Тема / Топик по английскому языку:
Education in Russia

Every citizen of our country has the right to education. This right is guaranteed by the Constitution. It is not only a right but a duty, too. Every boy or girl must get secondary education. They go to school at the age of six or seven and must stay there until they are 14-17 years old. At school pupils study academic subjects, such as Russian, Literature, Mathematics, History, Biology, a foreign language and others.

After finishing 9 forms of a secondary school young people can continue their education in the 10th and the 11th form. They can also go to a vocational or technical school, where they study academic subjects and receive a profession. A college gives general knowledge in academic subjects and a profound knowledge in one or several subjects.

After finishing a secondary, vocational, technical school or a college, young people can start working or enter an institute or a university. Institutes and universities train specialists in different fields. A course at an institute or a university usually takes 5 years. Many universities have evening and extramural departments. They give their students an opportunity to study without leaving their jobs. Institutes and universities usually have postgraduate courses which give candidate or doctoral degrees.

Education in this country is free at most schools. There are some private primary and secondary schools where pupils have to pay for their studies. Students of institutes and universities get scholarships. At many institutes and universities there are also departments where students have to pay for their education.

Topical Vocabulary

- a citizen of
гражданин (какой-либо страны)
the right to education
право на образование
to be guaranteed by the Constitution
гарантироваться конституцией
a duty
обязанность
to get secondary education
получить среднее образование
an academic subject
общеобразовательный предмет
to finish... forms
закончить... классов
to continue one’s education
продолжить образование
a vocational school
училище, ПТУ
a technical school
техникум
to receive a profession
получить профессию
to give general knowledge in smth.
дать общие знания в какой-либо области
to give a profound knowledge in smth.
давать углубленные знания в какой-либо области
- to enter an institute or a university
поступать в институт или университет
to train a specialist in smth.
подготовить специалиста в определенной области
a course
курс обучения
an evening department
вечернее отделение
an extramural department
заочное отделение
to give an opportunity
предоставить возможность
without leaving one’s job
одновременно работая
postgraduate courses
аспирантура
to give candidate or doctoral degrees
присваивать степень кандидата или доктора наук
- free
бесплатный
a private school
частная школа
a primary school
начальная школа
to get a scholarship
получать стипендию
to pay for one’s education
платить за чье-либо образование

Answer the questions:

  1. What does the phrase «the right to education» mean?
  2. Why is education a duty, too?
  3. What subjects do pupils study at school?
  4. What can young people do after finishing the 9th form?
  5. What subjects do young people study at technical schools and at colleges?
  6. What can young people do after finishing the 11th form?
  7. What departments are there at institutes and colleges?
  8. Do children and people in this country have to pay for education?

Translate into English:

  1. Право на образование в России гарантируется конституцией.
  2. В средней школе ученики изучают академические предметы.
  3. После окончания 9 класса средней школы молодые люди могут пойти в техникум или ПТУ.
  4. Там они изучают академические предметы и получают специальное образование.
  5. Молодые люди могут продолжить образование в 10 и 11 классе или колледже, дающим углубленные знания по одному или нескольким предметам.
  6. Молодые люди, поступившие в институт или университет, учатся там 5 лет.
  7. Студенты вечернего и заочного отделений могут получить образование, одновременно работая.
  8. Начальное и среднее образование бесплатно в большинстве школ.
  9. В частных школах и на некоторых отделениях институтов и университетов нужно платить за образование.