Education (Дополнительное чтение)

Московский государственный университетим. М.В. ЛомоносоваФизический факультетКафедра английского языкаA Guide to Country StudiesEducation in the UK and USAСоставитель: Лосева А.В.Москва2011EDUCATIONWarm up1. Work in a group to discuss the system of education in Russia. How is it structured?When do you start/finish your education? What are famous schools, universities? Whatsubjects do pupils study at schools? Prepare a brief report.2. Compare your reports and summarize your findings in a whole class discussion.3. Work together on the mind map presenting subtopics of the major one.EDUCATION in the UK/USChoose the way you are going to make a presentation on one of the suggested subtopics atthe end of the Unit.

Fill in the table. Tick appropriate options.MY TOPIC IS …..IndividuallyPresentation (Power Point, Prezior other web 2.0 tools)As a groupCompareInvestigate problematic issueVideoEssay (written+recorded)Monitor and report moderntrendsBlogpost (text+images+videos)Break stereotypesSurveyOther(pleasespecify)________________________Other (please specify) ________2ReadingRead the texts and answer the following questions: What stages does the educational system in the UK/USA consist of? What are the similarities and differences in the two systems? Name the stages of both.UK Education SystemThe education system in the UK is divided into four main parts: primary education,secondary education, further education and higher education.

Children in the UK have to legallyattend primary and secondary education which runs from about 5 years old until the student is 16years old.Primary and Secondary EducationMore than 90% of students in the UK attend publicly-funded state schools (1); still thereare also financially self-supported independent, or “private”, schools (2). By law, all children inEngland and Wales between ages 5 and 16 must receive a full-time education, while in NorthernIreland, children must begin at age 4.

For children under age 5, publicly-funded nurseries andpre-schools are available for a limited number of hours each week. Primary schooling starts at 5and continues up to the age of 11 when children take their first exams to proceed to secondaryschooling phase which is also compulsory in the country.From the age of 11-14, students study a broad range of subjects. National Curriculum (3)core subjects at this stage are: English (Welsh is also a core subject in Welsh-speaking schools),mathematics, science, design and technology, information and communication technology,history, geography, modern foreign languages, music, art and design, physical education, andcitizenship.When students reach 14, they generally enter into the first year of a 2-year process knownas GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education).

GCSE's are a set of exams that test yourknowledge and skill. Most schools offer to take such core subjects as English, Maths andSciences (either combined or separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics). Students typically thenselect additional 4 or 5 subjects in which to take GCSE’s, and these can be subjects like French,German, Business Studies, Design and Technology, Music, Sports Science, Geography, Historyand many other options.GCSEs mark the end of compulsory education for students in the UK. Once they havecompleted their GCSEs students then have the choice to either move into further education (witha view to higher education) or can leave school and look for work.Scotland has its own qualification framework that is separate from that in England, Walesand Northern Ireland (4).

After seven years of primary education and four years of compulsorysecondary education, students aged 15 to 16 may take the Scottish Certificate of Education(SCE). The Scottish Certificate of Education is recognized throughout the UK as the equivalentto GCE A-levels and is usually the entry qualification for university.Further Education SystemWhen students reach the age of 16 and have completed their GCSE's they have a fewoptions to choose from: Find work Academic QualificationsMost schools in the UK have what is called a "6th Form" for students to enter after theyhave taken their GCSE's. As an alternative, there are many "6th Form Colleges" that will offerthe same courses from students at schools that do not have a 6th form. Here students typically3study A-levels (5), further academic qualifications required of students before they enter highereducation and a degree program. Vocational QualificationsFor students who are not so academically minded, they still have the option to furthertheir education by studying a vocational course (6) that will provide them with a more hands-onexperience and education.Higher Education SystemThe UK has a vast variety of higher education opportunities to offer students with over100 universities offering various degree programs for students from the UK and around theworld.

In the UK about one-third of all students go on to some form of higher education. Thismakes competition for places very fierce and so it is advised to apply early for courses.In the UK most undergraduate degree programs take three years to finish; however, the“sandwich course” (7) is increasing in popularity. In Scotland the courses are four years in lengthfor undergraduate programs.

Masters programs are generally shorter in length and undertakenafter graduation of undergraduate programs. Some professional degrees like medicine,veterinary, law etc. have longer programs that can be as much as five years.From 2007, universities in the UK are allowed to charge students from the UK up to£3,070 per year (depending on the school and location). Students from the EU also only have topay the same fees as students from the UK, but international students from the rest of the worldhave to pay the full school fees which will vary depending on the school. These fees forinternational students can range anywhere from £4,000 per year right up to £18,000 per year ormore.From: http://www.britishcouncil.orgUS Education SystemThe United States offers top-notch resources and qualitative education that enablesstudents to pursue world-class education.

The educational system comprises 12 years of primaryand high school education, which is mandatory for getting admission in any graduate college,university, or for any professional and technical schools.Primary/Elementary SchoolUsually the education for Americans starts at around 5 years of age. Primary schoolinglasts for about five to six years. In this level students complete five grades of their educationfocusing on the broad range of knowledge, basic academic learning, reading and socializationskills. This also includes learning basics of mathematics, English proficiency, science, socialstudies, physical development and fine arts.

Students have a choice to select their education heldeither in public schools, or private schools, or home school.High/Secondary SchoolUpon completion of five grades of education in primary school, students enterhigh/secondary school. The duration of secondary school is about six to seven years, by whichstudents complete their 12 grades.Junior high school (or middle school) and Senior high school together provide secondaryeducation to the children (8). The mandatory subjects which are taught in US high schoolsinclude Science (biology, chemistry and physics), Mathematics (statistics, algebra, geometry andcalculus), English (humanities, literature and composition) and Social Sciences (history,geography and economics).Most of the states have made health courses mandatory so that the students learn aboutfirst-aid, nutrition, sexuality and drug awareness.

Art, foreign language and physical educationare also made compulsory by some schools in the curriculum. After completion of theirsecondary education (9), successful students obtain a high school diploma.4Undergraduate SchoolUndergraduate Schools offer a two-year degree which is called Associate's degree or afour-year degree called Bachelor's degree in a particular field of study. This particular course ofstudy is called a major.

The most common bachelor's degrees are Bachelor of Arts (B.A.),Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.). Associate’s Degree.This is a two-year program at the undergraduate level. Completion of this programenables the students to seek a transfer into the third year of the four-year Bachelor’s degreeeither in 4-year colleges or universities. Taking this route to study the first two years is veryinexpensive for both American and International students, since the tuition and fees are very lowwhen compared to other types of colleges.Most colleges require good score in TOEFL (for establishing English proficiency) (10)and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Reasoning scores (11) for admission in their AssociateDegree programs. Bachelor’s Degree:This is a four-year program at the undergraduate level. This is the first degree with whichmost students plan their career or profession.

Hundreds of majors in all the fields are offered atthe Bachelor’s level, which makes education an attractive proposition for students all over theworld.In the U.S, the first year of Bachelor’s degree is called the Freshman Year, the secondone, the Sophomore Year, the third, Junior Year and the fourth, the Senior Year.Professional SchoolFor professional programs like Law, Medicine, Pharmacy etc., US universities offerprofessional programs leading to degrees such as MD (for Medicine), Pharm D (for Pharmacy)etc. These are known as the first professional degrees, completion of which entitles the studentsto practice as professionals in their respective fields (after meeting other requirements).Admissions into most of these professional programs are based on good performance in entrancetests after completion of a Bachelor’s degree in related subjects.Students are evaluated for their performance, based on the number of credits they obtainduring their academic performance.