1. What is the aim of British education?
2. What education is compulsory in Great Britain?
3. When do children begin attending a primary school?
4. At what age do children go to a comprehensive school?
5. What kind of school-leaving exams do children take?
6. What types of higher educational establishments are there in the UK?
7. What is necessary to go on to higher education?
8. What courses of study are offered by higher education establishments?
9. What plans did the Government publish in 1991?
10. What are the three types of universities in Great Britain?
Exercise 2. Do the following tasks:
1. Divide the text into logical parts.
2. Give a name to each part.
3. Give the contents of each part in 1-2 phrases.
4. Give the summary of the whole text.
Text 2
Students working for their first degree at university are called undergraduates. When they take their degree they are called graduate and then they are called graduates. If they continue studying at university after they have graduated, they are called post-graduates. Full-time students have three terms of about ten weeks in each year. University teaching combines lectures given by professors, readers or lecturers, practical classes and small group teaching in seminars or tutorials.
In Britain great attention is paid to teacher training. Teacher training, according to one teacher, is preparation for «working with the most valuable resourse the country has». Teacher training is realized at universities and colleges of higher education. Non-graduates normally take a four-year Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree, while those who are l8 ready graduates undertake a one-year Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE).
The course of study for intending teachers is based upon compulsory and optional subjects. The Program usually consists of three core components: School-based experience. Subject studies and Education studies. One of the main subjects is Theory of Education. At the end of the second year students are to make their choice as to the age-range of children they wish to prepare to teach. Junior students go into schools for one day each week, watching experienced teachers at work.
They take part in the life of the school, help with games. Senior students spend fifteen weeks on teaching practice. They learn the use of different educational aids, observe lessons and take part in discussing them.
Exercise 1. Read text 2 without dictionary and answer the following questions:
1. What students are called undergraduates?
2. What students are called graduates?
3. What students are called post-graduates?
4. How many terms do full - time students have?
5. What does University teaching combine?
6. In Britain great attention is paid to teacher training, isn’t it? Why?
7. How long does the course of study for intending, teachers last? What degree do they usually receive?
8. What does the Program usually include? What is the main subject?
9. In what way do students take part in the life of the school?
Text 3
The School Year
In Britain schools have three terms - the first term is from September to the middle of December. There is then a two or three week holiday until early January when the second term starts. Again there is a short holiday (usually two weeks) over Easter which means the final term starts in mid-April and continues until July. In some schools classes finish in early July (especially the private schools which have classes on Saturdays and so they can have slightly longer holidays) but most schools finish in mid to late July. The summer holiday lasts for about six weeks. The final term of the school year is particularly busy because of state exams (GCSEs, and «A» Levels) which are held in May and June. As in Russia the teachers get very tired towards the end of that term and they really deserve their holidays.
Quiz about Education in Britain:
1. In Britain you have to attend school between:
a) 5 and 16
b) 5 and 18
c) 7 and 16
2. A comprehensive school is …….
a) a school of languages
b) a school for 15-11 years olds
c) a school for 11-16 year olds
3. In 1989 a new National Curriculum was introduced into British schools. Ten subjects had to be studied. Three of these subjects (called «core subjects») were chosen for special attention. Here are the ten subjects to be studied. Which do you think are the «subjects»?
a) English
b) History
c) Geography
d) Art
e) Science
f) Mathematics
g) a foreign language
h) Design and Technology
i) Physical Education
j) Music
4. 16 year olds in Britain have to take General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations. Girls have significantly better results than boys in three of the following GCSE subjects. Which three?
a) Mathematics
b) Biology
8 9
c) French
d) History
e) English
f) Chemistry
Answer the following questions:
1. What ages do you attend school in Russia?
2. What subjects must you study?
3. Are there some subjects you can choose?
4. Did you take music lessons at school? For how long?
5. What exams must you take when you finish school?
6. Why did you decide to study at our Institute?
7. What are your future plans?
8. Are you fond of reading? Do you read much?
9. What is the difference between «to take an exam» and «to pass an exam»?