Яков Аракин - Практический курс английского языка 2 курс

squeeze through the June examinations. But I will say that my high-school preparation was not very

good.

And here is news for you. I have begun to be an author. A poem entitled "From my Tower"

appears in the February "Monthly" — on the first page, which is a very great honour for a Freshman.

My English instructor stopped me on my way out. of college last night, and said it was a charming

piece of work except for the sixth line, which had too many feet.

But sometimes a dreadful fear comes over me that I'm not a genius.

Yours truly, Judy

( From "Daddy Long-Legs" by Jean Webster)

b) Comment on the letter above. Point out in what it differs from Judy's earlier

letters (see the text). Explain the last line of this letter. Is Judy quite serious here?

XVI. Speak about Judy. Describe her as fully as you can. When pointing out

this or that trait in her character, give your reasons. (See the text of Unit Five and Ex.

XV.).

XVII. Compose dialogues and perform them in class:

1. between Judy and Julia Pendleton about Judy's guardian;

2. between two of Judy's fellow-students about Judy;

3. between Judy and the English instructor.

XVIII. Write a composition in the form of a letter describing some of your (or

your friend's) experiences as a fresher. Use words and phrases from Essential

Vocabulary (I). See also Judy's letter (Ex. XV).

XIX. Try your hand at teaching.

1. Say what you would do in the teacher's positions

Once, after having hastily written an assignment on the blackboard the teacher left the class

alone for a few minutes. Upon her return she found several words on the blackboard were circled

with coloured chalk. At the bottom was written, "Careless writing, please do over."

2. Practise your "Classroom English".

a) Every teacher is faced with the problem of keeping discipline in the

classroom, A teacher should know how to do it to goad English. Describe the

teacher's reaction in the following situation:

1) Ann is not paying attention.

2) Ted is standing up.

3) George — you can see only the back of his head.

4) Steve — finds it impossible to be silent for more than a minute at a time.

5) Jenny — is not looking at the blackboard.

6) Peter — is sprawled out across his desk.

7) Alison — is disturbing the girl sitting next to her.

8) Beth — is copying the answer from somebody else.

9) Alan and Paul — are arguing about something.

10) Andy — the slowest and dreamiest boy in the class.

b) Play the part of a young teacher describing a lesson in a very unruly class

to his/her fellow teachers. (See "Classroom English", Section VII.)

LABORATORY EXERCISES (I)

1. Listen to the text "A Freshman's Experience", mark the stresses and tunes, repeat

the text following the model.

2. Paraphrase the given sentences.

3. Extend the given sentences.

4. Write a spelling-translation test Check it with the key.

5. Translate the sentences into English. Check them with the key.

6. listen to the text 'Town and Gown" or some other text on the history of English

Education. Write the summary of the text. Comment on it in class.

TOPIC: EDUCATION

Libraries full of books have been written on the education system in Britain, but recently it

has been changing considerably.

Compulsory education begins at 5, and children attend primary school until they are 11.

Normally the primary school is divided into Infants (5—7) and Juniors (7—11).

At the age of 11 most children go to a comprehensive school where they stay until they are

16. In the past children went to different types of secondary schools, but in most parts of the country

everybody now goes to a comprehensive.

Some parents, who do not want their children to go to a comprehensive pay to send them to a

private school. The most expensive and prestigious private schools are actually called public schools.

At the age of 16 people take their examinations. Most take General Certificate of Education

(G.С.E.). Ordinary Levels — normally called just 'O' Levels. People take 'O' Levels in as many

subjects as they want to; some take one or two, others take as many as nine or ten.

If you get good 'O' Level results, you can stay on at school until you are 18, in the Sixth

Form. Here you prepare for Advanced Level Exams ('A' Levels). Again, you take as many of these

as you want to, but most people take two or three.

In case you pass your exams well you have a chance of going on to university though this is

not automatic. The number of people who study there is strictly controlled. Other types of further

education are offered at polytechnics and colleges of higher education. Polytechnics offer the chance

to study subjects in a more practical way, and many colleges of higher education specialize in

teacher training.44

(See: Johnson K. and Morrow K. Approaches. Cambridge, 1979)

TEXT A. HIGHER EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING IN GREAT BRITAIN

Nowadays teacher training in Great Britain is realized at universities, polytechnics and

colleges of higher education.45 Students working for their first degree at university are called

undergraduates. When they take their degree we say that they graduate and then they are called

graduates. If they continue studying at university after they have graduated, they are called post-

graduates. In general, the first degree of Bachelor is given to students who pass examinations at the

44 Of the three universities are considered more prestigious and beneficial. Their graduates have better chances of getting a job.

Polytechnics are usually formed on the basis of art colleges and colleges of technology. They combine science and technology, the

arts, social studies management and business studies, law and other subjects.

45 From 1st August 1975 the system of teacher training in England is being reorganized. All higher and further education outside the

universities including teacher training is being assimilated into a common system. A number of the existing colleges of education

are to be merged either with each other or with other institutions of further education (polytechnics and others).

end of three or four years of study.

Further study or research is required at the mode- n universities for the first post-graduate

degree of Master, and at all British universities for that of Doctor.

In Britain full-time university students (students who spend all their time studying and have

no other employment), have three terms of about ten weeks in each year.46

University teaching combines lectures given by professors, readers or lecturers,47 practical

classes (in scientific subjects) and small group teaching in seminars or tutorials.

The course of study for intending teachers is based upon compulsory and optional subjects.

The Programme usually consists of three core components: School-based experience, Subject

studies and Education studies.48

Theory of Education is one of the main subjects. At the end of the first or second year

students are to make their choice as to the age-range of children they wish to prepare to teach.

Junior students go into schools for one day each week, watching experienced teachers at

work. They take part in the life of the school, help with games, societies or play productions.

46 Other students who work during the day and study in the evening are part-time students.

47 readera university teacher of a rank immediately below a professor,

lecturer: a person lower in rank than a reader who gives lectures, especially at a college or university.

48 By School-based experience teaching practice is meant (both "observation period" for junior students and block-teaching

practice for senior students).

By Subject studies a broad range of subjects is meant of which a student is to choose two cores (the main subjects).

Education studies means essential knowledge of children, the curriculum, the organization of schools and classes.

Senior students spend fifteen weeks on teaching practice. They learn the use of different

educational aids, audio-visual facilities, observe lessons and take an active part in discussing them

with a supervisor (tutor) on school practice.

Examinations are held at the end of each term. Final examinations (or finals) are taken at the

end of the course.

(See: Tibbits E. L. Exercises in Reading Comprehension. Longman, 1974)

TEXT B. DIALOGUE

A n n : Hullo, Steve. Have you got a minute?

S t e v e : Sure, yes. What can I do for you?

A.: I've read a number of books on the British system of higher education but I can't make

head or tail of it.

S.: Mm... no wonder. What's the problem?

A.: Quite a lot of problems. What I want to discuss is the difference between a university and

a college.

S.: It's like this, you see... The programme is different. At a university it is much wider. Great

attention is paid to scientific subjects.

A: It sounds as though most people prefer a university.

S.: Well... that rather depends.

A.: Speaking about universities I'm not quite clear about tutorials there. What is a tutorial

exactly?

S.: Oh, it's when students discuss topics with a tutor in very small groups — usually there are

not more than three or four students and sometimes only one.

A.: I see... And coming back to colleges... I'm still not terribly sure what a residential college

is.

S.: Erm... It's a college with a hall of residence49 on the same grounds as the principal

building. In fact all the students live in hall.

A: Really? and what about the teaching staff?

S.: Actually the majority of the teaching staff live there too. But there are also quite a lot of

non-residential colleges.

A: And you studied at university?

S.: Yes...

A.: I'd like to find myself in that university. What was it like?

S.: Well... a big grey building surrounded by trees.

A: Beautiful?

S.: Nothing very remarkable. Of course there were lecture halls, classrooms and a number of

laboratories.

A: Any facilities for sport and P.E.50

S.: Let me see... Yes... A gymnasium with changing rooms and showers, a tennis court...

What else... A playing field for netball and football...

A.: I believe students spend a lot of time together, don't they?

S.: Definitely. We had students' societies and clubs.

A.: Am I right to believe that they are for those interested in drama and music?

49 ball of residence: a more modern term than hostel, used only of student hostels (the abbreviated form hall, with no article, is