Text 1. Schools in Russia

1. Skim the text to understand the main points.

Educational policy in Russian Federation focuses on how to help people develop useful knowledge and skills. The idea is to develop the critical, adaptable, multi-skilled and creative person. Education is given in many languages, and according to their parents’ wish children may attend Russian schools or national schools where they are taught in their native language.

There have been many changes in the system of Public Education in Russia but the basic principles have remained unchanged. Characteristic features of our public education are:

1. the equal right to education for all citizens is guaranteed by the Constitution;
2. full-time education is compulsory up to the middle teenage years;
3. co-education, no separate men’s or women’s schools;
4. free tuition throughout the state system;
5. non-state and private educational establishments must meet the Education Standard Requirements.

The unified system of public education in Russian Federation consists of several stages.

Compulsory general secondary educationis provided by municipal educational establishments, state general secondary schools, lycees, gymnasiums, non-state schools. The educational reform at school has been through a period of constant change. Today children start going to school at 7. But they are expected to start schooling at the age of 6 from 2006. The first three or four years at school are the primary school. While the standard curriculum is the same for all students, the supplementary programme varies from school to school, covering anything from computer science to marketing. Supplementary classes are becoming more popular for parents who are ready to pay for them. Parents worry that their children might otherwise be denied a proper education. Pupils may leave school after the 9^th form and continue their secondary education in evening or shift school for working youth. Those who complete the course of the 10^th and 11^th Forms take Final Exams or the Unified State Exams in several subjects and receive the Certificate of Secondary Education.

Vocational training is provided by technical colleges,institutes, academies, classic universities, polytechnics, specialized universities, technical universities.

2. Read Text 1 more carefully and say if these statements are true or false.

1. Education in Russian Federation is given in Russian language.

2. Primary education lasts three or four years.

3. State and non-state schools have the same standard curriculum.

4. Supplementary classes are compulsory for all schools and are financed by the government.

5. There are no exams for school leavers.

3. Give detailed answers to the questions

1. Is general secondary education compulsory in Russia?

2. What age do children start school at in Russia?

3. What do we call the primary school?

4. What kind of school is a national school?

5. What’s the school-leaving age in Russia?

6. Where may pupils, who leave school, continue their education?

7. When do school-leavers take examinations?

8. What subjects did you take examinations in?

1.3 Speaking

1. Discuss the following problems with your partner.

a) Where is it better to study: in state or non-state school? Why?

b) What is the main goal of school: to give knowledge or to bring up?

c) School uniform.

Perhaps you will need to object your partner mildly. Here are some useful expressions:

That’s an interesting idea, but … Это интересно, но … I’m not so sure about that. Я не настолько в этом уверен Well, yes, but … В общем, да, но … Yes, but don’t you think that … Не кажется ли вам … Do you really think so? Вы действительно так думаете? If you don’t mind me saying so … Если не возражаете, я вот что скажу … I should hardly think so. Едва ли, не думаю. I wouldn’t care to say that. Я бы не взял на себя смелость сказать это.

2. Make a project for an ideal school of the future. Write a short essay and make a report.

3*. Speak on the main problems of Russian schools.

4. Read the following quotations and comment on them.

a) Raising a child is very much like building a skyscraper. If the first two stories are out of line, no one will notice. But when the building is 18 or 20 stories high, everyone will see that it tilts.

b) Any man can be a good teacher.

c) Teaching machines and computers can be substitutes for any teacher.

5. Render the text in English.

Негосударственная образовательная сеть в России начала развиваться с 1991 года. Появление частных школ – ответ на возникший спрос. Получив возможность учить чадо в более приемлемых условиях, многие родители облегченно вздохнули.

В частном секторе условия гораздо лучше: классы маленькие, от 5-12 учеников, трех – четырехразовое питание, нормальный отдых, современное оборудование. Минимум заботы родителям: утром ребенка заберет школьный автобус, вечером привезет обратно. Более того, здесь целый штат психологов, врачей.

Кто преподает в элитных учебных заведениях? Да те же школьные учителя, только высокого профессионального уровня. Там платят несколько другие деньги. Такое образование недешево стоит.

Признавая, что частные учебные заведения являются одним из проявлений социального неравенства, негосударственная сеть считается хорошим дополнением к государственной.

(Useful expressions: a network of private educational establishments, ideal conditions, to have four meals a day, a staff of psychologists, elite educational establishment, social inequality, a good supplement to smth.)

Part 2 Higher Education in Russia

2.1 Vocabulary

1. Give Russian equivalents to these expressions

competitive examination with merit and credit applicants take notes borrow books from the university library computer-assisted learning materials to present a graduation thesis to be transferred to the next course sciences and humanities well grounded in a specific field of engineering

optional courses obligatory subjects self-study to be engaged in research Post-graduate education under the guidance and supervision highly qualified specialists strength of materials to read for credit tests and exams housing construction

2. Practice using the following vocabulary

What do we call:	We call him (her):
1) a person who takes an examination in order to enter a University?	a candidate or an applicant.
2) a first year student?	a freshman or a fresher.
3) a person who studies at a higher educational Institution?	an undergraduate.
4) a student in his final year of studies?	a graduate.
5) a student who lives (doesn’t live) in the hostel?	a resident student; a day student.
6) a student who combines (doesn’t combine) work with study?	a part-time student; a full-time student.
7) a graduate who continues his studies to receive a degree?	a postgraduate.
8) a student (graduate) who had been given his first degree?	a Bachelor of Arts.
9) a student who studies at the Extramural Department?	an external student.
What do we call a room:	We call it:
1) where meetings, conferences and parties are held?	an assembly-hall.
2) which is used for gymnastics?	a gymnasium (gym).
3) which is used by the teaching-staff for work and rest during the breaks?	a staff common room.
4) which is used as a place of business where students’ progress, attendance and testing of knowledge are given day-by-day guidance?	the Dean’s office.

3. Practise using prepositions

A)

I went in for I sat for I took I had	my examination	in Mathematics in Physics in Economics in History in English	in spring.
I did well	at (in) the English examination
I did well	in Physics
I passed my examination I got through	in Mathematics	- with merit. with credit. satisfactory.
I failed	- in History in (at) my examination in English.	miserably.

Read the same in the Future Simple. Begin your sentences with I think, I hope, I don’t think,

No doubt, according to the sense.

B)

At	to have a subject … one’s fingers’ ends to be back … the University	- в
For	to be late … the lecture to have a gift (a bent) … research work to sit (to go in) … an examination to get a mark … a composition (essay)	на к - за
From	to graduate … the University to be excused … Physical Training	- от
In	to get a mark … a subject to be well grounded … a subject to be weak … a subject (English) to be … the first (last) year of one’s studies	по по по на
Of	to have a good command … the language	-
On	to ask questions … the text	по
To	to be late … the University	в
through	to look … a book	-

After having studied the above table, read the same covering the left-hand column. Use these word combinations in the sentences and various questions of your own.

2.2 Reading

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