The English Language in North America

Of all the people in the world who speak English as their mother tongue, more than 200 million people live in North America. The majority of the population of North American colonies in the 17^th and 18^th centuries spoke English.

Canadian English as a variety stands between British and American English. The features of American English dominate. American English reflects numerous non-English cultures which colonists met in their conquest of the continent. The American variety of English has borrowed many words from the vocabulary of the French, Dutch, Spanish and German-speaking settlers.

The French borrowings tend generally to fall into several groups. There are a number of words dealing with exploration and travel, or descriptive features of the landscape. The most productive one of the latter is “prairie”, which can be found in more than in more than eighty combinations in Webster’s Dictionary.

10. Speak on the topic “The English We Learn”.

Unit 2 kemerovo state university

1. Practise the pronunciation of the following words from the text.

Source, scientific, knowledge, faculty, entrance, highly, qualify, equip, research, majority, competitive, tuition, graduate, psychology, sociology, accommodation, chemistry, successfully.

2. Guess the meaning of the following international words. Consult a dictionary if necessary.

University (n), culture (n), faculty (n), to train (v), specialist (n), basis (n), academic (a), lecture (n), practical (a), experiment (n), debate (n), diploma (n).

Read and translate the text consulting the vocabulary in case of difficulty.

Source – источник;

To admit – принимать;

Entrance – вступительный;

Stiff – трудный;

Record book – зачетная книжка;

To equip – оборудовать;

Tuition – обучение;

Majority – большинство;

To complete – заканчивать;

Graduate – выпускник;

To graduate from – оканчивать;

To train – обучать;

Applicant – абитуриент;

To carry out – выполнять;

To receive – получать;

To award – присуждать (зд. вручать);

Correspondence department – заочное отделение;

Competitive – конкурсный;

To deliver lectures – читать лекции;

Campus – территория (университета);

Universities have long been sources of scientific knowledge and culture. Our university is one of them. It was founded in 1974. Twelve faculties of our University train more than twenty thousand students of day and correspondence departments. It trains highly qualified special­ists in physics, mathematics, history, the Russian language and litera­ture, biology, chemistry, foreign languages, economics, law, sports, psy­chology and sociology both for research work and teaching.

The students are admitted to the University on the basis of their re­sults in entrance examinations. Usually there are several applicants for every place at the University. The exams are often stiff and competitive.

The academic year is divided into 2 terms. The students have end-of-term tests and examinations. Marks are entered into students' record-books.

We have a lecture system at the University. The students take down the notes of lectures. The lectures are delivered by highly quali­fied teachers. They usually combine teaching with research work. The students also have practical studies and seminars, carry out laboratory tests and experiments. On the ground floor of the main building there are several lecture rooms. We have a number of laboratories specially de­signed and equipped for practical work and conducting experiments. Students are also trained in handling computers. At the campus there are sports grounds and playing fields. The main building of the University contains a library with a large reading-room, a large hall for meetings and debates, a dining hall with a coffee bar and other rooms for recreational purposes.

Students on contract basis have to pay for their training. But for the most of students tuition is free of charge. The students do not pay for using books, for laboratory work, teaching aid. The majority of students at day de­partment receive stipends. There are special higher stipends for honour students. Non-resident students are usually given accommodation in halls of residence.

Studies are divided into years. Normally it takes 5 years to graduate from the University. When the course of studies is completed and final examinations are success­fully passed the graduates are awarded a diploma. The best students who show great abilities for scientific work are left at the University after graduation to continue their studies as postgraduates.

3. Give the Russian equivalents of the following English words and word combinations.

Scientific knowledge, graduates, to carry out laboratory tests, on the basis of their results, correspondence department, students’ record books, successfully, to deliver lectures, entrance examinations, to train students, on a contract basis, to complete the course of studies, free of charge, research work and teaching, conducting experiments, accommodation in a hall of residence, stipend, to be awarded a diploma, non-resident students.

4. Give the English equivalents of the following Russian words and word combinations.

Образование и культура, высококвалифицированные преподаватели, научные конференции, абитуриенты, учебные материалы, принимать в университет, условия для учебы и отдыха, аспирант, научно-исследовательская работа, конкурсные экзамены, большинство студентов, отличник, обучение, повышенная стипендия, практические занятия и семинары, получать зачеты, спортивный зал, учебный год, платить за обучение.

5. Match the words in column A to those close in meanings in column B.

A B

1. stipend a) hard

2. source b) to fulfil

3. student c) origin

4. to train d) scholarship

5. to carry out e) learning

6. to divide f) test

7. examination g) undergraduate

8. stiff h) tuition

9. study i) to teach

10)teaching j) to part

6. Complete the following word combinations inserting the proper prepositions.

1. source ____ scientific knowledge;

2. was founded ___ 1974;

3. train students ___ research work;

4. are admitted ___ the University ___ the basis;

5. several applicants ___ every place;

6. is divided ___ 2 terms;

7. are delivered ___ highly qualified teachers;

8. great abilities ___ scientific work;

9. are left ___ the University ___ graduation;

7. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Support your judgement.

1. Kemerovo State University was founded in 1754.

2. There are six faculties at Kemerovo State University.

3. The students are admitted to the University without any entrance examinations.

4. The students have end-of-term tests and examinations.

5. All students pay for tuition.

6. The students have good facilities for studies and rest.

7. It takes four years to graduate from the University.

8. The last two years of studies are devoted to general education.

9. Every student can take a postgraduate course at the University.

10)There is no library at the University.

8. Answer the following questions.

1. When was Kemerovo State University founded?

2. How many faculties are there in the University? What are they?

3. How are the students admitted to the University?

4. What is the system of training at the University?

5. Do students have to pay for their tuition?

6. What facilities for studies and rest do students have?

7. Where do non-resident students live?

8. What students can continue their studies as postgraduates?

9. Are there any traditions at the University? What are they?

10)When is a graduate awarded a diploma?

9. Read the text and complete the sentences with the appropriate English words.