I am a student

I’m a first-year student. I entered the University after finishing a secondary school. Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University named after Mykhailo Kotsyubynskyi – that’s the name of the higher educational establishment I study at.

It was my dream to enter this University. I worked hard to pass my entrance examinations well. And now I’ve become a happy member of the great, young family of students.

I study at the Institute of … . When I graduate from the University I’ll work as a teacher of … at a secondary school.

It is very interesting to learn such new subjects as Pedagogics, Psychology, Philosophy and many others.

I work hard. I attend all the lectures and never miss the seminars.

I am also taking a two-year University course of English. English is an international means of communication. I learned it at school. I want to have a good command of the language because foreign languages are of great importance in our modern life. I try to do my best to master English as quick as possible.

It is also very important for me to learn how to save time and be able not only to study well, but to take an active part in the students’ life – to join some students’ scientific societies, to become a member of our University sports team and to visit interesting students’ evening parties, meetings and a lot more.

I’m fond of everything at my University. I like its buildings, lecture halls, laboratories and studies.

We are freshmen, as they call the first-year students. It’ll take time to know everything about our University but I’m sure I’ll never get disappointed with it.

1. What higher educational establishment do you study at?

2. What year of studies are you in?

3. What new subjects do you study at the University?

4. How many periods do you have every day?

5. Have you had seminars today?

6. Can you make notes?

7. How much time do you spend on your studies every day?

8. What do you think of your Institute buildings, lecture halls, laboratories and studies?

9. What aspects of studies are you disappointed with?

Vinnytsia state pedagogical university

Exercise 7. Read, translate and retell the text.

Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University is one of the largest educational institutions in Ukraine. It was founded in 1912 as Teachers’ Training Institute with a three-year course of studying. The Institute trained teachers for primary schools and had 100 students.

It is named after Mykhailo Kotsyubynskyi – a great Ukrainian writer. There is a monument to Mykhailo Kotsyubynskyi near our University.

The University trains teachers in 21 specialties. There are 7 institutes and 1 faculty in our University: the Institute of Foreign languages, the Institute of Philology and Journalism, the Institute of History, Ethnology and Law, the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Technological Education, the Institute of Pedagogics, Psychology and Arts, the Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, the Institute of Postgraduate and Doctorate Education, the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

At present about 6,000 full-time and correspondence students study at the University. The course of training lasts 4 or 5 years.

Teaching is maintained at a very high level at our University. About 400 professors, principal lecturers, lecturers, assistant lecturers teach students and carry on research work in various branches of knowledge.

The University provides students with a high standard of theoretical and practical knowledge. The students get training in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Foreign languages, Computer sciences, History and Psychology.

The academic year is divided into two terms. Each term ends with examinations. The students have winter and summer holidays. Many students get state grants. They are provided with hostel accommodation.

There are many class-rooms, laboratories, special rooms for training and some sport halls in the University. There are many departments in the University: the Department of Foreign languages, the Department of Innovative technologies, the Department of Pedagogics etc.

The students of the University combine theoretical studies with practical work at school. Teaching practice is arranged in the best schools of Vinnytsia.

The University has a rich library. It holds more than 500,000 copies of educational, fiction books and periodicals. There are 5 reading rooms with the seating capacity of 475.

The University is situated in Ostrozkoho Street not far from the centre of the town. It consists of 3 main buildings. Building №1 is the oldest and the most beautiful one. The architecture of this building is wonderful with its columns and balconies.

The whole area near our three University buildings is designed attractively; there is a lot of space between each building. You can see lovely lawns, flower beds and cosy benches under the trees where the students can sit and relax in the summer months.

I am proud of my University.

Exercise 8. Say whether the statement is true or false.

1. It was founded in 1921 as Teachers’ Training Institute with a two-year course of studying.

2. There are 5 institutes and 1 faculty in our University.

3. The academic year is divided into three terms.

4. Teaching is maintained at a very high level at our University.

5. The students of the University combine theoretical studies with practical work at school.

6. There are 2 reading rooms with the seating capacity of 275.

Exercise 9. Match the columns.

1. to be proud of a. заклад

2. a state grant b. пишатися

3. an institution c. бути заснованим

4. a department d. стипендія

5. to be found e. кафедра

Exercise 10. End the sentences.

1. Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University is one of ...

2. The University provides students with ...

3. The students get training in ...

4. The students of the University combine ...

5. The University is situated in ...

6. You can see lovely ...

Exercise 11. Answer the following questions:

1. When was the University founded?

2. How many institutes and faculties are there in the University?

3. Where is it situated?

4. What kind of educational establishment was the University at the beginning?

5. How many students are being trained here?

6. What subjects do you study?

7. What departments are there in the University?

8. Who is the dean of your faculty?

9. Where is the teaching practice arranged?

10. How can you describe the library of the University?

Exercise 12. Find the information about your institute in the text. Make a dialogue about your institute.