Vocabulary exercises:

I. Read and translate the text.

II. Translate into Russian the following words and phrases:

to provide, further education, a four-year period, an introduction to nature study, social sciences, basis, aesthetic education, vocational training, shop lessons, age-determined abilities, composition, penmanship, to instill a love for books, fundamentals, the emphasis is placed on, an introduction to numbers, the four rules of arithmetic, square measurements, elements of geometry, to do problems, plant and animal life, personal observation, to make up, the preservation of wildlife, to care for, vegetable beds, applied arts, art treasures, to develop a child’s ear for music, all-round development, a stepping-stone, a psychological barrier.

III. Choose the right word:

The principal document determining the content of Russian school education is …. A … is a stale document establishing the … to be … at a school of a particular type. Curricula include Humanities, … and Mathematics, … and … , shop … , … and … classes, … training. Such a structure of curricula ensures the … … of pupils.

Over the past decade the content of … has been updated. The most significant changes have taken place in … school. … have shown that following the … of the new syllabuses the … of the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th … acquired a more thorough knowledge and their intellectual level has considerably risen.

Curriculum, curricular, studied, subjects, natural sciences, lessons, arts, crafts, music, singing, physical, grade, all-round, development, elementary, observations, education, pupils, introduction.

IV. Translate into English the following words and word combinations:

Основа, дальнейшее образование, трёхлетний период (срок), введение, природоведение, общественные науки, эстетическое воспитание, физическое воспитание, обучение, профессиональная подготовка, привить любовь к, упор делается на, четыре действия арифметики, решение задач, личные наблюдения, составлять часть курса, уроки труда, прикладное искусство, всестороннее развитие, развивать музыкальный слух, психологический барьер.

V. What is the opposite of:

Nature sciences, introduction, arts, regular, quickly, walking, outdoor classes, to care for, to encourage, simple, entire.

VI. Arrange a) and b) in pairs as synonyms:

1. to care for, basis, professional, education, stage, to do problems, participate, artist, further, skill, emphasis;

2. fundamentals, to look after, training, vocational, to take part in, stepping-stone, to solve problems, painter, craft, higher, stress.

VII. Answer the questions (work in pairs):

1. Do you agree with the statement that the elementary school provides the basis for all further education? Prove it.

2. What are the tasks of elementary school?

3. What are the subjects studied?

4. What is the entire complex of tasks?

5. What does the course of language study include?

6. What does Mathematics provide?

7. What are the children taught in the course of nature study?

8. What do shop lessons prepare children for?

9. Why do you think the art classes are tied with the classes in reading and shop?

10. What are music and singing classes aimed at?

11. Physical training is one of the most important elements in a child’s all-round development, isn’t it? Why?

VIII. Fill in the blanks with necessary prepositions:

“The teachers … our experimental classes try to make children love their school, lessons, and try to instill … them a thirst and enthusiasm … knowledge. Methods may be most varied, even strange … those, who are used … an academic quietness … lessons, … strictness … the teachers and unquestioned obedience … children. Our teachers do not forget even … a moment that they are working … pupils who are only 6, 7 or 8 years old. A child cannot sit still even … 35 minutes … the lesson and why not toss a ball around … a Maths lesson? The one who catches the ball goes … the blackboard to answer.

“And you should see how the class livens … when the teacher ‘makes a mistake’, ‘forgets’, … instance, how a word is spelled correctly or misses a line … a poem children have learnt … heart and know well. We give unusual home assignments. We do not say: ‘Learn the poem … page 25’. We ask the children which … the two poems we read they prefer. The same … Maths problems. ‘You can solve five … these or three … those because they are more difficult. Will you be able to manage them?’ There is doubt and hope … the teacher’s voice. You may be sure that … the next lesson all the pupils will happily show you they’ve managed to solve all the eight problems.”

IX. Translate into English the given text:

Слово «школа» иностранного происхождения. В Древней Греции этим словом называли беседы мыслителей с их учениками. Со временем это слово стало употребляться для обозначения учебного заведения.

Вы, конечно, навсегда запомнили первый день в школе. Было солнечное сентябрьское утро. Все классы построены около школы. Вокруг много цветов, улыбок, радостных лиц. Здесь вы впервые встретили своих товарищей по классу и познакомились с учительницей. Вас, первоклассников, приветствовали учителя, директор школы, родители. Одиннадцать лет вашей жизни было связано со школой. Вас обучали по программам, которые едины для всех школ страны.

X. Prove that elementary school provides the basis for all further education (See Appendix 1).

XI. Give a brief talk on the following aspects (See Appendix 1):

1. Early development of children.

2. Pre-school education.

3. Elementary school.

4. The modern tendencies in primary education.

5. The system of secondary education.

6. The advantages of the Russian system of education

7. Extra-curricular activities of the Russian children.

8. The difference between the systems of education in Russia and the United States of America.

7. Make up dialogues on the following topics:

1. A talk with an American student about the difference between the systems of elementary education in Russia and the USA.

2. The delightful experience of the first day at school (a child and a mother).

3. The difference between the secondary schools in Russia and high schools in the USA.

4. Your hobby. “Every man has his hobby horse,” says an English proverb.

5. School of tomorrow.

6. Your own experience of extra-curricular activities.

XIII. Have you ever attended any pre-school establishment? Share with your groupmates your impressions about the kindergarten you have visited. You can illustrate your talk with some pictures (See Appendix 1).

6. Write a personal letter about your first day in the first grade and your first teacher or an ideal school for your child(ren) (See Appendix 2).