II. Reading.

Exercise 2. Read and translate the text.

My Future Speciality

I am a first-year student of the National University of Food Technologies. I study at the Faculty of Automation and Computer Systems. Our department trains specialists on such specialties: “Information Technologies”, “Computer Systems and Networks”. My future specialty is automation engineer.

Now that the country is through a period of qualitative changes in its economy the higher school acquire a special task to train specialists of a new type who would combine fundamental knowledge with a high professional level and practical training in the specific field of national economy.

Higher technical education is a component of our country’s higher education system. The course of study lasts 5 years. A large part of study is devoted to basic subjects. We study general subjects such as physics, mathematics, foreign languages, history, philosophy; and special subjects such as data basis, programming, computational methods and application of electronic computers.

The future specialist can plan technological processes of automated control, choose optimum conditions for the automated operations, use modern control methods.

The future specialist must know:

• the basis of general theoretical subjects;

• special subjects, which explain the main principles of automation and control;

• planning of different kinds of activity;

• technological equipment and technological processes of the field he works in.

The academic activity falls into such types: lectures, seminars, practical classes, labs, tutorials, credits, examinations.

In order to link theoretical knowledge with the application of it in their future profession the students have some practical training during the whole course of education.

The department offers four year courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Automation and five year courses leading to the degree of Master of Automation.

The graduates of the University can work as electrical engineers, automation engineers and electronic engineers at different kinds of enterprises, scientific and designing offices.

III. Oral Practice.

Exercise 3. Speak on:

1. your Faculty;

2. a new type of engineers;

3. course of study;

4. general and special subjects for practicing engineers;

5. what an engineer must be able to do;

6. practical training;

7. possible positions of the University graduates.

Exercise 4. Explain

1. why it is necessary for a specialist in the field of automation to combine high theoretical and practical training.

2. why the higher school acquires a special task to train engineers of a new type.

Exercise 5. Make up the dialogues of your own on the following situations. Dramatize them.

Situation 1.

You have met your own ex class-mate. Now you are students. Speak about your educational institutions, subjects to be studied at, subjects you are interested in, academic activities, courses of education and presupposed careers.

Situation 2.

You are meeting foreign students. Tell them about the requirements of our society to a specialist, about your University and your faculty and your future speciality.

Situation 3.

Your younger brother is eager to enter the University and to study at the Faculty of Cybernetics. Answer all his questions about possible positions of an engineer at different enterprises.

Exercise 6. Give information about your future speciality using the following questions as a plan:

1. What department do you study at?

2. What will your profession be?

3. What specialities does your faculty train?

4. What subjects do you study?

5. What special task does the high school acquire to train engineers of a new type?

6. What academic activities are applied at the University?

7. How long does the course of study last?

8. What do the students do in the fifth year of study?

9. Where will you work after studies?