Before reading

5.1 Read and translate some international words: college, university, collection, specialize in, private, public, percent, student, institution, president, various, professor, faculty, academic, instructor, instruction, aspect, course, classify, bachelor, master, professional, agriculture, dentistry, engineering, medicine, focus on, specialized training.

 

5.2 Learn new words for reading the text. Look through the text below, find the sentences with these words and translate them into Russian.

the latter – последний

to specialize in – специализироваться в чем-либо

to support – содержать, поддерживать

to govern – управлять

board of regents – регентский совет

board of trustees – опекунский совет

executive head – исполнительный глава

to take up – принимать

to be headed by – возглавляться

dean – декан

subject matter– предмет, тема

to designate – назначать

instructor – преподаватель

assistant professor – старший преподаватель

associate professor – доцент

major subjects – основные предметы

to work hard at – упорно работать над

to fail – провалить (экзамен)

freshman – студент первого курса

sophomore – студент второго курса

junior – студент третьего курса

senior – студент выпускного курса

to grant a degree – присваивать степень

to pursue – заниматься, продолжать

liberal arts – гуманитарные науки

to require – требовать

 

5.3 Change the underlined expressions for synonymous ones from the above word list.

a) Students who do not pass exams may repeat the course.

b) The ULL is famous for its research in humanities.

c) Students of all specialties consider English classes very important for their profession. That is why they spend much time at the assignments.

d) Colleges are usually managed by a board of trustees.

e) First-year students often live in dormitories.

f) During the four-year higher education program, they study four or five main subjects per year.

g) Professional law education is conducted in professional schools.

h) The NVCJA boasts a number of experienced lectures.

 

5.4 Find the word that should not be in the line.

a) third-year student, freshman, dean, sophomore, junior, senior;

b) to make a presentation, to take notes, to listen to a lecture, to govern, to attend classes, to write an essay;

c) instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, tutor, minister;

d) to apply to, to admit, to enroll, to enter, to boast, to study, to graduate from;

e) to study nursing, to use a weapon, to drive a patrol police car, to give first aid, to direct traffic, to testify in court, to process a crime scene;

 

5.5 Think and answer.

– What is the difference between a college and a university in the USA?

– Whom is a university headed by?

– What is the peculiarity of an American university education?

 

5.6 Listen to the text read by Virginia Martin from the University of Wisconsin. Try to understand as many details as possible.

Text: Higher Education in the USA

Higher Education in the USA is provided by colleges and universities. The main difference between a college and a university is that the latter is a collection of colleges each of which specializes in different field.

American colleges and universities are either private or public. Any year, about 12 million Americans are enrolled in the over 3000 colleges and universities. It is stated that half of all secondary school graduates enter colleges and universities. Close to 80 percent of the college students attend public institutions, while a little over 20 percent are enrolled in privately supported universities and colleges. Both colleges and universities are usually governed by a board of regents or a board of trustees.

The executive head of a college or a university is called the president. The various colleges or schools which make up a university are headed by deans. Within a school or college there may be departments according to subject matter fields, each of which may be headed by a professor who is designated as department head or chairman. Other members of the faculty hold academic ranks, such as instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor.

During the four-year higher school program, students study four or five major subjects per year. In addition they usually have classes in Sports, Music and Art. The first and second year students work hard at different aspects of English. They also take courses in Logic, Critical Thinking, Computer Science etc. Only a third year student begins an intensive study of his special field. If a student fails a course, he repeats only that course and not the work of the entire year.

Students are classified as freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. All students who have graduated from the senior class and who continue studies at a university are called graduate students. At the conclusion of studies a college or university grants a bachelor’s degree; after one or two additional years of study – a master’s degree. The highest academic degree is the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Professional education in fields such as agriculture, dentistry, law, engineering, medicine, teaching etc. is pursued in professional schools, which focus their instruction on a single profession. As a rule two, three, or four years of pre-professional liberal arts education are required before admission to a professional school. Three to five years of specialized training lead to professional degrees such as Doctor of Medicine, Bachelor of Law etc.

 

5.7. Find English equivalents to the following word-combinations:

собрание колледжей, или… или, поступать в университет, немногим более чем, как… так и, разнообразные колледжи, кафедры, заведующий кафедрой, штат (сотрудники), четырех летняя программа обучения в высшей школе, в год, критическое мышление, дополнительные годы учебы, стоматология, предпрофессиональное обучение.