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European universities developed from monastery schools and their development took place so slowly that it is difficult to know the point at which they became universities. Many scholars believe that the oldest European university is the University of Bologna, Italy. It was founded in the late tenth century, but it had existed as a law school since 890. The University of Paris developed during the eleventh century. Many other universities appeared in Europe during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

These first schools were founded largely to serve the professions. They provided the first unified teaching of law, medicine, and theology. The lessons were conducted in the Latin language, which the students were to speak even among themselves.

The oldest universities in Britain Oxford and Cambridge were founded in the Middle Ages. They have much in common and are, therefore, often spoken together, and are sometimes called collectively for convenience as Oxbridge. The word “college” originated later. There were no colleges in those early days and students’ life was very different from what it is now. Students were of all ages and came from everywhere. When the students began to settle in Oxford in the 12th century they lived as they could, lodging in inns and with townsfolk, or grouping themselves together and renting a house for their use. The first college (Merton College) was founded in 1249 and it was associated only with the residence for students to lodge. Life in college was strict.

Students were not allowed to play games, to sing or dance, to hunt or even to fish. Later, however, colleges developed into complete educational institutions.

 

Vocabulary

Authority - власть; авторитет

competition - конкуренция; состязание; соревнование

education - воспитание; образование; обучение

play – игра

reference - ссылка; сноска

to advance - делать успехи

to depend (on) - зависеть от

to fund - финансировать

to express - выражать

to graduate (from) - оканчивать высшее учебное заведение

to link - соединять, связывать

direct - прямой, непосредственный

further - дальнейший

independent - независимый, самостоятельный

primary - первоклассный; первый; начальный

private - частный, личный

secondary - средний    

senior - старший

successful - успешный, удачный

without - без

to be responsible for - отвечать за что-л. (кого-л.)

 

ЗАДАНИЯ  К  ТЕКСТУ:

1. Прочтите текст, сделайте устный  перевод и расскажите об истории  университетов и колледжей.

2. Прочтите текст повторно  и найдите английские эквиваленты следующих русских словосочетаний.

все еще действующий; монастырские школы; юридическая школа; унифицированное обучение; для удобства; всех возрастов; проживая в гостиницах; арендуя жилье; играть в игры.

3. Закончите следующие предложения.

1. University education originated in ... . 2. Lectures and lessons were conducted in ... . 3. The word “college” was at first associated with ... . 4. The first college originated in ... . 5. Oxford and Cambridge have much in ... and they are called collectively as ... .

4. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What institution is responsible for education in Great Britain/the Russia? 2. At what age do children go to school in Great Britain/the Russia? 3. What pre-school institutions are there in Britain/the Russia? 4. At what age do boys and girls leave school in England/the Russia? 5. What does the “0”- or “A”-level of the General Certificate of Education depend on? 6. What educational institutions provide higher education in England/the USSR? 7. What is the first scientific degree in England? 8. How long does the course for the first degree last? 9. How long do the post-graduate courses for a master's degree last? 10. How many more years of research studies arc needed for Ph.D.?

 

UNIVERSITIES  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN

 

There are 45 universities in Great Britain (including the Open University). The character of an English university can be understood from the history of its foundation and development only.

Oxford and Cambridge are known as the oldest unique universities founded in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, respectively. These universities developed from a great number of independent colleges and still remain unique in the strength of their collegiate traditions. Cambridge is a federation of 20 colleges, while Oxford consists of 48 colleges, of which some admit only men, others admit only women, and some are coeducational. The general proportion of men to women students in the country is about three to one; at Oxford and Cambridge it is over four to one.

The colleges of Oxbridge are residential institutions and they mainly use a tutorial method of teaching, which brings the tutor into close and personal contact with the student. Each tutor has 10-12 students.

Until the fifteenth century the history of Cambridge was not as significant as that of Oxford. But by the end of the seventeenth century the University was the home of Sir Isaac Newton – professor of mathematics from 1669 till 1702 whose influence was deep. At that time serious tests were offered to the candidates for degrees. During the early part of the nineteenth century examinations were greatly improved and written examinations were more often used than oral.

At the same time there were built a number of laboratories for natural sciences, among them the Cavendish Laboratory. The Cavendish Laboratory organized by the well-known Scottish mathematician and physicist Maxwell was opened in 1871. It was named after the English scientist of the 18th century Sir Henry Cavendish. Now it is one of the greatest physical laboratories known throughout the world.

Besides Oxbridge there are six more collegiate universities in Great Britain, but their structure and methods of teaching vary from one another. However, on the whole, the collegiate system can be described as follows: a collegiate university is a federation of colleges where each college is largely independent. Each college has its own separate legal foundation (building and staff of teachers) as well as its own sources of income. Colleges admit students, organize programmes and students' studies as well as residence, laboratories, libraries and term examinations, while the university is an examining and degree-granting body only. The university is responsible for organizing final examinations for all the body of college students and confers degrees to them on successful passing these examinations.

Social changes have certainly transformed the collegiate universities considerably. Many of the traditions have gone in the past. However, in spite -of all these changes Oxbridge colleges have not lost their distinctive character.

 

Vocabulary

body of students - студенты 

income - доход, заработок

influence - влияние; действие

residence - местожительство; резиденция; проживание

source - источник

staff - штат служащих, служебный персонал

term - семестр

tutor - руководитель группы студентов, куратор

to admit - допускать; признавать

to confer - присваивать звание; присуждать степень

to consist of - состоять из

distinctive - отличительный, характерный

oral - устный

significant - важный,    существенный, значительный

strict - строгий

respectively - соответственно

as follows - следующим образом

in spite of - несмотря на

throughout the world - во всем мире

 

ЗАДАНИЯ  К  ТЕКСТУ:

1. Прочтите текст и скажите, как  распределяются сферы деятельности  и управления в коллегиальных  университетах Англии. Какова степень независимости колледжей в университете?

 

2. Найдите в тексте английские  эквиваленты следующих русских  словосочетаний.

все еще остаются; совместное обучение; общее соотношение; еще шесть; методы обучения; в целом; следующим образом; в значительной степени независим; источники дохода; семестровые экзамены; выпускные экзамены; вся масса студентов колледжей; присваивать степень; успешная сдача экзаменов; несмотря на все эти изменения; отличительная черта; соответственно; свыше.

 

3. Найдите в тексте абзац в  подтверждение мысли о том, что:

не зная истории  зарождения и развития английского  университета, трудно понять его сущность; доступ женщин в английский университет  ограничен; унифицированные требования к знаниям студентов отдельных колледжей осуществляются через единые выпускные экзамены.

 

4. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What higher educational institutions are there in Great Britain? 2. How many universities are there in Great Britain? 3. What collegiate universities were mentioned in the text? 4. Why do they call these universities collegiate? 5. How many colleges are there in Oxford/Cambridge? 6. Why do they call these universities unique? 7. What are colleges responsible for? 8. Who is in charge of organizing final examinations? 9. Do English women enjoy equal rights with men in the field of higher education?

 

OPEN  UNIVERSITY

 

The Open University is the most recently established university in Great Britain. It was set up in 1969 for those people, who missed the chance of going to an ordinary university. The university differs from other universities in that its students work in full-time jobs and can study only in their free time by means of distance teaching materials, through correspondence and broadcasting. Students need to study about ten hours a week and they are to do a lot of watching and listening to the weekly lectures on television and radio.

As the university is really “open” neither formal entrance examinations, nor qualifications are required at undergraduate level. Students are admitted on a “first come, first served” basis. Each student gets the help of his own tutor who he meets regularly.

Students may be of all ages and come from all walks of life. Some of them want to improve their qualification, others come to the university to do something they have always wanted but had no time or good chance to do it before. This is one of the attractive aspects of the university.

The university has faculties and three programmes of study – undergraduate, associate and postgraduate. The B.A. degree is built up on a credit system. Student's final mark is based on the exam in October and the written assignments done during the year. If you pass and most people do, you have got one credit towards the six that you need for the B.A. degree. At the usual speed of a course a year it will take you six (or eight) years to get your degree.

Returning to “school” may be difficult for most students as they have forgotten or never knew how to study and to prepare for the exams. As an Open University student you get to university life at the summer schools which you must attend -in the first year. You spend a week at a college or university taking lectures and seminars, having discussions and working hard in an exciting atmosphere. It is here that most students understand that they have begun to master the discipline of university study.

 

Vocabulary

distance teaching -  заочное обучение

qualifications - квалификационное свидетельство об образовании

undergraduate level - курс обучения на степень бакалавра

from all walks of life - разного общественного  положения

it is here that you - именно здесь вы

broadcasting - радиопередача, радиовещание

chance - случай, случайность; возможность,

credit - вера, доверие; зачет

entrance - вход; вступление

mark - оценка

majority - большинство

to establish - устанавливать, основывать

to excite - волновать; возбуждать, вызывать

to forget (forgot, forgotten) - забывать

to master - одолеть, справиться; владеть, овладеть

to miss -пропускать; упускать

to prepare (for) - готовить, подготавливать; готовиться (к)

to serve - служить

to set up - учреждать, создавать

external - наружный, внешний

own - собственный

recently - недавно

research associate - научный сотрудник

 

ЗАДАНИЯ  К  ТЕКСТУ:

1. Прочтите текст и найдите  в нем факты, подтверждающие  два мнения:

- «Открытый» университет – привлекательная и гуманная форма обучения;

- «Открытый»  университет – трудная форма обучения.

 

2. Найдите в тексте английские  эквиваленты следующих русских  словосочетаний:

был учрежден; упустил возможность (шанс); отличается от; повысить квалификацию; привлекательная  черта; система зачетов; потребуется 6 лет; готовиться к экзаменам; приобщиться к студенческой жизни; работая упорно; волнующая (захватывающая) атмосфера.

 

3. Найдите в тексте и прочтите  абзац, где говорится:

– о социальном составе студентов;

– о правилах приема;

– о трудностях, с которыми сталкиваются студенты и мерах по их преодолению;

– об организации университета.

4. Ответьте на вопросы:

 

1. Why do they call the university “open”? 2. What is the difference between an ordinary university and the Open University? 3. What teaching methods do they use? 4. Who are the students of the university? 5. How many faculties and programmes are there at the university? 6. How many credits must a student get for a BA degree? 7. How much time does it practically take him to do it? 8. What difficulties may a student meet in his studies?

 

5. Подумайте и скажите о:

 

1. The British Open University and its positive aspects.

2. The evening department or part-time department education in Russia.

3. Correspondence departments (заочное отделение) at Russian colleges.

 

 

 

Темы  для  устного  изложения

 

State  System  of  the  Russian  Federation

 

The Russian Federation is set up by the Constitution of 1993.

Under the Constitution Russia is a presidential republic. The federal government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. Each of them is checked and balanced by the President.

The legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly. It consists of two chambers. The Upper Chamber is the Council of Federation; the Lower Chamber is the State Duma.

Each chamber is headed by the Speaker. Legislature maybe initiated in either of the two Chambers. But to become a law a bill must be approved by both Chambers and signed by the President. The President may veto the bill.

The President is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, he makes treaties, enforces laws, appoints ministers to be approved by the Federal Assembly.

The executive power belongs to the Government which is headed by the Prime Minister. The first action of the Prime Minister on appointment is to form the Cabinet.

The judicial branch is represented by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the regional courts.

The members of the Federal Assembly are elected by popular vote for a four-year period.

Today the state symbol of Russia is a three-coloured banner. It has three horizontal stripes: white, blue and red. The white stripe symbolizes the earth, the blue one stands for the sky, and the red one symbolizes liberty. It was the first state symbol that replaced the former symbols in 1991. The hymn of Russia is “The Patriotic Song” by M. Glinka. A new national emblem is a two-headed eagle. It is the most ancient symbol of Russia. It originates from the heraldic emblem of the Ruricovitches. All these symbols are official. They have been approved by the Federal Assembly.

 

Vocabulary

to be set up - быть учрежденным, основанным

Under the Constitution -в соответствии с конституцией

a presidential republic - президентская республика

the federal government - федеральное правительство

a branch - власть (как часть правительства)

legislative - законодательный

executive - исполнительный

judicial - судебный

to be checked by smb. - контролироваться кем-либо

to be balanced by smb. – уравновешиваться кем-либо

to be vested in - осуществляться кем-либо

the Federal Assembly -федеральное собрание

a chamber - палата

the Council of Federation - Совет Федерации

to be headed by the Speaker - возглавляться спикером

to initiate a legislature - внести законопроект

to approve a bill - принять законопроект

to be signed by smb. - быть подписанным кем-либо

to veto the bill - наложить вето на законопроект

commander-in-chief - главнокомандующий

the armed forces - вооруженные силы

to make a treaty - заключить договор

to enforce a law - проводить закон в жизнь

to appoint a minister - назначить министра

to belong to smb. - принадлежать кому-либо

the Prime Minister - премьер-министр

on appointment - после назначения

to form the Cabinet - сформировать кабинет

to be represented by smb. - быть представленным кем-либо

the Constitutional Court - Конституционный суд

the Supreme Court - Верховный суд

a regional court - региональный суд

to be elected by popular vote - быть избранным всенародным голосованием

the state symbol - государственный символ

a banner - знамя

a hymn - гимн

a national emblem - национальный герб

to originate from smth. - происходить от чего-либо

the heraldic emblem of the Ruricovitches - родовой герб Рюриковичей

 

ЗАДАНИЯ  К  ТЕКСТУ:

 

1. Прочтите текст, пользуясь приведенным выше словарем. Изложите кратко основное содержание текста на английском языке.

 

 

2. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What does the federal government consist of? 2. What part does the President play in the government? 3. What is the legislative power vested in? 4. How does a bill become a law? 5. What are the functions of the President? 6. What are the executive and the judicial branches represented by? 7. What are the official symbols of Russia?

 

Education  in  the  Russian  Federation

 

Russians have always shown a great concern for education. The right to education is stated in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. It is ensured bу compulsory secondary schools, vocational schools, and higher education establishments. It is also ensured by the development of extramural and evening courses and the system of state scholarships and grants.

Education in Russia is compulsory up to the 9th form inclusive. The stages of compulsory schooling in Russia are: primary education for ages 6 – 7 to 9 – 10 inclusive; secondary education including intermediate school for ages 10 – 11 to   12 – 13 inclusive, and senior school for ages 13 – 14 to 14 – 15 inclusive. If a pupil of a secondary school wishes to go on in higher education, he or she must stay at school for two more years. Primary and secondary school together comprise 11 years of study. Every school has a “core curriculum” of academic subjects, such as Russian, Literature, Mathematics, History, a foreign language and others. Lyceums and gymnasiums offer programs giving a profound knowledge in some field of study.

After finishing the 9th form one can go on to a vocational school which offers programmes of academic subjects and a program of training in a technical field, or a profession.

After finishing the 11 the form of a secondary school, a lyceum or a gymnasium one can go on in higher education. All applicants must take competitive examinations. Higher education institutions, that is, institutes or universities, offer a 5-year program of academic subjects for undergraduates in a variety of fields, as well as a graduate course. If one finishes a graduate course and writes a thesis, he or she receives a candidate's degree or a doctoral degree.

Higher educational establishments are headed by Rectors. Prorectors are in charge of academic and scientific work. An institute or a university has a number of faculties, each specializing in a field of study. Faculties have specialized councils which confer candidate and doctoral degrees. The system of secondary and higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: to decentralize the higher education system, to develop a new financial mechanism, to give more academic freedoms to faculties and students. All secondary schools, institutes and universities until recently have been funded by the state. Now there is quite a number of private fee-paying primary and secondary schools; some universities have fee-paying departments.