PART III
DIRECTIONS:
Find in the text the English equivalents for:
Культурное наследие, быстрое развитие университета, исследовательский институт, формирование национальной системы высшего образования, внести неоценимый вклад, занимать почетное место, принимать активное участие в международных симпозиумах и конференциях, крупнейший научный и образовательный центр, факультет прикладной математики и информатики, серьезное противоречие, факультет международных отношений.
PART IV
DIRECTIONS:
Match the synonymous pairs:
a scholar
main
prominent
evidence
considerable
illiteracy
creation
to ruin
facility
a scientist
principle
outstanding
proof
significant
ignorance
formation
to destroy
means
PART V
DIRECTIONS:
Agree or disagree with the following statements:
The Belarusian State University is the main educational establishment in our country.
The University wasn’t destroyed during the war.
In 1950-1980s the international prestige of the Belarusian State University considerably increased.
Today the Belarusian State University includes 10 faculties.
PART VI
DIRECTIONS:
Complete the following sentences:
October 30, 1921 is the foundation date of … .
The University’s educational and research capacity gave birth to … .
The Belarusian State University contributed much to the foundation and development of … .
The 1950-1980s were characterized by … .
The University’s scientists and professors actively participated in …
TEXT 3 EDUCATION IN BELARUS
TOPICAL VOCABULARY
resource n.
ресурс
universal literacy
всеобщая грамотность
census n.
перепись населения
be engaged
быть занятым
secondary education
среднее образование
graduate
окончить учебное заведение
embrace v.
включать, заключать в себе, содержать
attend v.
посещать
guarantee v.
гарантировать
citizen n.
гражданин
preserve v.
сохранять
common human
общечеловеческие
values
ценности
perception n.
восприятие
reform v.
реформировать, исправлять
qualitatively adv.
качественно
correspond v.
соответствовать
ensure v.
гарантировать
ability n.
способность
inclination n.
наклонность
envisage v.
предусматривать, исправлять
continuity n.
преемственность, непрерывность
vocational training
профессиональное обучение
priority п
приоритет
sense of ecological purpose
Экологическая направленность
gifted children
одаренные дети
trend п.
тенденция, уклон
seek
добиваться, стремиться
bachelor's degree
степень бакалавра
obtain master's degree
получать степень магистра
non-state-owned schools
негосударственные школы
PART 1
DIRECTIONS:
Read the text:
Education in Belarus
Scientific and intellectual potential is the main strategic resource of Belarus. In 1950s Belarus became the country of universal literacy. In 1989, according to the results of the census, 899 people per each thousand engaged in the national economy had higher and secondary education; 144 people among them were the graduates from the higher educational establishments. Thus, we can say that Belarus had a developed system of education. It embraced 11,000 educational establishments; 430,000 teachers worked there; 33 per cent of population attended different forms of classes.
Nowadays the number of students attending different educational establishments has not changed. The republic guarantees its citizens the right to universal secondary education and creates means for further professional education. It tries to preserve the democratic character of education, paying much attention to common human values, developing independent critical thinking instead of simple perception of information.
The republic is reforming its system of education today with the aim of creating an independent, qualitatively new national school, corresponding to international standards and ensuring each citizen the right to the high-quality education according to his abilities and inclinations.
The reform envisages a continuity of study at all stages, such as pre-school, secondary school, vocational training and specialized secondary school, and at the higher school level. It gives teachers and students freedom in the choice of educational forms and methods, while the results must correspond to the state educational standards.
The main principles of the educational system in Belarus are the priority of human values, national culture as the basis of education, humanism, sense of ecological purpose, scientific basis, democracy, support of gifted children and so on.
In the period from 1996 till 2010 the reform envisages:
1. 12 year secondary school. Academic education in the 11—12th forms according to the main trends of the higher education: humane, natural, aesthetic and technological.
2. Primary vocational training at vocational schools.
3. Secondary vocational training at secondary specialized schools and colleges.
4. Higher education at two levels: the first level for those seeking a bachelor's degree (4—5 years) and the second level to obtain a master's degree (5—6 years).
5. Possibility for masters to obtain doctoral degree.
There have been changes in the organization of education itself. New types of educational
establishments have appeared: gymnasiya, lyceum, experimental school, college. There appeared non-state-owned schools of various kinds, private kindergartens, schools at home, commercial institutes. So, it stimulates effectiveness of education, creates non-idealistic attitude to society on students' part.
PART II
DIRECTIONS:
Find the English equivalents of the following sentences in the text:
Следует отметить, что в пятидесятых годах Беларусь стала страной всеобщей грамотности.
Республика гарантирует своим гражданам право на среднее общее образование и дает возможности для дальнейшего профессионального образования.
Государство предоставляет учителям и учащимся свободу в выборе форм и методов обучения, но результаты должны соответствовать государственным стандартам.