Education system of different countries

Section A The American Education System

Ex.1 Draw the Belarus Education System and compare it with the American Education System

Preschool ----------- Elementary School

Various programs Under 6 Kindergarten 5–6
Pre-Kindergarten 4–5 1st Grade 6–7
2nd Grade 7–8
3rd Grade 8–9
4th Grade 9–10
5th Grade 10–11
Middle School ----------- High school
6th Grade 11–12 9th Grade (Freshman) 14–15
7th Grade 12–13 10th Grade (Sophomore) 15–16
8th Grade 13–14 11th Grade (Junior) 16–17
12th Grade (Senior) 17–18
Post-secondary education
Higher Education in the USA
Ex.1 Read the text and translate the highlighted words and phrases

Higher Education in the USA

In the United States, a student who has finished high school, may want to continue in higher education. There are
several ways to do it: universities, colleges, community colleges, and technical or vocational schools.

A university in the United States usually has several different colleges in it. Each has a special subject area. There
may be a college of liberal arts where humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics are taught.
There may be a college of education and a college of business. A program for undergraduates usually takes four
years. University students get an undergraduate degree in the arts or sciences. If they complete a course of
study they get Bachelor of Arts or Science degree. Students may leave the university at this time. They may also go
on for a graduate or professional degree. The university always has programs for graduate and professional
study in many subjects.

The university may get money from several different sources. A publicly funded university gets some money from
the state government. A privately funded university gets money only from private sources. Or the university
may be funded by a religious group.

College students usually spend four years at school, too. A college does not have graduate or professional
programs. If a college student completes a course of study in arts or science, he or she gets Bachelor of Arts or
Science degree. If college students want to continue for a graduate or professional degree, they must go to
University. The college is usually funded in one of the three ways already described.

The program of study in the community college usually lasts two years. Not all of the subjects taught there are the
usual school subjects. The community college may give courses in the regular academic subjects or subjects like
dental technology, sewing and other non-academic subjects. Not all students of the community college have a high
school diploma. They may then go to a college for two more years to get the bachelor’s degree. Community colleges
are nearly always publicly funded.

The technical or vocational school has only job training, it has no academic program. Students may have a high
school diploma, or not. Programs may take from six months to two years and more. The technical or vocational
school gives training for work in areas such as electronics, carpentry and others.

Ex.2 Answer the questions:

1. What are the ways to continue in higher education in the USA?

2. What colleges does a university in the United States usually consist of?

3. What degrees are offered at universities?

4. What sources can a university get money from?

5. What programs and degrees are offered at a college?

6. What courses are given at a community college?

7. What kind of program does a technical or a vocational school offer?

Ex.3 Translate into English:
 1. Молодые люди, окончившие школу, могут продолжить образование в университете, колледже,
техническом или профессиональном училище.

2. Колледжи университета специализируются в различных областях: гуманитарных, общественных и

естественных науках, образовании или бизнесе.

3. Университет предлагает программу для студентов, аспирантов и профессиональные программы.

4. Если молодой человек заканчивает курс обучения, он получает степень бакалавра гуманитарных или
естественных наук.

5. Если студент продолжает обучение, он получает степень магистра или доктора или
профессиональную степень.

6. Университеты могут финансироваться из общественных или частных источников, а также религиозной

общиной.

7. Если студент колледжа заканчивает курс обучения гуманитарным или естественным наукам, он
получает степень бакалавра.

8. Местный колледж предлагает академические курсы и курсы неакадемических предметов.

9. Технические и профессиональные училища предлагают подготовку в различных областях.

Section B British Education

Ex.1 Read the text and answer the questions

1. What are the four levels of the English education system?

2. At what age do children have to start school?
3. What changes have been made to the school leaving age?
4. What are boarding schools?
5. What are the core subjects?
6. How many years is a bachelor’s degree? Are there any exceptions?
7. How much does a degree cost?

The education system is divided into nursery (ages 3–4), primary education (ages 4–11), secondary
education (ages 11–18) and higher education (ages 18+).

Full-time education is compulsory for all children aged between 5 and 16, either at school or otherwise, with
a child beginning primary education during the school year he or she turns 5. At the age of 16, students sit
national exams at the age of 16 known as GCSES. An exam in each subject is taken so you normally leave
school with 10 GCSES which are graded from A* - F.

Students may then continue their secondary studies for a further two years (sixth form), leading most
typically to A-level qualifications, although other qualifications and courses exist, including Business and
Technology Education Council (BTEC) qualifications or apprenticeships. The leaving age for compulsory
education was raised to 18 by the Education and Skills Act 2008. The change will take effect in 2013 for 16-
year-olds and 2015 for 17-year-olds. Public schooling and sixth form education is paid for by taxes. England
also has private schools and boarding schools where students go to school and live in residency there.

All public schools in England are required to follow the National Curriculum, which is made up of twelve
subjects. The core subjects—English, Mathematics and Science—are compulsory for all students aged 5 to
16. A range of other subjects, known as foundation subjects, are compulsory in one or more school years.
They include Art & Design, Citizenship, Design & Technology, Geography, History Information &
Communication Technology, Modern Foreign Languages, Music and Physical Education

Higher education often begins with a three-year bachelor's degree (some courses are 4 years for example
modern languages has a compulsory year abroad) Postgraduate degrees include master's degrees and PhDs
that usually take at least three years. Universities require a Royal Charter in order to issue degrees, and all
but one are financed by the state via tuition fees, which cost up to £9,000 a term for English, Welsh and EU
students. Oxford and Cambridge are the most famous universities in England and only accept exceptional
students.

Section C The comparative analysis of Higher education

1. Complete the first column of the chart with the following words

Academic Year
Length of Time
Top Universities
University Organization
Grades
Tuition Fees
Students
2.
Belarus USA UK
BA: 4 years BA: 3 years
MA: 2 years MA: 1 year
PhD: 5-7 years or longer PhD: 3 years
Universities are often divided into The colleges are governed
schools by subject, schools do not by the university but each
typically have a lot of autonomy college has quite a lot of
from the university. A university = a autonomy from each other
college = a school as well as from the
university itself.

Based on overall performance on all Based mostly on the final

assignments. The GPA system: exam
constant assessment such as quizzes,
daily homework, presentations,
classroom participation etc.
An academic year is usually divided An academic year is
into two periods called semesters usually divided into three
 (First semester, Second semester)
A freshman
A sophomore
A junior
A senior
The US differentiates between in-
state tuition fees and out-of-state
tuition fees, as well as between
private and public universities. The
average tuition fee for public two-
year institutions - $3000 per year, for
private four-year institutions -
$29,000 per year. Some private four-
year institutions can cost up to
$50,000 per year. The government
has very little control.
Harvard University
Yale University
Stanford University
Ex.2 Complete the second column with information about Belarus Higher Education
Ex.3 True or false?
An American sophomore is a first year student in Britain.
In the UK an academic year is usually divided into 3 semesters.
In the US your grade will be based on your performance on the variety of assignments.
Many universities in the US are made up of independent colleges.
Yale is one of the top Universities in the UK.
Neither in the USA nor in the UK does the government have any control over tuition fees.
It takes more time to finish your Master’s Degree in the UK than in the USA.
Ex.4 In a short essay compare higher education in the UK , the USA and Belarus
periods called terms
(Autumn term ,Spring
term, Summer term)
A first year student
A second year student
A third year student
A fourth year student
According to a law passed
in 2012, universities in
England may charge up to
£9000 (approximately
$14,300) per year (UK or
the EU citizens, fees for
international students are
significantly higher). The
government sets the limits
for tuition fees, and each
individual school sets its
own fee up to that limit.
University of Cambridge
University of Oxford
Durham University