So, my dear 2nd-year students, you are going to take an exam in English this winter. What will it consist of?
First, it is going to be a Grammar Test. You already know what it may look like.
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Second, it is working with a new text. You will have to read an unknown text (not larger than
1 page A4). To assure me that you understand it you will have to retell it in brief, answer my questions and do some tasks.
We are going to prepare for this during the whole term.
Third, you will have to demonstrate your ability to speak not only about physics. It means, you will have to prepare texts on your choice to have a conversation with your lecturer. We haven’t trained such things yet, so I am going to go into detail.
To start with, the amount of texts may differ (4, 6 or 8) depending on the desired mark.
Then (mind that!) – texts should be discussible. It means they should contain thoughts that may cause different points of view. Moreover, the task is not to learn the texts by heart and retell them like a poem; you will have to present the main idea of the text and then stand for your point of view answering the lecturer’s questions (sometimes provocative).
After that, there usually appear questions: Where can I find such texts? How large should they be?
So, these are some requirements to examination texts.
You may laugh but they can be found on the Internet, and not only there. You may go to the University library, the Foreign Literature department and look through some books, magazines or Encyclopedias. Librarians will help you.
The main requirement to the text (beside it being discussible) is: it should be composed by a native speaker and be written in good English.
On the other hand, texts shouldn’t be overloaded with complex grammar structures and contain a lot of unknown (for you!) words.
What the texts should be about?
There are the 3 “broad” topics for everybody: Education, An English-Speaking Country, My Future Work, (or How I Can Benefit My Country).
The remaining topics (1 or 3 or 5 correspondingly) are completely on your choice.
Prior to making the final decision whether the text meets all the requirements or not you should consult me. You may print the chosen text or place it on a CD/DVD (not on a diskette – I have no appliance to read it) or just send me a link to it. The reference to the source is obligatory!
Now you see that my part of the work is going to be essential
. That is why I announce the deadline for choosing texts: October, 31.
And the last remark in accordance with the question. Starting with November,1 we will discuss the most interesting texts in the group.
