University information

May 12

In order to know a little bit more about how university life abroad is, do the following exercises:

Listening practice

Listen to Nydja talking about the process of getting into grad school and her experience.
After listening the audio, do the vocabulary and comprehension quizes:

http://www.elllo.org/english/1001/1029-Nydja-Grades.htm

Listening and speaking practice

http://es.englishcentral.com/courses/preview/134-planning-for-life-abroad?frmSrc=/courses
(You must sign in first)

Getting new vocabulary

Study some vocabulary about university life and fill in the blanks

Studying at University

enter	graduate	pass	postgraduate course	undergraduates
A freshman	grant	A junior	tuition	postgraduates
A sophomore	PhD	carrying out	A senior	major

If you want to ___________ to a university, you must first _________ examinations that most students take at the age of eighteen (called 'A' levels). Most students take three 'A' levels (three examinations in three different subjects) and they must do well in order to get/obtain a place at university because the places are limited. At the moment, approximately 30% of young adults go to university in Britain.

If you get a place at university, the ­­­­­____________ is free, and some students also get (= receive) a _________________ (= money to pay for living expenses, e.g. food and accommodation) as well. Students at university are called ­­­­_______________ while they are studying for their first degree.

Most university courses last (= go on for / continue for) three years, some courses last four years, and one or two courses, e.g. medicine, may be even longer. During this period students can say that they are doing/studying history, or doing / studying for a degree in history, for example I am studying for a degree in control engineering. When they finish the course and pass their examinations, they receive a degree (the qualification when you complete a university course successfully). This can be a BA (= Bachelor of Arts) or a BSc (= Bachelor of Science), e.g. I have a friend who has a BA in history, and another who has a BSc in chemistry.

Universities in the States are a little different than others. You don't choose your _______(=first degree) until you are in your 3rd year. Basically, you apply to get into a major your junior year and if accepted, you have a major. If you get turned down, you have to find a different major, or spend another semester or year trying to get in. That's why you see so many people not graduate after 4 years. The problem is that they do not know what to major in.

In the US and in Britain students are called in different ways:

US	BRITAIN
	A first year student
	A second year student
	A third year student
	A fourth year student

When you complete your first degree, you are a ­­­­­­­­­______________. (In the US, students also use this word as a verb and say, they 'graduated in history' or 'graduated in chemistry', for example.) Some students then go on to do a second course or degree (­­­­­­­________________________,postgraduate degree). These students are then ____________________. There are usually three possible degrees:

MA (Master of Arts) or MSc (Master of Science); usually one year

MPhil (Master of Philosophy); usually two years

___________ (Doctor of Philosophy); at least three years

When people study one subject in great detail (often to find new information), we say they are conducting / doing / ­­­­­­­__________________ research; e.g. I'm doing some research into/on the languages of different African tribes.

Taken from: S. Redman. English vocabulary in use. Cambridge. 2003

Adapted by: Prof. Alejandra Jiménez

Homework assignment for the project

(Last page/entry of your blogs)

Design a graphic organizer to classify and summarize the information you found about the university you chose. Do the graphic organizer and upload it in your blog.  

These are some questions about the university you would like to go to study:

1.  How much is the university tuition fee?

2. How is the accommodation? Housing?

3. How can I get to the university?

4. Where is the university located?

5. How can I apply?

6. What are the requirements?

7. Does the university offer scholarships?

8. What are the advantages for developing countries students?

9. Which programs can a National University student apply in that university?

Examples of graphic organizers:

Examples taken from teacher Sandra Ecehverri's blog

Theses are some sites that will help you create your graphic organizer:  

Bubbl.us 
Graphic Organizers Book

Holt Interactive graphic organizers

Eduplace Graphic Organizers