Образование в Великобритании

EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN

1. New words

compulsory – обязательный

playgroup – прогулочная группа

pre-primary – дошкольный

establishment – организация, учреждение

non-state – негосударственный

Local Educational Authorities (LEA) – местная образовательная организация

caters for – заботиться

assessment test – оценочный тест

comprehensive school – единая средняя школа

General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations (GCSE) - сертификат о среднем образовании

boarding school – интернат

mixed – смешанный

single-sex – однополый

2. Read and translate the text.

Education in the United Kingdom is compulsory from the age of five to sixteen. Children under five go either to nursery schools, or to playgroups. Both types of pre-primary educational establishments are non-state; the difference is that a child spends the whole day in a nursery school, while he or she can stay in a playgroup only for some hours a day. Anyway, the main aim of such kind of establishments is to make the children ready for primary schools. Children play, draw, model things from clay and learn to work together.

Compulsory education for all children begins at the age of five. There are 35,000 state schools in Britain. All of them are the responsibility of the Local Educational Authorities (LEA). The LEA caters for the curriculum and exams in each region; they also appoint head teach­ers and held assessment tests at schools.  

Primary school is for children from five to eleven. At first the studies are more like playing than working; English teachers say that this is the best way for children to get used to school. Probably they are right: children learn better when they play. Lessons usually last from nine in the morning till four or five in the afternoon with a long break at the lunchtime.

At the age of eleven pupils go to comprehensive schools. Children usually wear a uniform; it is different in different schools. They study Maths, English, Arts, English Literature, Geography, one or two foreign languages, usually French, Italian or German, PE (Physical Education), IT (Information Technology), Religion, Science, Biology, Sex Education and other subjects.

At the end of their studies they take General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations (GCSE) 0-level, and then they either leave school and start working or continue their studies at school or at college for two more years. This is called the sixth form at school or the sixth form college, and the students take only the subjects they need for entering the university of their choice.  

At the age of eighteen they take GCSE А-level. They usually take three or four А-levels. There are no entrance exams to universities, so the students can enter a university or a college on the results of their А-level examinations.             Speaking about education in the UK it is necessary to say that there is a great difference between state education and private education. State schools are free, and about ninety per cent of all children attend them. Private, or public schools are very expensive. These are usually boarding schools, where children stay while they study, coming home only on vacations. These schools are for children between thirteen and eighteen. Before entering a public school children are usually educated at home. State schools are usually mixed, while private schools are typically single-sex, with a few exceptions.

Answer the questions:

1. From what age is education in the United Kingdom compulsory?

2. What are the establishments for pre-primary education?

3. What is the difference between nursery schools and playgroups?

4. How many state schools are there in Great Britain?

5. What does the LEA do?

6. At what age do children go to primary schools?

7. What subjects do children take in secondary schools?

8. What kind of exam do the pupils take at the age of sixteen?

9. When do the pupils take GCSE A-level?

10. Are there any entrance exams in British universities?

3. Exercises

№1. Give the Russian equivalents of the following words and word combi­nations:

Local Educational Authorities; primary school; comprehensive school; secondary school; Art; English Literature; Information Technology; General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations; A-level; О-Level; state education; private education; public schools; boarding schools; mixed

№2. Give the English equivalents of the following words and word combi­nations:

обязательный; до пяти лет; или ... или; детский сад; лепить; учебный план; директор; больше похоже на ... ; школьная форма; иностранные языки; продолжать обучение; подготовительный класс колледжа; бесплатный; каникулы

№3. Make up sentences using the following table:

№4. Write out the words from the text with suffixes and use them in the sentences of your own.

№5. Compare British and Russian schools. Speak on the following:

• age of admission to schools;

• term of compulsory education;

• subjects;

• exams;

• uniform;

• admission to colleges and universities.

№6. Match the words 1-10 with the definition a-j:

№7. Fill in the blanks with the following words:

boarding; run; comprehensive; year; graduates; facilities; mixed; public

Mike goes to a ... school in Birmingham. He is thirteen and is in his third ... now. His parents wanted to send him to a ... school but Mike was against it. He likes his school and his studies, and he thinks that if he went to a ... school, he would miss his home. The school he goes to is .... . Mike has a lot of friends at school among both boys and girls. The

classes ... from nine am till quarter past four pm. Mike’s favorite subject at school is IT. He says he wants to become a programmer when he ... . Besides, he is fond of sports. He plays football and volleyball. The school he goes to has excellent sports .... .

Texts for reading

Study Abroad

Today, studying abroad is an important part of education of modern and successful people, which we have tried to make the most accessible. Every year hundreds of thousands of students and pupils choose this path to knowledge. What is so appealing about education abroad and how does it differ from education in one’s own country?

Advantages of study abroad

The international recognition of diplomas and degrees, the opportunity to stay and work in the country after graduation, higher starting salaries for graduates of foreign universities. The student receives not only a foreign university diploma, but also gains invaluable experience in learning, communication and living in an international environment that will benefit him throughout his life, making him more adaptable to the requirements of a rapidly changing world with its processes of globalization and growing competition.

Studying abroad has always been considered not only prestigious and of high quality, but also a good investment in the future. This is the starting point on the path to build a successful career as well as internship opportunities and employment abroad. Education for foreign students is offered by more than 17,000 Universities around the world. On our site you will find a variety of educational programs abroad: from short summer programs to elite language courses for business people, from vocational secondary education to doctoral programs. We can select for you an educational program for all ages and levels of command of foreign language.

Language courses abroad

Learning English in an English spoken country is the most effective method, which guarantees the best result. Foreign language schools offer the most advanced techniques, where in fact, there is a complete immersion in the environment. Students use foreign language not only in the classroom but also in host families, in public transports, museums and restaurants - everywhere. Learning a language becomes more than just a language course. This is also cultural studies, intercultural communication and exchange of experiences with students from different countries; it is an opportunity to visit the theater premieres, sports and interesting exhibitions. Language schools help their students to feel that they are part of the city and enjoy cultural events of the country.

Thus, in these 4-6 weeks of language courses abroad people do “language jerk”, which is achieved sometimes after years of study when staying at home. Those who learn “academic English” or other languages on specialized training courses (preparation for university) achieve even greater results.

Preparation for University abroad

Practically, more than half of applicants for admission to foreign universities right after graduating from high school in their countries need to go through a special preparatory course before university. Such training programs are held in many foreign universities and help future students to adapt to the unusual rhythm of life and the environment, and to prepare for further study at the university. The basis for preparation includes learning a foreign language to the required level, adapting to life abroad and study of special subjects. After passing these courses, most foreign universities enroll their students in the first year of bachelors program without entrance examinations.

Higher education abroad

Graduate and post-graduate education abroad, as well as vocational education is a phenomenon that is becoming more common every year. It's not that only because education is becoming more accessible, but that the choice of programs and the countries in which you can study are increasing.

However, the education system of each country has its own peculiarities. Different countries and different universities have their own rules of admission, their own rules of registration, their own admission requirements and deadlines. Without these features, you can just "flunk" the entire process, while being one hundred percent "pass-through" applicant.

Options of admission to a university abroad:

• After completing high school abroad;

• Direct admission after high school graduation in the country of residence;

• After special preparatory training programs for admission to university;

• Transfer program from your university to a university abroad.

Each of the above listed options of admission corresponds to a certain set of requirements, compliance with which is mandatory when considering application to a selected institution.

Professional courses abroad

The modern economy has elements of continuous process of integration. We witness the manifestations of this process in, for example, international companies actively fighting for leading positions in the world economy. An increase in demand by employers is a consequence of these changes. One of the most effective methods of increasing staff qualification is studying abroad. For ambitious young professionals, it is not only a chance to improve their professional skills, but also a real opportunity to achieve the required level of language proficiency. For people who want to improve their professional level and business skills, we offer different types of certificate programs and professional courses. These programs allow you, in a short time, to get not only new knowledge and skills, but also to confirm them with international diplomas and certificates. Learning in these courses requires a high level of knowledge of the foreign language (usually above average), otherwise, prior to training it is necessary to take a language course.

Programs are practical and allow immediate use of the acquired knowledge and skills at work. After completion, there is a possibility to undergo an internship in companies abroad. Today, graduates from universities abroad are having a huge advantage entering in the top management of leading local and international companies or getting a good job in their area of expertise.

Read the text and do the test.

Dear friend,

I want to tell you about my school. My name is Henry White. I’m twelve. I go to school in Greentown, a small town near London, where I live. I’m in the seventh form.

School starts at nine o’clock in the morning. We have three lessons of forty minutes in the morning. After the third lesson we have a break of an hour and a half for dinner. I take a packed lunch. My friends don’t take their packed lunch, they go to our school dining-room.

We come to school after the dinner break at half past one. Then we have three lessons with a break of ten minutes after the second lesson. During the breaks we play or walk on the school playground.

School ends at ten minutes past four. Some children stay at school after lessons for clubs: music, drawing and other. We don’t go to school on Saturday and on Sunday.

Tuesday is not a good day for me at school. We have Maths and French. They are not my favourite subjects. We also learn English, History, Geography, Physics, Biology, Physical Education, Music and Arts. I like History and P.E. a lot.

That is all for today. I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours, Henry.

Test.

1. Henry lives in …

1. London

2. a small town

3. a village

1. Henry is … years old.

1. 10

2. 11

3. 12

1. Usually Henry has got … lessons.

1. three

2. five

3. six

1. … is not a good day for him.

1. Tuesday

2. Thursday

3. Friday

1. Henry’s favorite subjects are …

1. History and Maths

2. Biology and P.E.

3. History and P.E.