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In America, all children from six to sixteen go to school. They spend six years in "elementary" school, and four or six years in "secondary" or "high" school. School education is free.

At the end of every school year, the children take a test. If a child does well, he goes into next class ("grade"). If he doesn"t do well, he has to repeat the grade.

Some schools have modern teaching equipment. like computers and closed circuit television, but there are small country schools, with just one classroom.

At the end of their time at school, most students get a high school diploma. If they want to ^o on to college, they take college admission tests.

In Britain all children from five to sixteen go to school. They spend six years in "primary" school, and then go on to "secondary" school.

In Britain there are "state" schools, which are free, and private schools for which parents pay, Many British private schools are "boarding" schools. The children stay at school all the time, and only come home in the holidays. They usually wear uniforms.

Teaching in both countries is usually quite in formal. Students often work together in groups? and go to the teacher only when they need help.

At school pupils spend the most important of their lives. It is here that their characters and views are formed. The word "school" always reminds us of our childhood and youth, of close and dear people in our life.

Перевод текста: British and American Schools

В Америке, идут в школу все дети от шесть до шестнадцать. Они проводят шесть лет в "элементарной" школе, и четырех или шести годах во "вторичной" или "высокой" школе. Школьное образование свободно.

В конце каждого учебного года, дети берут тест. Если ребенок преуспевает, он входит в следующий класс ("сорт"). Если он не преуспевает, он должен повторить сорт.

Некоторые школы имеют современное обучающее оборудование. как компьютеры и кабельное телевидение, но есть маленькие школы страны, только с одной классной комнатой.

В конце их времени в школе, большинство студентов получает диплом средней школы. Если они хотят к ^o на колледже, они берут тесты входной платы колледжа.

В Великобритании идут в школу все дети от пять до шестнадцать. Они проводят шесть лет в "первичной" школе, и затем продолжают к "вторичной" школе.

В Великобритании есть "государственные" школы, которые являются свободными, и частными школами, за которые платят родители, Много британских частных школ "садятся" на школы. Дети остаются в школе все время, и только приходят домой в отпуске. Они обычно носят униформы.

Обучение в обеих странах - обычно весьма в формальном. Студенты часто сотрудничают в группах? и пойдите к преподавателю только, когда они нуждаются в помощи.

В школьных учениках тратят самые важные из их жизней. Именно здесь их характеры и представления сформированы. Слово "школа" всегда напоминает нам о нашем детстве и молодежи, о близких и дорогих людях в нашей жизни.

Использованная литература:
1. 100 тем английского устного (Каверина В., Бойко В., Жидких Н.) 2002
2. Английский язык для школьников и поступающих в ВУЗы. Устный экзамен. Топики. Тексты для чтения. Экзаменационные вопросы. (Цветкова И. В., Клепальченко И.А., Мыльцева Н.А.)
3. English, 120 Topics. Английский язык, 120 разговорных тем. (Сергеев С.П.)

Это третий текст из цикла и он посвящен системе образования в Америке. Текст «Education in America» является заключительным, так как предполагается, что вы уже читали тексты про систему образования в России и Великобритании и знаете слова:

compulsory, primary education, secondary education, comprehensive, ability, entrance exams, specialized schools, profound knowledge, academic subjects, higher education, enter a university, take exams, pass exams, fail exams (from the text )

stage, grammar school, national exam, General certificate of secondary education, further education, to accept, to graduate from, to provide education, private school, boarding school, public school, assessment (from the text )

Итак, читаем текст про систему образования в Америке (Education in America) . Специфические слова, касающиеся системы образования в США, выделены оранжевым цветом.

Education in America

(text about the American Educational System)

1. melting pot — плавильный котел
2. getting started — положить начало
3. successful career — успешная карьера
4. main aim — главная цель
   
5. grade — класс, год обучения
6. elementary school — начальная школа
   
7. high school — старшая школа
8. elective subjects — предметы по выбору
9. be necessary for — быть необходимым для
10. public school — государственная общеобразовательная школа (! В Великобритании public school — частная школа для аристократии)
11. private school — частная школа
12. religious school — духовное училище (такие школы есть и в Великобритании)
13. extracurricular activity — внешкольные мероприятия
    
14. take into account — учитывать (при поступлении)
    
15. institution — учебное заведение
16. community college — колледж, в котором учатся студенты, живущие дома
17. additional education — дополнительное образование
18. to receive a bachelor’s degree — получить диплом бакалавра
19. master’s degree — диплом магистра
20. high school graduate — выпускник школы
    
21. Harvard — Гарвард

Americans have always believed in education but in a special American way. The schools’ first job was to turn millions of foreign children into Americans. Since they came from dozens of different countries, that’s not easy. Schools had to teach the children to speak English, to love their new country and to learn how to live in it. American schools were the “melting pot ” in which the differences were forgotten. They were the ladder which the poor could climb to a better life. Getting started on a successful career was the main aim.

There is no national curriculum in the USA. Each state has its own system of schools. But there are some common features in the organization of school education in the country.

Compulsory education begins at the age of 6 in most states and continues usually until 16. School consists of 12 grades: 6 years of elementary school and 6 years of high school , but this plan may be different in different states. Children move on to high school in the 7 th grade and study there until the 12 th grade. There are elective subjects , and every student can choose the ones which he thinks will be necessary for him in his future work or further education.

The state schools are called public schools , besides there are private schools , which are very expensive, and religious schools which are also fee-paying.

Extracurricular activity (such as playing for one of the school’s sports teams) is also very important in the American School system and is taken into account by colleges and universities.]

When young people finish secondary school they go on to community colleges , which provide two years of higher education at minimal cost. A number of young people go to colleges and universities that provide four years of higher education necessary to receive a bachelor’s degree, as well as additional education for a master’s degree.
Generally, the system of higher education includes 4 categories of institutions :

• the community college, which is financed by the local community in different professions
• the technical training institution, at which high school graduates may take courses ranging from 6 months to three-four years, and learn different technical skills, which may include computer programming, accounting (бухгалтерское дело), etc.
• the four-year college, the graduates receive the degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS).
• the university

Any of these institutions may be either public or private. The public institutions are financed by state. Among the private universities the most famous is Harvard.

The system of education in the USA varies greatly from state to state. School education in so called state public schools is free. Parents are free to choose any public school for their children. Although there are a lot of private schools, mainly religious, and parents have to pay for them. A school year starts in September and ends in June. It is divided into three terms or four quarters.

American children start attending elementary schools at the age of 6. They continue their studies for eight years there (8 grades). Their basic subjects in the curriculum at this stage are English, Arithmetic, Natural Science, History, Geography, Foreign Language and some others. After that pupils may enter a Senior high school or if they go to a 5- or 6-year elementary school, they then attend a 3- or 4-year Junior high school, and then enter a Senior high school. Pupils graduate from high schools at the age of 18. The high schools (also known as secondary schools) are generally larger and accommodate teenagers from four or five elementary schools. During the school year the students study four or five selective subjects according to their professional interests. They must complete a certain number of courses to receive a high school diploma or a certificate of school graduation.

In order to develop social skills and encourage students’ participation in extracurricular activities every high school has an orchestra, a music band, a choir, drama groups, football, basketball and baseball teams. School becomes the centre of social life for students.

At American colleges and universities young people get higher education. They study for 4 years and get a Bachelor"s degree in arts or science. If a student wants to get a Master"s degree he must study for two more years and do a research work. Students who want to advance their education even further in a specific field can pursue a Doctor degree. The most famous American universities are Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Columbia Universities.

Перевод

Система образования в США сильно отличается от штата к штату. Школьное образование в так называемых государственных школах является бесплатным. Родители могут свободно выбирать любую бесплатную школу для детей. Однако существует много частных школ, в основном, религиозных, и родителям нужно оплачивать обучение в них. Школьный год начинается в сентябре и заканчивается в июне. Он разделен на 3 семестра или же на 4 четверти.

Американские дети начинают посещение начальной школы в возрасте 6 лет. Они продолжают свое обучение в течение 8 лет (8 классов). Основными предметами в расписании на данном этапе считаются английский, арифметика, естествознание, история, география, иностранный язык и некоторые другие. Затем ученики могут перейти в Старшую среднюю школу или же, если они ходили в 5- или 6-летнюю начальную школу, тогда они посещают 3- или 4-летнюю Младшую среднюю школу и только затем переходят в Старшую. Учеников выпускают из средней школы в 18 лет. Средние школы, как правило, больше по размерам и вмещают в себя подростков из 4 или 5 начальных школ. В течение учебного года студенты изучают 4-5 выборочных предметов, в соответствии с их профессиональными интересами. Они обязаны пройти определенное количество курсов для того, чтобы получить диплом о среднем образовании или сертификат об окончании школы.

Для развития общественных навыков и поощрения студенческого участия во внешкольной жизни в каждой средней школе имеется оркестр, музыкальный коллектив, хор, театральная студия, команда по футболу, баскетболу и бейсболу. Школа становится центром общественной жизни для студентов.

В американских колледжах и университетах молодые люди получают высшее образование. Они обучаются в течение 4 лет и получают степень Бакалавра гуманитарных или естественных наук. Если студент намеревается получить степень Магистра, ему нужно учиться еще 2 года и провести исследовательскую работу. Студенты, желающие и далее продолжать обучение в отдельной отрасли знаний, могут получить степень Доктора. Самыми известными американскими университетами являются Гарвардский, Принстонский, Стэнфордский, Йельский и Колумбийский университеты.

The US educational system is much decentralized and schools vary greatly from state to state. There are three levels of subsidizing of education: federal, state and local. They subsidize 3-5 per cent on a federal level, around 20 per cent on a state level and 70-80 per cent on a local level.

There are 15,000 school districts which are different in size. A school district is governed by the Board of Education/School Board/School Council which is elected every two years by the residents of the school district. Members of school boards perform their responsibilities on a volunteer basis, that means they do not get any salaries. They are to define the policies for the administration of the school district. Teachers, in turn, decide about the program and approaches of teaching.

Every resident pays a school tax to the school district he/she lives in, no matter he/she has school children or not. School education in the United States is free and parents are free to choose a school for their children. But if parents send their child to a school of another school district they have to pay the sum equivalent to the school tax directly to the school the child goes to.

There are also a lot of private schools, mainly religious, and parents have to pay for them. The cost is $ 5,000 - $ 10,000 a year.

There is no home education in the United States. Each invalid is supposed to attend school. School provides all the necessary conditions for them to study.

The school system structure in the United States looks like this. Children start going to school at the age of five. First they go to eight-year elementary school and then to high school or if they go to five- or six-year elementary school, they then attend three- or four-year middle school, and then high school. Teenagers study at high school four years and graduate from it at the age of eighteen. Members of each grade in high school have special names:

A ninth grader is called a Freshman,
- a tenth grader - a Sophomore,
- an eleventh grader - a Junior,
- a twelfth grader - a Senior.

The completion of high school is called graduation. In order to graduate, students must accumulate a certain amount of credits during their four years at school. Credits are points given for every subject that is passed successfully. In addition to that, students must successfully complete specific subjects required by the state or local educational authorities, such as US history, English, mathematics and physical education. This may vary from state to state.

Over 60% of school graduates continue their education in two- or four-year colleges or universities. At least 10% of high school students are allowed to finish school at the age of 16.

A school year starts at the beginning of September or at the end of August and ends in late June or early July, just before the Independence Day, and is divided into three terms/trimesters or four quarters. School children have winter and spring breaks for two or three weeks and summer vacation for six up to eight weeks.

There is a great variety of Saturday, Sunday, vocational and other schools. The most popular one is summer school. It is for students who want to get a deeper knowledge in a particular subject, or to skip a year, or just fail their examinations. It lasts six weeks and parents have to pay for it.

Students go to school five days a week. They get to and from school by a school bus. A typical school day in America starts at 7.30 AM with the Pledge of Allegiance in which the US flag and the whole nation is glorified. Then follows the homeroom period during which a homeroom teacher calls the roll and the principal makes his/her announcements over the intercom. Every day students usually have seven periods which last 50-55, sometimes 45 minutes. In some schools there are four periods lasting 90 minutes. There are 2-5 minute passing between periods and a break of 30 minutes for lunch.

American schools today house a large number of students but making friends can be difficult, as the same group of students does not attend all the classes. In order to encourage meeting and knowing a broader population at school, special emphasis is placed on so-called extracurricular activities where interests, rather than academic ability, bring students together.

Extracurricular activities are the many club meetings, music or drama rehearsals, and sport practice sessions that take place in American high school in the afternoon after classes. These meetings are a very important part of high school life, since they are a link between different groups of students who are placed in various academic programs. Students who usually would not meet in the classroom get to know each other in areas of common interest. They give students the opportunity to further their specific interests in various fields and to spend their free time together.

Even though they are not mandatory, many students get involved in different extracurricular activities. Since students spend a lot of time participating in various activities, school becomes the center of social life for students. They not only go to school to study the material presented in class, but they also meet together to socialize and to pursue their interests.

Other important activities in American high school are sports teams. Most schools offer a variety of teams for both boys and girls. American football, basketball and base-ball are played in the majority of schools. In addition, one may find tennis, gymnastics, hockey, swimming, golf, volleyball, cross-country, and track and field teams, depending again on the size and financial resources of the school. Soccer is also growing in popularity.

Usually schools have varsity teams, which complete with other schools and which have very intensive training, and intramural teams, which play other teams within the school itself. In most schools, there is a great deal of competition between students to join the varsity team. There often are schools regulations that make it difficult for new students to join. On the intramural teams most students are welcome to participate.

In many schools girls have fewer possibilities than boys. Smaller schools may not have some of the above-mentioned teams for girls. But a special group of girls and boys play an important part at the football and basketball games. They are called cheerleaders and they lead the crowd in cheers for their team.

In addition to clubs and sports teams, one will find the Student Council and the class officer meetings. Students are elected by their school and classmates to represent them in these bodies and to organize activities for their school.

U.S. colleges and universities offer a vide variety of programs ranging from highly academic courses to very practical ones. Students can be educated not only for academic professions, but also for technical professions, such as mechanics, nursing, medical technology, computer technology and book-keeping.

In universities young people study four years to get bachelor"s degree. If one wants to get master"s degree he/she must study two years more and do a research work. If one has master"s degree, studies more, does a research work and passes an oral, comprehensive examination he/she gets doctor"s degree (PhD).

Вопрос: 20. Прочитайте текст и ответьте на вопрос: What is this text about? American and British schools In America, all children from six to sixteen go to school. They spend six years in «elementary» school, and four or six years in «secondary» or «high» school. School education is free. At the end of every school year, the children take a test. If a child does well, he goes into next class («grade»). If he doesn’t do well, he has to repeat the grade. Some schools have modern teaching equipment. like computers and closed circuit television, but there are small country schools, with just one classroom. At the end of their time at school, most students get a high school diploma. If they want to go on to college, they take college admission tests. In Britain all children from five to sixteen go to school. They spend six years in «primary» school, and then go on to «secondary» school. In Britain there are «state» schools, which are free, and private schools for which parents pay. Many British private schools are «boarding» schools. The children stay at school all the time, and only come home in the holidays. They usually wear uniforms. Teaching in both countries is usually quite informal. Students often work together in groups and go to the teacher only when they need help. At school pupils spend the most important of their lives. It is here that their characters and views are formed. The word «school» always reminds us of our childhood and youth, of close and dear people in our life. a) Education in Russia b) schooling in The USA and The UK c) higher education 21. Укажите, соответствует ли утверждение содержанию текста If they want to continue education in some college, they take college admission tests. a) True b) False c) No information in the text 22. Укажите, соответствует ли утверждение содержанию текста In Britain, all children from six to sixteen go to school a) True b) False c) No information in the text 23. Укажите, соответствует ли утверждение содержанию текста School education is free. a) True b) False c) No information in the text 24. Укажите, соответствует ли утверждение содержанию текста In Britain there are private schools for which parents pay. a) True b) False c) No information in the text 25. Укажите, соответствует ли утверждение содержанию текста Teaching in both countries is usually quite formal. a) True b) False c) No information in the text

20. Прочитайте текст и ответьте на вопрос: What is this text about? American and British schools In America, all children from six to sixteen go to school. They spend six years in «elementary» school, and four or six years in «secondary» or «high» school. School education is free. At the end of every school year, the children take a test. If a child does well, he goes into next class («grade»). If he doesn’t do well, he has to repeat the grade. Some schools have modern teaching equipment. like computers and closed circuit television, but there are small country schools, with just one classroom. At the end of their time at school, most students get a high school diploma. If they want to go on to college, they take college admission tests. In Britain all children from five to sixteen go to school. They spend six years in «primary» school, and then go on to «secondary» school. In Britain there are «state» schools, which are free, and private schools for which parents pay. Many British private schools are «boarding» schools. The children stay at school all the time, and only come home in the holidays. They usually wear uniforms. Teaching in both countries is usually quite informal. Students often work together in groups and go to the teacher only when they need help. At school pupils spend the most important of their lives. It is here that their characters and views are formed. The word «school» always reminds us of our childhood and youth, of close and dear people in our life. a) Education in Russia b) schooling in The USA and The UK c) higher education 21. Укажите, соответствует ли утверждение содержанию текста If they want to continue education in some college, they take college admission tests. a) True b) False c) No information in the text 22. Укажите, соответствует ли утверждение содержанию текста In Britain, all children from six to sixteen go to school a) True b) False c) No information in the text 23. Укажите, соответствует ли утверждение содержанию текста School education is free. a) True b) False c) No information in the text 24. Укажите, соответствует ли утверждение содержанию текста In Britain there are private schools for which parents pay. a) True b) False c) No information in the text 25. Укажите, соответствует ли утверждение содержанию текста Teaching in both countries is usually quite formal. a) True b) False c) No information in the text

Ответы:

Топики на тему образования: British and American Schools.In America, all children from six to sixteen go to school. They spend six years in "elementary" school, and four or six years in "secondary" or "high" school. School education is free.At the end of every school year, the children take a test. If a child does well, he goes into next class ("grade"). If he doesn"t do well, he has to repeat the grade.Some schools have modern teaching equipment. like computers and closed circuit television, but there are small country schools, with just one classroom.At the end of their time at school, most students get a high school diploma. If they want to ^o on to college, they take college admission tests.In Britain all children from five to sixteen go to school. They spend six years in "primary" school, and then go on to "secondary" school.In Britain there are "state" schools, which are free, and private schools for which parents pay, Many British private schools are "boarding" schools. The children stay at school all the time, and only come home in the holidays. They usually wear uniforms.Teaching in both countries is usually quite in formal. Students often work together in groups? and go to the teacher only when they need help.At school pupils spend the most important of their lives. It is here that their characters and views are formed. The word "school" always reminds us of our childhood and youth, of close and dear people in our life.Перевод текста: British and American SchoolsВ Америке, идут в школу все дети от шесть до шестнадцать. Они проводят шесть лет в "элементарной" школе, и четырех или шести годах во "вторичной" или "высокой" школе. Школьное образование свободно.В конце каждого учебного года, дети берут тест. Если ребенок преуспевает, он входит в следующий класс ("сорт"). Если он не преуспевает, он должен повторить сорт.Некоторые школы имеют современное обучающее оборудование. как компьютеры и кабельное телевидение, но есть маленькие школы страны, только с одной классной комнатой.В конце их времени в школе, большинство студентов получает диплом средней школы. Если они хотят к ^o на колледже, они берут тесты входной платы колледжа.В Великобритании идут в школу все дети от пять до шестнадцать. Они проводят шесть лет в "первичной" школе, и затем продолжают к "вторичной" школе.В Великобритании есть "государственные" школы, которые являются свободными, и частными школами, за которые платят родители, Много британских частных школ "садятся" на школы. Дети остаются в школе все время, и только приходят домой в отпуске. Они обычно носят униформы.Обучение в обеих странах - обычно весьма в формальном. Студенты часто сотрудничают в группах? и пойдите к преподавателю только, когда они нуждаются в помощи.В школьных учениках тратят самые важные из их жизней. Именно здесь их характеры и представления сформированы. Слово "школа" всегда напоминает нам о нашем детстве и молодежи, о близких и дорогих людях в нашей жизни.