Hello again! Now let me tell you about my university - Far Eastern State Transportation University. I am really glad to study here. It is one of the best country's higher educational institutions.
Our University is quite large and old. It was founded in 1939 as Khabarovsk Railway Engineering Institute. In those days the institute had only 3 faculties: the Mechanical, the Railway Engineering and the Operational faculties. Since that time the institute has undergone many structural changes and grown into a large modern institution of higher learning. In 1977 it received a university status.
The university is well known for its high standards of education and research. It trains competent and creative specialists for different branches of engineering, transportation and economy of our country.
Our university is a large school where about 15 thousand students study currently. Most of them are full-time students, like me; there are also many part-time and extra-mural students. Besides, there are many post-graduate students, who carry out independent research work and conduct classes or deliver lectures as well.
Every year about 2 thousand people are enrolled in the university. Young people who are interested in science and technology may enter the Institute of Traction and Rolling Stock, the Institute of Operation, Automation and Telecommunication, the Institute of Transport and Civil Engineering, the Power Engineering Institute, the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Aeronautical Engineering Faculty. The Institute of Economics trains economists, accountants and other specialists in finance, management and commerce. The Humanitarian Faculty prepares specialists in social service, psychology, tourism management.
The course of training at the university lasts 5-6 years. The academic year is 9 months or 2 semesters of 4 and a half months each. Studies usually begin in September and end in June. Students take exams at the end of each semester. Twice a year students have vacations.
During the first two years the students study general engineering subjects, such as higher mathematics, physics, chemistry, basics of computer engineering, social sciences and the humanities. In the third year the students begin to take specialized courses. Great importance is given to practical training. Students work in well-equipped laboratories and shops, computer centres of the university and in the fourth and fifth years they work at railway and industrial enterprises of the Khabarovsk Territory.
More than 600 highly-qualified professors and instructors work at 50 departments of the university. Teaching is only part of their activity; they are in-
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volved in scientific work. Gifted students also take part in research activities under their tutors' guidance.
Our university covers a large territory. On the campus there are three buildings for classes, six hostels, sport facilities, residential houses for teachers, a cafeteria and a polyclinic for teachers and students, a club house.
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Higher education is not free now. Most of the students have to pay for their tuition. Those students, who pass their entrance examinations well, study free of charge.
It's very interesting to study at the university. You have a chance not only to get a higher education but also to make a lot of friends and develop your special talents.
Active vocabulary
1. education -
secondary education - higher education - vocational training - -
2. higher educational institution, institution of higher learning -
3. found (establish, set up) a university -
4. research - , - research activities -
5. train - , , ()
6. teach somebody - , -
teach something - -, -
7. learn - , -, (= to find out)
learn by heart -
learn by rote -
8. study - , ,
study for an examination - syn.: sit for an examination,
read for an examination
revise for an examination
9. study hard -,
study by fits and starts - ,
10. full-time student - ,
part-time student - ,
11. apply for admission -
12. applicant-
13. get enrolled (in) = to be enrolled (in) - ()
14. be admitted = be accepted (at) -
15. be expelled from = be dismissed from - ()
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16. enter the university -
17. entrance exams - , entrance requirements-
18. academic year-
19. semester = term -
20. take (have) an exam -
21. pass an exam = get through, do well in -
22. fail in an exam -
23. attend classes - miss classes -
24. fall behind - ( )
catch up with - -
25. vacation-
26. subject- , ()
general engineering subjects - social subjects (sciences) - (, , , )
(the) humanities - natural sciences -
27. gifted (talented, capable) student- ()
28. campus -
on the campus -
29. hostel = hall of residence (Br.E.) - dormitory = dorm (Am.E.) -
30. tuition = teaching - , tuition fee -
31. free (of charge) -
32. first (second, third)- year student - (,)
33. graduate from university - graduate -
34. time-table = schedule -
35. credit-
36. methods of teaching -
37. classroom -
38. lecture hall -
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39. well-equipped laboratory -
40. course of studies -
41. department, chair-
42. head (chief) of a department - .
43. dean - ()
44. Rector- ()
45. teaching staff-
46. undergraduate student - 1 - 5
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47. (post)-graduate student- ,
48. correspondence student = extra-mural student - -
49. freshman (Am.E.) - sophomore (Am.E.) -
junior (Am.E.) - senior (Am.E.) -
50. curriculum -
Comprehension questions
1. What university do you study at?
2. When was it founded?
3. What are the oldest faculties of our university?
4. How many students study at the university?
5. Do only full-time students study here?
6. What institute or faculty do you study at?
7. How long does training last?
8. How many semesters are there in the academic year?
9. How often do students take exams?
10. Do they have any vacation?
11. What subjects do the first and second-year students study?
12. When do students begin to take specialized lectures and practical
courses?
13. Where do students get practical training?
14. Can students take part in research activities?
15. What facilities are located on the campus?
16. Do all students pay for their education?
