Unit 3

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Exercise 1. Read the dialogue.

Education in Russia

-What did you do after finishing secondary school?

-After finishing secondary school I went on to further education. I successfully passed the Unified State Exams and became an applicant for entry. I didn`t have to take competitive examinations at the University.

-What do you know about the system of higher education in Russia?

-Russian educational policy is a combination of economic and social objectives. In the terms of the ratio of students to the total population Russia ranks among the top ten countries in the world. There are a lot universities and colleges in Russia. They teach almost in all subject areas: Arts, Sciences, Law, Engineering, etc. Higher educational institutions are headed by Rectors. Vice-rectors are in charge of the academic and scientific work. The Departments are headed by the Deans. There are subdivisions within Departments.

-What do you know about the programs of study?

-Higher educational institutions train students in two types of programs. The first way is as follows. After four years of study a university graduate will get the Bachelor`s Degree. He can continue his study for two years to take his Master's Degree. The other program provides for a diploma of the specialist after completing five years of study. In either program a student is trained in one specialization. In order to receive a university degree a student writes a graduate paper. The graduates can also continue their education and write dissertations for advanced degrees. After three years of post-graduate research work and the presentation of

the dissertation it is possible to obtain the candidate degree. The next stage is the Doctor's Degree which requires much more research work and defending the Doctor`s dissertation.

-Why is the system of higher education in Russia so complicated?

-In Russia the process of the integration and reformation of higher education, based on principles of the Bologna Declaration, is under way. For the past several years Russian education has gained high dynamics of development in the course of global and European trends. The following new developments are a serious evidence of these trends: the introduction of the Unified State Exams, steady strive for providing equal opportunity in obtaining higher education by any individual, highly increased independency of the education institutions. Some new important developments are still in the discussion process, whereas, at the same time, the new specific methods are already being chosen to be implemented: the new system of knowledge and workload assessment; strong reinforcement of quality assurance in education; modern types of state financial support. In the course of these changes the implementation of two-tier degree structure in higher education has been launched.

-How can you evaluate these new trends and developments from your point of view?

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- Let me note that Russian education, by its nature, is one of the most sensitive areas of our culture to the improvements and new ideas. The Russian youth is treasuring European values in accordance with its cultural wealth. Based on these grounds, further integration with Europe in the education area is a realistic goal.

Vocabulary:

to go on to further education – продолжить образование;

to pass the unified state exams – сдать Единые государственные экзамены; an applicant for entry – абитуриент;

to take competitive examinations – сдавать конкурсные экзамены; an objective – цель;

a ratio – пропорция, соотношение;

to rank – занимать место, располагаться по рангу; a subject area – предметная область;

to be in charge of – руководить, отвечать за; to be headed by – возглавляться;

a subdivision – подразделение; to complete – завершать;

the Bachelor`s Degree – степень (звание, диплом) бакалавра; the Master's Degree – степень (звание, диплом) магистра; to provide for – предусматривать;

a graduate paper – дипломная работа;

an advanced degree – более высокая степень;

post-graduate research work – научная (исследовательская) работа в аспирантуре;

to obtain – приобретать, получать; to gain – получать, приобретать; to defend – защищать;

a trend – тенденция;

an evidence – доказательство; steady strive – твердое стремление;

to implement – выполнять, осуществлять; assessment – оценка;

assurance – гарантия, уверенность; reinforcement – усиление;

two-tier structure – двухступенчатая структура;

treasure values – хранить (здесь – воспринимать) ценности.

Exercise 2. Work in pairs, compose the short dialogues of different types using the information above.

Dialogue 1 (a question – agreement with some additional information).

−The system of higher education in Russia is very complicated.

−Yes, I quite agree with you (You are right. I really think so.). There are two ways of obtaining the university degree.

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