Student life

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 988.

Read and translate the text.

Practise in reading and give Russian equivalents of the following words.

Image, highly, authority, borrow, earn, tuition, board, finance, financial, loan, scholarship, residence, pressure, undoubtedly, advantage, disadvantage, distance, campus, apartment, research, graduate, recreational, facilities, numerous, represent, society, highlight, charity, cultural, alumni, decision, degree.

The popular image of student life is of young people enjoying themselves and doing very little work. This is not often true. Not all students study full-time at university or college. Many people study on a part-time basis, i.e. they combine their studies with work and look after a family. These students are highly motivated and work very hard.

Younger students are often thought to be lazy and careless about money but this situation is changing. British students do not have to pay to go to university. But they need money to live away from home while they are studying. Some students are given a grant from local education authority. Some students borrow money from the bank which must be paid back after they leave university. In theory, the grant pays for rent, food,

books, and transport. In fact, the grant is not a lot of money. Some British students work during the holidays to earn more money, but it is now difficult to find such jobs.

In the USA students have to pay for tuition, room and board. That's why American universities give special financial aid package to help students finance their education. Financial aid includes loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs. Many students take part-time jobs during the term and work full-time in the vacations.

Most students in Britain go to university away from their home town. University is seen as a time to be independent, to live away from home and develop new interests. They usually live in a hall of residence for their first year, and then move into digs, i.e. a rented room in a private house or share a house with other students. But as financial pressures on students increase, many are now considering living at home. Staying at home with parents is undoubtedly cheaper and more comfortable. Academically, living at home is a huge advantage. The disadvantage is obviously in the social life.

In the US too, many students attend colleges some distance from their home town. They may live on campus in one of the dorms (residence halls), or off campus in apartments and houses which they share with housemates. Why do many American students live in residence halls? Research indicates that students who live on campus get better grades and are more likely to graduate than students who live off campus. Moreover, dorms are only minutes from classrooms, bookstores, libraries, food services, and recreational facilities. Residence hall students don't have to cook or clean dirty dishes. Among the advantages of living on campus are numerous opportunities to meet new people and new friends.

In Britain the interests of students are represented by a range of societies, clubs and social activities including sports, drama, and politics. One of the highlights of the year is rag week, a week of parties and fund-raising activities in support of various charities.

US students also spend a lot of time on social activities. Each American university has several clubs and student organizations including cultural, political, religious, musical, and social ones. One of the most important celebrations in American universities is homecoming. Many alumni, i.e. former students return to their college for a weekend in the autumn to watch a football game. During homecoming weekend there are also parties, dances, and usually a parade.

In spite of the fact that social activities take up too much time, British and American students are able to make their own decision about how hard they work. They try not to skip lectures and study hard to get good grades and a good degree.