Open the brackets and complete the sentences.
Mind that all verbs are used in the Passive Voice!
1. British higher education … (to associate with) universities.
2. Oxford and Cambridge … (to compose of) semi-independent colleges.
3. The universities with a technical bias … (to know) as 'redbrick' universities.
4. Polytechnical universities … (to design) to give practical and vocational education.
5. After the interview an applicant … (to offer) a place on the basis of GCEA-level exams.
6. The Open University … (to establish) in 1969.
8. Say if the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Use the following phrases:
| to express agreement: | I agree that... It's true... It goes without saying that... |
| to express disagreement: | I disagree because... I can't agree with this statement because... It's false... On the contrary... |
1.Higher education in Britain is given at universities only.
2.All British universities are state universities.
3.'Redbrick' universities are institutions with a technical bias.
4.Every British student with A-level qualifications can study at a university.
5.If parents earn a lot of money, their child will get a full grant.
6.The British university year is divided into two terms.
7.Students who study for their first degree are called graduates.
9. Match the question and the answer:
| 1. What do the British universities differ in? | a) Yes, they are. |
| 2. When does the academic year start? | b) Yes, they do. |
| 3. Are the final examinations important? | c) In the date of foundation, size, history, traditions, ways of student life and methods of teaching. |
| 4. 'Redbrick' universities have close links with local industry, don't they? | d) In the countryside. |
| 5. Are 'campus' universities located in the countryside or in the cities? | e) In October. |
And now give the full answers to these questions.
10. Work in pairs. Answer the following questions. Use such expressions as:
I think/ suppose/ consider/ believe/ guess…
To my mind…
In my opinion…
As far as I remember/ know/ understand…
The matter/ trouble/ problem is…
Frankly speaking…
To tell the truth…
I'm inclined to think…
1. What educational institutions provide higher education in Britain?
2. What educational institutions provide degree courses? How long do they last?
3. What vocational training do Colleges of higher education provide?
4. Which group of universities has a technical bias?
5. What do 'campus' universities focus on?
6. Who studies at the Open University? How does this university operate?
7. Is higher education in Britain selective? Prove your point of view.
8. What does the grant depend on? What does it cover?
9. How many terms are there in the academic year? How long are they?
10. What subjects do students study?
11. What degree do the students get after the graduation?
12. What degrees can they obtain if they decide to continue studying?
11. Here are the answers. Your task is to put questions.
1. Yes, they combine studies with work.
2. No, at first they catered for local people.
3. At Christmas, at Easter, and three or four months in summer.
4. Medical and veterinary courses last five or six years.
5. They get the Bachelor of Science.
Make up the plan and retell the text.
13. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:
1. Высшее образование в Британии основано на процессе отбора по результатам собеседования.
2. Студенты получают степень бакалавра после трех лет обучения.
3. Открытый Университет – это самое большое образовательное учреждение, которое предлагает заочное обучение.
4. Несмотря на различия в методах преподавания, обучение во всех британских университетах состоит из лекций и семинарских занятий.
5. На семинарах студенты обсуждают различные вопросы в маленьких группах.
6. У студентов-заочников очень мало свободного времени, так как они сочетают работу с учебой.
7. Студенты очного отделения получают стипендию, которая покрывает затраты на обучение и некоторые затраты на проживание.
OXBRIDGE
What are the most famous universities of Great Britain? When were they founded? How do students study there? You will find the answer to these questions if you read the next text.
Before reading study the words and phrases given in the table. Mind the pronunciation of the following words! Look them up in the dictionary and write down the transcriptions. And now practise reading them.
| coat of arms | герб |
| self-governing | самоуправляющийся, автономный |
| purpose | цель |
| chapel | капелла, часовня |
| chancellor | ректор |
| hostel | общежитие |
| the cost of education | стоимость образования |
| speciality | специальность |
| individual tuition | индивидуальное обучение |
| to guide through | вести, быть руководителем |
| a wide range of subjects | широкий спектр предметов |
| to be awarded | присуждаться |
| public ceremony | общественная церемония |
| gown | мантия |
| society | общество |
| to debate | обсуждать, дискутировать |
| up-to-day issues | современные, насущные проблемы |
| politician | политик |
Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and the most traditional universities in Great Britain. They are often called Oxbridge to denote elitist education. Oxford was established in 1249, the first college at Cambridge, Peterhouse, was founded in 1284. The universities were only for men until 1871, when the first women's college was founded. Almost all colleges are mixed now and people from different parts of the world come to Oxbridge to study and to get degrees.
Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of a number of colleges. Each college has its name, its coat of arms. Each college is self-governing. The large colleges have more than 400 members; the smallest ones have less than 30. Within a college there is a chapel, a dining-hall, a library, and rooms for students and for teaching purposes. All the students must pay for their education, examinations, books and libraries, laboratories, university hostel. Very few students get grants. The cost of education depends on the college and speciality.
The head of the university is a chancellor who is elected for life. The teachers are usually called 'dons' and 'tutors'. Teaching is carried out by tutorial system for which Oxford and Cambridge universities are known all over the world. This is a system of individual tuition organized by the colleges. Every student has a tutor who practically guides him through the whole course of studies. The tutor plans the student's work and once or twice a week a student goes to his tutor to discuss his work with him. Each college offers teaching in a wide range of subjects. Students usually study only one or two subjects, such as politics and philosophy, or German and linguistics, for the whole of their course.
After three years of study students take the Bachelor's degree, and later the Master's and the Doctor's degrees. The degrees are awarded at public degree ceremonies. Oxford and Cambridge universities respect their traditions, such as the use of Latin at degree ceremonies. And students must wear gowns at lectures and exams.
The universities have over hundred societies and clubs. There are religious societies and societies for those who don't believe, sport and drama clubs. The Debating society is very popular among the students. There they debate political and other important up-to-date issues with the famous politicians and writers. Their debates are shown on TV.
A number of great men, well-known scientists and writers studied at Oxbridge, among them Erasmus, the great Dutch scholar, Roger Bacon, the philosopher, Oliver Cromwell, the soldier, John Milton and George Gordon Byron, the poets, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, the scientists.