INTRODUCTORY READING AND TALK

The meny-go-round ofcollege life is something that one never forgets. It's a fascinating, fantastic, fabulous experience, ir­respective of the fact whether one is afull-time or a part-time stu­dent.

Who can forget the first day at the university when one turns from anapplicant who haspassed entrance exams into afirst-year student? I did it! Ientered, I got in to the university! A solemn cere­mony in front of theuniversity building and serious peoplemaking speeches. Hey, lad, do you happen to know who they are? Who? Therector, vice-rectors, deans, subdeans... and what about those la­dies?Heads of departments andsenior lecturers? Okay. Some of them must beprofessors, some — associateorassistant professors,but, of course, all of them havehigh academic degrees. And where are ourlecturers andtutors? Oh, how nice...

Themonitors hand outstudent membership cards, student record books andlibrary cards — one feels like a real person. First celebra­tions and then days of hard work. So manyclasses, so many new subjects to put on the timetable! Thecurriculum seems to be devel­oped especially for geniuses.Lectures, seminars andtutorials.Homepreparations; a real avalanche ofhomeworks.

If one can notcope with the work load of college he or she im­mediately startslagging behind. It is easier tokeep pace with the programme than tocatch up with it later. Everyone tries hard to be, or at least to look,diligent. Firsttests and examination sessions. The firstsuccesses and firstfailures: "I have passed!" or "He has not given me a pass!" Tears and smiles. And a long-awaitedvacation.

The merry-go-round runs faster.Assignments, written reproduc­tions, compositions, synopses, papers. Translationschecked up and marked. "Professor, I have neverplayed truant, I had a good excuse for missing classes". Works handed in and handed out. Reading up for exams. "No, professor, I have never cheated — no cribs. I just crammed".

Junior students becomesenior. Still all of them are one family — undergraduates. Students' parties in thestudents' clab. Meeting people and parting with people. You know, Nora is going tobe ex­pelled and Dora is going tograduate with honours. Yearly essays, graduation dissertations, finals...

What? A teacher's certificate? You mean, I've got a degree in English? I am happy! It is over! It is over... Is it over? Oh, no...

Apostgraduate course,athesis,anoral,anda degree in Phi­lology. The first of September. Where are the students of thefa­culty of foreign languages? Is it theEnglish department?Oh, how nice...

1. Say a few words about your university: say what it is called, speak about its faculties and their specializations.

2. Would you compare college life with a merry-go-round or with some­thing else?

3. What do you think of the first months at the university?

4. They say that it is a poor soldier who does not want to become a gen­eral. Name the steps of the social ladder which a student must pass to climb up to the position of the rector. Use the words from the list below, placing one word on one step.

Dean, assistant lecturer, head of department, vice-rector, asso­ciate professor, assistant professor, subdean, professor.

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