III. Listen (disk) to the people speaking about higher education and match the speakers with the statements. Whose opinion do you share?

1. Higher education should become cheaper. ___________

2. You should save money so you can pay for higher education later.__________

3. The internet provides an alternative to universities._____________

4. Education should be free for everybody.____________

5. Higher education shouldn’t be free for all.______________

6. Educated people are more useful to the country in general._______

IV. Match the words with their definitions:

V. Fill in the gaps in these sentences with the words above:

1. My qualification turned out to be so unpopular that I had to do a … course in order to become a web designer.

2. John is in his first year at university. He’s only an … student.

3. She’s always been academically minded. She decided to do a … course and become a … of Science.

4. Helen’s about to … from university. She’s going to get her first university degree: a … of Arts.

5. Every five years doctors and teachers have to do a … course to keep up with new developments in their areas.

6. Do you know any St Petersburg State University … who have become really famous?

7. He’s interested in environmental protection, that’s why he has chosen to … in ecology.

VI. Read the conversation you've listened to and check your answers in Ex. IV and V:

Speaker 1

Higher Education shouldn’t be free for all. Those who can afford (могут позволить) it should go ahead (вперед) and go. But those who can’t afford it should get a job, save up some money and then study. Lots of people don’t go to university. It is unacceptable (непреемлемо) to ask people to pay for students who will earn (зарабатывать) more when their university degreeis completed and will then have better job prospects. As it is (на самом деле), too many students are going to university and coming out with rubbish (зд. незаслуженные) degrees. Taxpayers’ (налогоплательщики) money will be wasted (потрачены напрасно) on these students.

Speaker 2

Education should be free for all. Educated people progress (продвигаются) further in life and are more likely (вероятнее всего) to help the country and create jobs. Education gives you a better understanding of things. People without degrees also do well, but, in my opinion, the number is less in comparison to (по сравнению с) degree holders (образованные) since (так как) it takes longer to move up the ladder (лестница). I know it is not possible to do free education for all. Still, the country would be better off with people holding degrees and getting the appropriate training (соответствующее).

Speaker 3

I don’t think higher education should be free, however, it should not be as expensive as it is. I think universities have had their time (время университетов проходит). With the advent (приход) of the internet, learning can be performed online for any variety of subjects and courses. Why would students need to sacrifice (жертвовать) a whole three or four years at college anymore? In fact, nowadays a lot of people get their degree and then don’t use any of that knowledge in their actual jobs. Going to university was essentially a waste of time for them. My advice would be to do whatever gives you (выбирать то, что дает вам) the best chance of getting a job you like, while (в то же время) getting as much work experience as you can.

VII. Read the joke and translate the words in bold. Which degree would you like to get? Why?

The graduate with a science degree asks: “Why does it work?”

The graduate with an engineering degree asks: “How does it work?”

The graduate with an accounting degree asks:“How muchwill it cost?”

The graduate with a philosophy degree asks:”Do you want problems with that?”

VIII. Study the vocabulary and answer the questions:

1. What professions can you master in vocational colleges?

2. What is the main difference between vocational colleges and universities?

1. vocation (profession, occupation, career) – профессия, ремесло

2. vocational education – профессиональное образование

3. trade – занятие, ремесло, профессия; торговля

IX. Read the text and check your answers:

Vocational colleges

Contrary to popular belief (мнение), vocational colleges aren’t just for students who couldn’t get into university. Students attend vocational colleges for a number of reasons (по ряду причин), including getting some practical skills or experience before going to university. For many people it is a good two-year long alternative (двухлетняя альтернатива) to longer higher education programmes.

Whereas (в то время как) in universities the education concentrates more on theory and abstract knowledge, in vocational colleges the education usually prepares learners for careers that are traditionally non-academic. In other words, it is directly related to (относится к) a specific occupationor vocation, and students develop expertise (приобретают опыт) in a particular technique or learn some practical skills.

Till the end of the twentieth century, vocational education focused more on specific trades, such as automobile mechanics or welding (сварка), and was therefore associated (связывались с) with the activities of lower social classes. But the situation has changed. Now vocational education exists in industries such as retail (розничная торговля), tourism, information technology and cosmetics.

In fact, a lot of famous people studied in colleges before they rose to the tops (поднялись на вершину) of their fields. Can you name any of these people? Do you know their stories?

X. Do research on the internet of a successful person who didn’t go straight to a university after school. Present the results of your research to the rest of the group.

XI. Read the extracts from the Radio Programme about vocational colleges. Match the words in bold with their Russian equivalents – дипломы, дополнительное образование, записываться, вступительные экзамены, имеющий больше шансов устроиться на работу, открытый прием, аттестат о неполном среднем образовании:

Host: Who can enroll in a vocational college?

Guest: Anyone who’s got a GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education).

Host: Are there entrance exams?

Guest: Actually, we’ve got an “open admission” policy which means we don’t have exams, only an interview before the start of the course.

Host: Will you describe a typical student of the college?

Guest: Oh, that’s not easy. We have so many different students from school leavers to professionals with graduate degrees.

Host: Why do university graduates come to the college?

Guest: Many feel they might become more employable if they get additional qualifications.

XII. Work in pairs. Ask and answer these questions:

1. To enroll at university or vocational college, would you have an interview or an entrance exam?

2. How does an interview differ from an entrance exam?

3. Why do people get nervous before entrance exams?

4. What graduate degrees do you know? Describe them.

5. Why do additional qualifications make a person more employable?

6. Have you experienced entrance exams? When was it last time?

7. Are you going to experience assessment (выпускные) exams in future? Are you afraid of it?

Не нашли, что искали? Воспользуйтесь поиском по сайту: