Дополнительный материал по теме "Education in the USA"

 Дополнительный материал по теме

«Education in the USA@

Ceremonies at School

Pledge of Allegiance Every classroom has an American flag in it. From elementary to high school, students start each day by standing up and saluting the flag. They put their hands over their hearts and say the "Pledge of Allegiance." This is a promise to the country. It was written by people who came to America over 200 years ago. Saluting the flag helps people think about the United States and its freedoms.

Homecoming At many high schools and universities there is a big football game once a year and a parade afterwards. This is called "Homeco­ming." Students who graduated from the school like to return for Homecoming to see their old friends and teachers again. In the parade cheerleaders and football players walk together. The school band plays loud music for their fans and team. The parade is full of the school colours.

Awards

In American schools there are ceremonies for students who have done good work in school or who are excellent at sports. At these special ceremonies all the students and teachers come together. They watch the school director give prizes to the students. Sometimes the prize is money for later university study.

Graduation

When students graduate from high school, each of them gets a prize. The prize they get is the high-school diploma written on nice paper with the name of the student and the school. Afterwards the graduating class has a big party, or "prom." Everyone wears fine clothes and a band plays dance music. It is a party to remember. Students, teachers, and parents have worked hard for each diploma. Graduation is the greatest ceremony of all in American schools. Exercises.

I. How much did you understand?

1. Are these statements true or false?

a)   From elementary to high school, stu­dents start each day by standing up and saluting the flag.

b)  At many high schools and universities there is a big football game once a year and a parade afterwards.

c)   In the parade, cheerleaders and football players do not walk together.

d)  Graduation is not the greatest ceremony of all in American schools.

2. Can you answer these questions?

a) How do students salute the flag?

b) By whom and when was the promise to  the country written?

c) What is "Homecoming"?

d)  Why do students who graduated from the school like to return for Homecoming?

e)   What are students of American school awarded for?

II. Do you know that...

—the United States' flag is called the "Stars and Stripes"? It has thirteen red and white stripes and fifty'white stars on a blue square. One star is for each state of the USA now, and the stripes are for the first thirteen states of the union;

—there is a story that the first flag was a patchwork quilt made by a patriotic lady called Betsy Ross?

—the flag is also called the "Star-Spangled Banner," the name of the national anthem of the United States?

—Americans love their flag? They use the stars and stripes as a popular design on shirts, shoes, hats — anywhere and everywhere in fact.

—the Stars and Stripes stand by the President's desk?

—Americans are patriotic too? Many of them think that their flag is the flag of freedom.

III. It's interesting to know that...

—"Homecoming" is held every fall by many high schools and colleges, especially in small towns.

—it is a week-long celebration for all the graduates and current students of that high school or college.

—the homecoming queen is crowned. She is chosen by the students of the school.

—over the next few days the homecoming queen rides in the parade and opens the sports event — usually a football game.

IV. Speak on

—    homecoming;

—Pledge of Allegiance;

—awards;

—graduation.

V. You are a group of tourists from the USA's schools. It's your first visit to Russia. You want to know about Russian schools.

a)  Ask your Russian friend to tell you about the most popular traditions in his/her school;

b) Pass on this information to your fellow-student who wasn't present at the meeting.

Neighbourhood Schools

There is no great difference between city, suburban, and country schools in the United States. Public schools teach the same subjects in the same grades across the land. Most school buildings look the same and have the same types of rooms inside. There is always a gym, a large room for basketball and other sports. There is a lunchroom, a school library and an auditorium, a very large room where all the students and teachers can meet. Most schools also have rooms for the school band to practice in. They have rooms for students to type and use computers. There are usually rooms for students to work with paint, wood, metal and other materials. These are all part of most American public schools, no matter where they are.

Each school serves a neighbourhood, and neighbourhoods are different. In some the parents take an interest in what their children are doing at school. They give their time, their ideas, and they may give gifts to their schools.

That's what makes a good school in Ame­rica. Generally it doesn't matter whether the neighbourhood is rich or poor, or whether it is in the city, the suburbs or the country. What matters is the interest the neighbour­hood takes in its school.

Schools try to interest students in their neighbourhood, too. Trips to the firehouse, police headquarters, newspaper offices and other places are very popular with young children. Some school have newspapers writ­ten by students for their neighbours. Older students may clean up the neighbourhood together. They may earn money by washing cars, and use the money to help sick or elderly people in the neighbourhood. These are ways students learn about the American way of life. They start with their neighbour­hood.

Exercises.

I. How much did you understand? 1. Are these statements true or false?

a)  There are differences between city, su­burban and country schools in the USA.

b) Public schools teach the same subjects in the same grades across the land.

c)   Schools try to interest students in their neighbourhood.

d)  Students learn about the American way of life starting with their neighbourhood.

2. Can you answer these questions?

a)  What do most of American school buildings look like?

b)  What types of rooms do they have inside?

c) What does each school serve?

d) What are the differences among neighbourhoods?

e) What makes a good school in America?

f) In what ways do schools try to interest students in their neighbourhood?

II. Speak on...

—American school buildings;

—what makes a good school in America;

—     the ways students learn about the Ame­rican way of life;

—    typical Russian school buildings.

Private Schools

Private does not mean better. But it does mean expensive. Public schools in the U.S. are paid for by money from everyone; private schools are not. Parents who send their children to private schools must pay to do so.

Parents may have enough money to pay for private school. But these schools do not have to accept their children. Most private schools accept only children who are already doing well in school and are able to work quietly. Some take only boys or only girls. Classes are often quieter and less crowded than classes in public schools. This gives children a chance to learn more of what their teachers are trying to teach them.

Public schools do not teach religion. So some parents choose private religious "schools for their children. These schools each belong to a church. They give lessons about that religion. They give lessons in all the usual school subjects as well.

Children at many private schools wear special school uniforms, all exactly the same. At public schools students wear what they want. They often dress in bright colours and tennis shoes. They sometimes invent new and interesting fashions.

Only about 17 percent of American chil­dren are sent to private schools. Most Ame­ricans really believe in public education. They want their children to go to schools that are free and are open to all. They want their children to make friends with everyone — children of all races, from all kinds of fa­milies, with different talents and different interests.

  Exercises.

I. How much did you understand?

1. Are these statements true or false?

a) Private means better and expensive.

b) Classes are often quieter and less crowded in public schools.

c) Public school teach religion.

d) Most Americans really believe in public education.

2. Can you answer these questions?

a) 

How are public and private schools financed?

b)  What children do most private schools accept?

c)  What gives children in private schools a chance to learn more of what their teachers are trying to teach them?

d) Do children of private schools wear school uniforms?

e) How many children are sent to private schools in America?

f)  Why do most parents send their children to public schools?

3. Put ticks in the correct boxes.^[1]

a)  Schools are paid for by money from everyone.

b) Schools are paid for by money from parents who send their children to these schools.

c)  Schools accept only children who are already doing well in school and are able to work quietly.

d)  Classes are less crowded.

e)  Religion is not taught there.

f) They give lessons about that religion and the usual school subjects as well.

g) Children wear special school uniforms.

h) Students wear what they want.

II. Speak on...

— private schools in the USA;

— differences between public and private schools in the USA.

III. You are a member of a teacher exchange trip to the USA. Make up a small
report on Russian private schools.

Tests, Marks and Report Cards

Did you think that tests are only for students? You're wrong. The tests that stu­dents take also test their teachers and schools.

In the United States students take many tests each year. Teachers use tests to see how well pupils are learning at school. If students pass these tests, they go on to the next grade where the work is harder. In this way it is the students who are tested.

But these tests also show if teachers are doing their job. They have to give their pupils

 III.  Answer your American friend questions on tests, marks and report cards in your
school.

a)  Do you take any tests each year?

b) What kind of tests do you take?

c)  When did you find out how you did your test?

d) What is the system of marks in your schools?

e)  Do you have report cards in your  schools?

f)  How often a year do you receive your report card?

g)  Do your parents have to sign your report cards?

h) Do you usually get a good report card?

i) Do the best students who graduate from high school at the top of their class get any
prizes? What are the prizes?

IV. You are a TV reporter in the USA.

Make up a short report on tests, marks and report cards in Russian schools.

Choosing a College

If you meet a group of twelfth grade students, they are all talking about one thing: what are they going to do next year. Some students don't want to continue their educa­tion. When they leave school they will look for a job. Other students are thinking about colleges. They are each writing letters to three or four different colleges and sending in forms.

Colleges accept only those students who have done well in high school. They want to meet these students before they decide to accept them. Colleges want to know why students have chosen them, and how they will pay for their college education.

Students choose from about 2,000 colleges in the U. S. Every school has its own special flavour. Top students may choose famous "Ivy League" schools like Princeton, Harvard or Yale. They are the oldest colleges in the country — excellent, but very expensive. Other students choose large universities be­cause they teach lots of different subjects. Some choose small religious colleges.

There are differences between colleges and the type of study programs they have. For example, many four-year "Liberal Arts" col­leges are small and teach only the most important subjects for a general education. State universities are large. They teach many subjects and have some programs that last longer than four years. State universities are paid for by money from the state. Students from that state pay less to study there. Colleges are paid for privately, so students usually pay more to go there.

Whether a student chooses a small college or a large university, the cost of higher education in the United States is rising every year. Many parents find it too expensive.

Colleges and universities often have money for students who cannot pay, but it is not enough for everyone. Some have part-time jobs while they are at college. Studying and working at the same time can be very hard. But these students think it's worth all the hard work to get the college education they want.

Exercises.

I. How much did you understand?

1. Are these statements true or false?

a)  If you meet a group of twelfth grade students, they are all talking about one thing: what are they going to do next year.

b)  All the students want to go on with then-education.

c)  Colleges accept all the students who want to go on with their education.

d) College education is free.

e) There are no differences between colleges and the type of study programs they have.

2. Can you answer these questions?

a) What students do colleges accept?

b)  What do colleges want to know before they decide to accept students?

c)  What are the oldest colleges in the country? What do you know about them?

d)  Do students pay to study at colleges and universities?

II. Do you know that...

—there are more than 2,600 universities in the USA and nearly all colleges have both men and women students?

—some colleges are small, with only a few hundred students, but some of the big state universities are huge, with up to 60,000 students?

—you can study many interesting subjects at college, on short or long courses, but if you want to get a degree, you have to study for at least four years?

III. Speak on...

—college education in the USA;

—the way colleges accept students.

ГУ. You are eleventh grade student at a Russian school. Tell your American friend about your plans for the future and the system of higher education in Russia.

II. Do you know that...

—there are people in the U. S. who go to school their whole lives?

—adults go to school? Some take classes after work. Others go back to school after they have raised a family. Some change jobs late in life. This is happening more and more every year. These adults go to college classes with the younger students and take degrees there;

—certain colleges have night classes for adults who want to learn something new?

—some people can take "correspondence" classes? The college sends them homework and tests through the mail. They can do the homework and take the tests at home. Then they send these papers back to the college. They can earn credits, complete the classes and get a degree by mail;

—in the United States about two million adults are taking some sort of classes?

V. American Schools Quiz.

1. When do American children go to school?

2. What are the school years in American schools called?

3. How long do American children go to elementary school?

4.  How long do American children go to high school?

5.  Who is the first teacher high school students see in the morning?

6.  What are compulsory subjects called in America?

7.  How are subjects chosen by students according to their ability and inclinations called?

8.   Who helps high school students to choose subjects and also with other prob­lems?

9.   What is one of big social events that takes place in high school?

10. Who leads everyone in shouts and cheers when their team is playing?

11. How do students from elementary to high school start each day?

12. What do they say while saluting the flag?

13. What is the U. S.'s flag called?

14.What are the ceremonies for students who have done good work in school or who are excellent at sports?

15.What is the prize each student gets when he (she) graduates from school?

16.What kmd of schools are there in the USA?

17.Do American students of all schools wear school uniform?

18.What is the marking system used at American schools?

19.What colleges -are the oldest in the country?

20.Do students pay to study at colleges and universities?

21.How many universities are there in the USA?

22. What degrees can students take?
Keys:

1) Six; 2) grades; 3) six; 4) six; 5) home­room teacher; 6) core courses; 7) electives; 8) guidance counsellor; 9) "prom"; 10) cheer­leaders; 11) by standing up and saluting the flag; 12) "Pledge of Allegiance"; 13) "Stars and Stripes" and "Star-Spangled Banner"; 14) awards; 15) a high school diploma; 16) public and private; 17) students of private schools; 18) A=91-100 percent; B=81-90 percent; C=71—80 percent; D=65—70 per­cent, E=50—64 percent; F=below 50 per­cent; 19) Princeton, Harvard or Yale (so called "Ivy League" schools); 20) Yes, they do; 21) 2,600; 22) a Bachelor of Art (BA), a Master of Arts (MA), a Master of Science (MSc), a Master of Business Admin­istration (MBA), a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

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Краткое описание документа:

Данный материал можно использовать как дополнительный по теме "Образование в США".

В разработке содержатся тексты: Ceremonies at School, Neighbourhood Schools , Private Schools Tests, Marks and Report Cards, Choosing a College и предложены задания для контроля понимания текстов, а также American Schools Quiz.