Text 1 Education in Belarus.
В Беларуси дети идут в школу в возрасте шести лет. Среднее образование, которое является обязательным длится 11
In Belarus children go to school at the age of six. Secondary education which is compulsory lasts 11
лет. Она состоит из трех уровней: начальной школы, средней школы и средней школы. Начальная школа длится
years. It consists of three levels: primary school, secondary school and high school. Primary school lasts
в течение четырех лет. В игровой форме дети учатся не только читать, писать и считать, но и рисовать,
for four years. In the form of games children learn not only to read, write and count but also to draw,
проектировать простые вещи, петь и танцевать.
design simple things, sing and dance.
Второй уровень составляет пять лет обучения с широким выбором предметов. Родители могут выбрать
The second level is five years of instruction with a wide choice of subjects. Parents may choose the
Учебный план по способности и наклонности своих детей. В конце 9-го класса ученики принимают
curriculum according the abilities and inclinations of their children. At the end of the 9th form pupils take
Базовый Сертификат испытаний по математике, истории, русском и белорусском языках. По их результатам
Basic Certificate Examination in Maths, History, Russian and Belarusian. According to their results
ученики могут перейти в среднюю школу или получить профессиональное образование.
pupils can go to high school or get professional education.
Средняя школа состоит из двух лет обучения. Каждый ученик может сделать конкретный выбор, который подвергает
High school consists of two years of instruction. Every pupil can make particular choice which subjects
он или она не хочет учиться на продвинутом уровне: науки, гуманитарные науки, лингвистика и т.д. Там может быть не более
he or she wants to study on advanced level: sciences, humanities, linguistics etc. There can be no more
чем три обязательных предметов. В 11-м классе учащиеся сдают Аттестат экзамен по математике
than three compulsory subjects. In the 11th form pupils take General Certificate Examination in Maths,
Русский или белорусский и свободны выбрать третий экзамен среди предметов, которые они изучали на
Russian or Belarusian and are free to choose the third exam among the subjects they have studied on
продвинутый уровень.
advanced level.
Школа проходит пять дней в неделю. Каждый урок длится 45 минут с перерывами от 15 до 20 минут
School takes place five days a week. Every lesson lasts 45 minutes with breaks from 15 to 20 minutes.
Школа начинается 1 сентября и заканчивается 31-го мая. Он разделен на четыре точки с
The school begins on the 1st of September and is over on the 31st of May. It is divided into four terms with
праздники до 14 дней между ними. В летние каникулы длятся с июня по сентябрь.
holidays up to 14 days between them. The summer holidays last from June to September.
Text 2 .
As far as knowledge is the highest privilege of the day, school should provide the greatest possible educational opportunities for its pupils.
The problems of education always were in the national spotlight. There is now public debate about how schools are run, how they are financed, what they should teach, what they should achieve and to whom they should be accountable. Opinions on what kind of school provides the best education differ considerably but to my mind any school that achieves its goals is effective. Certainly, there is no doubt that good education helps people to develop their personalities and to make their way in society.
As for me, I study in Vileyka Gymnasium #1 “Logos”. Gymnasium N1 of Vileyka was founded in 1991, since June 1993 it is called “Logos”. Logos means the word, the meaning of the word, good and deep knowledge. The two symbols of the Gymnasium are its flag and emblem. The blue colour of the flag is the color of the sky, hope and optimism. The white color is the purity of our plans, an open page. The triangle is a symbol that unites students, teachers and parents. We associate ourselves with a hive and busy bees. We try to use properly what we have today, to value the time, and to be sure of our success. There are about 800 students and 93 teachers in the Gymnasium today.
Our gymnasium is one of the most advanced schools in our republic which gives every pupil an opportunity to choose basic or advanced program within the subject and provides freedom, cooperation and self-access. I think, it is very useful because pupils can work with additional material, can address for the explanation to the teacher or the fellow students or to work in pairs and in groups.
So, I can say that our school is effective, because it achieves its goals. It teaches the whole child gives him academic growth, moral strength and physical development. This process in my school is reflected in the school curriculum on which it works. The curriculum encourages the development of the personality. It consists of the formal, informal and “hidden” curriculum. The formal curriculum is activities, planned to take place during school hours, it is formally presented as the time-table and you see it when you enter the hall on the ground floor. Also formal curriculum includes optional courses which pupils have chosen to have an advanced program within the subjects which they are to take at the Central Testing to enter the higher educational establishments.
Informal curriculum takes an important part in our school life too. It helps us to improve physical, musical, dramatic and other abilities through extracurricular activities such as studious, clubs, music lessons and sport sections. Our artists, pop-singers, poets have won many contests too. We can attend the intellectual team “Nika”, the Art Studio “Vyasyolka” , the Dance Company “Forsazh” , the folk group “Perepyolochka”, a chanting studio, a choir and some crafts groups. Our pupils can learn to play the piano, the accordion, the guitar and different folk instruments. Besides, our school has worked out a system of school traditions through which from year to year pupils acquire moral strength. Everyone in our school including parents and teachers takes part in parties, celebrations, concerts and meetings. Every school year begins with Knowledge Day, the whole-school meeting on the 1st of September in the school yard. On Teacher’s Day we have different concerts or Funny Club Meeting between students of different forms. It is usually a great show with clever jokes, bright improvisation and well-prepared program. After the autumn holidays we have traditional and one of the most important events - the Day of Initiation into the gympupils. It is a special holiday for the fifth-formers when they compete for the right to be called pupils of Gymnasium “Logos”. New Year celebrations are very popular. Students are on the stage again. They discover their talents and new bright stars appear in the gymnasium sky. In February school leavers get together to recollect their school years. Defenders’ Day is a great sport holiday for the strongest and the most courageous boys. On the 8th of March we organize the brightest contest for the most charming girls of Gymnasium “Logos”. They demonstrate their talents and mastery in singing, cooking and dancing. At the final concerts in June we show our parents everything we have learnt, the best pupils get diplomas and awards and we say good-bye to Gymnasium till September.
Our students take part in different Town, Regional and Republican contests, competitions and Olympiads. They are engaged in working on various scientific and research projects and then presenting them at difference conferences. Our senior pupils can participate in the international contest. They have an opportunity to know another culture, to make new friends and to improve their English.
Speaking about our gymnasium I must admit that it provides the greatest educational opportunities. It gives pretty good knowledge and understanding of the world. In our school pupils and teachers are good partners and companions. School helps pupils to realize their personalities to find place in society and to become useful members of it realizing their abilities, talents and skills.