5. Problem solving

• Do you support current entrance exam format? Why? List the advantages and disadvantages of the current entrance exam.

• Express your attitude towards the format given in the text above.

• Try to offer your own model of the new format of entrance exam to higher institution? Present your model in a form of table.

Task II.

1. Listen to the text about Gaokao - The National College Entrance Exam of China and evaluate the main ideas. Take notes as you listen.

2. Discuss the given information below with a partner.

• What is the most loaded period during the exam preparation?

• How do you determine the mottos of the Gaokao like “Life is not a rehearsal, because you won’t have the chance to live it all over again” and the second one “If you haven’t died from hard work, work harder”.

• What is “Gaokao sweatshops” according to the audio text?

• What do they mean by the term “make-or-break examination”?

3. Interview the students from other countries in order to know more information about the differences and similarities of examination system of their countries.

4. Present your materials to your group mates and share it with each other during the round discussion table.

Task III.

Work with a partner and give as many benefits as possible according to the diagrams below. Discuss your points of views.

Task VI.

Write an argumentative essay approximately of 300-350 words on the issue below.

“Many people think that students who go to university directly from school benefit less and can contribute less to their courses than those who travel or do jobs before they start their university education”.

• To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement.

• Give reasons for your answer and include any appropriate examples from your own knowledge or experience.

TIPS{This is the type of essay where you prove that your opinion, theory or hypothesis about an issue is correct or more truthful than those of others. In short, it is very similar to the persuasive essay, but the difference is that you are arguing for your opinion as opposed to others, rather than directly trying to persuade someone to adopt your point of view.}

Task V.

Critical thinking:

Discuss as a class the questions below.

• Why is it significant to enter the university in our modern society?

• Look at the pictures below. What do they show? How could we connect them?

{www.google.kz}

Task VI.

1. Look at the given diagram below and analyze the information {www.google.kz}

Project work

2. Make your own model of your spending time at the university, discuss and compare with a partner

Task VII.

Case study

University-enterprise Cooperation HEIs are very actively involved in increasing the employability of graduates. All public HEIs and the overwhelming majority of private HEIs have set up career promotion centres. Events such as meetings with employers, presentations of graduates, job fairs and meetings with alumni have become usual activities for all HEIs. HEIs have databases with information on the employability of graduates over several years to monitor their career paths, maintain liaison with former graduates and inform job-seeking graduates about vacancies. Regular communication is maintained with enterprises to obtain information on the need for specialists. There are many examples of efficient bilateral cooperation between individual universities and enterprises and employers’ organisations - some have lead to agreements with more than 50 enterprises, institutions and organisations. Article 45-1 of the ‘Social partnership in the field of professional education’ indicates that social partnership is oriented towards enhancing the adequacy of HEI operations, bringing the level of training specialists closer to the needs of the economy and employers, strengthening the links between education and enterprises, and involving additional sources of funding. Along with the forms of interaction between partners that have already become usual, the law legitimised also such forms as the involvement of employers in developing state educational standards and programmes, monitoring and assessing the qualifications of graduates. Practical implementation of the law will give impetus to fostering further cooperation in these fields, improving the content and process of learning, their influence on education policy and planning.

{http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/tempus/participating_countries/overview/Kazakhstan.pdf}

1. Dwell on the following questions and elaborate your response.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the given statement? Make a survey and find out the level of employability of graduates in Kazakhstan. List the significance of the events such as meetings with employers, job fairs and alumni gathering for university graduates. What should be done to involve employers in developing state educational standards?

2. Present your findings in a form of diagram and discuss it with the class.

Task VIII.

1. According to the survey conducted 4^th quarter 2007 in a survey of 14,500 students at fifteen colleges.

2. In a group of 3-4 do a research on the reasons of dropping out of your university students.

3. Present your mini research results to other group mates and discuss the reasons.