Dialogue 1.

Rachel – Do you want to come to school with me tomorrow, Sophie?

Sophie – Well, I’d like to, if that’s alright. I want to see what English schools are like?

Rachel – Great. I think you’ll enjoy it.

Sophie – When do children start school here in England?

Rachel – They usually go to nursery school first, when they are about three years old.

Sophie – Really, that’s when we start too.

Rachel – They don’t have lessons, though. They play or draw pictures, and learn things like counting and the alphabet.

Sophie – Oh, I see. So, when do they start having proper lessons?

Rachel – Well, when they are five years old, they start primary school. They stay there until they are eleven.

Sophie – And then they go to secondary school, right?

Rachel – That’s right – like me!

Sophie – So, when can English people leave a secondary school?

Rachel – Well, some people decide to leave when they are sixteen. They either go to a special college where they do some kind of job training, or they stop studying altogether and get a job.

Sophie – So, are you going to leave school when you are sixteen?

Rachel – No. I’m going to stay at school for another two years.

Sophie – And then university?

Rachel – That’s right. When I’m eighteen, I’ll go on to university. Some people get a job or do some other training, but I don’t want to/ I’m going to get a degree before I start work.

Sophie – Just like me. So, what time are we going to school tomorrow, then?

Задание 1. Заполните недостающую информацию в таблице:

AGE	Education in England

Ответ:

AGE	Education in England
	Nursery school
	Primary school
	Secondary school
	Leave school Stay at school for two years more
	Go to university Get a job

Ответ (вопросы):

- When do school children start nursery school in England?

- When they are three years old.

- Good. And what age do children start primary school in England?

- At five years of age.

Answer the following questions:

• How can we compare the tuition for education in the English speaking countries with that of our country?
• In the English speaking countries there is much emphasis on writing. Most tests are written. How are most tests taken in our country?
• In American education, much emphasis is placed on problem solving and discussion. There is a little emphasis on memorizing information. Do our students have to memorize much? Is there much emphasis on practical problem-solving and class discussion?
• Is there any interesting or unusual for you in the educational systems of the English speaking countries?
• Which subjects do you think all children should study at school? Choose five of them which you all agree are essential.
• Make a list of good and bad points of the educational system in your country taking into account the following: exam system, class size, quality of teaching, facilities, hours of study, school leaving age.
• What could be done to improve the education system?
• What constitutes a good education in your opinion?

V. Эталон ответа темы № 8 «Образование».

Порядок выполнения задания. Внимательно ознакомьтесь с предполагаемыми вопросами для собеседования на экзамене. Затем прочтите текст и отыщите ответы на приведенные выше вопросы. Проверьте себя, насколько хорошо вы ориентируетесь в теме, задайте подобные вопросы другим студентам в группе.

«Образование». Предполагаемые вопросы для собеседования.

1. What is the role of education in our life?

2. How does educational system vary in different countries?

3. Is it essential to have higher education nowadays?

4. Why have you decided to enter our college?

5. What are you learning and why? What subjects do you like/dislike?

6. Is it easy or difficult to learn? What subjects are you bad at?

7. How do you feel, studying at college? Who are your favourite teachers? Why?

8. What is the best way to learn something?

9. Are you taking part in any after – college activities?

10. Would you like to go on with your education after college? Where?

Эталон ответа:

The Russians show a great concern for education for themselves and their children because a good education means a better life. In the terms of ration of students to the total population Russia ranks among the top ten countries in the world. Education is now the most important factor in determining a person’s social role and his or her prospect for professional advance.

After graduating from secondary schools a growing number of Russians go on higher education. After finishing secondary school I became an applicant for entry. And as all applicants for entry I took competitive examinations. The fact is I failed my entrance exams and had to discuss my future prospects with my parents and friends. Finally, I entered the college “The Imperial Alexandrovsky Lyceum”.

To begin with I’d like to say that schools have changed a lot in recent years. Standards have improved and there is a much wider choice of schools, colleges, vocational schools and universities to suit all tastes, income and inclinations. According to our Constitution everybody has a right to a school place for a child from the age of 7 to 16. These places are provided free of charge. Everybody has a duty to make sure that the child goes to school until the teenager is 16 or 17. However in some schools the children are admitted on competitive basis, which I personally think to be very unfair and subjective. Psychologists say that all children must be given equal opportunities in primary school and then streamed according to the results of their progress and tests. Besides, many kids fall victim of their parents’ ambitions and go to a school their parents have chosen for him, ignoring their child’s interests and talents.

Comparing attitudes to education I’d like to say that Russian students are not so motivated as English or American students. As a rule their results at school are taken into account when they enter the University. In England those who finish school send their resume and their results to the university and anxiously wait for the answer. The graduate from a celebrated university automatically gets a higher salary and better prospects than the graduate from the less prestigious university. That partially explains the fact why students abroad are highly motivated to excel at school.

The situation has changed a lot recently and our school teachers use PC to prepare classes, distribute homework assignments, confer with other faculty members and even track an individual student's progress. It certainly brings exciting new learning opportunities to the classroom. So teachers, pretty much like their American colleagues, must attend summer courses to keep up with progress of science and technology and have a whole new world of resources and instructional software at their fingertips.

As far as I can figure it out the main aim of education nowadays is not to cram the child's brain with useful information, but to teach him high-order thinking skills through making decisions and choices. School must stir the curiosity and creativity of a child, but not grow up an obedient robot. Besides children must not only be introduced to science, statistics and computers but taught that communicating what they know and using it practically are as important as knowledge itself. They must be made aware of grammar but not bombarded with stodgy terms. A report must be a joyful discovery but not a boring obligation. There is hardly a schoolboy in Russia who thinks that school is fun and excitement and is honestly upset when the teacher in absent.

And to finish with I'd like to mention that it very often happens in our school that the curriculum squeezes the minority subjects like Music, Drama and extras like a second foreign language. To my mind Art must be integrated into the curriculum of all Russian schools. Art is a mighty mean of expression. Experienced teachers know that art is more than being a good drawer; inessential to their learning and literacy.

ТЕМА 9. «ПРОБЛЕМЫ МЕГАПОЛИСА».

I.Инструкции по выполнению тренировочных заданий:

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Дата добавления: 2015-08-03