About higher education in Russia

 

In many higher educational institutions in Russia there are not only full-time departments but part-time and correspondence departments as well. The course in part-time and correspondence departments is longer than that in full-time departments. In state educational establishments tuition is free, and students who do well get grants. In Russia now besides state there are commercial higher educational establishments. Students pay for their education there.

In a technical university first-year students study mathematics, physics, chemistry, a foreign language and some other subjects. The first year is very difficult for students because they can't plan their time very well yet.

In the third and fourth years they study special subjects. The standard of teaching in educational establishments of Russia is very high and graduates from our universities are usually highly qualified specialists. The best students who have done some research work become postgraduates. Full-time students at a technical university usually have three lectures a day, or two lectures and a lab. Every year they have term-papers to write. At the end of each term students receive credits and then sit for exams. Students take exams twice a year - usually in January and in June. There are seldom more than five exams at a session. If the results are good, students get grants, those who have only excellent marks for three terms running and take an active part in all spheres of university life get scholarship.

Besides obligatory subjects at every university there are optional ones which students may take if they are interested in this or that field of science and engineering.

 

Ex. 1. Point out what information is given in the text:

1) There are a lot of higher educational institutions in Russia.

2) All of them train qualified specialists.

3) In humanitarian institutions students study literature, history and many other subjects.

4) In Russian higher educational institutions there are obligatory and optional subjects.

 

TEXT V

 

AT THE INSTITUTE

 

Helen: Hello, Pete! What are you doing here?

Pete: Hello, Helen, I'm reading for my English exam.

Helen: But your group has passed it already, hasn't it?

Pete: Yes, it has, but I was ill at that time. So, I'll take my exam tomorrow.

Helen: You are afraid of this exam, aren't you?

Pete: No, I'm not. I finished a special school, where some subjects were taught in English and besides I've been to England.

Helen: Really? Have you? When were you there?

Pete: I was there last summer with a group of the best pupils of our class.

Helen: What have you seen there?

Pete: Oh, I've seen a lot. I've been to Oxford and Cambridge, the two oldest universities of England, and to many other places of interest. But most of all I liked London with its parks and gardens. I'll tell you some day about them.

Helen: How very interesting! I think you enjoyed your trip tremendously, didn't you?

Pete: Of course, I did. Well, Helen, and what are you doing here, in the reading-hall? Are you reading for your exam too?

Helen: No, I'm not. I've passed all my exams and so holidays have already started for me. I'm waiting for Mike here.

Pete: Hasn't he graduated from the University yet?

Helen: He has graduated and with honours. Now he is a post-graduate. I'd like to speak with him.

Pete: Oh, Helen. I've just seen him in the canteen. He is having his dinner there.

Helen: Then, I'll go there at once.

 

Ex. I. Find the equivalents:

to read for an exam сдавать экзамен

to pass an exam готовиться к экзамену

to take an exam студент последнего курса

undergraduate курсовая работа

term-paper на третьем курсе

dean's office сдать экзамен

in the third year аспирант

optional subject деканат

full-time student студент дневного отделения

post-graduate предмет, изучаемый факультативно

 

Ex. II. Find the wrong statements:

1. Helen has passed all her exams.

2. Helen met Mike in the reading-hall.

3. Pete studied in Oxford.

 

Ex. III. Insert prepositions wherever necessary:

1. Whom are you waiting...? – I am waiting... Pete. – But Pete is reading... his exam... the strength... materials. 2. Have you passed your exam... mathematics? – Yes, I have. – What is your mark... this subject? – I have got five... mathematics.

3. Has Helen graduated... the University? – No, she hasn't. She is... her fifth year now. She will graduate... the University next year and I hope she will graduate... honours.

 

Ex. IV. Translate into English:

1. Над чем ты работаешь? – Я работаю над своей курсовой работой. – А я ее закончил. Моя тема легче, чем твоя, поэтому я написал свою работу скорее, чем ты. – Когда ты ее закончил? – Я закончил ее два дня тому назад. 2. Твоя сестра уже окончила университет? – Нет. Она еще на пятом курсе. – А моя сестра уже окончила университет. Она окончила университет с отличием. Она окончила университет в прошлом году. 3. Студентка А. работает над этой проблемой уже 2 семестра, поэтому ее курсовая работа самая лучшая. 4. Он изучал этот предмет факультативно, поэтому он знает об этой проблеме больше. 5. Он хуже и меньше всех работает, поэтому он самый плохой студент в группе. 6. Ты поступил в университет? – Да, я уже неделю учусь там. Где ты учишься? – Я учусь в строительном университете.

 

Ex. V. Correct the following wrong statements in not less than 3 sentences as in the pattern:

Pattern: Helen is in the dining-hall. She is having her dinner when Pete comes up to her.

a) Helen is not in the dining-hall. b) Helen is in the reading hall, c) She is not having her dinner, d) She is waiting for Mike, e) Pete does not come up to Helen, f) It is Helen who comes up to Pete.

1. Pete has passed all his exams and he is free now.

2. Helen has graduated from the University with honours. She is a post­graduate now.

 

Ex.VI. Work in pairs.

Find out: if (whether) your partner is afraid of exams.

Pattern: Are you afraid of exams? (or You are afraid of exams, aren't you?)

1. he was afraid of his (her) entrance exams; 2. the exams were difficult; 3. he passed them well; (change roles) 4. he finished school this year; 5. he took four entrance exams; 6. he has been studying English for 5 years; 7. he will graduate from the University in five or four years; (change roles) 8. he will work hard; 9. he has always been working hard; 10. he will get only good marks; 11. he has written any term-paper already; (change roles) 12. he studied any optional subjects at school; 13. he is interested in mathematics; 14. he will study it in future; 15. he likes to study here.

TEXT VI