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Complete the sentences using the words in brackets. Explain your choice.
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POLOTSK STATE UNIVERSITY
The Polotsk State University is one of the 1. _____ (adolescent, youngest, immature, juvenile) higher schools in our state. It trains engineers in many specialized fields. It was founded in 1993 on the 2. _____ (basis, bottom, foundation, framework) of Novopolotsk Polytechnical Institute (1968).
The University has ten faculties. They are: 1) Faculty of Chemical Technology; 2) Faculty of Civil Engineering; 3) Faculty of Geodesy; 4) Radio - Engineering Faculty; 5) Faculty of Finance and Economics; 6) Faculty of Law; 7) Faculty of Machine Building; 8) Faculty of History and Philology; 9) Faculty of Physical Training Education; 10) Faculty of Information Technologies.
The University has the Preparatory Courses for those who want to 3. _____ (enter, finish, graduate, leave) it. There is also an Extra-Mural Department for the students who study by correspondence.
4. _____ (alien, domestic, native, foreign) students from many countries study at the University. There are some comfortable hostels near the University.
Many professors and highly-qualified teachers deliver lectures and hold seminars in different subjects such as physics, maths, chemistry, technical drawing, descriptive geometry, strength of materials, foreign languages, the history of Belarus, philosophy etc.
The University is known for its 5. _____ (up-to-date, contemporary, new, current) large computing centre, classrooms equipped with personal computers, language labs. There is a fine scientific library. The gala complex is used for musical events, lectures, meetings and conferences.
There is a health centre where students can have a rest and improve their health. There are swimming-pools and gymnasiums for those who go in for sports. Students enjoy an 6. _____ (around the town, out-of-town, from the town, suburb) sport complex on the bank of a beautiful lake.
The university is known for its achievements in educational activities. Students of the university have been taking prize-winning places at the 7. _____ (matches, games, competitions, plays) in 8. _____ (diverse, dissimilar, indifferent, different) subjects. Scholars and scientists well-known in this country and abroad visit our University. A number of our lecturers work in famous universities of Great Britain, Germany, and the USA.
The University has Post-graduate courses for graduates who are interested in science.
Study each paragraph. What single word explains the central idea of each passage? Find the topic sentence, and then list the details that support it.
IV. Speaking Practice.
Give details to expand an idea into a paragraph.
1) PSU is one of the most dynamically developing higher educational establishments in Belarus.
2) The University enables to offer students a remarkable breadth of choice, not only in academic subjects but also in the level of study available and the different ways of attending.
3) The University has ten faculties.
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4) The library is essential to students’ private study.
5) Students’ life is interesting and diverse.
6) The university is known for its achievements in educational activities.
What do you think?
· You are a first-year student. What do you like best about studying at PSU?
· What do you think about the opportunities for becoming highly-qualified specialists at PSU?
· What do you think about the activities that students of PSU can take part in? Do you take part in any activities?
Read, translate and role-play the dialogue.
Anna: Hello, Boris! Nice to meet you!
Boris: Hi, Anna! I’ve heard you passed the exams last months and entered the University, didn’t you?
Anna: Yes, I did. And what about you?
Boris: Unfortunately, I failed my exams. But as far as I know the university has the Extra-Mural Department, so I’m going to study by correspondence. And what faculty do you study at?
Anna: I study at one of the oldest faculties in the University – Faculty of Chemical Technology.
Boris: Do you attend all lectures and practical classes?
Anna: Of course, I do. Lectures are delivered by highly-qualified teachers. Especially I like lectures in the field of chemistry.
Boris: Do you carry out any experiments and researches?
Anna: Yes, we do. That’s why I have to spend a lot of time at the library, choosing, reading, evaluating and bringing together information for my classes. The university library has a friendly specialist staff that helps students to find their way around the complex world of information and enable them to get the best out of it.
Make your own dialogues with your partner.
Retell the dialogue using Reported Speech.
V. Supplementary Reading.
A
1. Translate into Russian using a dictionary:
BRITISH UNIVERSITIES
There are more than forty universities in Britain, of which 36 are in England, 8 in Scotland, 2 in Northern Ireland and 1 in Wales. The two oldest universities in England are Oxford and Cambridge. These date from the Middle Ages. Oxford is the oldest of these two universities, it is more philosophical, classical, theological. The history of Oxford began in 1249, that of Cambridge — in 1348. Among the English universities Oxford and Cambridge have a special eminence, and they are different from the others.
England had no other universities, apart from Oxford and Cambridge, until the nineteenth century. The universities which were founded between 1860 and 1930, including London University, are known as redbrick universities (they were called so because that was the favourable building material of the time). They are in London, Durham, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol, Nottingham, etc. The University of London is the largest of them. The division between Oxford and Redbrick is sharp. The division is essentially a class one. Redbrick universities were built to provide a liberal education for the poorer boys and to give technological training. Oxford and Cambridge graduates scorned them.
The universities which were founded after the Second World War are called «the new universities». They are in Staffordshire, Kent, Essex, Lancaster, Sussex, and York. Some of them quickly became popular because of their modern approach to university courses.
All British Universities are private institutions. Every university is independent, autonomous and responsible only to its own governing council. Although they all receive financial support from the state, the Department of Education and Science has no control over their regulations, curriculum, examinations, appointment of staff, or the way they spend money. The number and type of faculties differ from university to university. Each university decides each year how many students it supposes to admit. The admission to universities is by examination or selection (interviews). The students receive grants. They have to pay fees and living costs but every student may receive from the local authority of the place where he lives a personal grant which is enough to pay lodging and food – unless his parents are rich. Most students take jobs in the summer for about six weeks, but they do not normally do outside work during the academic session.
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Students who pass examinations at the end of three or four years of study get Bachelor's degree. The first postgraduate degree is normally that of Master conferred for a thesis based on at least one year's fulltime work. Universities are centres of research and many postgraduates are engaged in research for higher degree, usually Doctorates.
The British government does not think to build more new universities. There is a tendency to expand the older ones. The most interesting innovation is Open University.
2. Match English and Russian equivalents:
1) higher education; 2) private institutions; 3) university curriculum; 4) to receive grants; 5) local authority; 6) academic session; 7) to pass exams; 8) research centre.
a) получать стипендию; b) местные власти; c) учебный триместр; d) сдать экзамены; e) учебный план университета; f) высшее образование; g) научно-исследовательский центр; h) частные учебные заведения.
3. Choose the right word:
1. Oxford is... of all British universities.
a) the youngest; b) the oldest; c) the poorest.
2. All British universities are... institutions.
a) state; b) old; c) private.
3. The... to the Universities is by examination or selection.
a) admission; b) regulation; c) innovation.
4. Most students take … in the summer for about six weeks.
a) exams; b) job; c) accommodation.
5. The students... grants.
a) spend; b) receive; c) pay.
4. Insert the right word:
(British, Oxford, Britain, Oxford and Cambridge, Open University)
There are 47 universities in.... The oldest universities are.... The history of... began in 1249. These two universities are different from all other... universities. Redbrick universities were built to give technological training. … universities are private institutions, but they receive financial support from the state. The British government does not think to build new universities. The most interesting innovation is....
5. Mark the statements that are true:
1) All British universities are private institutions.
2) The admission to the University is by examination or selection.
3) The Department of Education and Science controls appointment of staff.
4) The number and type of faculties is the same at all British universities.
5) Students never work in summer; they work during the academic year.
6) The first postgraduate degree is that of Master.
7) Universities are centers of research.
6. Answer the questions on the text:
1. How many universities are there in Great Britain?
2. What are the oldest British universities?
3. What Redbrick universities can you name?
4. Why did «the new universities» quickly become popular?
5. All British universities are private institutions, aren't they?
6. What university degrees do you know?
7. Are universities centers of research?
7. Make a short summary of the text. Do it according to the following plan:
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1. The title of the text is...
2. The text is devoted to...
3. It consists of...
4. The first passage deals with...
5. The second (third, forth, etc.) passage deals with...
6. The main idea of the text is...
B
1. Translate into Russian using a dictionary:
JAPANESE HIGHER EDUCTION SYSTEM
The Japanese school education system is generally broken down into six years primary school, three years junior high school, three years high school, four years university, and five years graduate school. In addition to these, there are kindergartens, college of technology which may follow junior high school, and two-year junior colleges. Compulsory education is from age six through junior high, a total of nine years. The academic year begins in April, and ends in March.
In Japan, universities traditionally trained researchers and educators, but since World War II, higher education has become so popular that universities have come down to the level of general education, and Graduate Schools are now considered the training ground for special researchers and professors.
With the exception of graduate schools in engineering, dentistry, medicine and veterinary science, graduate schools in Japan do not generally provide practical job-oriented training. Rather, they aim at training specialists in certain fields.
Japan's universities are divided into three categories – national, public and private – in accordance with financial support. All are organized on the same format and have the same educational standards. Presently there are 572 junior colleges and 489 four-year universities. Among the four-year universities, approximately half offer graduate school programs. Some universities offer research facilities. There are 1,994,615 students in universities throughout the country (as of May 1, 1988). There is at least one national university in each prefecture, with public and private schools well distributed throughout the country. There are also many local universities which meet the needs of local industry and traditions.
Universities generally consist of a number of faculty members divided into various departments and/or courses depending on subject. Each school has brochures outlining its various undergraduate, graduate and research programmes. These are generally printed in Japanese, but some schools also offer English editions.
Admission to Japanese universities is limited to those who have completed a regular twelve-year school education or its equivalent.
The academic year is from April to March. The number of school days in a year, including the standard examination period, is 210 days, or 35 weeks. Summer vacation differs according to the university, but in general is from the middle of July to the end of August. Winter vacation (December-January) is two weeks. Spring vacation (March-April) is approximately 40 days. Most universities operate on a semester system.
University curriculum is divided into General Education, Foreign Language, Health and Physical Education and Professional Education. Compulsory and elective subjects differ according to departments, and are regulated by the individual university.
General subjects, foreign languages and physical education classes are generally taken in the first and second years. These classes are usually large and are held in an auditorium. Major subjects are usually taken in the third and fourth years. These classes are relatively small. They are generally structured as seminars, laboratory sessions, study projects or practical sessions.
It should be understood that, in principle, all classes in Japanese universities are conducted in Japanese. Except for the special courses, there are almost no opportunities to take courses conducted in English.
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Except for schools of dentistry, medicine and veterinary science, universities follow the credit system. Students must complete the required study and exams for each course to receive credit.
Since Japanese universities are on a semester system, there are examinations in September or October after summer vacation, and again in January or February after winter vacation. The format of these is usually written, but reports or short theses may be submitted in lieu of the examination.
Grades are based on the results of examination and course work, with attendance also taken into consideration. Grades are broken down as excellent, good, pass, fail (i.e., A, B, C, F). Usually A == 80-100%, B = 70-79%, C = 60-69%, F = 0-59%. No credit is given for an F.
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