TEXT B. DIALOGUE
A n n: Hullo, Steve. Have you got a minute? S t e v e: Sure, yes. What can I do for you? A.: I've read a number of books on the British system of higher education but I can't make head or tail of it. S.: Mm... no wonder. What's the problem? A.: Quite a lot of problems. What I want to discuss is the difference between a university and a college. S.: It's like this, you see... The programme is different. At a university it is much wider. Great attention is paid to scientific subjects. A: It sounds as though most people prefer a university. S.: Well... that rather depends. A.: Speaking about universities I'm not quite clear about tutorials there. What is a tutorial exactly? S.: Oh, it's when students discuss topics with a tutor in very small groups — usually there are not more than three or four students and sometimes only one. A.: I see... And coming back to colleges... I'm still not terribly sure what a residential college is. S.: Erm... It's a college with a hall of residence[49] on the same grounds as the principal building. In fact all the students live in hall. A: Really? and what about the teaching staff? S.: Actually the majority of the teaching staff live there too. But there are also quite a lot of non-residential colleges. A: And you studied at university? S.: Yes... A.: I'd like to find myself in that university. What was it like? S.: Well... a big grey building surrounded by trees. A: Beautiful? S.: Nothing very remarkable. Of course there were lecture halls, classrooms and a number of laboratories. A: Any facilities for sport and P.E.[50] S.: Let me see... Yes... A gymnasium with changing rooms and showers, a tennis court... What else... A playing field for netball and football... A.: I believe students spend a lot of time together, don't they? S.: Definitely. We had students' societies and clubs. A.: Am I right to believe that they are for those interested in drama and music? S.: Quite... and also politics, modern languages, literature, science and athletics. A: Ah... that's worth knowing. S.: And what I'd like to add is that students themselves organize all those clubs and societies. There is usually a Students' Council or Union. A.: Well Steve. Thanks very much. You've been most helpful. TEXT С. HOW TO GET A DEGREE J.: Well, Arnold, I remember you said once you were a B. A. Perhaps you could tell me how quickly you got those letters after your name? A.: At university I studied history. It was a 3-year course. And after that I got a B. A degree. J.: B.A. stands for Bachelor of Arts degree, doesn't it? A.: Yes, which reminds me of my neighbour whose son had just got his B. A. A friend asked very seriously: "I suppose your son will try to get an M. A. or Ph. D."[51] next to which my neighbour answered: "Not at all, now he is trying to get a J-O-B." A: Ah... he meant a job! That's a good joke! (See: English 903, Book 6. Lnd., 1978) ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY (II) Words and Word Combinations A. education system scientific subjects compulsory education an intending teacher primary school optional secondary school core component (core) comprehensive school school (teaching) practice public school School-based experience further education Subject studies polytechnic Education studies college of higher education (Theory of) Education to specialize in main subject teacher training age-range degree junior students undergraduate senior students graduate play production post-graduate educational aids full-time student audio-visual facilities part-time student visual aids reader to observe a lesson lecturer supervisor (tutor) practical classes to hold examinations final examinations (finals) B. tutorial changing room residential college students' society non-residential college Students' Council (Union) hall of residence С. а B.A., B.Ed., B.Sc, B.S.E., to live in hall B.S.M. degree (Bachelor of principal building (the Arts, Education, Science, Senate) Engineering, Medicine etc.) teaching staff M.A., M.Ed (Master of Physical Education (P.E.) Arts, Education, etc.) gymnasium (gym) PhD. (Doctor of Philosophy)
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