Life at College and University

The academic year in British universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education is divided into three terms, which usually run from the beginning of October to the middle of December, from the middle of January to the end of March, and from the middle of April to the end of June or the beginning of July.

There are 46 universities in Britain. The oldest and the best known universities are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham.

English universities greatly differ from each other. They differ in date of foundation, size, history, tradition, general organization, methods of instruction, way of student life.

After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc. Later he may continue to take a Master’s Degree and then a Doctor’s Degree. Research is an important feature of university work.

The two intellectual eyes of Britain – Oxford and Cambridge - date from the 12^th and 13^th centuries.

The Scottish universities of St.Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh date from the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

In the 19^th and the early part of the 20^th century the so-called Redbrick universities were founded. These include London, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and Birmingham. During the late sixties and early seventies some 20 ‘new’ universities were set up. Sometimes they are called ‘concrete and glass’ universities. Among them there are the universities of Sussex, York, East Anglia and some others.

During these years the Government set up thirty Polytechnics. The Polytechnics, like the universities, offer first and higher degrees. Some of them offer full-time and sandwich courses. Colleges of England provide two-year courses in teacher education or sometimes three years if the graduate specializes in some particular subject.

There is an interesting form of studies which is called the Open University. It is intended for people who study in their own free time and who ‘attend’ lectures by watching television and listening to the radio. They keep in touch by phone and letter with their tutors and attend summer schools. The Open University students have no formal qualifications and would be unable to enter ordinary universities.

 

Task13. Translate the underlined sentences into Russian.

Task14. Complete the sentences with the right ending.

1. The academic year in British institutions of higher education is divided into …
1. two terms.
2. three terms.
3. four terms.
2. English universities are …

a. very much alike.

b. partly different.

c. completely different.

1. The oldest universities are situated …

a. in England.

b. in Scotland.

c. in Wales.

1. The newly built universities are called …

a. Redbrick universities.

b. “concrete and glass” universities.

c. “sand and ocean” universities

1. The Polytechnics differ from the Universities because …

a. the Polytechnics provide full-time courses.

b. the Polytechnics provide sandwich courses.

c. the Polytechnics provide higher degrees.

1. After finishing the Open University one wouldn’t be able …

a. to have qualifications.

b. to get a highly-paid job.

c. to enter ordinary university.

Task 15. Here you are provided with the way to retell the text. Study it very carefully, because you will need it later. The explanation is written in Russian for you to understand it.

 

Как правильно составить пересказ текста?

 

1. Разбейте текст на части (основные смысловые блоки).
2. В каждой части выделите основную и второстепенную информацию.
3. Перескажите основную информацию(см.дальше).
4. Пересказ не должен содержать Вашего мнения и информации, отклоняющейся от текста.

 

ПРИМЕР СОСТАВЛЕНИЯ ПЕРЕСКАЗА ПО СХЕМЕ

 

I. Текст Life at College and University можно разбить на три смысловых блока:

1. Общая характеристика жизни университетов Британии.

The academic year in British universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education is divided into three terms, which usually run from the beginning of October to the middle of December, from the middle of January to the end of March, and from the middle of April to the end of June or the beginning of July.

English universities greatly differ from each other. They differ in date of foundation, size, history, tradition, general organization, methods of instruction, way of student life.

After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc. Later he may continue to take a Master’s Degree and then a Doctor’s Degree. Research is an important feature of university work.

 

1. Основные учебные заведения.

 

There are 46 universities in Britain. The oldest and the best known universities are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham.

The two intellectual eyes of Britain – Oxford and Cambridge - date from the 12^th and 13^th centuries.

The Scottish universities of St.Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh date from the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

 

1. Современные (недавно созданные) учебные заведения.

 

In the 19^th and the early part of the 20^th century the so-called Redbrick universities were founded. These include London, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and Birmingham. During the late sixties and early seventies some 20 ‘new’ universities were set up. Sometimes they are called ‘concrete and glass’ universities. Among them there are the universities of Sussex, York, East Anglia and some others.

During these years the Government set up thirty Polytechnics. The Polytechnics, like the universities, offer first and higher degrees. Some of them offer full-time and sandwich courses. Colleges of England provide two-year courses in teacher education or sometimes three years if the graduate specializes in some particular subject.

There is an interesting form of studies which is called the Open University. It is intended for people who study in their own free time and who ‘attend’ lectures by watching television and listening to the radio. They keep in touch by phone and letter with their tutors and attend summer schools. The Open University students have no formal qualifications and would be unable to enter ordinary universities.

 

II. Выделяем основную информацию:

The academic year in British universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education is divided into three terms. English universities greatly differ from each other. They differ in date of foundation, size, history, tradition, general organization, methods of instruction, way of student life. After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc. Later he may continue to take a Master’s Degree and then a Doctor’s Degree.

There are 46 universities in Britain. The oldest and the best known universities are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham.

In the 19^th and the early part of the 20^th centuries the so-called Redbrick universities were founded. During the late sixties and early seventies some 20 ‘new’ universities were set up. Sometimes they are called ‘concrete and glass’ universities. Among them are the universities of Sussex, York, East Anglia and some others. The Polytechnics, like the universities, offer first and higher degrees. Some of them offer full-time and sandwich courses. There is an interesting form of studies which is called the Open University. It is intended for people who study in their own free time and who ‘attend’ lectures by watching television and listening to the radio. They keep in touch by phone and letter with their tutors and attend summer schools. The Open University students have no formal qualifications and would be unable to enter ordinary universities.