University education in Great Britain

There are about 90 universities in Britain. Oxford and Cambridge, the oldest universities are world-known for their academic excellence. The University of London has the size and breadth to rank among the UK’s top universities.

A university usually consists of colleges. The departments of the colleges are organized into faculties.

An undergraduate program consists of a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes which in total account for about 15 hours per week.

Lectures are given to large groups of students (from 20 to 200). Seminars and tutorials are much smaller than lecture classes and in some departments can be on a one-to-one basis (one member of staff and one student). Following a particular program students take series of lecture courses which may last one academic term or the whole year.

Students prepare work in advance for seminars and tutorials. And this can take the form of researching a topic for discussion by writing essays or by solving problems. Lectures, seminars and tutorials are all one hour in length, laboratory classes last two or three hours.

The academic year is divided into three terms. Formal teaching takes place in the first two terms which last for twenty four weeks in total. The third term is reserved for classes and examinations and lasts for six weeks.

University degree courses extend from three to four years. After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science. He can continue to take his Master’s Degree and then the Doctor’s.

Notes:

well-qualified – квалифицированный

curriculum – учебный план

compulsory – обязательный

competitive – конкурсный

extramural – заочный

scholarship – стипендия

graduate student – аспирант

tutorials – практические занятия

term – семестр

Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science – степень бакалавра гуманитарных или естественных наук

essay – письменная работа

staff – штат преподавателей (персонал)

academic year – учебный год

degree course – курс, ведущий к получению степени

Задание II. Выберите правильный ответ на вопрос.

 

1. Why is education important in the modern life?

a) …because world is full of technological advances.

b) …because it is funny.

c) …because it is guaranteed by the constitution.

2. What an alternative way of secondary education can you choose?

a) …on-line education

b) …extra-mural education

c) …home education

3. What subjects do pupils study at school?

a) Russian, Literature, Mathematics, History, Biology, foreign languages and others.

b) Russian, Literature and Mathematics.

c) Russian, Literature and foreign languages.

4. How long does anyone have to study at school to continue the education at the university?

a) 9 years

b) 11 years

c) 10 years

5. What institutions does higher education include?

a) … technical training schools and teachers training colleges.

b) … technical training schools and universities.

c) … technical training schools, teachers training colleges, universities which offer master’s and doctoral degrees programs.

6. How many universities are there in Great Britain? What are the oldest ones?

a) …80 universities, Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest ones.

b) …90 universities, Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest ones.

c) …90 universities, Oxford and Glasgow are the oldest ones.

7. What does an undergraduate program consist of?

a) … a series of seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes

b) … a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes

c) … a series of tutorials and laboratory classes

8. How are seminars and tutorials given to students?

a) Seminars and tutorials are much smaller than lecture classes and can be on a one-to-one basis.

b) Seminars and tutorials are much smaller than lecture classes and can be given to a 5 students group.

c) Seminars and tutorials are much larger than lecture classes and can be given to 50 students group at once.

9. How long may a lecture course last?

a) … a year or a year and a half

b) … only one academic term

c) … one academic term or the whole year

10. How long one must study to get Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science?

a) …three years

b) …four years

c) …five years

 

Задание III. Определите, соответствуют ли данные предложения тексту (True/False/Not mentioned in the text):

 

1. Pupils start school at the age of 5, 6 or 7 and study at school for 8 or 10 years. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

2. The academic year is split into four terms in Britain. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

3. In Russia there is a nine-year compulsory education, and further anyone can go on to higher education. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

4. Lectures, seminars and tutorials are all one hour in length, laboratory classes last two or three hours in British institutions of higher education. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

5. In Russia young people may enter a university without passing entrance competitive examinations. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

6. Higher educational institutions train undergraduates and graduate students in one specialization each one. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

7. Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest universities in Great Britain and world-known for their academic excellence. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

8. University degree courses extend from two to three years. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

9. Higher educational institutions are headed by Rectors. The faculties are headed by the Deans. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

 

10. Students of institutes and universities get state scholarship. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

Задание IV. Выберите правильный вариант. Обратите внимание на формирование времен группы Simple Active (таблица № 2)

 

1. School isn’t compulsory so many parents … alternative ways of education for their children.

a) choose; b) will choose; c) chose.

2. Lecture courses usually … one academic term or the whole year.

a) lasted; b) lasts; c) last.

3) 31 former polytechnics … university status in 1992 in Britain.

a) got; b) get; c) getted.

4. To get ready for seminars and tutorials students … to prepare work in advance.

a) has; b) have; c) had.

5. If an undergraduate … three years of study a university he … with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science.

a) spends, leave; b) will spend, will leave; c) spends, will leave.

6. I am finishing the 11^th form this year. My school years … at the age of 6.

a) start; b) started; c) will start.

7. Nowadays both colleges and universities … courses in teacher training, technology and medicine.

a) offered; b) will offer; c) offer.

8. After finishing a secondary, vocational, technical school or a college, young people can start working or … an institution of higher education.

a) enter; b) will enter; c) enters.

9. After having final formal teaching in the second term my British friend … examinations in the third term soon.

a) pass; b) passed; c) will pass.

10. I … a course on Business English three years ago and I need it again.

a) take; b) took; c) taken.

 

MODULE III

Тема: Страноведение. Россия, Великобритания, США. География, политическое устройство, экономика.

Задание I. Прочитайте и переведите текст.