Conversation about the education in the USA

Alex, a Russian student, is talking with James Mitchell, an American from Las Vegas, Nevada.

- Мистер Митчелл, какая система - You see, the US has no national education

образования в вашей стране? system. Instead, each state is responsible

for organizing and regulating its own system

of education. There are common elements

in the separate state systems, however.

- И какие же это общие черты? - Well, formal education is divided into the following

stages: elementary, secondary and higher education.

School attendance is compulsory in every state.

- Есть ли частные школы в США? - The state provides schooling at all stages of education,

but parents can send their children to private schools.

- Мистер Митчелл, у вас есть дети? - Oh, Alex. I have a daughter, a nice girl, Chelsea by

Какую школу они посещают? name. She attends a private school.

- Мистер Митчелл, а какая разница - A great one. High schools, junior and senior,

между “high schools” и “higher provide secondary education. Most of them offer both

schools”? general and vocational courses of study. And higher

schools provide higher learning…

-Мистер Митчелл, извините, что - Places of higher learning include community and

перебиваю вас. А в каких образова- junior colleges, technical institutes, universities, and

тельных заведениях можно полу- separate professional schools.

чить высшее образование?

- Спасибо огромное. Очень хочется - You are welcome!

побывать у вас в стране.

Ex.7. Сравните образовательные системы России, Великобритании и США. Ответьте на вопросы и заполните таблицу.

№	Questions	Russia	The UK	The USA
	Who is responsible for organizing the educational system?
	What stages is formal education divided into?
	What stages of formal education are compulsory?
	Are there private schools in the country?
	In what types of schools can children get general education?
	In what types of educational institutions can people get vocational education?
	In what types of educational institutions can people get higher education?
	What are the specific features of the educational system in the country?

Ex.8. Прочитайте, переведите и инсценируйте анекдоты:

Grandpa came for a visit and all the kids tried to impress him. Bill boasted, “I’m first in arithmetic, Grandpa”.

Mary said she was first in the spelling bee (конкурс на знание орфографии). Grandpa asked little Timmy: “What are you first in, Timmy?”

“Well, I’m the first one out of the door when the bell rings”.

During an examination before Christmas, one of the students did not know how to answer the question “What causes a depression?” – so he wrote: “God knows! I don’t. Merry Christmas!”

When the examination papers came back, the students saw that the professor had written on his paper: “God gets 5, you get zero. Happy New Year!”

Ex.9. Подготовьте доклады по следующим темам.

1. Oxford.

2. Cambridge.

3. Harvard University.

4. Educational Technologies.