9. Consider the following language notes

SPOONERISM - accidental verbal error: an accidental transposition of initial consonant sounds or parts of words, especially in an amusing way, e.g. "half-warmed fish" for "half-formed wish" (early 20th century. After Reverend William Spooner (1844-1930), British educator, who was said to make a lot of such slips): E.g. Let us drink to the queer old Dean instead of Let us drink for the dear old Queen.

. Just For Fun

10 Consider the spoonerism; what was in Mr. Spooner’s mind?

Sir, you have tasted two whole worms; you have hissed all my mystery lectures and have been caught fighting a liar in the quad; you will leave Oxford by the town drain.

11. Put the scrambled words into a sentence – an aphorism assigned to

Is Expensive Ignorance If Think You

Education Try

Derek Bok.

Do you think it to be fair enough?

Higher Education in the USA

UNIT 6

I . Before you read

Wise People Speak

Discuss the quotations in groups. To what extent do you agree with the authors?

• The chief value in going to college is that it's the only way to learn it really doesn't matter.

George Edwin Howes

• The education of a man is never completed until he dies.

R obert E. Lee

Phrase Bank

• None of us have any doubt that....

• That is only a part of the story.

• It only remains for me to say that...

• But right now our attention turns to...

• To express strong objection to the idea that….

II. Read the text with an eye for the vocabulary units in bold; come up with their explanations and translations. Higher education in the usa: degrees and qualifications

award/grant a degree

diploma

associate degree

bachelor’s degree

major in

cum laude

graduate level

master’s degree

thesis

professional degree

doctorate degree

dissertation

doctor of philosophy

doctor of education

honorary degree

graduation

baccalaureate

commencement

mortarboard

valedictorian

salutatorian

A university or college awards a degree in the form of a diploma to a person who has completed a required course of study. Five types of degrees exist in the U.S. two-year colleges and a small number of four-year institutions grant associate degrees, typically awarded after completion of 60 credits. The most commonly awarded are Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in Science (A.S.).

The bachelor’s degree is by far the most common type of degree; it is granted on completion of a four year studies at a university or college. Most widespread degrees include the Bachelor of Art (B.A.) – with majors in history, literature, fine arts, etc. – and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) – with majors in the physical and natural sciences. Outstanding achievements may be designated by the Latin phrases cum laude (“with praise”).

Three degrees exist at a graduate level. The master’s degree requires one or two years of advanced studies beyond bachelor’s degree. The two most common degrees are Master of Art (M.A.) and Master of Science (M.S.) A master’s degree may have either a professional or theoretical focus and usually requires a comprehensive examination and/or thesis. A professional degree provides access to advanced professions in fields such as law and medicine (e.g. Doctor of Medicine – M.D.). The doctorate degree is the highest academic award and recognizes the graduate’s ability to conduct independent research. The research doctorate requires at least two years beyond master’s degree; most doctorate students are expected to have a reading knowledge in two foreign languages and present a written thesis or dissertation. The most common degree of this type is the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.), granted for specialization in almost every academic subject, but it also includes the doctor of education (Ed.D.). To honor prominent scholars and authors some institutions award honorary degrees.

Most institutions present their diplomas at special degree-granting ceremonies, called graduation: usually there are two special ceremonies – baccalaureate and commencement. The academic dress worn at these ceremonies consists of a long, black, full-cut gown, and a mortarboard, a stiff square-shaped cap with a tassel. The tassel is either black or of the color indicating the field of study, such as blue for philosophy, purple for law, or scarlet for theology. It is a custom at some colleges for the valedictorian (the graduate with the highest marks) and salutatorian (the graduate with the second highest marks) of the graduating class to make speeches.