Complete the following quiz to find out how much you know about universities and higher education. Discuss the answers in class.

1. Until the 19th century, ________ played a significant role in university curriculum; however, the role of religion in research universities decreased in the 19th century, and by the end of the 19th century, the German university model had spread around the world.

a) religion   b) relationship between religion and science c) atheism

2. In Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and ________ "university" is often contracted to "uni".

 

a) Germany                    b) Finland                  c) Singapore 

 

3. The general higher education and training that takes place in a university, ________, or Institute of Technology usually includes significant theoretical and abstract elements, as well as applied aspects.

a) college                b) gymnasium                c) public school

 

4. In the United States, the term ________ is frequently used to refer to stand-alone higher level education institutions that are not components of a university as well as to refer to components within a university.

 

a) middle school          b) public school          c) college

5. The system of higher education had its origin in _______ in the Middle Ages, when the first universities were established.

a) Europe                    b) North America               c) Australia

 

6. To enter the university in Britain a student must secure a ________ by taking examinations in various subjects and receiving passing marks in them.

a) General Certificate of Education     b) General Certificate of Higher Education                            c) General Certificate of Post- graduate Education

 

7. _____ model of higher education has been copied to varying degrees in Canada, Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, and other former British colonial territories in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.

a) Great Britain’s               b) Germany’s              c) South America’s

 

8. The system of higher education in the _______ differs from its counterparts in Europe in certain ways.

a) Australia                        b) United States         c) Canada

 

9. ______ universities and colleges in the US depend largely on tuition charges levied on students.

a)      Stateb)  Government                   c) Private

 

10. The _______ model of higher learning was adopted wholesale by the Philippines and influenced the educational systems of Japan and Taiwan after World War II.

a) British                   b) American                    c) Australian

Listening and Speaking

Follow the link on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKMl8OYbG4I (“BA Psychology at Richmond University”) and name the advantages of studying at Richmond University, which the author mentions. On the basis of this video be ready to speak about education at your university.

GrammarFocus

 

1. Read the following text and put the verbs in brackets in the correct form:

THE BRITISH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

 

The basic features of the British educational system (to be) the following:

1. Education (to be) compulsory for all children from 5 to 16.

2. The academic year usually (to begin) in September and (to run) to early July; it (to have) 3 terms, divided by the Christmas and Easter holidays. In addition, all schools (to have) a “half-term holiday”, lasting a few days or a week, in the middle of each term.

3. Compulsory education (to be) free of charge, but parents may spend money on educating their children if they (to want) to;

4. There (to be) three stages of education. Children (to move) from the first stage (primary) to the second stage (secondary) at around the age of eleven or twelve. The third stage (to be) “further” education at university or college.

5. The National Curriculum (to tell) pupils which subjects they have to study, what they must learn and when they have to take assessment tests.

6. Between the ages of 14 and 16, pupils (to study) for their GSCE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams. Pupils must take English Language, Math, and Science for GSCE, as well as half GSCE in a foreign language and Technology.

7. Those who (to get) good GSCE grades can stay at their school for another two years and then (to take) “A” level (Advanced Level) exams. Otherwise they have to leave their school and go to a sixth-form college or college of further education.

8. The GCE Advanced (A) level (to be) normally taken after a further two years of study. Good “A” level results in at least 2 subjects (to be) necessary to get a place at a university. Universities (to choose) their students after interviews. There (to be) about 100 universities in Britain. The most famous of them (to be) Oxford and Cambridge Universities.