Беликова Е.К., Саратовская Л.Б. - The United Kingdom and United States of America in Past and Present (1268141), страница 5
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Schools in England are supported from public funds paid19to the local education authorities. Nine million children attend 35.000schools in Britain. Education is compulsory from age 5 till 16.Today there is a great number of different schools in Britain and a varietyof opportunities offered to schoolchildren. In general schools help toequip future citizens with all they require to take their place in adultsociety, encourage each pupil to develop his or her interests in manyareas.
Seven per cent of British schoolchildren go to private schoolscalled very confusingly “public”or independent. There are 2.400independent schools and they have been growing in number andpopularity since the mid-1980s. Parents pay for these schools, and feesvary from about 250 pounds a term for a private nursery to 3.000 poundsa term or more for a secondary boarding school.
Most independentschools are called prep (preparatory) schools because they prepare thechildren for the Common Entrance Exam (age 11). This exam is for entryinto the best schools. The most famous schools Eton, Harrow, Rugbyhave a long history and traditions. A lot of prominent people wereeducated in such schools, including prime-minister Winston Churchill,poet Lord Byron, and playwright Richard Sheridan. It is oftennecessary to put your child's name on a waiting list at birth to be sure heor she will get a place.
Children of wealthy or aristocratic families oftengo to the same public school as their parents and their grandparents. Themajority of independent secondary schools, including public schools, aresingle-sex, although in recent years girls have been allowed to join thesixth forms of boys' schools. Independent schools also include religiousschools (Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, etc.) and schools for ethnicminorities.All state schools in Britain are free and provide their pupils withbooks and equipment for their studies. Parents can choose to send theirchildren to a nursery school or a pre-school playgroup to prepare them forthe start of compulsory education.
Children start primer school at 5 andcontinue until they are 11. Most children are taught together, boys andgirls in the same class. At 11 most pupils go to secondary schools calledcomprehensives which accept a wide range of children from allbackgrounds and religious and ethnic groups. Ninety per cent ofsecondary schools in England, Scotland and Wales are co-educational.At about 15-16 pupils take a national exam called "GCSE" (GeneralCertificate of Secondary Education) and then they can leave school ifthey wish. This is the end of compulsory education. For a lot of jobs, such20as nursing, assistant librarian, hairdressing, typing or mechanics pupilsmust pass seven-eight different subjects of O-level exam.Some 16-year-olds continue their studies in the sixth form at school orat a sixth form college, which offer a wide range of courses. Ordinarylevel alternative, CEE (Certificate of Extended Education) and CSEcourses are offered to pupils who need qualifications at a lower level.
IfBritish pupils want to enter universities or colleges of further educationthey have to start preparing for the second main examination – A-level(advanced level). Three A-levels are enough to get them to mostuniversities. In Oxford and Cambridge school leavers have to take specialexams as well.Higher education.. Students normally enter Universities from 18onwards and study for an Academic Degree. Apart from a single privateuniversity, all undergraduate education is largely state financed (withtuition fees dependent on a certain level of income and with the statepaying all fees for students from the poorest backgrounds).
The state doesnot control syllabuses, but it does influence admission procedures. Unlikemost degrees, the state still has control over teacher training courses, anduses inspectors to maintain standards.There are 46 universities in Britain now. The oldest and best-knownones are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester,Liverpool, Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol and Birmingham.They greatly differ from each other in date of foundation, size, history,tradition, general organization, way of student life. The most prestigiousOxford and Cambridge (Oxbridge) date from the 12 and 13 centuries. Inthe 19th and the early the 20th centuries the so-called Redbrick universitieswere founded in London, Manchester, Liverpool, etc.
During the late 60sand 70s some 20 new universities were opened in Sussex, York, EastAnglia, called “concrete and glass” universities.The typical first degree offered by British universities is the Bachelor'sdegree (about three years). During a first degree students are known asundergraduates.Many institutions now offer an undergraduateMaster's degree as a first degree, typically lasting four years. Moststudents graduate at 21 or 22 and are given their degree at a specialgraduation ceremony.Some universities offer a vocationally-based Foundation degree,typically two years in length for those students who hope to take the firstdegree but wish to remain in employment.
There are also so-called21Polytechnics in the UK as well. Like the universities, Polytechnics offerfirst and higher degrees, full-time and sandwich courses. The highestdegree in the UK is Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy).1 Answer the following questions: I. What age do British children usually go toschool? 2. What types of school exist in Britain? 3. What school exams mustBritish pupils normally taket? 4.
How can they enter Universities and colleges?5. Which types of British universities do you know? 6. What do British studentsreceive on leaving universities? 7. Do you think that computers can replaceteachers in schools and universities some day?2.Translate into English: А) 1. Большинство английских детей учатся всредних школах, называемых общеобразовательными школами. 2.
В 16 летученики сдают государственный экзамен на получение аттестата о среднемобразовании. 3. Некоторые ученики в 16 лет продолжают обучение вшестом классе школы. 4. Шестой класс готовит учеников к более высокомууровню экзаменов, который называется «уровень» A. 5.«Уровень А» нужендля поступления в университет.
6. Другие шестнадцатилетние уходят изшколы и поступают в колледжи дальнейшего обучения, чтобы получитьпрофессиональные дипломы.7.Британские университеты делятся на трикатегории: самые старые престижные Кембридж и Оксфорд,«краснокирпичные университеты», построенные в конце 19-начале 20веков и современные, новые университеты, т.н. «университеты из бетона ипластика».
8. Английские студенты учатся в университетах, в основном,три года и при успешной сдаче экзаменов получают степень «бакалавра».9. Для получения степени «магистра» нужно учиться еще 1-2 года.10.Только 25% английской молодежи получает высшее образование.Б) Такие университеты как Кембридж и Оксфорд не нуждаются в рекламе– о них слышали все.
А вот поступить и учиться там - далеко не каждыйможет даже мечтать об этом. Однако оба эти университета открыты длястудентов многих стран, включая Россию. Примечательно, что в них ужедавно существуют русские общества, цель которых – осуществление связеймежду русскими студентами, преподавателями и всеми, кто интересуетсякультурой и жизнью России. Первое русское общество было основано вОксфордском университете принцем Юсуповым в 1909 году.
В настоящеевремя в нем более 500 членов, 60 из которых из России. Для всего мираОксфорд и Кембридж овеяны ореолом слов «британские традиции»,«элитные», «престижные», что подтверждается многочисленнымирейтингами. Они входят в десятку лучших университетов мира.Количество лауреатов Нобелевской премии среди выпускников исотрудников учебного заведения составляет 30% от общего балла, и ихвыпускникине уступают по уважению воспитанникам Гарварда.Британские университеты продолжают отлично выступать на европейскойобразовательной арене. Кембридж, Оксфорд, империал Колледж и22Университетский колледж Лондона занимают четыре лидирующихпозиции в Европе. Манчестер, Бристоль, Шеффилд, Королевский КолледжЛондона и Ноттингем входят в число 30 топ-университетов Европы.3.
Discussion problems: 1. The difference between comprehensive andindepended schools in Britain. 2. Colleges and universities in the UK.CHAPTER V. CULTURAL LIFE, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONSRead the vocabulary:Consumption –потреблениеTo flourish- процветатьShellfish - моллюскHighbrow - высоколобыйHumility - смиренностьPastry- тестоdownright pokey –wholesomesubstantialprovocativefringepudding-очень тесныездоровый(ое)зд. питательныйсоблазнительныйкрайзапеканкаEvery country and nation has its own traditions and customs.Traditions make a nation special.
Some of them are old-fashioned; othersare part of new life. You cannot imagine Britain without her traditions,which became integral feature of social and private life of the people onthe British Isles. The British always attached and continue to attach greatimportance to their traditions.
Many of them still feel strongly about themonarchy because it adds a great deal of colourful traditions to their life.The British like court ceremonies, jubilees and parades. Some ceremoniesare performed every day. For example, Changing of the Guard of theHousehold Cavalry in Whitehall. Another great spectacle is the formalCeremony of the changing of the Royal guard in the forecourt ofBuckingham Place.
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