Changes in American higher education

Such problems are signs that American higher education is changing, as it has throughout its history. And, as in the past, this change may be leading in unexpected directions. The Puritans set up colleges to train ministers. But their students made their mark as the leaders of the world’s first constitutional democracy. The land grant colleges were founded to teach agriculture and engineering to the builders of the American West. Today, many of these colleges are leading schools in the world of scientific research. Americans have always had a stake in “making the system work”. They have especially critical reasons for doing so in the field of education. People in the United States today are faced with momentous questions: “What is America’s proper role as the world’s oldest constitutional democracy; its largest, economy; its first nuclear power?”

Americans cherish their right to express opinions on all such issues. But the people of the United States are also painfully aware of how complex such issues are. To take part in dealing with new problems, most Americans feel they need all the information they can get. Colleges and universities are the most important centers of such learning. And whatever improvements may be demanded, their future is almost guaranteed by the American thirst to advance and be well informed. In fact, the next charge in American education may be a trend for people to continue their education in college – for a lifetime.

Words and expressions

to accept – принимать                                     

nuclear power – ядерная держава         

curriculum – учебный план                            

amount – количество

democracy – демократия                       

employment – занятость

distinction – различие                                     

scholar – ученый

duration – продолжительность                      

application – заявление

employment – занятость                        

scientific research – научное исследование

equal prestige – равный престиж                   

advantage – преимущество

master's degree – степень мастера                 

private – частный

opportunity – возможность                   

to contain – содержать, включать

similar – подобный                                

community – сообщество

social mobility – социальная мобильность            

bachelor's degree – степень бакалавра

Association of American Colleges (AAC) – Ассоциация Американских Колледжей

National Institute of Education (NIE) – Национальный Институт Образования

Task 5. Match the English and Russian equivalents.

individual approach                   расписание

Task 6. Give the English equivalents.

Соленый, успешно, важно, съедобный, меняющийся, бездетный, узнаваемый, дождливый, сердито, некомфортный, рассказчик, слабость.

Task 7. Translate underlined words and phrases into English.

1. Many universities and colleges, как бесплатных, так и частных, have gained reputations for offering particularly challenging courses, and for обеспечение their students with a высоким качеством образования.

Task 8. Practice the following dialogue.

1. Mr. Zotov the professor of the Russian University is speaking to his colleague from London.

Task 9. Make up the dialogues according to the following situations.

1. А Russian specialist is going to work in an international organization.

Mr. Smith, a representative of the organization, interviews him. Mr. Smith has looked through the candidate's papers carefully, but he's still got some questions to ask him. "So you've been a factory manager these last few years," he says. "How many people work under you?" His next questions are, "How do you like your work? " and "What can you say about it?" He also asks the candidate a few questions about his family, his hobbies and his interests. The specialist gives full and interesting answers to all the questions. They thank each other.

2. A representative of a Russian firm talks to a British businessman at an industrial exhibition.

The Russian specialist has just seen some new machines. Mr. Robinson's firm is exhibiting. He thinks the designers have done a good job and congratulates Mr. Robinson on the firm's success. Mr. Robinson can arrange for the Russian specialist to visit the factory which makes the machines and talk to the designers. The Russian specialist asks Mr. Harrison to arrange the visit for some time next week and let him know the exact date by phone.

3. An athlete who's recently won the first prize in an international match gives an interview to a TV man.

John Harris, the interviewer, congratulates Oleg Petrov, the athlete, on his success. Oleg thanks the interviewer. John Harris asks Oleg about his plans for the future. Oleg says he's a bit tired, and wants to have a rest, then he plans to begin preparing (training) for the international games. The interviewer says Oleg has made great progress in the last few years. He's still very young, and it's only a beginning, Oleg says he's going to work very hard. The interviewer wishes him every success in the games.

4. An actor who's won a prize at an international film festival gives a press interview.

A reporter says the actor's done very well and congratulates him on his success. "How many films have you played in?" another reporter asks. The actor' answers he's already played in several films, but this is his first big role." You have had to work very hard, haven't you?" is the next question. The actor says he had to work very hard, but it's all been very interesting. One of the newspaper men asks him about his plans for the future. The actor plans to play a test pilot in a television serial. He's very interested in this work. The reporters thank him and wish him good luck.