Education Systems in Great Britain and the USA

Education in Britain suggests the following types of schools: grammar schools offering academic education and secondary modern schools where education is more practical. There are also comprehensive schools, a combination of grammar and secondary modern ones which offer both academic and practical subjects. After the introduction of a National Curriculum which aims to ensure that all children study essential subjects and have a better all-round education. Pupils' progress in subjects in National Curriculum is measured by tests. More ambitious pupils continue with very specialized studies in the sixth form. They remain at school for two years more. Pupils sit for exams leaving secondary school and the sixth form. They sit for the General Certificate of Secondary Education at the end of the 5th-years' course. A-level or AS-levels are taken after two years of studying in the sixth form. They are the main standard for entrance to university or other higher education.

Some parents prefer to pay for their children to be educated at independent schools. This private sector includes the so-called public schools, some of whose names are known all over the world, for example Eton. It provides exceptionally fine teaching facilities, for example in science, languages, computing and design. Its students are largely from aristocratic and upper-class families.

The American system of education differs from the systems of other countries. Education in the United States is mainly provided by the public sector, with control and funding coming from three levels: federal, state, and local. Child education is compulsory. Public education is universal at the primary and secondary levels (known inside the United States as the elementary and high school levels). At these levels, school curricula, funding, teaching, and other policies are set through locally elected school boards with jurisdiction over school districts. The ages for compulsory education vary by state, beginning at ages five to eight and ending at the ages of fourteen to eighteen. A growing number of states are now requiring compulsory education until the age of 18.

Compulsory education requirements can generally be satisfied by educating children in public schools, state-certified private schools, an approved home school program or in an orphanage. In most public and private schools, education is divided into three levels: elementary school, middle school (sometimes called junior high school), and high school (sometimes referred to as secondary education). The high school prepares young people either to work immediately after graduation or for more advanced study in a college or university. An important part of high school life is extra-curricular activities, they include band or school orchestra, sports and other social activities. There is no national system of higher education in the United States. Instead, there are separate institutions ranging from colleges to universities. They may be small or large, private or public, highly selective or open to all.

Ex. 6. Say what British, Russian and American education systems have in common and what features make them different from one another.

Ex. 7. Read the text and make up subtitles for each passage.

MSTU

MSTU is one of the oldest higher education establishments on the Kola Peninsula. The history of the University begins in 1950. The first name of it is the High Marine School (HMS). Then it was made Russian State Academy of Fishing Fleet and since 1996 it has become Murmansk State Technical University, the biggest and the most prestigious educational center in the far north of Russia and undoubtedly one of the biggest and famous universities in the whole north-west of the country.

MSTU is a collective member of the Russian Transport Academy, a member of Engineering Education Association of Russia and Association of Technical Universities. The University and the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (KSC RAS) created Apatity Branch of MSTU on the base of Geological Institute of the KSC RAS, Mining Institute of the KSC RAS, Institute on Industrial Ecology of the North of the KSC RAS, Marine Biological Institute of the KAS RAS, Institute of Chemistry and Technology of rare metals and minerals of the KSC RAS.

At present MSTU is a leader in the educational market of Murmansk Region. There are 9 faculties and more than 30 departments that train specialists in 28 fields and, what is more important, their number is constantly increasing. The main purpose of the University is providing all the branches of industry with well-qualified specialists.

MSTU carries out not only enormous teaching activities, but also very intensive research work in various fields and scientific directions by the cooperative strengths of its students, teachers, scientists and post-graduates. There are about 6000 students and post-graduates at the University. A half of them is trained on the programmes of the socio-economic subjects, including international and European programmes. Annually MSTU offers new training courses in order to correspond to developing market economy, carrying out close cooperation with Kola Science Centre, connected to the leading economic interests of the region.

Мurmansk State Technical University is a well situated and equipped educational institution. The university's campus is situated in the center of Murmansk and consists of the main training-laboratory buildings, 8 subsidiary buildings, a pilot-experimental base, 4 hostels, a canteen, a cultural-sport complex and various logistic premises. Besides, the University has a plot of land in a picturesque recreation zone on the bank of the Tuloma river, and also a training boat base with a plot of a coastal line, which is 1515 meters long, in the mouth of the Kola Gulf (the Tuva-bay).

The development of international cooperation is carried out through the creation of international training and exchange programmes on the basis of MSTU and partner educational establishments. This activity is aimed at the development of market economy of the north-west region of Russia. Nowadays the Internationalization has become one of the main aspects of education all over the world; consequently, it is impossible to underestimate the role of MSTU being the potential partner for the international cooperation in the sphere of Higher Education.

Text A

English Universities

All English universities except Oxford and Cambridge are fairly new. London University is the biggest of the modern English universities and has many colleges and schools.

A university usually has both faculties and departments. The faculties are arts, law, medicine, science and theology. The departments include engineering, economics, commerce, agriculture, music and technology.

At the head of each faculty there is a professor. A staff of teachers called lecturers help him. Professors and lecturers give lectures to large numbers of students or study with small groups, and here the students have a chance to discuss various themes.

All universities admit men and women, but within some universities there are colleges specially for one sex. Most of the universities provide accommodation (hostels or dormitories) for their students.

There are many types of colleges in England. There are colleges within universities. There are teachers’ training colleges. There are also technical colleges of various types, colleges of arts and commerce. Colleges give a specialized training.

Those who wish to become teachers spend three years at a teachers’ training college. They study various subjects and learn how to teach, they have practice lessons at schools.

Notes

 

arts – зд. гуманитарный

science – зд. естественные науки

theology – теология, богословие

technology – зд. технологический

admit – принимать (в учебное заведение)

specially for one sex – только мужские или женские

accommodation – зд. общежитие

teachers’ training colleges – учительские колледжи

Text B

Oxbridge

Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and most prestigious universities in Great Britain. They are often called collectively Oxbridge. Both universities are independent. Only the education elite go to Oxford or Cambridge. Most of their students are former public schools leavers.

The normal length of the degree course is three years, after which the students take the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA). Some courses, such as languages or medicine, may be one or two years longer. The students may work for other degrees as well. The degrees are awarded at public degree ceremonies. Oxford and Cambridge cling to their traditions, such as the use of Latin at degree ceremonies. Full academic dress is worn at examinations.

 

 

Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of a number of colleges. Each college is different, but in many ways they are alike. Each college has its name, its coat of arms. Each college is governed by a Master. The larger ones have more than 400 members, the smallest colleges have less than 30. Each college offers teaching in a wide range of subjects. Within the college one will normally find a chapel, a dining hall, a library, rooms for undergraduates, fellows and the Master, and also rooms for teaching purposes.

Oxford is one of the oldest universities in Europe. It is the second largest university in Britain, after London. The town of Oxford is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles* in 911 AD* and it was popular with the early English kings. The university’s earliest charter* is dated to 12 13.

There are now twenty-four colleges for men, five for women and another five which have both men and women members, many from overseas studying for higher degrees. Among the oldest colleges are University College,* All Souls* and Christ Church.*

The local car industry in East Oxford gives an important addition to the city’s outlook. There is a great deal of bicycle traffic both in Oxford and Cambridge.

Cambridge University started during the 13-th century and grew until today. Now there are more than thirty colleges.

On the banks of the Cam* willow trees drown their branches into the water. The colleges line the right bank. There are beautiful college gardens with green lawns and lines of tall trees. The oldest college is Peterhouse, which was founded in 1284, and the most recent is Robinson College, which was opened in 1977. The most famous is probably King’s College* because of its magnificent chapel, the largest and the most beautiful building in Cambridge and the most perfect example left of English fifteenth-century architecture. Its choir of boys and undergraduates is also very well known.

The University was only for men until 1871, when the first women’s college was opened. In the 1970s, most colleges opened their doors to both men and women. Almost all colleges are now mixed.

Many great men studied at Cambridge, among them Desiderius Erasmus,* the great Dutch scholar, Roger Bacon,* the philosopher, Milton, the poet, Oliver Cromwell,* the soldier, Newton, the scientist, and Kapitza, the famous Russian physicist.

The universities have over a hundred societies and clubs, enough for every interest one could imagine. Sport is part of students’ life at Oxbridge. The most popular sports are rowing and punting.*

 

Notes

 

Anglo-Saxon Chronicles – “Англо-саксонский Кроникл” (вестник)

AD = Anno Domini – лат. нашей эры

charter – хартия, грамота; устав

University College – Юниверсити-Колледж (основан в 1249 г.)

All Souls – Олл-Соулз, Колледж Всех Душ (основан в 1438 г.)

Christ Church – Крайст-Черч (один из самых крупных аристократических колледжей Оксфордского университета; основан в 1525 г.)

the Cam – р. Кем (на которой стоит г. Кембридж)

King’s College – Кингз-Колледж, Королевский колледж (один из крупных колледжей Кембриджского университета; основан в 1441 г.)

Desiderius Erasmus – Дезидерий Эразм Роттердамский (1469-1536), гуманист эпохи Возрождения

Roger Bacon - Роджер Бэкон (ок. 1214-1292), английский философ; профессор в Оксфорде

Oliver Cromwell – Оливер Кромвель (1599-1658), деятель английской буржуазной революции XVII в.

To punt – плыть на плоскодонном ялике

 

Text C

After the Exams

 

Malcolm: What did you think of the exams, Pete? I reckon they were dead easy.

Pete: Maybe they were easy enough for you but they were much too hard for me.

Malcolm: Oh, come on. You’ve probably done better than you think.

Pete: No, I’m dead certain I’ve failed in Latin, and most likely in French and History too. Thank goodness* it’s all over though. We can forget about it now – at least until the results come out.

Malcolm: Yes. Now I can get on with reading all the books I’ve been wanting to read for months, but haven’t had time for.

Pete: What! …Well, it’s up to you, I suppose, but I’ve had enough of reading. I’m not going to open another book for months. Don’t you think we all deserve a break?

Malcolm: Well, yes… I’ll take a day or two off perhaps. And I think I’ll come to Bob’s sister’s party tomorrow night. But if I’m going to university in October, I’ll have to get down to some serious work again pretty soon.

Pete: I’ve got to get through the A level exams first. I’ll worry about university if and when I ever get there.

Malcolm: That’s the trouble with you. You always try to do everything at the last minute.

Pete: And you’re too serious; that’s your trouble. You never stop swotting.*

Malcolm: Well, I like reading.

Pete: And I can’t stand it. I don’t know why I decided to try to go to university in the first place. I think I’ll run away and join the army or something.

(London Linguaphone Course)

 

Notes

Thank goodness! – Слава богу!

swotting – зубрёжка; to swot - зубрить

 

EXERCISES

 

I. Answer the following questions:

 

Text A: 1. Are all English universities new? 2. What does London University consist of? 3. What does a university usually have? 4. What faculties are there in English universities? 5. What do the departments include? 6. Who is at the head of the university? 7. Who helps professors? 8. Whom do professors and lecturers give lectures to? 9. Do the students have a chance to organize discussions? 10. What do most universities provide for their students? 11. Are there many types of colleges in England? 12. What kind of colleges are to be found in England? 13. How many years is it necessary to study to become a teacher?

 

Text B: 1. What is Oxbridge? 2. Are Oxford and Cambridge universities new or old? 3. Both of them are independent, aren't they? 4. Who are most of the students of Oxford? 5. How long is it necessary to study for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts? 6. How many years does it take to study languages and medicine? 7. Where are the degrees awarded? 8. What are the traditions they keep at Oxford and Cambridge? 9. What do Oxford and Cambridge consist of? 10. What can you say about the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge? 11. What can one find within a college? 12. Was Oxford popular with the early kings? 13. How many colleges for men and women are there at Oxford? 14. What are the oldest colleges? 15. When did Cambridge start? 16. How many colleges does Cambridge university consist of? 17. Which of them is the oldest one? 18.What is King's College famous for? 19. When was the first women's college opened? 20. Are the students engaged in extracurricular activities? 21. What sports are popular at Oxford?

 

II. Write Russian equivalents:

 

Text A: fairly new; to give a special training; arts faculty; science faculty; a large number of students; at the head of; a staff of teachers; to admit men and women to universities; to provide hostels; to study various subjects; to have practice classes; an English department; colleges and schools of various types; law faculty; to have a chance; to discuss various themes; science and technology.

 

Text B: the oldest and most prestigious universities; the education elite; former public schools leavers; the degree course; a wide range of subjects; over a hundred societies and clubs.

IV. Retell Text C 1) in the third person; 2) as if you were Malcolm; 3) as if you were Pete.

 

Speech Practice

Ex. 1. Work in pairs and act out the following situations.

1. A student is not ready with home tasks because the day before he was at his friend`s birthday party. The teacher finds it a lame excuse.

2. A teacher and a student are discussing the latter’s participation in the students` scientific conference.

3. A secretary has forgotten to prepare documents necessary for the rector`s report to the region governor.

4. Two young university teachers are speaking about taking a post-graduate course.

5. Students are writing a test. One of them is using a dictionary. The teacher hasn`t banned it but never the less he is angry.

6. An exam is going on. A student has to speak about Russian education system but his knowledge is poor. The teacher asks him suggestive questions (наводящие вопросы).

7. Two freshmen are discussing their first day at university.

 

Ex. 2. Discuss the following in pairs.

1. Students should be given a right to change some parts of their curriculum.

2. Homework in miner (непрофилирующие) subjects should be abolished.

3. Each MSTU department should provide a unitary standard for passing an examination in English.

Ex. 3. Work in pairs. Look at the following character qualities. Should schools aim to develop these in children? Why? In what ways?

· competitiveness

· self-confidence

· interpersonal skills

· team spirit

Example: - I’m not sure whether schools should be teaching children to be competitive.

- Why not? After all, it’s preparation for the outside world …

Ex. 4. Answer the following questions.

 

CHOOSING A CAREER

1.When did you first start thinking about entering this University?

2. Did anybody advise you or was it your own choice?

3. What influenced your choice?

4. When did you enter the university?

5. How many entrance examinations were you expected to take?

6. What marks did you get at your exams?

7. Why have you chosen this educational establishment?

8. What department do you study at?

9. What is your future occupation? Why have you chosen this field?

10. Have you chosen your career right?

11. When will you graduate from it?

12. Where would you like to work after finishing the university?

13. How does it feel to be a student?

 

YOU ARE A STUDENT NOW

1. How does it feel to be a student?

2. Now that you’ve been a student for a few months have you got used to the new methods of work?

3. How different are they from what you were used to at school?

4. Do you find it much harder to study at the university than at school?

5. What subjects were you good at when at school? What are your favourite subjects now?

6. What must you do to pass all the winter (spring) exams well?

7. Must you work hard during the examinations if you have worked regularly all through the term?

8. What marks do you expect to get?

9. How many double periods do you have daily?

10. Do you spend a lot of time studying?

11. Are there any hobby clubs or societies in your university? Are you a member of any of them?

12. What is your opinion about the education facilities in your university?

13. Is the education in this place of high quality?

14. What would you like to improve in the place you study at?

15. Who do you live with?

16. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living without parents?

17. What pastimes are popular among today`s students?

18. What leisure time activities do you prefer?

QUESTIONS WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT

1. What is an ideal student like from your point of view?

2. What qualities should an ideal teacher possess?

3. What problems does the present education system in Russia have?

4. How to improve the situation?

5. What ideas from foreign education systems can Russian authorities take into consideration?

6. Why do you think education is important nowadays?

7. What professions are in demand today? Which aren`t? Why?

Ex. 5. Discuss the following, giving your arguments for or against.

1. You believe that a little learning is a dangerous thing. Your friend disagrees, saying that even half educated is better than uneducated. He also adds that nowadays, with all the scientific progress that has been made, you cannot expect a person to know much more than a little about everything.

2. You believe that a student must live at the hostel. Life at home with one’s parents makes a person soft, leaves him unprepared for the difficulties of life outside home. Your friend argues that a student living at home has more time for studies.

3. Your friend is against examinations. He argues that they only make a student nervous. You believe that the exam system may not be perfect, but it is the best, surest and quickest way to test a person’s knowledge.

 

Test

 

Translate from Russian into English:

A

1. Каждый год большое количество абитуриентов сдают вступительные экзамены в наш университет. 2. В нашем университете много факультетов. 3. Наше учебное заведение готовит юристов, менеджеров, экономистов, переводчиков и других специалистов. 4. Программа обучения состоит из специальных предметов, общественных дисциплин и других предметов. 5. Курс обучения длится 5 лет. 6. Учебный год делится на 2 семестра. 7. В конце каждого семестра студенты дневного, вечернего и заочного отделений сдают зачёты и экзамены по различным предметам. 8. Студенты, сдавшие экзамены успешно, получают стипендию. 9. В университете есть студенческое научное общество, в котором занимается много студентов. 10. Какие предметы вы изучаете? – Мы занимаемся специальными предметами, общественными дисциплинами, иностранными языками и физкультурой.

 

B

1. Я учусь на первом курсе. Я интересуюсь иностранными языками. 2. Не пропускайте лекции, вам придётся сдавать зачёты и экзамены в конце семестра. 3. Он окончил университет в прошлом году и работает юристом (экономистом, менеджером) в фирме. 4. Я поступил в университет два года назад. 5. Наш университет был основан в 1992 году. 6. Она преподавала английский язык в школе. 7. Когда ты вернешь книги в библиотеку? Их много. Ты не сможешь их нести в руках. Будет лучше, если ты попросишь Стива помочь тебе. 8. Что кажется легким хорошим студентам, часто кажется трудным менее усердным студентам. 9. Что с Петровым? Почему он нервничает? – Он объясняет своему куратору, что вчера он пропустил занятие потому, что автобус был переполнен, и он не смог сесть в него. 10. Почему экзаменатор не был удовлетворен ответом студента? – Ответ не был удовлетворительным. Это был плохой ответ.

 

Topics for Reports:

 

1. Education in Great Britain.

2. Education in the USA.

3. Education in Russia.

4. Oxbridge.

5. Our University.

6. Our English lessons.

7. Student’s Life.

8. The Importance of Learning Foreign Languages.

 

Exam Card Plan

 

1. What is education?

2. Why is it important?

3. Speak about American, English and Russian educational systems, their special features. Which of them do you like most? Why?

4. What changes have taken place in Russian education system since the USSR collapsed?

5. What changes would you implement in the education system of your country?

6. Where do you study? Describe your university, speak about your subjects, teachers, fellow-students, out-of-class activities and hobbies.

7. How important is education for you personally? Why?

 

Использованная литература

 

 

1. Английский язык: учебное пособие для абитуриентов / Л.В. Бондарева, Т.И. Борисеенко, Т.В. Валентей и др.; под ред. Л.В. Минаевой. – 3-е изд. – М.: КДУ, 2008. – 368 с.

 

2. Redman, Stuart. Vocabulary in use: intermediate / Stuart Redman, with Ellen Shaw. – Cambridge University Press, 2001. - 266 p.

 

3. Virginia Evans- Jenny Dooly. Upstream: proficiency. – Express Publishing, 2002. – 276 p.