English we study
No one will deny that to know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every qualified specialist. About 20% of the world’s population speak English. English is spoken as a native language by nearly three hundred million people. In many (more than 60) countries of the world it is spoken as a second language. English is the language of politics and diplomacy, science and technology, business and trade, sport and pop music.
80% of all information in the world’s computers is in English.
75% of the world’s letters and faxes are in English.
More than 60% of all scientific journals are written in English.
Standard English is not completely uniform. The most firmly established national varieties of Standard English are British and American. They are the most important both in terms of population and in terms of influence. American English usually includes English of both the United States of America and Canada.
British speakers are constantly exposed to American speech and writing through the mass media. It means that many present American usages may eventually be adopted into British English. But at present, there are rules and norms for American English which are independent of the corresponding rules and norms for British English.
The Russian learners of English, especially those who plan to go to the USA to study or to pursue a specific career goal, must be warned against possible misunderstandings due to differences in British and American English. Even native speakers of British English may meet with this sort of difficulty.
The British first came to the American continent at the beginning of the 17th century. The first permanent English settlement was made in 1607 with the foundation of Jamestown, Virginia. In the north-east the first colony of settlers was Plymouth, founded in 1620 by the Pilgrim Fathers, a group of Puritan emigrants. By the middle of the 18th century 13 colonies were established on the Atlantic coast of North America.
The language which is normally taught at schools, colleges and universities in Russia tends to be rather standard British English than American English.
Our university.
Higher education is provided by a great deal of universities. There are above 68 universities in our country. Universities have long been sources of scientific knowledge and culture. There is a competition to get into the best universities. Our university is one of them.
It was founded in 1974. 12 faculties train more than 22000 students of day and correspondence departments. It trains highly qualified specialists in physics, mathematics, history, the Russian language and literature, biology, chemistry, foreign languages, economics and law. The curriculum consists of the subjects the students specialize in, social subjects, educational subjects and physical training. All the students are taught foreign languages.
The normal course lasts five years. Each academic year is divided into two terms. During the term students attend lectures, practical studies, laboratory studies and seminars. We have a lecture system at the University. The lectures are delivered by specialists with scientific degrees. The staff totals above 600 lecturers. At the end of each term students take their exams. If they pass the exam successfully ( with excellent and good marks) they receive state grants. Honour students are paid higher or other special grants.
Our University is well-equipped with laboratories and study-rooms. There is a good library with a large reading-room and a computing center where students can work independently, make up programmes and use them in their course and diploma papers.
Our students have good conditions for life and studies. Out-of-town students live in a hostel or rent a room. Much attention is given to students’ practical work. They run their qualification practice in the departments of the University, at laboratories, at enterprises, courts and secondary schools.
After five years of studies and successful final exams students are awarded certificates. The best students who show great abilities for scientific work can continue studies as postgraduates. Our University is also famous for the wide range of scientific researches and close links with other higher educational establishments and scientific centers both in our country and abroad.