Here is the structure of Russian educational system. Will you give the English equivalents to the stages mentioned?

Example:Система образования – System of education

1. Среднее образование

2. Профессиональное образование

3. Высшее профессиональное образование

4. Аспирантура

5. Дальнейшее образование.

Task 2

Using your background knowledge about the system of higher education in Russia agree or disagree with the following statements. You may use the phrases given to prove your point of view: to be a competitive system, to provide high academic standards, to pay the fee, good results in the Unified State Exams, highly–qualified specialists.

1. Russian educational system is the best in the world.

2. One of the main advantages of Russian educational system is that it is free.

3. A typical Russian university has all the necessary facilities for studying.

4. Any school leaver can become a student of a university.

Task 3

Try to develop the idea given. Agree or disagree. Give your arguments

“Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.”

Nelson Mandela

Reading

Task 1

Read the text and express in your own words the main idea of the text

Higher Education in Russia

Russia’s higher educational system started with the foundation of the State Moscow University founded in the middle of the 18th century. The getting of higher education was and still is very prestigious.

Students with secondary education can be admitted to higher educational institutions. In previous years school leavers had to take both secondary schools leaving examinations and higher education entrance tests. In 2004 a choice is given to the school leavers after the Unified State Exam was introduced. Many but not all faculties of the universities admit applicants on the basis of the results of the three USE chosen by the applicants. On average, competition to enter state university now is 187 applications for 100 places.

One of the great attractions of education in Russia is the cost. Degree study tuition is from $2000 to $8000 per year, with other costs (room, books, etc.) ranging from $1500 to $5000 per year, depending on location and spending habits.

The types of the educational institutions in the Russian Federation are:

• University: a higher educational institution with activities aimed at developing education, science, and culture by performing fundamental scientific research and training at all the levels of higher, postgraduate, and further education within a wide range of Natural Sciences, Humanities, and other branches of sciences, technology, and culture.

• Academy: a higher educational institution with activities aimed at developing education, science, and culture mainly in one specific area of science, technology, and culture.

• Institute: an independent higher educational institution, which applies vocational education curricula in specific areas of science, technology, and culture.

Russian higher educational institutions can grant the following types of degrees and diplomas:

Intermediate Diploma; Bachelor’s degree; Diploma of Specialist; Master’s degree.

The function of the degree of Intermediate Higher Education granted after no less than two years of training is to certify that a student has successfully completed the first two years of the fundamental higher education, which is considered to be a basis of the chosen field of training. Besides, this degree provides mobility between various higher educational institutions.

The Bachelor’s degree is awarded after at least four years of training. It covers almost all fields of knowledge, except medical science. Final state certification procedure includes the presentation of the graduation paper.

Degree of a Specialist is awarded after 5–6 years of studies. The degree of a Specialist has a double function. It provides access to occupational activities and also gives the possibility to enter postgraduate courses (doctoral programs). Final state certification includes presentation of the graduation paper. Besides, in the majority of cases students have to pass final state examinations.

Task 2

Use the information in the text to find answers to the following questions

1. Who can be admitted to a higher educational institution?

2. What are the types of educational institutions in Russia?

3. What is a USE?

4. What types of degrees can Russian higher education institutions grant?

5. What are the functions of an Intermediate Diploma?

6. What does the final state certification procedure include?

Task 3

Finish the sentences using the information from the text

1. To enter university a student with secondary education have to _________

2. The types of higher institutions in Russia are___________

3. After 6 years of training a student gets _________

4. A traditional Russian final qualifying degree is that of a _______

5. The function of the Intermediate Higher Education degree is to provide_____

6. Final state certification includes_______

Task 4

Look at the scheme of giving а summary to the text and enumerate the 4 main

elements of the summary

1. Give the title of the text summarized.

The title of the text is….

2. Begin the summary with one of the introductory general phrases:

The text deals with… (speaks about, say that, present, points out, describes, is devoted to, gives some comments on, offers an overview)

3. The main body must not be more than six plain statements generalizing the main ideas of the text in a logical sequence.

4. Conclude the abstract with your personal opinion of both the content and the language used, using given phrases:

The text is informative….; The text is dry, dull and boring…; The reading of the text gives (does not give) some satisfaction and pleasure…

The information is up-to-date (out-of-date)…

The text is (not) worth reading and abstracting….

There are practically no unknown words….

Task 5

Look at the example summary and say what element among the enumerated ones

Does it lack? Give your own variant of the summary.

Summary

The title of the text is “Higher Education in Russia “.

The text offers an overview of the Russian educational system.

There are different types of higher educational institutions in Russia. They are universities, academies and institutes. Each educational institution has its peculiarities. They can grant the following types of degrees and diplomas. Intermediate Diploma: to get such a diploma at least 2 years of training is needed. Bachelor’s degree requires not less than 4 years of training and you need 5 or 6 years of training to get the Diploma of a Specialist, which is the traditional final qualifying degree in Russia and you can get Master’s degree after 6 years of training.

Vocabulary practice

Exercise 1

Match phrases in column A with their translation in column B and make up sentences with them

Exercise 2

Distribute the words given below into three columns

To grant, secondary, entrance, to cover, Master’s, Bachelor’s, higher, postgraduate, final, further, academic, qualifying, vocational.

Exercise 3

Fill in the correct word from the list:sciences, to grant, secondary, multilevel, to give, paper, entrance, individual, mobility, research.

1. ________ studies

2. ________ the possibility

3. scientific ________

4. ________ exams

5. Natural _________

6. ________ education

7. ________ system

8. graduation ______

9. _________ a degree

10. to provide _______

Exercise 4

Make up a dialogue on the situation

Student A

You are a second-year student of the SUSU. Help the American student to understand the rules and regulations of being accepted to Russian university, being granted a degree. Explain the difference between the types of Russian educational institutions. You may also suggest him some tips for studying, clarify the peculiarities of students’ life in Russia. It’s your first meeting with the person. Don’t forget to introduce yourself.

Student B

You are an American student. You want to get a higher education in Russian. You love Russia very much as your grandmother is Russian. So you’ve come to Russia to find out as much details as possible about the system of Higher education in Russia, about the types of educational institutions and about the hardships (difficulties) of students’ life. You’ve met a Russian second-year student. Introduce yourself and remember you are a very inquisitive person.

Grammar exercises

Exercise 1

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