Read the text and say how the author appreciates his future life at the university.
My Student’s Life
The merry-go-round of university life is something that one never forgets. It's a fascinating, fantastic, fabulous experience. On the first day at the university you turn from an applicant into a first-year student.
So I did it! I entered, I passed all the exams successfully and was admitted to the university. I’m in my first year. Many applicants failed and some were admitted to the evening or extra-mural department. As they say it in America, I am a freshman, and I am doing sociology in the faculty of history and sociology. I’ll take a full course of the subjects in which I am going to major.
I must say the first day at the university was unforgettable. The first thing every student faces here is a teaching staff. These are many respectable people: the rector, the vice-rectors, professors, senior lectures, lectures, tutors, heads of chair, subdeans and the dean.We gathered in the Assembly Hall where the Rector congratulated us on the beginning of the session and wished us success in our academic life. Then the Dean of the Faculty, Doctor of History, spoke about the subjects we are to study and various chairs of the faculty. He expressed hope that we shall attend all the lectures, tutorials and seminars. At the end of each term we’ll take several exams and credit-tests.
As regards English they will teach us not only to read and translate historical documents and literature but to speak English as well. We must work at the language very hard.
The monitors handed out student membership cards, student record books and library cards – so, one feels like a real person! After the inside tour of the university following the meeting my friends and I went to the hostel.
First celebrations and then days of hard work. The life of students only seems to be simple, easy-going and joyful. So many classes, so many new subjects on the timetable keep you busy all day long! The curriculum seems to be developed especially for geniuses. Lectures, seminars and tutorials. A real avalanche of homework falls on you!
If you can’t cope with the work load at the university so you immediately start lagging behind. But it is easier to keep pace with the program than to catch up with it later. Everyone tries hard to be diligent. The first successes and first failures. "I have passed!" or "He didn’t give me a pass!" Tears and smiles. And a long-awaited vacation.
The merry-go-round runs faster. Assignments, written reproductions, compositions, synopses, course-papers, translations checked up and marked, works handed in and handed out, making reports, reading for exams. And there is no excuse to miss lectures here. "No, professor, I didn’t cheat - no cribs. I just crammed." Somebody forgets about sweet dreams and drills till late night, and somebody is sent down. You need to make right decision and get through this time.
Junior students become senior. Still all of us are one family - undergraduates. But students’ life goes not only in the classrooms and libraries. Another side of students’ life is the social one. It’s full of events. Despite the compressed timetable students always find time for communication and active rest. They organize different parties and themed nights, take part in competitions and concerts and deal with the matters of university. Sports also play a leading part in the life of the students. Everything is available for their comfortable life: the Internet, gyms, facilities for recreation, assembly halls for holding cultural events and many others.
You only have to remember – business before pleasure. I am sure I'll enjoy my studies and wish good luck and successfully graduation from the university to every student.
Text-based Activities
1. Would you compare college life with a merry-go-round or with something else?
2. What do you think of the first months at the university?
3. Answer the questions on the text:
1. How did the author pass his exams?
2. Was he admitted to the university?
3. What year\ faculty is he in?
4. What is the first thing he faces at the university?
5. Did he like his first day at the college? Why?
6. How many examinations and credit-tests will the author take at the end of each term?
7. What did the monitor hand out to each student on the first day at the university?
8. What keeps the students busy every day at the university?
9. What must every student do to pass the exams and credit-tests?
10. Is the student’s life easy-going and joyful? What events is it full of?
11. What is available for the comfortable student’s life at the university?
12. What we should remember to enjoy our studies at the university?
***** *****
The professor rapped on his desk and shouted: "Gentlemen — order!" The entire class yelled: "Beer!"
***** *****