College life

The merry-go-round of college life is something that one never forgets. It's a fascinating, fantastic, fabulous experience, ir­respective of the fact whether one is a full-time or a part-time stu­dent. Who can forget the first day at the university when one turns from an applicant who has passed entrance exams into a first-year student? I did it! I entered; I got in to the university! A solemn cere­mony in front of the university building and serious people making speeches. Hey, lad, do you happen to know who they are? Who? The rector, vice-rectors, deans, sub deans... and what about those la­dies? Heads of departments and senior lecturers? Okay. Some of them must be professors, some — associate or assistant professors, but, of course, all of them have high academic degrees. And where are our lecturers and tutors? Oh, how nice...

The monitors hand out student membership cards, student record books and library cards — one feels like a real person. First celebra­tions and then days of hard work. So many classes, so many new subjects to put on the timetable! The curriculum seems to be devel­oped especially for geniuses. Lectures, seminars and tutorials. Home preparations; a real avalanche of homeworks. If one can not cope with the work load of college he or she im­mediately starts lagging behind. It is easier to keep pace with the programme than to catch up with it later. Everyone tries hard to be diligent. First tests and examination sessions. The first successes and first failures: "I have passed!" or "He has not given me a pass!" Tears and smiles. And a long-awaited vacation.

The merry-go-round runs faster. Assignments, written reproduc­tions, compositions, synopses, papers. Translations checked up and marked. "Professor, I have never played truant, I had a good excuse for missing classes". Works handed in and handed out. Reading up for exams. "No, professor, I have never cheated — no cribs. I just crammed". Junior students become senior. Still all of them are one family — undergraduates. Students' parties in the students' club. Meeting people and parting with people. You know, Nora is going to be ex­pelled and Dora is going to graduate with honours. Yearly essays, graduation dissertations, finals...

What? A teacher's certificate? You mean, I've got a degree in English? I am happy! It is over! It is over... Is it over? Oh, no...

A postgraduate course, a thesis, an oral, and a degree in Phi­lology. The first of September. Where are the students of the fa­culty of foreign languages? Is it the English department? Oh, how nice...

 

2. Answer the following questions:

1. Say a few words about your university. What it is called? Speak about the faculty you entered and about its specialization.

2. Would you compare college life with a merry-go-round or with some­thing else?

3. What do you think of the first months at the university?

4. How is college life different from school life?

 

3. Find words denoting:

— a short piece of writing on one particular subject that is written by a student;

— a class, usually at college or university, where the teacher and the students discuss a particular topic or subject;

— a long essay that a student does as part of a degree;

— financial aid that the government gives to an individual or to an organisation for a particular purpose such as educa­tion, welfare, home, improvements;

— a student at a university or college who has not yet taken his or her first degree;

— a person who has a first degree from a university and who is doing research at a more advanced level;

— someone who has left school or college before they have finished their studies;

— a long piece of written research done for a higher university degree, especially a PhD;

— money given to a student to help pay for the cost of his or her education;

— a regular meeting in which a tutor and a small group of stu­dents discuss a subject as part of the students' course of study.

 

 

4. Translate into English:

Получать стипендию; студенческое общежитие; страсть к чтению; читать за едой; делать пометки; придер­живаться чего-либо; семинар; немедленные результаты; тема дипломной работы; учиться в аспирантуре; последо­вать совету кого-либо; выиграть стипендию; работать над диссертацией; иметь значение для кого-либо; признавать; по образованию; не ложиться спать целую ночь; погло­щать (знания, информацию); достойный подражания.

 

5. Complete the sentences choosing the appropriate word or phrase from the list. Change their form if necessary:

To have no worries about something; in one's own eyes; a hall of residence; read through one's meals; to adhere to some­thing; to be at one with somebody; to go out; to make friends; to find one's way to somebody; to get rid of something; to need somebody's company; beside the point; to be on one's guard; on three counts; no end to something; the concern of somebody.

1. A communicative person... with other people very quickly and feels at ease in any company.

2. It is important... a definite style when choosing clothes; otherwise one risks looking strange.

3. Police ask people... when strangers approach them, try to make contact with them or ask favours of them.

4. Sharing a room with other people, one has... all bad habits: smoking, scattering things here and there, coming late.

5. Having passed the exam, she grew.... The exam was very difficult and being through with it meant success.

6. The teacher tried... a little boy in primary school; she spoke with him, made him speak and play too, but he remained aloof and constrained.

7. The child seemed not...; he liked to stay all by himself, with no companions to play with.

8. Most British students live either in... or share flats with other students.

9. In the evening most British students.... They go to pubs, discos or just walk around with their friends.

10. Doctors do not recommend.... It may lead to indigestion.

11. The athlete's physical power was almost.... It was his men­tal discipline that really made him a champion.

12. There was... her friend's advice: she always had new ideas and poured them out incessantly.

13. Her success rested...: she was President of Students' Soci­ety, she had only excellent marks and she won a scholar­ship from the British Council.

14. Hurrying up to the university in the morning, she... all the rest of the students: she was an integral part of this moving mass.

15. His constant failures soon became... every lecturer. No­body knew what to do in a situation like this.

16. She... domestic chores: her mother and grandmother did everything in the house.

 

6. Put in the missing prepositions:

1. The teacher demanded that the students should take notes... coloured ball-point pens.

2. Being a psychologist... training, Richard devoted his life to solving other people's problems.

3. Not everyone likes to share a flat... somebody: it disturbs one's privacy.

4. Working... her thesis, she learned many interesting facts.

5. The mother always grumbled when her daughter was rea­ding... her meals.

6. It was very easy to choose subjects... dissertations; the pro­fessor offered a long list of topics.

7. One day the lecturer returned Ruth's essay with an inscrip­tion... the bottom.

8. The girls were bored... each other, because they were too different.

9. A lot of students at the university were... grants, which meant that their studies were subsidized by the govern­ment.

10. Those who win scholarships from the British Council are usually entitled... half a year abroad.

11. The girl's talks always consisted... stories, reminiscences and gossip.

12. The teacher congratulated all students... all possible occasions.

7. Translate the words or expressions given below into Russian and ask your classmates to translate them back into English:

To be on a grant; a hall of residence; greed for books; elaborate notes; to be well received; a tutorial; a seminar; the second year; the subject for one's dissertation; postgraduate work; to work on one's thesis; to examine; winning the scholarship; by training; an undergraduate; to stay up for two whole nights; to absorb; to report back.

 

8. Read and translate Text 2:

Becoming an effective student

Learning how to study effectively is an essential skill for students in any discipline. There are six areas which are crucial to developing good study habits. Work on these and you will become an effective student.

Targets: Always set a realistic work target. Don't try to do too much. For example, plan to read one chapter of a book each evening rather than think about reading the whole book over the weekend. This kind of detailed, planned target is more effective than a vague commitment. It is sometimes helpful to tell your friends about your plan. This is a good incentive to keep you on target because they will know if you fail!

Rewards: Develop a system of rewards for your work. For example, stop for a cup of coffee or tea, or listen to a favourite piece of music after one hour's study. Rewarding yourself for keeping to your work plan will make you feel good about yourself.

Timing: Make sure you choose a suitable time to study, i.e. when it is quiet and when you are most alert. Try to make this a regular, time-tabled part of your day. If you plan to start work at a certain time, say 7pm, do not find reasons to put off getting started. You can watch a DVD later, and your emails are not urgent!

Quantity: A large task such as researching a new topic for an essay can be daunting - so daunting, in fact, that it can be difficult to sit down and make a start. Break the larger task down into several smaller ones. For example, make a list of questions that you will have to deal with in your essay and then approach each question separately. This makes the work more manageable.

Notes and learning styles: The books you are studying won't always present information in a way that suits your learning style. It is, therefore, worthwhile spending time making notes and organizing them in a way that suits you best. It is also a good idea to keep your notebooks neat and well organized. This will make it much easier to retrieve information later.

Revision:Don't leave revision till the last day. When you set your study targets, allow regular revision time. It is more effective than trying to cram before an exam.

 

 

9. Write answers to the questions on Text 2:

1. How does the writer think you can develop good study habits?

2. Why is it a good idea to tell other people about your work plans?

3. Why does the writer believe it is useful to reward yourself?

4. What makes one time to study better than another?

5. How can a large or complicated piece of work be made easier?

6. What is the main benefit of keeping good class or lecture notes?

7. How does the writer suggest you could improve your revision?

8. In your own studies, in which of the six areas in the article could you improve? How? Compare your answers with a partner.

 

10. Choose the correct collocation:

1 I'm happy to say that you have all sat / taken / passed your math’s test.

2 Will the teacher give / provide / make us some feedback on our essays?

3 The university agrees / recognises / takes the school-leaving exams of most other countries.

4 It isn't compulsory to assist / attend / listen all the lectures at this university.

5 How long will it take you to complete / carry out / fulfill your degree?

6 You must submit / send / write your application in before the end of June.

7 Several students have decided to withdraw / go / leave the course this year.

8 I want you all to write / hold / keep a vocabulary notebook.

 

11. Translate into English:

1. Она поступила в университет прошлым летом и закончит его только через четыре года.

2. Лучше не пропускать занятия, а то можно быстро отстать от группы. Хорошо известно, что нагонять всегда сложнее.

3. Все студенты в группе получили зачет по истории. Это было трудное испытание.

4. Мой любимый предмет, конечно же, английский. А еще мне нравятся страноведение Великобритании и США.

5. Я не очень люблю писать диктанты и изложения, но понимаю, что это необходимо для приобретения навыков письменной речи.

6. Расписание составляется таким образом, чтобы лекции чередовались с практическими занятиями.

7. Староста нашей группы получила стипендию от Британского Совета. Она будет учиться в Лондонском университете и одновременно писать дипломную работу.

8. Не думаю, что, готовясь к экзаменам, имеет смысл всю ночь не ложиться спать. Эффект от такой подготовки может быть обратный.

9. Больше всего я боюсь провалить экзамен по психологии, поэтому стараюсь все выучить почти наизусть.

10. В штате преподавателей у нас три профессора, четыре доцента, пять старших преподавателей и семь ассистентов.

11. Проверяя контрольные работы, преподаватель отмечает ошибки на полях.

12. В эту сессию будет один письменный и два устных зачета, а также четыре экзамена.

13. В начале года в деканате всем первокурсникам выдали студенческие билеты и зачетные книжки.

14. Когда я начинаю делать домашнее задание, то долго не могу сконцентрироваться на работе – меня постоянно что-то отвлекает.

15. В обучении ему не нужно прикладывать никаких усилий – он все хватает на лету.

 

12. Read and translate Text 3: