Every citizen of our country has the right to education.
Education in Russia is compulsory up to the 9th form inclusive. After finishing 9 forms of a secondary school young people can continue their education in the 10th and the 11th form. They can also go to a vocational or technical school, where they study academic subjects and receive a profession.
After finishing a secondary, vocational, technical school young people can start working or go on in higher education. They can enter an institute or a university. There are the following types of higher schools in Russia: universities, institutes, various higher military schools and academies. They train specialists in different fields. There are three departments at the universities and institutes of Russia: day-time, evening and extramural departments. The complete course of studies at an institute or a university usually takes 5 years.
Part-time students have an opportunity to study without leaving their jobs. All applicants must take competitive exams if they want to enter a higher educational establishment. Higher education institutions offer a programme of academic subjects for undergraduates in a variety of fields, as well as a graduate course. If one finishes a graduate course and writes a thesis, he or she receives a candidates degree or a doctoral degree.
The system of higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: to decentralize the higher education system, to develop a new financial mechanism, to give more academic freedoms to faculties and students. All institutes and universities until recently have been funded by the state, the students have got scholarships. Now universities have fee-paing departments or courses where the cost of study is high and the students have to pay for their education.
Training specialists at our Institutes combines theoretical studies with practical work and industrial training. Students have lectures and practical lessons. They attend lectures on different subjects and they take notes. During practical lessons they study the material of the lectures.
The academic year is divided into two terms from September to January and from February to July. Students take examinations at the end of a term or a study year. To pass examinations successfully students are to work hard during the
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academic year. They must not miss lectures and they must study regularly. Sometimes students take examinations and credit tests in advance. At the end of each term the student submits a course paper, and at the end of course of studies he presents a graduation project or passes final state examinations.
Our country needs more and more specialists with higher education every year.
Exercises
a) Remember words and expressions:
the right to education
compulsory
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inclusive [inklu:siv]
to finish a secondary school
a vocational school
a technical school
a day-time department
evening or part-time,
extramural or correspondence
an applicant [æplikənt]
an undergraduate = a student
[ʌndəgrædjuit]
a term
an academic year (a study year)
a graduate course
a theses [Ɵi:sis]
a candidate [kændidit] degree
a doctoral degree
an objective [ɔbʤektiv]
to decentralize
to be funded by the state
to get a scholarship [skɔləʃip]
to take notes
credit tests
in advance [ədva:ns]
a course [kɔ:s] paper
a graduation project
to submit [səbmit] (to present [prizent])
b) Find in the text English equivalents of the following words and word-combinations:
, , - , , , , , -
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, , , - , , , , , , , - .
c) Fill in gaps by words or word-combinations in brackets.
1. My friend is a second-year student. Last year he successfully and the University. He studies . He is a student.
2. Mike studies at the day-time department. During the academic year he works hard and lectures reqularly. Sometimes he takes exams and credit tests . Mike gets .
3. Did you write and receive a candidates degree?
4. In Russia the academic year into two terms. At the end of each term the student a course paper.
5. How many are there at the universities in Russia? at a university usually takes 5 years.
(a thesis, the complete course of studies, is divided, took competitive exams, departments, a scholarship, entered, part-time, attends, submits, without leaving his job, in advance)
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d) Replace underlined words by antonyms and translate sentences into Russian.
1. My friends brother is a full-time student.
2. Higher education is our country is free of charge.
3. An applicant failed at the entry exams.
4. John passed final state exams successfully.
5. The students often missed lectures and studied inconstantly.
e) Answer the questions. Follow the model:
Model: Do you study literature at the University?
No, I dont. I study mathematics.
1. Are you a second-year student?
2. Do you study at an extra-mural department?
3. Is higher education in Russia compulsory?
4. Does your friend get a scholarship?
5. Will you present a thesis after graduating from the University?
6. Do you always take exams and credit tests in advance?
f) Ask the questions to the anderlined words:
1. There are three departments at the Universities of Russia.
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2. Part-time students have an apportunity to study without leaving their jobs.
3. The complete course of studies at a University usually takes 5 years.
4. All institutes and universities until recently have been funded by the state.
5. They regullarly attend his lectures.
g) Answer the questions:
1. Do you think its necessary to get a higher education? Why?
2. Is your future profession prestigious?
Why do you think so? Give your reasons.
3. What country would you like to get a higher education in? Why?
h) Imagine that you are a Prime Minister of Russia. What will you do for Higher Education in the country?
i) Retell the text.
MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY
Moscow State University is the oldest, autonomous, self-governing and state-supported institution of higher learning, founded in 1755 by the scientist Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov. Located in Moscow, the university is composed of faculties of biology, chemistry, computational mathematics and cybernetics, economics, foreign languages, fundamental medicine, geography, geology, history, journalism, law, mechanics and mathematics, physics, psychology, sociology, and soil sciences, as well as an institute of Asian and African Studies. Several museums, colleges, and a number of institutes are affiliated with Moscow University, and a preparatory faculty teaches Russian language and other subjects to foreign students.
Except for the science faculties and some of the arts faculties which are situated in south-western Moscow the remainder of the faculties are located in the older university buildings in the centre of the city. A diploma in a given field of study is awarded after five or five and a half years of study. The highest degree, the Doctor of Sciences, may be attained upon completion of a thesis based on independent research.
The University produced a great number of brilliant scholars such as Zhukovsky, Stoletov, Sechenov. Timiryasev, Pavlov and Vernadsky. Classics of Russian literature: Lermontov, Griboyedov, Turgenev and Chekhov also studied at the University. The list of such great names is endless.
Today every fifth 'Russian academician is its graduate.
OUR UNIVERSITY.
Our country has a large net of higher educational establishments. Higher education in Russia is provided by academies, universities, polytechnical and specialized institutes where future specialists for an enormous number of fields, both in sciences and humanities are trained.
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In our region there are more than 10 higher educational establishments. The Branch of the Perm Polytechnical University in our town is of particular concern.
In 1958 the first institution of higher education-an educational-consulting point was opened in Berezniki where only 3 teachers began to work with 150 extra-mural students. It was the only opportunity to help young people in getting of a higher education in their native town.
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In 1963 the educational-consulting centre was reorganized into the general-technical faculty and then it was transfered into the Branch of the Perm Polytechnical Institute. So, all inhabitants of Berezniki had got a real possibility to have a higher educational institution in their native town. The faculty had got its own building where the first research laboratories were equipped. Now the students may carry out researches there and make experiments.
In 1981 the first chairs were organized at the faculty. Now our University has four chairs: the chair of technology and mechanical production, the chair of technology of chemical processes, the chair of general-scientific disciplines and the chair of economics. Our University trains students of different specialities.
The lectures and practical courses are delivered by highly-qualified teachers. Tuition rests on a broad scientific basis, lectures on theory being combined with practical classes. The early years are devoted to general subjects. In the first and second years theres a common curriculum for all related faculties and specialities. Specialization usually begins in the third or fourth year.
There are two departments: day-time and evening department at our University. Part-time students have a possibility to combine their work and study at the same time. The complete course of studies lasts 5 years at the day department and 6 years at the part-time department. Our University has not extra-mural department.
Our University has a good library with a reading-hall in it. You can get books in many fields of science and engineering there.
Exercises
a) Pay special attention to the pronunciation of the following words:
polyte ch nical [,pɔliteknikəl]
te ch nology [teknɔləʤi]
me ch anical [mikænikəl]
Branch [bra:nʧ]
specialist [speʃəlist] ; speciality [,speʃiæliti] -; specialization [,speʃəlaizeiʃən] ; specialized [speʃəlaizd]
enormous [inɔ:məs]
faculty [fækəlti]
research [risə:ʧ]
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laboratory [ləborətəri]
to equip [ikwip]
process [prəuses]
science [saiəns], scientific [,saiəntifik]
chair [ʧɛə]
discipline [disiplin]
curriculum [kərikjuləm]
qualified [kwɔlifaid]
tuition [tju(:)iʃən]
b) Find the equivalents to the English expressions in the right-hand column.
| 1. a net of higher educational establishments 2. to provide by 3. to train 4. an enormous number of fields 5. an educational - consulting point (centre) 6. extra-mural students 7. the only opportunity 8. a real possibility 9. to carry out (make) researches (experiments) 10. to deliver lectures 11. to rest on 12. different specialities 13. to devote to 14. a common curriculum 15. the complete course of studies 16. the Branch of the University | a) b) c) - d) e) f) g) h) i) j) k) l) m) - n) o) p) ( ) |
