THE OLDEST UNIVERSITY IN RUSSIA

Exercise 1. Read the text and find the information about the number of departments and chairs, research institutes and museums of this educational establishment and about its age and the staff.

Notes:

scholar, scientist – ученый

list - перечень

endless - бесконечен

post- graduates - аспиранты

dormitories - общежития

internationally recognized - признаны во всем мире

conveniences – удобства

Moscow University is the oldest University in Russia. It was founded more than 250 years ago by the great Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov. The University produced a great number of brilliant scholars such as Zhukovsky, Stoletov, Sechenov, Timiryasev, Pavlov and Vernadsky, classics of Russian literature: Lermontov, Griboyedov, Turgenev and Chekhov also studied at the University. The list of such great names is endless.

Today every fifth Russian academician is its graduate.

There are 16 departments, 275 Chairs, 360 laboratories, four research institutes, a computer center, four observatories, a botanical garden and its branches and three museums.

There are over 120 academicians and corresponding members of the All Russia Academy of Sciences among the 8,000 instructors.

There are about 2,000 foreign students and post-graduates from 101 countries in the University. They live in dormitories with all modern conveniences and comfort.

The teaching standards in Moscow University are very high and internationally recognized.

Text 4

Exercise 1. Read and translate the dialogue.

INSTITUTE LIFE.

Kate: Hello, Ann. Haven’t seen you for ages. What are you doing now?

Ann: I’m studying in the teacher training institute.

Kate: Are you, really? What are you doing?

Ann: I’m doing foreign languages.

Kate: How very interesting! You know my sister is leaving school this year and her dream is to enter this institute. Will you tell me some words about your institute?

Ann: Most willingly. What are you interested in?

Kate: What languages are you doing?

Ann: German and English. German is my first language and English is the second. I have taken it up only this year.

Kate: Which of them do you find more difficult?

Ann: English grammar is easy but pronunciation is my weak point. I have to work hard at it in the language laboratory. On the whole, English is easier in my opinion.

Kate: How long will your course run?

Ann: Five years. In the fourth and fifth years we’ll have our teaching practice at school.

Kate: How many periods do you have daily?

Ann: As a rule we have one or two lectures, then a seminar or a class in English or in German.

Kate: Is it a hard job to do two foreign languages?

Ann: If you don’t miss classes and work regularly you are sure to make a good progress.

Kate: Do students sometimes fail at the exams?

Ann: They do, if they work by fits and starts.

Kate: Thanks a lot for this useful information.

Ann: You are welcome.

Exercise 2. Make up a dialogue (with your fellow student):

a) in an analogue with the dialogue: “Institute life”, but change some facts meaning your specialization.

b)imagine you’ve met a student of a USA or Britain university in an informal situation. What would you like to know about his (her) student’s life (or university)?What can you tell him (her) about your university?

SPEECH EXERCISES.

Exercise Speak about our University (its history, structure, operation, extra-class activity)

WRITTEN TASK.

Exercise 1. Write a letter to your pen-friend. Here is a part from her letter:

“… I congratulate your on entering the University. What is your higher school? What is the admission to it based on? What specialists does it train? How long does the training course last? What are you going to do after graduating from it? What can you say about the location and other things you have at your disposal in your higher school? Are you engaged in any extra-class activities?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Lots of love,

Ann”

Observe the rules of letter writing.

Exercise 2. Comment on the following statement.

Technology is an important part of our lives. We use computers and other electronic equipment at work, during our studies and at home. However some people believe we rely too much on machines and that the more technology improves, the lazier and weaker humans will become.

What can you say for and against using technology during your studies?

Follow the plan:

1. Make a general statement of the problem

2. Give arguments for using technology during the studies

3. Give arguments against using technology during the studies.

4. Make the conclusion

MY WORKING DAY, MY STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY.

SPEECH PATTERNS

Exercise 1. Read and translate.

1. My friends live far from my house and that’s why it takes me an hour and a half to get there. 2. As a rule his brother takes him to the Zoo on Sunday. 3) As to my dinner, I prefer (предпочитаю) the second course (блюдо) to the first one. 4) On my way back home I buy some fresh vegetables. 5 ) I’m going to become a teacher in my nearest future.