Life at college
There are 46 universities in Britain. Good "A" level results in at
least two subjects are necessary to get a place at one. However, good
exam passes are not enough. Universities choose their students after
interviews, and competition for places at university is fierce.
FREE AT LAST!
Most 18 and 19 year-olds in Britain are fairly independent peo-
ple, and when the time comes to pick a college they usually choose one
49
as far away from home as possible! So, many students in northern and
Scottish universities come from the South of England and vice versa. It
is very unusual for university students to live at home. Although par-
ents may be a little sad to see this happen, they usually approve of the
move, and see it as a necessary part of becoming an adult.
Anyway, the three university terms are only ten weeks each, and
during vacation times families are reunited.
FRESHERS!
When they first arrive at college, first year university students
are called "freshers". A fresher’s life can be exiting but terrifying for
the first week.
Often freshers will live in a Hall of Residence on or near the col-
lege campus, although they may move out into a rented room in their
second or third year, or share a house with friends. Many freshers will
feel homesick for the first week or so, but living in hall soon helps
them to make new friends.
During the first week, all the clubs and societies hold a ‘fresher’s
fair’ during which they try to persuade the new students to join their
society. The freshers are told that it is important for them to come into
contact with many opinions and activities during their time at univer-
sity, but the choice can be a bit overwhelming!
On the day that lectures start, groups of freshers are often seen
walking around huge campuses, maps in hand and a worried look on
their faces. They are learning how difficult it is to change from a school
community. They also learn a new way of studying. As well as lec-
tures, there are regular seminars, at which one of a small group of stu-
dents reads a paper he or she has written. The paper is then discussed
by the tutor and the rest of the group. Once or twice a term, students
will have a tutorial. This means that they see a tutor alone to discuss
their work and their progress. In Oxford and Cambridge, and some
other universities, the study system is based entirely around such tuto-
rials which take place once a week. Attending lectures is optional for
"Oxbridge" students!
After three or four years these students will take their finals.
Most of them will get a first, second or third class degree and be able to
put BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BSc (Bachelor of Science) after their
name. It will have been well earned!
50
Talking points:
– Is it a good thing to leave home at the age of 18? What are the
advantages and disadvantages?
– Many British people believe that if you do nothing more than
study hard at university, you will have wasted a great opportunity.
What do they mean by saying that? Do you agree?
– How do British universities differ from universities in your
country? What do you like and dislike about the British system?
Text C. Read the text about Oxford and Cambridge. Be ready to talk
about them in class, emphasizing the details you find most ex-
citing and unusual
Oxbridge
Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and most prestigious uni-
versities in Great Britain. They are often called collectively Oxbridge.
Both universities are independent. 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 col-
leges. 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 col-
leges 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.
Oxford is one of the oldest universities in Europe. It is the sec-
ond largest in Britain, after London. The town of Oxford is first men-
tioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 911 AD and it was popular
with the early English kings (Richard Coeur de Lion was probably
here). The university’s earliest charter is dated back to 1213.
There are now more than thirty colleges where men and women
are educated together, many from overseas studying for higher degrees.
51
Among the oldest colleges are University College, All Souls and Christ
Church.
The local car industry in East Oxford gives an important addition
to the city’s outlook. There’s a great deal of bicycle traffic both in Ox-
ford and Cambridge.
Cambridge University started during the 13
th
century and has
grown until today. Now there are more than thirty colleges.
On the banks of the Cam willow trees drown their branches into
the water. The colleges line the right bank. There are beautiful college
gardens with green lawns and lines of tall trees. The oldest college is
Peterhouse, which was founded in 1284, and the most recent is Robin-
son 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, its choir of boys and under-
graduates being also well-known.
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.
Academic life in both universities is full and varied. Although
students attend lectures given by professors and lecturers, their work is
largely based on a "tutorial" system; each student meets his tutor to
have his work scrutinized and discussed.
Because of their age traditions, historical associations and repu-
tation the prestige of Oxford and Cambridge is very high, conse-
quently, competition for admission is extremely keen.
Notes
degree ceremony – церемония вручения ученых степеней
full academic dress – парадная форма одежды
coat of arms – герб
fellow – младший научный работник
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle – "Англосаксонский кроникл"
Richard Coeur de Lion – Ричард Львиное Сердце
charter – хартия
All Souls college – Колледж всех душ
the Cam – река Кэм
52
Using the Internet look for appropriate material to talk about the fol-
lowing topics:
•
At Oxbridge.
•
Oxford – the Golden Heart of Britain.
•
A college in Oxbridge.
•
Cambridge. Its Past and Present.
Text D. Read the text and say if the following statements are true or
false
Wolverhampton University
1.
Wolverhampton University is among the UK ten top universi-
ties.
2.
The University offers an extensive under- and postgraduate
education.
3.
The University programmes are delivered through full-time
mode.
4.
Besides training the University offers a great variety of ser-
vices to the community.
5.
Access courses are provided by the University.
6.
The University carries on professional orientation pro-
grammes.
7.
The University is planning to start extensive international ac-
tivities.
8.
The University campuses are located in Birmingham.
9.
There are 12 faculties at Wolverhampton University.
10.
English is among the six most popular courses at Wolver-
hampton.
The University of Wolverhampton is one of the ten largest Uni-
versities in the UK. It has provided higher education in the region for
over sixty years.
The University offers an extensive range of specialist degrees
and diplomas: over 100 first degrees, over 40 taught Masters pro-
grammes and numerous professional qualifications. It provides the
widest menu of modular degree subjects available from a British Uni-
versity. A unique Modular Masters Scheme creates the possibility of
multi-subject study at postgraduate level.
53
University programmes at all levels are delivered variously in
full-time, part-time; distance learning and in-company modes, as well
as short courses and tailor-made programmes.
The University is a major provider of training, consultancy, test-
ing, technology transfer and contract research for a wide range of cli-
ents from all aspects of industry and commerce. The University has
excellent links with industry, commerce and the professions which are
coordinated by a recently-expanded Corporate Enterprise Centre. The
Careers and Graduate Employment Service has a professional team of
advisers. They offer extensive advice and help on career and employ-
ment opportunities for all the students and graduates throughout
courses providing them with a wide range of professional services to
help maximize their career potential:
* extensive information on occupations, regional and national
employers and further study regular vacancy bulletins with details of
jobs and postgraduate study
* careers education workshops on such topics as interview tech-
nique and effective applications
* psychometric testing of personality and aptitude
* computer guidance systems
* individual guidance interviews to assess the careers implica-
tions of choice of options within courses, and clarify career directions.
The University Student Employment Bureau is designed to help
students find suitable part-time and vacation work that will not conflict
with study and provide useful work experience.
Access Courses are usually one year full-time or two years part-
time and are offered in Further Education colleges throughout the re-
gion.
Located in picturesque surroundings the University has several
sites across the West Midlands and Shropshire within easy rich of Bir-
mingham. You can find the University's campuses not only in Wolver-
hampton but also in Dudley, Walsall and Telford. The University has
about 2 338 rooms in its Halls of Residence, over 900 en-suite student
rooms being offered in newly built Halls of Residence in Shropshire
and Wolverhampton.
The University of Wolverhampton carries on extensive interna-
tional activities which include academic partnerships, in-country train-
54
ing and consultancy, overseas work placements, international research,
joint awards and franchised programmes, distance learning.
The total number of students in 1994–95 amounted to 21 384
and that of the staff – to 1 961 including both academic and administra-
tive, professional, technical, clerical, and manual personnel.
The University Library stocks nearly 400 000 books and over
3 500 periodicals and has over 1 400 study places. At all the campus
libraries there are networked computer suites providing access to na-
tional and international facilities, as well as many other resources for
learning.
A doctor is available on campus on a weekly basis for any stu-
dent to consult about health-related matters.
One can take a course in any of 11 Wolverhampton’s Schools
колледж = such as a School of Applied Sciences; Art and Design;
Computing & Information Technology; Construction; Engineering &
Technology; Education; Health Sciences; Humanities & Social Sci-
ences; Legal Studies; Nursing & Midwifery and Business School as
well as apply for Combined Awards Scheme.
The most popular subjects / courses are Business, English, Geog-
raphy, Law, Media and Communications, Sociology.
Notes
Access Courses – подготовительное отделение
School – зд.: школа = колледж = факультет
Text E. Read the text and do the tasks
The University of London
In 1836 the University of London was created to conduct the ex-
aminations and to grant degrees upon the students from any institution
situated anywhere in the British Empire.
Up until 1900 the University of London was only an examining
and degree-awarding body, but in that year an Act of Parliament per-
mitted to provide lecture rooms, museums, laboratories, workshops,
etc. for both teaching and research. Today the University of London is
a federation of colleges, each largely independent. There are four facul-
55
ties of Theology, thirteen of Arts, thirty-one of Medicine, ten of Sci-
ence, etc.
The University of London grants degrees to all who satisfy its
examinations, with the exceptions of engineering and medical degrees
(for which study at an approved institution is required). The London
external degree has been of great importance in the development of the
University system.
Many of the new independent universities were at first university
colleges (i.e. university institutions which could not award their own
degrees) and for them the University of London became the degree-
awarding body. The London external degree is very important to stu-
dents in technical colleges and some teacher-training colleges, as well
as for private students working on their own, away from educational
centers.
The development of new qualifications (e.g. the new Diploma in
Technology) and increasing enrolments in regular university courses
have made the external degree less important. Speaking of somebody's
qualifications and education background people usually say: I am a Civil
Engineer, with a (BSc / MSc) degree from Edinburgh University, or: She
has a degree from London University in Politics and Economics.
Notes
external degree – степень, присваиваемая заочно
enrolments – наборы студентов
TASKS
1. Find the English equivalents to the following
a)
… был только органом, принимавшим экзамены и при-
сваивавшим степени.
b)
Лондонский университет присваивает степени всем, кто
выдерживает экзамены, проводимые им.
2. Point out what information is given in the text
a)
The usual minimum course for the new Diploma in Technol-
ogy is three years for full-time students.
56
b)
Specialized institutes train specialists for one of the fields of
culture or national economy.
c)
The development of new qualifications has made the external
degree of the University of London less important.
Text F. Read the text and do the tasks that follow
Letters from College
Dear John,
I meant to write you at once, but it took me rather long to get
used to College life. College is a very big place and at first I got lost
almost every time I left my room. Things are much easier now and I
hope you’ll look me up some day and let me walk you about. You
won’t be disappointed, I promise. Oh, I’m good at showing people
about. I’ll say something like this:
Our college was founded over two hundred years ago. On
your right is the Library which was built about the same year the
college was founded. (So you can easily imagine how it looks and
smells inside!).The building on your left, which rather reminds me
of Tudor Romanesque next to it is the new infirmary and so forth.
The trouble with College is that they expect you to know such
a lot of things you’ve never learnt. To be quite honest, I never knew
I was so much behind the others. It’ll take me months of real hard
work to catch up with the fellows!
I made an awful mistake the very first day. Somebody men-
tioned Maurice Maeterlinck, and I asked if he was a Freshman. That
joke has gone all over College.
Did ever you hear of Michelangelo?
I didn’t until the last week. He was a famous artist who lived
in Italy in Middle Ages. Everybody in English knew about him and
the whole class laughed because I thought he was an archangel. He
sounds like an archangel, doesn’t he? Now I know better. When
people start talking about things I never heard of, I just keep quiet
and look them up in the encyclopedia.
We’ve been studying hard all through the term. Now that the
exams have started, it’s got worse. I’ve learned fifty-seven French
57
irregular verbs in the past four days – I’m only hoping they’ll stay
till after examinations.
The fellows have been telling me that some of the boys sell
their textbooks when they’re through with them, but I’m going to
keep mine. Then, after I’ve graduated, I’ll have my whole education
in the bookcase. It’ll be so much easier than if I try to keep it in my
head.
Now, more news coming, if you are still interested. They’ve
organized a Freshman basketball team and I hope I’ll be good
enough to take part in it. It’s great fun and then, the doctor says I
need more exercise.
That was all good news. Now for bad news. You know what
happened? I failed mathematics. It wasn’t really my fault, it was just
bad luck. I’ll be taking another exam next month. I’ll do my best to
pass, but be ready for the worst and don’t say I didn’t warn you. As
for me, I’m taking it easy, because I’ve learned such a lot of things
not mentioned in the catalogue.
That’s all now. Hoping to hear from you soon, Dan.
P.S. Speaking of classics, have you read ‘Hamlet’? If you ha-
ven’t, do so at once. It’s perfectly splendid. I’ve been hearing about
Shakespeare all my life, but I had no idea he really wrote so well.
TASKS
1. Answer the following questions
1.
Where was Dan studying?
2.
Why didn’t he keep his promise to write to his brother as soon
as he arrived at College?
3.
Why did it take him rather long to get used to College life?
4.
What was the trouble with the college as Dan saw it?
5.
What mistakes did Dan make?
6.
Why did he describe them as ‘awful’?
7.
What lesson did he learn?
8.
Why did Dan want to keep his textbooks after he graduated
from college?
9.
What sports team was he going to join, and why?
10.
What was the bad news?
58
11.
Why wasn’t he upset over his failure in mathematics?
12.
What made Dan change his mind about Shakespeare?
2. Study the following phrases and 1) recall the sentences in
which they are used in the text, 2) use them in sentences of your own
to get (be) used to smth /smb; at first; to look smb up; to walk (show)
smb about a place; to be good at smth; on smb’s left/right; to remind
smb of smth / smb; next to smb / smth; to be behind (in one’s reading);
to catch up with smb / smth; all over the place; to hear of smb / smth;
in the Middle Ages; in the past; to look smth up in a dictionary; all
through the term; to be through with smth /smb; to keep smth in the
head; at the end (beginning) of smth; to take part in smth; to fail in a
subject; as for / to me
59
W R I T I N G
1. Write letters similar to Dan’s letter on the following topics
1.
Coming to College.
2.
Inviting a member of a family / friend to pay a visit.
3.
Learning lessons.
4.
Good new.
5.
Bad news.
6.
Postcript.
2. Read the letter below and underline the following
1.
The name of the person who wrote the letter.
2.
The address of the person who wrote the letter.
3.
The language used to start and end the letter.
4.
The expression used to introduce the subject.
3. Write on one of the following
1.
Write a letter to a university / college in England requesting
information about their courses, qualifications, terms and conditions.
2.
Write a letter to an English Language school in England re-
questing information about their summer and exam courses.
11 West Grove,
London NW1
2 April
The University of Cambridge,
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 ex-
amination 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 Ferrari
60
4. Topics for essays
1.
The main groups of British universities.
2.
Types of courses at British universities.
3.
Aims of university education.
4.
Universities as the main centers of teaching and research.
5.
The problem of specialisation.
6.
Academic freedom. Causes for the restrictions of university
autonomy in Britain.
61
T R A N S L A T I O N / I N T E R P R E T I N G
1.
With your partners role-play an interview with British officials
concerning British system of education. Use the parts from a British
Council brochure " WORLD CLASS EDUCATION" as the basis
Достарыңызбен бөлісу: |