical matters while theoretical issues were discussed only within particular case studies. I liked them very much as I participated in different workshops and projects. Now I feel more self-confident and professionally knowledgeable.
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Alexandra Andriunis,
the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Dpt. of Philosophy, Master course student: |
№ 3 When I was a first-year student I experienced a kind of euphoria. Not any longer, though. Still I feel rather positive about my studies here. Actually, I’ve been studying philosophy for 6 years now. I personally believe that the future might seem clear only for a fresher who studies management or other practical disciplines. At least, this is what I think about that. In my case things are quite different; I am only outlining my goals for studying.
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Oskar Davydov,
the Faculty of Philology, German Philology, 1st year: |
№ 4 At school I liked Geography, History and languages. Now I’m not quite happy with what I‘m doing here at the university. Yet, I’m going to continue my studies to receive a diploma. I hope I’ll find work in a tourist agency and that’s why I’m taking several distance learning courses at the Higher School of Tourism.
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Antony Daineko,
the Faculty of Physics, Dpt of Contemporary Technology Management, 4th year |
№ 5 At university I’ve realized in full what it really means to be a student. Definitely, here one can take the maximum from their life: a bunch of interesting activities to try, an enormous number of people to get along with, a lot of information to grasp. I was really surprised to find so many forms of self-realization. There are various clubs, bands, choirs, groups of interest. One is welcome everywhere! Just join and you get involved: you become a member of one or another community! It’s easy, isn’t? Everyone can find their place in this wonderful community and enjoy life. As for physics, it is not only a science but a way of thinking and living. I know that university gives me a chance to be a personality. I should only catch the chance it gives. It’s a pity this experience will never be repeated.
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Dina Sergienko,
Institute of Journalism, Department of Visual Media, 3nd year: |
№ 6 Being a reporter means to be in the right place at the right time, always to be ready to meet a deadline, to be tuned to what is really topical and important for the day, and of course to understand what you are writing about, to find alternative sources, and what not? I’ve realized it since the time I am a student of the Institute of Journalism. I am glad that besides compulsory classes we have here optional courses, some vocational classes together with lectures, seminars and workshops. And I’ve already started to look for my future place of work. My dream is to become a reporter from hot spots of the planet.
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1.5. Read texts 1 – 6 on pp. 134 – 135 attentively and mark what students assess in their university studies. Use ‘+’ to do it.
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№ |
Objects of Assessment |
Text number |
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1 |
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3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
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1 |
teachers |
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2 |
students |
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3 |
subjects (courses) |
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4 |
link between theory and practice |
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5 |
possibility to carry out research |
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6 |
possibility to study |
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7 |
possibility to be engaged in social activities |
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8 |
possibility to be engaged in creative activities |
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9 |
conditions of studying |
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10 |
relationships among groupmates |
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