Text b: the system of education in the RF

Read and translate the text:

Russians have always shown a great concern for education. The right to education is stated in the constitution of the Russia Federation. It's ensured by compulsory secondary schools, vocational schools and higher education establishments. It is also ensured by the development of extramural and evening courses and the system of state scholarship and grants.

Education in Russia is compulsory up to the 9th form inclusive. The stages of compulsory schooling in Russia are: primary education for ages 6-7 to 9-10 inclusive; and junior school for ages 10-11 to 12-13 inclusive, and senior school for ages 13-14 to 14-15 inclusive. If a pupil of secondary school wishes to go on in higher education, he or she must stay at school for two more years. Primary and secondary school together comprise 11 years of study. Every school has a " core curriculum " of academic subjects.

After finishing the 9th form one can go on to a vocational school which offers programs of academic subjects and a program of training in a technical field, or a profession.

After finishing the 11th form of a secondary school, a lyceum or a gymnasium one can go into higher education. All applicants must take competitive exam. Higher education institution that is institutes or universities, offers a 4-years program of academic subjects for undergraduates in a variety of fields, as well as a graduate course and writes a thesis, he or she receives a candidate’s degree or a doctoral degree.

Higher educational establishments are headed by Rectors. Protectors are in charge of academic and scientific work. An institute or a university has a number of faculties, each specializing councils which confer candidate and doctoral degrees.

The system of higher and secondary education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reforms are: to decentralize the higher education system, to develop a new financial mechanism, to give more academic freedom to faculties and students. All secondary schools, institutes and universities until recently have been funded by the state. Now there is quite a number of private fee-paying primary and secondary schools, some universities have fee-paying departments.

Conclusion

Education influences all kinds of activity of the person. Having left school, one enters the institute, others go to technical school, and the third do not act anywhere. It shows the certain filter in a choice of the further trade of the person. Marking a special role of education in history of humanity, foreign and Russian scientists speak about discrepancy of a modern education system to objective requirements of a present stage of social development. This stage, which came in second half of XX century, is characterized by serious, dynamical changes in various social and economic spheres. Because of the interest to the person as to the factor of economic progress the question about humanistic educations became more important. Progress in science, techniques, cultural and information revolutions transform education into the necessary attribute of a daily life.

Today it is possible to allocate three basic tendencies in sphere of education in Russia: crisis of classical model, creation of the experimental schools, alternative forms of training, integration into world culture: democratization of school, an establishment of communication with the basic subjects of culture, creation of system of continuous formation, humanization and computerization of education. The third tendency is the restoration and development of traditions of Russian school.

 

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

 

Прочитайте и запомните слова и словосочетания к теме.

concern	- значение, важность, внимание
to be ensured by	- обеспечиваться
compulsory	- обязательный
vocational school	- профтехучилище
higher education establishment	- высшее учебное заведение
extramural	- заочный
state scholarship	- стипендия
primary education	- начальное образование
junior school	- младшие классы средней школы
senior school	- старшие классы средней школы
to go on	- продолжать
core curriculum	- основные предметы обучения, профилирующие дисциплины
graduate course	- основной учебный курс
to go through	- пережить, пройти
transitional period	- переходный период
objective	- цель, задача
to decentralize	- разукрупнять, перегруппировать
to be funded by	- финансироваться кем-либо
fee-paying	- платный
certain filter	- определенный критерий
discrepancy	- несоответствие, расхождение
to transform	- изменяться, превращаться
to allocate	- выделять, распределять
integration	- слияние, включение, объединение
continuous formation	- непрерывное образование (формирование, становление)
restoration	- возрождение, возвращение

 

Answer the questions:

1. What is the right to education stated in?

2. Is education in Russia compulsory up to the 9th form inclusive?

3. What stages of compulsory schooling in Russia do you know?

4. When do children go to primary school?

5. Where can one go on after finishing the 9^th form?

6. Is higher education compulsory for everyone?

7. What are the main objectives of the reforms?

8. Name three basic tendencies in sphere of education in Russia.

 

Ex. 1. Give the English equivalents:

средняя школа, переходный период, обязательное образование, задача, слияние (объединение), пережить, высшее учебное заведение, возрождение, младшие классы средней школы, выделять (распределять).

 

Ex. 2. Translate the following words and word combinations:

senior school, primary education, main objectives, transitional period, to allocate, concern, to go through, continuous formation, to transform, certain filter, core curriculum.

 

Ex. 3. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate words from the box below:

secondary school, higher educational establishments, main objectives, great concern, higher education, restoration, compulsory, transitional period, to allocate

1. Russians have always shown a … for education.

2. Education in Russia is … up to the 9th form inclusive.

3. After finishing the 11th form of a …, a lyceum or a gymnasium one can go into ….

4. … are headed by Rectors.

5. The system of higher and secondary education in Russia is going through a ….

6. The … of the reforms are: to decentralize the higher education system, to develop a new financial mechanism, to give more academic freedom to faculties and students.

7. Today it is possible … three basic tendencies in sphere of education in Russia.

8. The third tendency is the … and development of traditions of Russian school.

Ex. 4. Retell this text or compose your own topic about Russian system of education.

ADDITIONAL READING

Read the texts and translate them into Russian:

 

Text 1

The Russian soul

The Russian national character or “the Russian soul” has been a famous topic for discussion for many years, if not centuries. Let’s look at some of the scientific discussions.

In 1951, a famous American anthropologist Margaret Mead portrayed Russians as an uncontrolled, even impulsive, group of people. She wrote that the distinction between the group and the individual are less important in Russia then in the West. She also wrote that equality is very important for Russians. Another American anthropologist Clyde Klukhon wrote in 1961 that Russians are expressive and emotionally alive. They show a great need for intensive relationship with others and value people as they are and not what they have done.

In 1985, Peabody made a conclusion that Russians depend strongly on the group to provide emotional support and guidance. He also noticed that Russians have a tendency to express their impulses rather than control them. Russians display little concern with achievement, are very personal in relations and are more oriented to the group then the individual. Many scientists wrote about the enormous importance that friends and friendship have for Russians. In 1976, Smith wrote that when it comes to friendship Russians look for soul-brothers, not simply conversational partners. They want someone to whom they can pour their hearts out, tell about family problems and difficulties in life. From a conversation ‘soul to soul’ Russians derive the greatest joy and relief. Some foreigners find this habit exhausting.

A poll conducted in the USA during World War II found that the adjectives most frequently chosen by the Americans to describe Russians were hardworking, brave, and radical. After the War, in 1953 Russians were described as cruel, domineering and hardworking. In 1985, Peabody conducted the same survey and found out that in Europe Russians were perceived as serious, hardworking, intelligent, persistent, and self-confident.

 

Answer the following questions:

1. Why, do you think, during World War II Americans described Russians positively and in 1953 negatively as “cruel and domineering”?

2. Do you agree that Russians still display little concern for achievement? Do you think it is changing?

3. Do you agree that Russians are looking for soul-brothers when they want to talk, not just “conversational partners”?

4. Do you agree that listening to pouring the heart out can be exhausting?

5. Do you think that equality is still very important in Russia?