Visiting the monument to victory in Prokhorovka

A.: Have you seen the Monument of Victory built on the tank battle field of Prokhorovka?

B.: Do you mean Prokhorovka which is not far from Belgorod?

A.: That’s right. The tank battle of Prokhorovka is a part of the battle of Kursk which lasted 50 days and became a conclusive stage of the radical turn in the course of Great Patriotic War. You should see it by all means.

B.: Well, I saw some monuments yesterday when I was on a tour of Belgorod and its region. But I’m not sure that was the one you are talking about.

A.: There’s no doubt you saw some other monuments. There are a lot of them in this city and its region. If you’d seen that memorial, you wouldn’t have mixed it with anything else.

B.:When was the Monument to Victory in Prokhorovka constructed?

A.: Its construction started in October, 1993 and ended in April, 1995.

The Monument was unveiled in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Victory over the fascist Germany.

B.: Who are the authors of this monument?

A.: They are V.M.Klykov, R.I.Simerdzhiev and G.K.Silohin.

B.: What does the Monument symbolize?

A.: The majestic Monument symbolize love for the native land, pride in deeds

of the great ancestors, readiness to sacrifice oneself to Motherland.

B.: Oh, I see. That’s marvelous beyond any words. A surely impressive

Monument.

Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.

Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.

A.: Excuse me, could you tell me the way to Prokhorovra. I’d like to see the Monument to Victory.

B.: … .

A.:Thank you much. How far is it from here?

B.: … .

A.:Is there a bus?

B.: … .

A.:Thank you.

DIALOGUE 3

Talking of Belgorod places of interest

Pete: What are you going to do this week?

An.: Well, I don’t really know.

Pete: Why not visit the Museum of Fine Arts?

Ann: Well… I’ve been there. I’ve done a lot of sightseeing since I came here. I’ve also been to the Museum of Local Lore.

Pete: Have you been to the Kursk Bulge Diorama?

Ann: On, yes. I’ve been there more than once. You know how keen I am on

history. I’ve heard some good lectures there too.

Pete: Have you seen the Monument to M.Schepkin?

Ann: Yes, I went there a week ago. But I haven’t seen Preobrazhensky

Cathedral since I was here last time.

Pete: Oh, it is worth seeing.

Ann: But I really ought to think about the business side of my visit now. I haven’t been to the cement plant yet. I expect things have changed over the past five years.

Pete: I’m sure they have. Yes, there have been some very big developments

since you were here last. Tell me – would you like to go and see the

Energomash Plant which manufactures power engineering equipment?

Ann: Yes, I would.

Pete: They have a big modern plant, and I happened to know the Personnel

Manager there.

Ann: Thank you. I’d be very grateful to you.

Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.

Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.

1. Your friend who came to Belgorod for the first time asks you about some places of interest in Belgorod.

2. You are a guide of the Museum of Fine Arts / the Museum of Local Lore / the Kursk Bulge Diorama.

LISTENING

Listen to the Text “Some Industries of the Belgorod region”.

a) Fill in the chart.

b) You will hear some numbers in the Text, write them down and say what these numbers refer to.

c) Check your answers with your groupmates and Tapescript 5A of the Text.

d) Retell the Text.

Listen to the Text “Newcastle, My Home Town”. Study the following commentary.

The river Tyne [tain] – река Тайн

Gateshead [‘geitshэd] – город Гейтсхэд

Geordie [‘dζэ:di] – Джорди, прозвище жителя или уроженца графства

Нортумберленд, особ. Тайнсайда (Tyneside), по северо-английскому произношению имени George

a) Answer the questions that follow.

1. Where is Newcastle situated?

2. What is Newcastle like?

3. What is the population of Newcastle?

4. Where is one of the biggest shopping centers in the world situated?

5. What industries are developed in Newcastle?

6. When did the character of this story move to Newcastle?

7. Why does the character of this story miss the people of his home town?

8. What are the people who were born near the river Tyne called?

b) Read Tapescript 5B of the Text. Look up the words you do not know in the dictionary.

c) Retell the story about Newcastle.

d) Tell your groupmates about your home town.

UNIT 6

Higher education of Russia

READING AND DISCUSSION

TEXT 6A

THE SYSTEM OF Higher education in Russia

Citizens of Russia have the right to education, which is guaranteed by the Constitution and ensured by the broad development of secondary education, vocational, specialized secondary and higher education, by the development of correspondence and evening courses, by the provision of state scholarships and privileges for students.

2. In Russia there is a nine-year compulsory education, but to enter a higher educational institution one has to study two years more.

3. After finishing secondary school, lyceum or gymnasium one can go on to higher education. All applicants must take competitive examinations. Entrance examinations are held in July and August. Higher educational institutions are headed by Rectors. Vice-rectors are in charge of the academic and scientific work. Higher educational institutions train students in one or several specializations. Faculties are headed by Deans. There are departments within faculties. The system of higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: decentralization of the higher education system, development of the autonomy of higher educational institutions, expansion of academic freedoms of faculties and students, development of a new financial mechanism. All Russian schools until recently have been state-subsidised.

4. In the terms of the ratio of students to the total population Russia ranks among the top ten countries in the world.

5. The Russian educational policy is a combination of economic and social objectives. On the one hand, an educated person contributes more to the society and, on the other hand, education gives a person the prospect for professional advance. The citizens of Russia show a great concern for education for themselves and their children.

6. Institutions of higher education include: technical training schools, teachers' training colleges, universities and academies which offer master's and doctoral degree programmes.

7. The faculties have specialized councils for conferring advanced academic degrees.

Active vocabulary to remember

Exercises

Pronounce correctly.