THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN
СЕМИНАР 1
| My Biography |
| Let me introduce myself. My full name is Irina Nikolayevna Snatkina. I’m 22 years old. I was born on November 11th, 1994 in Rostov-on-Don. It is a large city in southern Russia. I grew up and studied in this city. Many young people would want to be on my place as Rostov opens up numerous career opportunities. Myparents are both doctors. My mum’s name is Elena and she is a dentist. My dad’s name is Kirill and he is a cardiologist. They both have noble jobs as they help other people from day to day. When I was little we often visited my grandparents who live in a small village in Rostov region. They have a large country house with a garden behind it. My grandmother liked working in her own garden. Every year she has a rich harvest of fruit and vegetables. My grandfather is a mechanic and he likes fixing things. I have positive memories of the village they lived in because each time I came to visit I went for a walk with local kids. I’ve had many good friends there. Sometimes when my granddad went fishing he took me with him. I could never catch a fish but I liked watching him. My grandmother also spent lots of time with me. She often told me interesting stories and she taught me how to cook an apple-pie. The school where I studied was right behind our block of flats. My favorite subjects are History, Geography and Foreign languages. This year I’ve graduated from high school and now I’m going to enter a local Law school. My parents were a bit disappointed because they’ve always wanted me to get medical education. However, I’ve made up my mind to become a lawyer. I think it’s a popular and demanded profession nowadays. My dream is to succeed in my profession and to study further at the university. After graduation I want to travel a bit around Europe. |
ABOUT MYSELF
My name is Marina Suvorova. I am 15. I was born on the 5th of March, 1985 in Rostov-on-Don. Now I live in Rostov with my parents and my grandmother.
My family is not very large. We have five people in our family. My father's name is Igor Petrovich. He is forty years old. He is a doctor and he works at a hospital. My mother's name is Lyudmila Leonidovna. She is thirty nine years old. She is a housewife. My younger sister is a pupil. She is in the seventh form. My grandmother lives with us. She doesn't work. She is a pensioner. I love my family. We are all friends and we love each other.
I have one aunt and two uncles. Their children are my cousins.
We live in a big flat in a new house. There are four rooms in our flat: a living room, a study, a kitchen, a bathroom and two bedrooms. We have all modern conveniences: gas, hot water, running water, electricity and telephone. I have my duties about the house. I must go shopping. I help my Mother to clean the rooms. It's not difficult for me. I like our home to be clean and tidy.
I am a student of the college now. We have many good teachers at our college. I try to be a good pupil and I do well in all subjects. But my favorite subject is English. I spend much time on it. I like reading. I like detective stories but I prefer to read historical novels or modern writers.
I have many friends. Many of them are my classmates. We spend much time together, go for a walk, talk about lessons, music and discuss our problems. I like to listen to modern music, but sometimes I like to listen to some classical music. My favorite composer is Tchaikovsky. I haven't much time to watch TV but sometimes I spend an hour or two watching an interesting film or a news program. In the evening I often read newspapers or an interesting book. I like fresh air and exercises, but I have not much time to go in for sports.
Words
parents — родители
a housewife — домохозяйка
younger — младшая
a pensioner — пенсионер
an aunt — тетя
an uncle — дядя
a cousin — кузен, кузина
living room — жилая комната
a study — кабинет
a bathroom — ванная, туалет
a bedroom— спальня
modern — современный
conveniences — удобства
running water — холодная вода
duties — обязанности
to go shopping — ходить за покупками
tidy — опрятный
to try — стараться, пытаться
favorite — любимый
to do well — зд. успевать
to prefer — предпочитать
to spend — проводить, тратить
sometimes — иногда
an hour— час
fresh— свежий
go in for sports— заниматься спортом
MY WORKING DAY
Usually I get up at 7 o'clock on week-days. I do my bed and open the window. Sometimes I do my morning exercises, but not always. Then I go to the bathroom. There I wash myself and clean my teeth. Sometimes I take a shower. After that I go back to my bedroom, dress myself and brush my hair. In five minutes I am ready for breakfast. I usually have a cup of tea or coffee and a sandwich. After breakfast I take my bag, put on my coat and go to the college.
I live not far from my college and it takes me only ten minutes to walk there. I am never late for the first lesson because I come to the college a few minutes before the bell. I leave my coat in the cloakroomand go to the classroom. The lessons begin at eight o'clock and at half past one they are over. Sometimes after the lessons I go to the library to take some books. I usually do my home task at home. As a rule,Ihave no free time on my week-days.
Sometimes I have dinner at my college canteen.For dinner I usually have soup for the first course, meat or fish with some salad for the second. I drink milk or a cup of tea.
Twice a week I go to the swimming pool. I play volleyball in the college team and we have our training at our big gym.
In the evening all the members of our family get together. We have supper together, watch TV or read books. Reading is my hobby. I like to read detective stories or books of modern writers. At about eleven o'clock I go to bed.
Words
usually — обычно
sometimes — иногда
enough — достаточно
shower — душ
always — всегда
only — только
never — никогда
cloakroom — раздевалка
as a rule — как правило
canteen — столовая
twice — дважды
team — команда
gym — спортзал
СЕМИНАР 2
EDUCATION IN RUSSIA
People in our country have the right for education. It is our Constitutional right. But it is not only a right, it is a duty, too. Every boy and every girl in Russia must go to school, that is, they must get a full secondary education. So, when they are 6 or 7 years old they begin to go to school. There are thousands of schools in Russia. There are schools of general education, where the pupils study Russian (or a native language), Literature, Mathematics, History, Biology, Music, Arts, Foreign Languages. There is also a number of specialized schools, where the pupils get deep knowledge of foreign languages, or Maths, or Physics.
After finishing 9 classes of secondary school young people can continue their education at different kinds of vocational or technical schools or colleges. They not only learn general subjects, but receive a specialty there. Having finished a secondary school, a technical school or a college young people can start working, or they may ,.'•] enter an Institute or a University. Professional training makes it easier to get higher education. As for high schools, there are a lot of them in our country. Some of them train teachers, others — doctors, engineers, architects, actors and so on. Many institutes have evening and extra-mural departments. That gives the students an opportunity to study at an institute without leaving their jobs.
Words
right— право
duty— обязанность
secondary — зд. среднее
deep— глубокий
vocational school— профтехучилище
general — общий
toreceive — получать
training— обучение
higher— высшее
extra-mural— заочный
opportunity— возможность
THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN
The system of education in any country is aimed at developing a personality for the good of the individual and society as a whole.
Pre-school education in England begins at the age of 3 or 4. Around half of the children at this age attend nursery schools or playgroups mostly organized by parents. Children of this age need care as well as education. That's why kids play a lot, learn to listen attentively and to behave.
Compulsory primary education begins at the age of five in England, Wales and Scotland and at four in Northern Ireland. Children start their school career in an in fant school. Lessons start at 9 a.m. and are over at 4 p.m. They are taught «3 R's»: Reading» writing, arithmetic. Pupils have a lot of fun at school, drawing, reading, dancing or singing.
When they are 7 pupils move to a junior school, which lasts four years till they are 11. They study a lot of subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography along with Technology, Music, Art and Physical education
Most of children (over 90 per cent) go to state schools where education is free. Only a small proportion of them attend private (Public) or independent schools. Parents have to pay for the education at these schools. The fees are high and only some families can afford it. So such schools are for the representatives of the high class of England. The most notable Public schools are Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Rugby.
Secondary education begins at 11. The majority of secondary schools are Comprehensive schools where boys and girls study together. Besides, parents can take their sons and daughters to Grammar schools or Secondary Modem Schools.
Grammar schools provide an academic course from 11 to 18. They prepare pupils for colleges and universities.
Many children of working class families go to Modern schools- They give a very limited education. Pupils get instruction in woodwork, metalwork, sewing, shorthand, typing and cooking. After finishing such a school a pupil becomes an unskilled worker.
The Comprehensive Schools have their own «Grammar school» classes and «Modern classes»
Every pupil has to choose a set of subjects to learn. If he takes up Art he will study English Literature, Music, Art, Drama and foreign languages. If he is good at exact and natural sciences, he will learn Science: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Economics and Technical Drawing.
The British government encourages careers education in the country. That's why secondary schools try to break down the barriers between education and business. They set up close links with firms to allow their students to take part in business activities.
At around 16 years old teenagers take some exams and coursework to get General Certificate of Education. Those who choose to stay on at school usually study for two further years to pass A level (Advanced level) exams. These exams will give them a chance to enter the university.
Words
to be aimed to— преследовать цель
pre-school — дошкольное
to attend— посещать
nursery school —
compulsory— обязательный
primary education— начальное образование
infant school— подготовительная школа
junior school— начальная школа
science— естествознание
secondary education— среднее образование
limited— ограниченный
sewing — шитье
shorthand— стенография
unskilled— неквалифицированный
toencourage — поощрять
link— связь