Ex. 4. Speak about your future profession

Topic: University

Ex. 1. Read the following text using a dictionary.

Oxbridge

Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest, the most prestigious and privileged universities in the United Kingdom. They are often informally called Oxbridge and generally thought to be the best universities.

Oxford is one of the oldest universities in Europe. It is the second largest in Britain, after London.

Cambridge University started during the 13th century and grew until today. Now there are more than thirty colleges.

Cambridge has always had a high reputation in the field of Science and Mathematics, Oxford - in classical studies and the humanities.

of a classroom depends on the nature of personal relationships between a teacher and his pupils. These relationships should be founded on respect for a person. Thus a primary condition of creating a good atmosphere in class is that everybody in it respects everybody in it. Teacher's authority will be ensured by respect of his pupils, because his knowledge and skill are greater and better coordinated and his thinking is as: a higher level than that of his pupils. His commands are likely to be respected and obeyed then.

It is a purpose of education to liquidate ignorance. But it is also the function of education to help children to live in the community, to prepare them for real life situations. Social development is paid just as much attention to as intellectual development. School becomes a place of work and play, of living and learning. A teacher takes an active part in shaping of child's character, fostering honesty, kindness, loyalty, cooperation and respect for ideals.

Quintihan, the prominent Roman school master, wrote in his "Institutes Oratory", published about 95 AD the following about a teacher and his work: "Let him adopt a parental attitude to his pupils. Let him be free from vice himself. Let him be strict but not austere, kind but not too familiar: for austerity will make him unpopular, while familiarity breeds contempt. He must control his temper without shutting his eyes to faults requiring correction. His instruction must be free from affection, his industry great, his demands on class continuous, but not extravagant. He must be ready to answer questions and to put them unasked to those who sit silent. In praising the answers of his pupils he must be neither grudging nor over-generous. In correcting faults he must avoid sarcasm and above all abuse to discourage industry.

undergraduates who are studying it. The tutor also directs the student's reading, advises him what lectures to attend and keeps an eye on his progress.

Lectures are organized by the University. All the teachers at Oxford and Cambridge, whether they are professors and lecturers or Fellows or both, are commonly called dons. Attendance of lectures is not compulsory, tutors advise their students which lectures they should go to. Some lectures are crowded, some are sparsely attended depending on the popularity of a lecturer.

Besides lectures, the University organizes examinations, awards degrees, provides laboratories and equipment, libraries and the like.

The normal length of the degree course is three years, after which the students take the Degree of Bachelor of Arts. The students may work for other degrees as well. The degrees are awarded at public degree ceremonies. Final examinations at Oxford are called schools, and at Cambridge tripos.

The Universities have over a 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.

Many great men studied at Cambridge, among them Roger Bacon - the philosopher, Milton - the poet, Oliver Cromwell - the soldier, Newton - the scientist, Kapitza - the famous Russian physicist.

Ex. 2. Retell the text “Oxbridge” according to the plan:

1. Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest universities.

2. The college system at Oxbridge.

3. Teachers at Oxford.

as well. Teachers hold their students' self-esteem, confidence, and academic vulnerability in their hands. They can inspire but, unfortunately, they can also crush. Great teachers remain acutely aware of ethical issues and difficulties in the classroom.

Imagination. The mysterious power of the imagination allows a great teacher to see each student's rich potential. Only then can teacher and student become cocreators of the student's new identity. This faith in a student's positive attributes and abilities permits teachers to challenge, push forward, and expect more. At the same time, it encourages students to pursue goals they might never have attempted.

Ex. 2. Read the text and be ready to answer the questions after the text:

Teaching

Teaching is a very difficult job of great responsibility and most specific character. There is a wide variety of work in teaching. A good teacher is not only a communicator of knowledge, but a model of competence. He forms attitudes to his subject and attitudes to learning, becoming himself a symbol of education process, a person who is learning as well as teaching. While communicating with children a teacher studies them closely to discover their interests, their strengths and weaknesses, their needs, and abilities. Thus a good teacher always regards capacities his pupil have, trying to temper his teaching methods to children's abilities and aptitudes. He builds his work upon what he learns about his children.

4. Famous graduates of Oxford.

Ex. 3. Prepare to give a talk to the topic “Our University”.

Our University

The Chuvash State Teacher Training University named after I.Y. Yakovlev is the oldest institution of higher education in the Republic of Chuvashia. It was founded in 1930. The main four-storeyed building in K.Marx Street was erected in 1957. It houses the faculties of Physics and Mathematics and of Foreign languages.

The modern higher teacher training education went back to the Chuvash Teacher school in Simbirsk. It was founded by the prominent educator Ivan Yakovlevich Yakovlev. That is why the Chuvash State Teacher Training University was named after him.

At the beginning there were only 2 departments: the Physical-Technical and the Social-Literary. The library was opened on the 1st of October, 1930. In 1968 the museum of I.Y. Yakovlev was founded, in 1983 – the Museum of Mother's glory. The Chuvash State Teacher Training Institute got the University status in 1998.

give in order to receive. Because they value the minds (and the personalities) they are helping to shape, treating students with courtesy, consideration, and regard is fundamental to their personal interaction in and out of the classroom.

Creativity. Breathing life and excitement into the daily chores of school life calls for a bottomless well of creativity and the best teachers seem to have access to one. Rarely fixed in their methods and typically willing to follow up on new inspirations rather than resist them, great teachers trust their creative instincts and search for alternative, more effective ways to present lessons to students.

Leadership. Successful leadership involves formulating a goal, assuming responsibility for reaching it, and inspiring students to do the same.

Dedication. A great teacher's dedication has two distinct parts. First, the teacher is devoted to students and determined to help them learn and grow. Second, he or she is strongly committed to professional development. Always up-to-date on the latest research and passionately involved in academic conversations with peers, dedicated teachers know that professionalism and achievement aren't limited by the four walls of the classroom.

Deep knowledge of one's subject is especially required in the higher forms. According to research on teacher efficacy the higher the grade, the more closely student achievement correlates to a teacher's expertise in her or his field.

Enthusiasm. Students need inspiration and enthusiastic teachers provide it. Because they are happily engaged with their work, their passion and excitement is contagious and their students reap enormous benefits.

faculties are headed by Deans. The Dean has an assistant to cope with different activities at the faculty. He is called the Assistant-Dean. The latter is usually responsible for the students work and life, i.e. he is to advise students, organize examinations, take care of the students’ living conditions, deal with the students’ scholarships, etc. As a rule there are several departments at each Faculty. Once a year every faculty holds the Day of Open Doors when the Dean and some of the lecturers welcome candidates seeking for admission and answer all their questions thoroughly.

The teaching staff consists of professors, lecturers and tutors. They give lectures, take seminars and have tutorials with the students, examine the students during the examination session and supervise the students’ research work.

The students have a five-year course of studies. An academic year is divided into two terms each ending in an examination session. Those who pass the exams successfully get a scholarship. Students have holidays twice a year, at the end of each set of examinations. The curriculum consists of the subjects the students specialize in, social subjects, foreign languages and physical training. Professional training includes educational subjects: pedagogics, history of education and psychology. Students are to attend different lectures and seminars. Students’ practical work is given much attention to at our University and students give lessons at primary and secondary schools.

On graduating the students receive diplomas which give them the right to teach at school.

The University offers postgraduate training where research students carry out individual research within their particular field of study and write a dissertation.

Topic: Teacher's Profession

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