Higher education in Great Britain and the USA
1. Work with a partner and complete the following tasks.
a) Make up a list of qualities that make a good teacher.
b) Compare your lists. Then agree on a class list of the four most important qualities.
2. Listen to John and Claire talking about teachers they remember from school. Complete the sentences with ML (Madam Lorenzo) or MT (Mr Tucker). Here are some of the words that may be unfamiliar to you
imbecilic - слабоумный, идиот; умственно отсталый
grin - усмешка
to giggle - хихикать
to twitch – подёргиваться
a) … taught French.
b) … never changed his/her jacket.
c) … was near to retirement.
d) … was popular with the boys.
e) … shouted a lot.
f) … probably did not go to university.
g) … said cruel things to the students.
h) … was married.
i) … talked about the past.
3. Listen to the recording once again and fill in the gaps.
1. It was my last year at school and she took us … , which I was … .
2. She must have been … .
3. I can’t remember the number of times she … .
4. The word “imbecile” was her … .
5. ‘You are like my Marcel – you will never … .’
6. His eye twitched really fast … .
7. ‘You’ll learn when you’ve … and started a family’
8. ‘The army used to … into them.’
4. Talk about your most memorable teacher.
№ 58 LISTENING
Higher education in Great Britain and the USA
1. Work with a partner and complete the following tasks.
a) Make up a list of qualities that make a good teacher.
b) Compare your lists. Then agree on a class list of the four most important qualities.
2. Listen to John and Claire talking about teachers they remember from school. Complete the sentences with ML (Madam Lorenzo) or MT (Mr Tucker). Here are some of the words that may be unfamiliar to you
imbecilic - слабоумный, идиот; умственно отсталый
grin - усмешка
to giggle - хихикать
to twitch – подёргиваться
j) … taught French.
k) … never changed his/her jacket.
l) … was near to retirement.
m) … was popular with the boys.
n) … shouted a lot.
o) … probably did not go to university.
p) … said cruel things to the students.
q) … was married.
r) … talked about the past.
3. Listen to the recording once again and fill in the gaps.
1. It was my last year at school and she took us … , which I was … .
2. She must have been … .
3. I can’t remember the number of times she … .
4. The word “imbecile” was her … .
5. ‘You are like my Marcel – you will never … .’
6. His eye twitched really fast … .
7. ‘You’ll learn when you’ve … and started a family’
8. ‘The army used to … into them.’
4. Talk about your most memorable teacher.
FOCUS ON FUNCTIONS
1. Study the following language toolbox.
| Language toolbox | |
| Agree | Disagree |
| So have I. Neither do I. So was I. Nor had I. Neither did I. Me too. Me neither. | I haven’t. I do. I wasn’t. I had. I did. |
2. Listen to a conversation between two people and note down things they have in common.
3. From your notes in 2 use the sentence frame below to make as many true sentences as you can about the man and the woman.
The man ……, and so ……. the woman.
and neither/nor
4. Work with a partner. Use the following sentence beginnings to write statements (preferably, describing your school or university life) which are true for you and which you believe are also true for your partner. Find at least two ways to finish each sentence beginning. You will need your sentences in 5. Do not speak to your partner yet.
For example: I attended judo class when at school. I attended lots of different courses when at school.
a) I attended … g) I can’t …
b) I’m not keen on … h) I’ve never liked …
c) I’m … i) I’d like to …
d) I used to … j) I really like
e) I’ve got … k) I’ll never …
f) I am irritated … l) I must …
5. Use the sentences you’ve written in 4 to play Bingo. Copy the Bingo card on a separate piece of paper. With a partner, take turns to read out one of your sentences in 4. If your partner can answer with one of the responses on the Bingo card, you can cross out one square. If your partner can’t use one of the responses because what you say is not true for them, you must wait for your next go to try another sentence. The aim of the game is to be the first person to cross out all the squares on the card.
| So did I. | Nor am I. | So am I. |
| So must I. | So did I. | So am I. |
| Neither can I. | Neither have I. | So would I. |
| So do I. | Neither will I. | So have I. |
SPEAKING
1. Compare the system of higher education in the USA and Great Britain with that of your country following the plan. Which system do you find more effective?
· The value of education
· Types of higher educational establishments
· Admission policy
· Tuition fees and opportunities to cover them
· Methods of instructions, the way studies are organized
2. Imagine that you have to choose a place to study. Put these factors in order of priority from 1 to 5 (1 = most relevant). Which one would influence you most in making a decision?
· the location
· the reputation
· the qualifications offered
· international contacts
· teaching methods
· residential accommodation
· tuition fees
· extracurricular activities
· other facilities (specify)
3. Work in groups of three. Discuss the list with other members of your group.
4. Many British colleges offer language studies for foreign students. Look through some college prospectuses. What information about the colleges and the courses they run do these provide you with? If you were to choose among these which one would you prefer to apply to? Explain your choice to the partner.
| Hastings College of Arts and Technology Contact: Mr Gahie. Association: Baselt. Course times: All year, Summer vacation. This State college is located on a hillside close to the sea, with extensive views. The international department is in its own separate building near the main college. It prides itself on its caring environment. The maximum class size is 14, average 10 to 12. There are 21 hours of tuition per week. All language skills are taught, with emphasis on students’ confidence in language use. Students are expected to work hard. Facilities. Facilities include computers with self-study, video and a library with study areas. Options. There are options in business English, travel and tourism and computing. Exams. Cambridge PET, FCE, CAF, Oxford Preliminary and Higher, TOEFL. Accommodation. Host family, self-catering, guest houses, hotels. Host families provide single rooms with breakfast and evening meal, plus lunch at weekends. Living in a family is a good way of practising the language. Social life. The college has access to all the extensive study, sporting and social facilities of a major full-time institution. The social programme includes cultural and educational trips from time to time. Students benefit from meeting British students also studying at the college. International department, Archery Road, ST LEONARDS-ON-SEA, East Sussex, TN38 OHX. Telephone 01424 423847. Fax 01424 721763. |
| University of Westminster Contact: Mr. Peter Symonds. Association: Bascelt. Course times: All year. Location: The university is in central London within easy reach of Underground and mainline stations. Course details. Full-time courses have 15 hours of tuition per week. Teaching includes grammar and structure, vocabulary, writing, reading and listening. A team teaching approach is used to ensure specialist instruction. Facilities. Facilities include a library and self-access language center with audio, video, computing and hypertext. There are also separate skills courses, 1 hour per week for 10 weeks. Exams. Cambridge FCE, CPE, Oxford Preliminary, LCCI (various) Social life. The university has access to all the extensive study, sporting and social facilities of a major full-time education institution. The social programme includes organized excursions and theatre visits. 9–18 Euston Square, London, NW1 3ET. Telephone 0171 911 5000. Fax 0171 911 5001. |
5. Study the following questions. On the basis of these write an advertisement / make a poster about your dream university, which you should then present to the rest of the class in an advertisement/poster contest.
1. Where is the college / university located?
2. What courses does it run?
3. What qualifications do courses lead to?
4. How much does the course cost?
5. How classes are taught and how many students are in class? Is teaching carried out in small groups (tutorials) or large groups (lectures)?
6. Are all subjects obligatory or do students have a chance to choose some subjects?
7. What kind of practical training does the university provide?
7. What can one do in the event of failing any part of the course? How many times can exams or credits be retaken?
8. What other facilities does the university offer?
WRITING
1. Imagine you study at one of the colleges from activity 4 (Speaking). Write a letter to your friend and share your impressions about the place and the course you are on.
2. Read the letter below and underline the following
· the name of the person who wrote the letter.
· the address of the person who wrote the letter.
· the language used to start and end the letter.
· the expression used to introduce the subject.
| 11 West Grove, London NW1 The University of Cambridge, 2 April Local Examinations Syndicate, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge CB1 2EU Dear Sir /Madam, I’m writing to you concerning the First Certificate in English examination which you offer to students of English. I know that it is an internationally recognized examination and if I took the exam and passed, it would help me in my work when I return to Italy. I am presently working in London and will remain in England for the next year. I would like to register for the examination and sit for it this summer, but I do not know how to go about this or how to find a school where I could take the exam. I wonder if you could advise me. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Nicola Fierari. |
3. Write on one of the following:
· Write a letter to a university / college in England requesting information about their courses, qualifications, terms and conditions.
· Write a letter to an English Language school in England requesting information about their summer and exam courses.
4. Write an essay on one of the topics offered
· Is higher education a primary gateway to the privileged class?
· Are American methods of instruction really effective?
· Aims of university education.
· The problem of choosing a major.
· “Electives” – pros and cons.
· Academic freedom. Is it good for a university?
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
1. Read about two of the most famous and prestigious universities in the world.
OXBRIDGE
Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and most prestigious universities in Great Britain. They are often called collectively Oxbridge. Both universities are independent. Only the education elite go to Oxford or Cambridge. Most of their students are former public schools leavers. The normal length of degree course is three years. Some courses, such as languages or medicine, may be one or two years longer. The students may work for other degrees as well. The degrees are awarded at public degree ceremonies. Oxford and Cambridge cling to their traditions, such as the use of Latin at degree ceremonies. Full academic dress is worn at examinations.
Oxford and Cambridge Universities consist of a number of colleges. Each college is different, but in many ways they are alike. Each college has its name and its coat of arms. Each college is governed by a Master. The larger ones have more than 400 members, the smallest colleges have less than 30. Each college offers teaching in a wide range of subjects. Within the college one will normally find a chapel, a dining hall, a library, rooms for undergraduates, fellows and the Master, and also rooms for teaching purposes.
The first written record of the town of Oxford dates back to the year 912. Oxford University, the oldest and most famous university in Britain, was founded in the middle of the 12th century and by 1300 there were already 1,500 students. At that time Oxford was a wealthy town, but by the middle of the 14th century it was poorer, because of a decline in trade and because of the terrible plague, which killed many people in England. The relations between the students and the townspeople were very unfriendly and there was often fighting in the streets.
Nowadays there are about 12,000 students and over 1000 teachers in more than thirty colleges. Among the oldest colleges are University College, All Souls and Christ Church.
Outstanding scientists work in the numerous colleges of the University teaching and doing research work in physics, chemistry, mathematics, cybernetics, literature, modern and ancient languages, art and music, psychology. Oxford University has a reputation of a privileged school. Many prominent political figures of the past and present times got their education at Oxford.
Oxford University Press, the publishing house which produces the Oxford English Dictionary has a special department called the Oxford Word and Language Service. The Oxford English Dictionary is well-known to students of English everywhere. It contains approximately 5,000,000 entries, and there are thirteen volumes, including a supplement.
Cambridge University started during the 13th century and grew until today. Now there are more than thirty colleges. The oldest college is Peterhouse, which was founded in 1284, and the most recent is Robinson College, which was opened in 1977. The most famous is probably King's College because of its magnificent chapel, the largest and the most beautiful building in Cambridge and the most perfect example left of English fifteenth-century architecture. Its choir of boys and undergraduates is also very well known.
The University was only for men until 1871, when the first women’s college was opened. In the 1970s, most colleges opened their doors to both men and women. Almost all colleges are now mixed. Many great men studied at Cambridge, among them Desiderius Erasmus, the great Dutch scholar, Roger Bacon, the philosopher, Milton, the poet, Oliver Cromwell", the soldier, Newton, the scientist, and Kapitza, the famous Russian physicist. The universities have over а hundred societies and clubs, enough for every interest one could imagine. Sport is part of students' life at Oxbridge. The most popular sports are rowing and punting.
Every year, in summer, one of the biggest festivals of folk music takes place in Cambridge. Thousands of people arrive in Cambridge for the Festival. Many of the fans put up their tents to stay overnight. The Cambridge Folk Festival is always very well organized and there is always good order. However, some people who live nearby do not like Festival. They say that there is too much noise, that too much rubbish is left on the ground, and that many of the fans take drugs. On the other hand, local shopkeepers are glad, because for them the Festival means a big increase in the number of customers.
2. Read the text and say which ideas mentioned in the text are worth implementing into your country’s system of higher education.