Make up a story about the system of Higher education in the UK
6. Use the situations in the conversation:
1. You work as a guide in the U.K. A group of Russian students has arrived to London. They are interested in British higher education and universities. What would you tell them about it?
2. An English student is at your university. What questions would you like to ask him about his study and higher education in Great Britain?
Text 2
History of university and college
Universities originated in Europe during the eleventh century, but they were not the first in the world. Perhaps, the University of Al-Azhar founded in Cairo in 970 is one of the oldest still operating universities in the world.
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 [ba'lounja], 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.
Words and Expressions
to originate возникать, брать начало
to develop развиваться
scholar ['skɔlə] = scientist
law [lɔ:] право, юриспруденция
to appear появляться
to conduct вести, руководить, направлять
to settle селиться, обосноваться
to lodge временно проживать, снимать комнату
inn гостиница, постоялый двор
townsfolk горожане
to rent брать в аренду, внаем
to hunt охотиться
Try to arrange the Universities in chronological order.
Oxford, the University of Paris, the University of Bologna (Italy), Cambridge, Al-Azhar (Cairo)
Read the text and test yourself, write out the dates of foundation.
4. Read the text and find English equivalents of the next Russian word-combinations:
все еще действующий, монастырские школы, юридическая школа, унифицированное обучение, для удобства, всех возрастов, проживая в гостиницах, арендуя жилье
5. Complete the following sentences:
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...
Text 3
Oxford
Part I
Oxford was founded in the 12th century as an aristocratic University and retains its aristocratic character to the present day: the cost of studies is comparatively high. Students have to pay for using libraries and laboratories, as well as for taking examinations.
Oxford’s organization is very complicated. In fact, the University is a collection of 35 Colleges: two for women only, the rest taking both men and women. Each college is a world of its own which gives its students a specialized training in arts, law, medicine and science. The largest college has over 500 students; the smallest college has over 100 students.
The University is an administrative centre which arranges lectures for all students of the colleges, holds examinations and gives degrees.
The tutorial system of education used both in Oxford and Cambridge is one of the ways in which Oxbridge differs from other English Universities. Every student has a tutor in charge of planning his work and discussing its results with the student; the student’s duty is to regularly see his tutor and submit papers and essays. The tutorial system of education brings the student into personal contact with his tutor, the latter trying to influence the social and political life of the student.
The academic year in England has three terms; each term lasts from eight to ten weeks. Terminal examinations take place at the end of autumn, spring and summer terms. Final examinations take place at the end of the course of studies. If a student fails in an examination, he may be allowed to take the exam again, only two re-examinations being usually allowed.
1. Remember the words and word-combinations:
Oxford [ɒksfəd]
Oxbridge ['ɒksbriʤ]
to retain one’s aristocratic character - сохранять аристократический характер
cost of studies - стоимость обучения
arts - гуманитарные науки
to arrange lectures - организовывать лекции
tutor [´tju:tə] - преподаватель, наставник
to be in charge [´t∫a:ʤ] of smth - отвечать за ч-л
to influence - оказывать влияние
terminal examination - семестровый экзамен
final examination - выпускной экзамен
2. Complete the following sentences:
1. Oxford was founded in …
a) the 12th century b) the 13th centure c) long ago
2. The University is a collection of … Colleges.
a) 30 b) 35 c) 50
3. Every student has a tutor in charge …
a) of planning and discussing b) of teaching c) of taking exams
4. The tutorial system of education …
a) gives more academic freedoms
b) brings the student into personal contact
c) is a new system
5. The academic year is divided into …
a) two terms b) three terms c) four terms
6. Terminal examinations take place at the end of …
a) terms b) study c) academic year
7. If a student fails in an examination, he may …
a) take the exam again
b) pay more for study
c) apply to Cambridge
8. Oxford retains … to the present day.
a) resources across the University
b) aristocratic character
c) high payment
Text 4
Part II
1. Read the article and choose the best title:
1) Oxford University seeks to attract the best and brightest students.
2) Ten reasons to apply to Oxford.
3) Some of the reasons why you might like to apply
4) College information
5) Studying at Oxford
| Oxford University has a world-class (1) … for academic excellence. |
| Oxford University is accessible to all students of talent and ability, whatever their background. The generous Oxford Opportunity Bursary ensures that finance should not be (2) … to any UK student who wants to apply to Oxford. |
| Oxford is one of the few universities in the world that bases its teaching on (3) …, which means more individual attention and teaching from your tutors, tailored to your learning needs. |
| Many Oxford tutors are international experts in their chosen fields. This engagement with research and scholarship enables students to have (4) … of their subject discipline. |
| College life is one of the University’s greatest assets, since a close college community provides a friendly and welcoming home for students who are living away for the first time. Students soon get to know each other, and (5) … get to know students individually, enabling them to respond to their individual academic needs. |
| Students have access to resources across the University: unrivalled libraries, sports facilities, laboratories, language-learning opportunities, computer equipment and music (6) …. |
| Oxford University provides a diverse study environment: undergraduate students represent over 130 (7) … as well as all nations and regions of the UK. |
| With clubs, societies and events organized by colleges and the wider University, as well as vibrant city nightlife, Oxford offers opportunities for whatever (8) … you may be looking for. |
| Most colleges offer student (9) …for two years of your course and many can offer accommodation for every year of your course, saving you the trouble and expense of privately rented accommodation. |
| Oxford University has an excellent graduate employment record. Students have the use of the comprehensive careers service and enter a huge range of careers. (10) … recognize that Oxford’s rigorous academic degree courses give graduates many transferable skills, as well as breadth and depth in their chosen subject. |
2. Remember the words and word-combinations:
excellence - превосходство
accessible - доступный
engagement - обязательство
to enhance - усиливать, улучшать
facility -оборудование
accommodation - жильё
comprehensive - всеобъемлющий
employer - работодатель
employee - работающий по найму
3. Read the article again, and then complete it with the words or expressions from the box:
| Employers social life the tutorial system accommodation tutors an enhanced understanding a barrier facilities reputation nationalities |
4. Mark the statements true (T) or false (F) according to the article:
1. Oxford gives students a high level of academic education.
2. Oxford University is accessible to all students from the UK.
3. The organization system of Oxford doesn’t differ from that of all other universities and colleges.
4. Teaching is carried out by tutorial system.
5. Your tutor gives individual support and encourages you to develop your full potential.
6. Most colleges offer student accommodation for five years.
7. Students haven’t access to resources across the University.
8. The Oxford system combines the best of one-to-one or small-group teaching in college with the wealth of resources in the University.
9. Not many children from the working-class families are able to receive the higher education at Oxford.
10. There aren’t many societies and clubs at Oxford.
Text 5
Cambridge is the second oldest university in Britain. Cambridge University was opened in 1284 with the construction of the first college, Peterhouse. At present Cambridge University comprises twenty eight colleges of which one is only for men and two of them are women’s colleges (the first women’s college was opened in 1869); the remaining twenty five take both men and women.
Lying on the river Cam, the city of Cambridge takes its name from the river. The old university city where mostly teachers and students live is full of ancient buildings, chapels and libraries; college buildings are located there, too.
In the old times student’s life was full of restrictions. Students of Cambridge were not allowed to play games, sing, hunt, and fish or even to dance; they had to wear special dark clothes and the “squares”, the academic caps they still wear in our days. During the course all students have to live in the college; there are at present over 9 000 students in residence.
Cambridge has won international fame as the university were historical figures and personalities of literature and science received their education, Cromwell, Newton, Byron, Tennyson and Darwin among them. The great Russian scientist I.P. Pavlov came to Cambridge to receive the degree of the Honorary Doctor of Cambridge. Cambridge University has made the city of Cambridge internationally famous as a centre of science where Rutherford, Kapitza and other famous scientists have worked.
1. Remember the words and word-combinations:
Cambridge ['keimbriʤ]
restriction [ri'strikʃən] - ограничение
to be in residence - проживать
to receive a degree of the Honorary Doctor of Cambridge - получить ученую степень почетного доктора Кембриджа
2. Complete the following sentences:
1. Cambridge is … university in Britain.
a) the oldest
b) the second oldest
c) the youngest
2. The University is a collection of … Colleges.
a) 28
b) 30
c) 35
3. The first women’s college was founded in …
a) 1284
b) 1869
c) 1918
4. The city of Cambridge is situated on the river …
a) Thames
b) Cam
c) Severn
5. The students wear … in our days.
a) dark clothes
b) academic caps
c) dark blue trousers
6. All students have …
a) to live in inns
b) to rent a house
c) to live in the college
Text 6
Oxbridge
Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and most prestigious universities in Britain. Known together as “Oxbridge” (the word was invented by Lewis Carroll, the author of “Alice in Wonderland” and a lecturer in mathematics at Oxford), they have been chosen as national icons.
History
Of the two universities Oxford is the oldest. Nobody knows for sure when it was founded but teaching was already going on there by the early 12th century. Life was hard at Oxford at that time because there was constant trouble, even fighting, between the townspeople and the students. Then one day a student accidentally killed a man of the town. The Mayor arrested three other students who were innocent, and by order of King John they were hanged. In protest, many students and teachers left Oxford and settled in another little town, and so the University of Cambridge was born.
Since then there has been constant friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge.
Amazing facts
· In the early centuries, Oxford and Cambridge were the only universities in the country – if you wanted a university education, that’s where you went. But in those days student life was very different from what it is now. Students were not allowed to play games, to sing or to dance and all the lessons were in Latin.
· Until the late 19th century, only men were allowed to be students at the two universities.
· Both Oxford and Cambridge students refer to each other as ‘the other place’. Oxonians sometimes call Cambridge ‘a pale imitation of the real thing’. (Cambridge’s colours are light blue). Cantabrigians (people of Cambridge) refer to Oxford as ‘the dark side’. (Oxford’s colours are dark blue).