БЛОК ЧТЕНИЯ LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES
“He, who knows no foreign language, does not know his own one”.
Goethe
Answer the questions.
Is it necessary to learn English?
Is it difficult for you to learn foreign languages?
Do you use your knowledge of foreign languages in your life?
Do you like to learn it?
How many foreign languages do you know?
What other languages besides English would you like to learn?
Read the dialogue and express the opinion “why do you learn foreign language?”
Why Do You Learn Foreign Language?
— Is it easy for you to learn foreign language?
— Learning a foreign language is not an easy thing. It is a long and slow process that takes a lot of time and efforts.
— Why do you learn foreign language?
— Nowadays it is especially important to know foreign language. Some people learn language, because they need it for their work, others travel abroad, for the third studying language is a hobby. Everyone, who knows foreign language can speak to people from other countries, read foreign authors in the original, which makes your outlook wider.
— Why do you. learn exactly English?
— Nowadays English has become the world's most important language in politics, science, trade and cultural relations.
— Do many people in the world speak English as a mother language (tongue)?
— Over 300 million people speak it as a mother tongue. The native speakers of English live in Great Britain, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. English is one of the official languages in the Irish Republic, Canada, the South Africa Republic. English is one of the official languages of the United Nations Organization and other political organizations.
— What language is used by scientists?
— Half of the world's scientific literature is in English. It is the language of computer technology. To know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated man, for every good specialist.
— Do you like English?
— English language is a wonderful language. It is the language of the great literature. It is the language of William Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, Walter Scott, Charles Dickens.
Do you know how to learn English better?
Yes, there are some rules of memory. It is necessary to repeat the material you've learnt every three days. If you don't repeat the material within three days most of the information vanishes as if you never learnt it. It is better to memorize material before you go to bed. You'll memorize it more quickly. It's very useful to listen to the material you are learning to memorize the pronunciation. One should also know that we get 90% of information by teaching others, only 20% by listening and 30% by seeing.
Translate these sentences into English:
1. Великий немецкий поэт Гёте однажды сказал: «Тот, кто не знает иностранного языка, не знает и своего собственного».
2. Изучение иностранных языков особенно важно сегодня.
3. Некоторые люди изучают языки, потому что они нужны им в работе, другие для путешествий за границу, для третьих изучение иностранных языков — хобби.
HIGHER EDUCATION IN RUSSIA
Every citizen of our country has the right to education.
Higher education plays an important part in the life of any country as it provides the country with highly-qualified specialists for future development and progress. It trains people to become teachers, engineers, doctors and other professional workers.
The information explosion has affected every field of study, especially, of course, in the natural and applied sciences and in all other sciences as well. The increase of information requires new-methods and new approaches to students’ training and instruction.
The system of higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: to decentralize the higher education system, to develop a new financial mechanism, to give more academic freedoms to faculties and students. Now universities have fee-paing departments or courses where the cost of study is high and the students have to pay for their education.
There are three departments at the universities and institutes of Russia: day-time, evening and extramural departments. Part-time students have an opportunity to study without leaving their jobs. All applicants must take competitive exams if they want to enter a higher educational establishment.
Training specialists at our Institutes combines theoretical studies with practical work and industrial training. Students have lectures and practical lessons. They attend lectures on different subjects and they take notes. During practical lessons they study the material of the lectures.
The academic year usually lasts 9 months and is divided into two terms (semesters). The first- and second-year students obtain detailed instructions in the fundamental sciences of mathematics, physics, chemistry and drawing as well as computer engineering and a number of others. The curricula are enriched and broadened by instructions in such subjects as foreign languages, history and economics.
In the third year students get more advanced knowledge and begin to concentrate on their special interests, so to say, their major subject and take many courses in this subject. Specialized study and courses will help students to become specialists and prepare them for their future work.
After four years students will get a bachelor’s degree. Then the students may go on with their studies and in a year or two of further study and research get a master’s degree.
Education is a process through which culture is preserved, knowledge and skills are developed, values are formed, and information is exchanged.
Exercises
I. Remember words and expressions:
the right to education - право на образование,
a day-time department - дневное отделение,
evening or part-time – вечернее отделение,
extramural or correspondence – заочное отделение,
an applicant [‘æplikənt] – абитуриент,
a term – семестр,
an academic year (a study year) - учебный год,
an objective [ɔb’ektiv] – цель,
to decentralize - уничтожить централизацию,
new approaches – новые подходы,
curriculumn (curricula) – учебная программа,
a bachelor’s degree – степень бакалавра,
a master’s degree – степень магистра,
skills – умения, мастерство,
values – ценности.
II. Answer the questions. Follow the model:
Model: Do you study literature at the University?
No, I don’t. I study mathematics.
1. Are you a second-year student?
2. Do you study at an extra-mural department?
3. Is higher education in Russia compulsory?
4. Does your friend get a scholarship?
5. Is the academic year divided into three terns?
6. After four years students will get a master’s degree, won’t they?
III. Ask the questions to the underlined words:
1. There are three departments at the Universities of Russia.
2. Part-time students have an apportunity to study without leaving their jobs.
3. The complete course of studies at a University usually takes 5 years.
IV. Answer the questions:
1. Do you think it’s necessary to get a higher education? Why?
2. Is your future profession prestigious?
Why do you think so? Give your reasons.
3. What country would you like to get a higher education in? Why?
V. Imagine that you are a Prime Minister of Russia. What will you do for Higher Education in the country?
OUR UNIVERSITY
Our country has a large net of higher educational establishments.
In our region there are more than 10 higher educational establishments.
In 1958 the first institution of higher education-an educational-consulting point was opened in Berezniki where only 3 teachers began to work with 150 extra-mural students.
In 1963 the educational-consulting centre was reorganized into the general-technical faculty and then it was transfered into the Branch of the Perm Polytechnical Institute. The faculty had got its own building where the first research laboratories were equipped. Now the students may carry out researches there and make experiments.
In 1981 the first chairs were organized at the faculty. Now our University has six chairs: the chair of technology and mechanical production, the chair of technology of chemical processes, the chair of general-scientific disciplines, the chair of economics, the mining chair and the chair of computing technologies. Our University trains students of different specialities.
Tuition rests on a broad scientific basis, lectures on theory being combined with practical classes. The early years are devoted to general subjects. Specialization usually begins in the third or fourth year.
There are three departments: day-time, evening department and extra-mural department at our University. Part-time students have a possibility to combine their work and study at the same time. The complete course of studies lasts 5 years at the day department and 6 years at the part-time department. Our University has an extra-mural economic department.
Exercises
I. Find the equivalents to the English expressions in the right-hand column:
a net of higher educational establishments
to train
an educational - consulting point (centre)
to rest on
different specialities
to devote to
a common curriculum
the complete course of studies
the Branch of the University
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a) разные специальности
b) образовательно-консультационный центр
c) полный курс обучения
d) посвящать
f) опираться на
g) сеть высших учебных заведений
h) общая учебная программа
i) филиал университета
j) обучать
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II. Find in the text sentences with Passive Voice.
III. Make up general and tail questions to the sentences:
Our country has a large net of higher educational establishments.
In our region there are more than 10 higher educational establishments.
In 1981 the first chairs were organized at the faculty.
Specialization usually begins in the third or fourth year.
You can get books in many fields of science and engineering there.
IV. Retell the text using the plan:
A large net of higher educational establishments in Russia.
In our region there are … .
In 1958 … was opened in Berezniki.
1963 (the general – technical faculty, the Branch of the PPI).
The first chairs of the Branch (1981).
Tuition rests on … .
The departments of our University.
THE URAL STATE MINING UNIVERSITY
The Ural State Mining University, formerly called the Sverdlovsk Mining Institute, was founded in 1914. It was the oldest higher education institution in the Urals. In 1920 the Mining Institute became a faculty of the Ural State University and in 1925 of the Ural Polytechnical Institute. In 1930 this faculty was reorganized into the Mining Institute. The Institute was named after V.V. Vakhrushev the USSR Coal Industry Minister in 1947. It was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1966. In 1993 the Sverdlovsk Mining Institute was reorganized into the Ural State Academy of Mining and Geology and in 2004 it was given the status of the University.
The University provides full-time and extramural education in many specialities.
The University is an important scientific research centre. Many doctors and masters of science teach and carry out scientific work at the University. Capable students take part in research projects.
There are four full-time faculties and the Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the University.
The faculty of Mining Technology trains specialists in underground coal and ore mining, mine surveying, mine and underground construction.
The faculty of Engineering and Economics trains specialists in economics and management, computer systems, environment protection.
The faculty of Mining Mechanics trains specialists in mining machines, mineral dressing, oil and gas machines, electromechanical equipment, automation of technological processes and others.
The Institute of Geology and Geophysics trains specialists in different branches of Geology and Geophysics and applied mathematics.
Nowadays the University trains specialists in 29 specialities.
There are many specialities at the faculty of Extramural Education where students have to combine work with studies.
Students and teachers have all necessary conditions for good studies and work.
Words and Expressions
capable students – способные (одаренные) студенты,
mine surveying – горные (шахтные) исследования,
mine – шахта (рудник),
underground – подземный,
mining machines – горные машины,
dressing – обогащение,
applied mathematics – прикладная математика.
Make up questions to the text (using them as a plan for retelling).
THE FIRST MINING SCHOOL IN RUSSIA
The Moscow Mining Academy was established in 1918. The main task of the Academy was to train mining engineers and technicians, to popularize technological achievements among miners, to work on important problems of mining and metallurgical engineering and to direct scientific research.
There were three departments in the Academy: mining, geological prospecting and metallurgy. The Moscow Mining Academy introduced a new course in coal mining mechanization which provided the basis for the development of mining engineering. The two scientists A.M. Terpigorev and M.M. Protodyakonov wrote the first textbook on machinery for mining bedded deposits.
Much credit for the establishment of the Moscow Mining Academy and the development of co-operation among outstanding scientists and educators is due to Academician I.M. Gubkin, a prominent geologist and oil expert.
In 1925 the Mining Academy was one of the best-known educational institutions in Russia. It had well-equipped laboratories, demonstration rooms and a library which had many volumes of Russian and foreign scientific books and journals.
The Academy established close contacts with the coal and ore mining industries. The scientists carried out scientific research and worked on important mining problems.
The rapid growth of the mining industry called for the training of more highly-qualified specialists and the establishment of new educational institutions.
New collieries and open-cast mines, metallurgical works and metal-working factories for processing non-ferrous and ferrous metals appeared in the country. The people took an active part in the construction of new industrial enterprises.
The Academy alone could not cope with the problem of training specialists. In 1930 the Moscow Mining Academy was transformed into six independent institutes. Among the new colleges which grew out of the Academy’s departments were the Moscow Mining Institute and the Moscow Institute of Geological Prospecting. Later, the scientific research Institute of Mining appeared near Moscow.
Disprove the following statements.
The Moscow Mining Academy was established a year ago.
There were five departments in the Academy.
The Academy established close contacts with the Ural Agricultural Institute.
Mining Academy was transformed into two independent institutes.
It is the youngest mining school in Russia.
THE EARTH’S CRUST
Most minerals resources are derived from the Earth’s crust. The crust is composed of minerals that are crystalline solids with specific and rather simple composition. Minerals in the Earth’s crust are concentrated into specific groups which are called rocks. Two different types of crust are known: oceanic and continental.
Since it is difficult to investigate the floor of the ocean, the composition of the oceanic crust is not known completely. Scientists say that it is relatively constant in composition. The oceanic floor consists largely of minerals rich in calcium, magnesium, iron and silicon.
The continental crust contains less iron and magnesium than the oceanic crust, but more silicon, aluminium, sodium and potassium.
A systematic examination of all rock types shows that two principal types predominate: 1) Igneous rocks; 2) Sedimentary rocks.
The metamorphic rocks generally originate from igneous rocks. This process is very slow – hundreds of millions of years are necessary.
Words and Expressions
composition n – состав,
crust n – кора; геол. земная кора,
derive v (from) – происходить, вести свое происхождение (от),
investigate v – исследовать,
compose v – состоять = consist of,
floor n – дно,
rock n – горная порода; igneous ~ - изверженная порода; sedimentary ~ - осадочная порода,
sedimentary a – осадочный,
solids n – твердые вещества.
Make up 5 questions to the text.
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