II. Read and translate the text.

My Profession

The South Russia State Technical University is one of the oldest educational institutions in our country. It is situated in Novocherkassk. The Shakhty branch was opened in 1958. Its purpose was to train engineers for mining industry. Since then it grew into a large institute which trains specialists for different branches of industry as well as in economy and law.

The profession of an engineer appeared not long ago in comparison with such professions as a doctor or a teacher. According to a dictionary an engineer is a person who deals with machines. Engineering is a science concerned with putting scientific knowledge to practical uses. It is divided into different branches: civil, electrical, mechanical and chemical engineering.

Mechanical Engineering deals with designing, testing, building, and operating machinery of all types. That’s why a mechanical engineer is trained in mechanics, hydraulics, and thermodynamics, in metallurgy and machine design.

The students who are going to become specialists in Service and Maintenance of Transport and Technological Equipment study many subjects which will provide them with knowledge and skills necessary for provision of houses with natural gas and running water, construction of roads and lodgings and conducting electrical and telephone lines.

The rapid development of science in all fields of human knowledge, a lot of revolutionary discoveries in practically all spheres of human activity brought into existence many new trends in engineering. These new trends require special knowledge and special training.

Electrical and Electronics Engineering deals with the development and design, application and manufacture of systems and devices operating on electric power. It can be divided into four main branches: electric power and machinery, electronics, communications and control, and computers.

The specialist in the field of electric power will deal with the design and operation of systems for generating, transmitting, and distributing electric power.

Electronics engineers will deal with the research, design, integration, and application of circuits and devices used in the transmission and processing of information.

The engineers work in the field of communication and control is varied as control systems are used in aircraft and ships, in military fire-control systems, in power transmission and distribution, in automated manufacturing, and in robotics.

The specialists in computer engineering deal with design and manufacture of memory systems, of central processing units, and of peripheral devices.

Safety Engineering has as its object the prevention of accidents. Safety engineers develop methods and procedures to safeguard workers in hazardous occupations. They also assist in designing machinery, factories, ships and roads, suggesting alterations and improvements to reduce the possibility of accident.

Informatics deals with search, storage, systematization, transformation of information in different spheres of law and economy. It is a young science which became quite necessary for every specialist in our Computer Age. So the students who are trained to become the specialists in Applied Informatics in Law and Applied Informatics in Economy study a wide range of subjects dealing with structure and general properties of scientific, technical and commercial information.

The profession of Mining engineers and technicians was the first and most important at our Institute. Recently there appeared a new profession. It is Management in Coal Industry and Prospecting. The specialists in this field study methods and means of organizing the production and sale activities at a mine. Manager’s work is to search for effective organization structures of an enterprise, to organize the activities of the personnel (staff) and to ensure the increase of their productivity. He organizes the development of the exterior relations, ensures the normative supply and the corresponding sale of the products.

The Institute trains engineers for other fields of country’s economy as well. A person entering the Shahkty Institute may choose any of 17 specialities which are suggested here. But whatever profession you choose you’ll get the best knowledge and the highest level of training in your field.

 

III. Answer the questions.

1.What Institute do you study at?

2. When was it opened?

3. What specialists did the Shakhty Institute train in 1958?

4. What specialists does the Institute train now?

5. What speciality are you trained for?

6. What subjects do students study in the first and second years of study?

7. When do they begin to study special subjects?

8. What special subjects do you study?

9. What is your favorite subject?

10. What does your speciality deal with?

11. Is your future speciality important and useful for the society?

12. Why is it important and useful?

13. Do you like your speciality?

14. Was it your own choice?

15. Why do you like it?

16.Where are you going to work after graduating from the Institute?

IV.Write your own story about your profession.