Focus on Language

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 462.

1. Look at the entry for the word book from the English-Russian Dictionary. It will help you to work with dictionaries more effectively.

Pronunciation in phonetic symbols     book [ buk ] n. 1. книга; 2. литературное произведение; v. 1. записывать, регистрировать; 2. заносить в список; 3. заказывать, бронировать места, продавать билеты (обычно заранее); приглашать, договариваться adj. книжный, ~ learning – теоретические знания   ~ means repeat the word   The translation     Information in brackets (…) helps you to choose the right translation or shows which country this word is widely used in

Part of speech

1. Identify what parts of speech the words in bold are.

• Pull down the blinds before you light the lamp.
• This bright light blinds my eyes.

1. The words below have more than one meaning. Use a dictionary to find out which part of speech they are and what meanings they have. Write two sentences to illustrate different meanings of every word.

Study the website and prospectus of your university. Then write your own advertisement for university applicants. Use the University of Birmingham text as an example. University rank

1. Levels of study
2. Fields of science
3. Accommodation provided
4. University structure
5. Location, facilities and services
6. Number of students and staff
7. Students life activities

Read the interview by Helen Joyce from Plus Magazine with Emily Dixon, a third-

year mathematics student at Oxford and answer the questions below.

Emily, how did you choose to take the course of maths?

When it came to choosing A Levels I wasn't quite sure which route I wanted to take. I knew I definitely wanted to do maths, just because it was a subject I was good at, and it interested me more than most subjects. My teacher was very good at encouraging me to go beyond the scope of the syllabus and we went to lectures in London and at the University of Cambridge. So I knew I only got a very small glimpse of what maths was about at school. It changes dramatically when you get to university.

So, it was easy for you to choose a university, wasn't it?

Well, as I had high grades, I was advised to consider Oxford or Cambridge. But I had lived in Cambridge all my life, so I wanted a change and I didn't want my parents checking up on me every five seconds! That's why I considered various universities, but in the end I set my sights on Oxford, choosing to apply to St John's College.

Did you have to do exams?

Yes, I needed to achieve three A grades out of four, two of which had to be in maths and further maths. I also went for an interview at the college.

So you were offered place and started the college.

Yeap, I found my first term at university something of a shock to the system.

What do you mean?

A level maths was the sort of maths I could do; it didn't take too much hard work. And some lecture courses start where A level left off. But you do what took you two weeks at A level in one lecture maybe, or even less. Suddenly I had to come to terms with the concept of lectures and structuring my own work schedule and doing my tutorial! The first time I was thinking: 'I haven't done everything right. I don't know what to do, the tutor's going to kill me!' But they're there to help you through it. There are some people who can just look at a problem sheet and do it. I am not one of those people! But with enough work, it generally makes sense.

How long are you going to study?

For four years.

But, you don't have to do a fourth year. Three will give you a B.A.

Right. However, the fourth year gives you M.Math. For the three-year course you have to do a paper in something outside maths and for the four-year you really just do maths.

Well, have you decided on your future career yet?

I'm still undecided. There are so many things you can do with maths –but definitely not a research mathematician. I don't think I'm good enough. I think a Masters degree is as far as my maths is capable of taking me.

(Adapted and abridged from http://plus.maths.org/issue28/interview/index.html

a) What reasons did Emily have for choosing Oxford University?

b) Why did she decide on the course in mathematics?

c) How long is the course?

d) How do studies at college differ from studies at school?

e) What qualification will she get?

f) What is Emily planning to do in future?

1. Application forms mostly ask for information rather than ask questions. Match a line in Awith a question in B.

1. Fill in the application form for admission. Write in block capitals. Put N/A if the information is not applicable.

Work in pairs. One of you is a Russian school-leaver, the other represents a European University. You both meet at the Forum of Education Opportunities held in the school-leaver's hometown.

1. In education, as well as in many other spheres of our life, there are a great number of abbreviations. Read and remember the abbreviations to do with the degree titles, e.g. BS stands for Bachelor of Science. Do all of them have Russian equivalents?

M.Math – professional (taught) degree

M.Eng. – research degree

MPhil - a university course that is of a higher level than a basic course

What degrees are awarded in Russian universities?

1. Read and remember some of the terms describing academic positions.

(Longman Language Activator)