英语国家文化概况（上）
Focus
Section A: Education System
Section B: Top schools and Universities
Section C: Oversea students
Discussion Before Reading
Why do people study abroad?
Do you desire to study abroad? If so, why?
Do you need to learn about Western
education? Why or why not?
What are the advantages of American
education system that have taken place in
a) primary schools, b) secondary schools,
and c) higher education?
Guess Before Reading
1. What percentage of British pupils receive free
education from the public schools?
_____ 53% ______ 83% _______ 93%
2. How long do most undergraduate degrees take to
complete in Britain?
______ 3 years _______ 4 years _______ 5 years
3. Who are responsible for American public schools?
_______ the federal government _______ the 50 state
governments
4. Which is the oldest university in the US?
_____ Oxford ______ Harvard ________ Yale
Section A: Education System
4.1 The UK
4.2 The US
4.3 Canada，Australia and New Zealand
4.1 The UK
Text A: Compulsory education in the UK
Text B: Higher education in the UK
Text C: Types of degrees
Text A: Compulsory education in the UK
Education System in the UK is compulsory.
Children are legally obliged to attend school from the
ages of 5 to 16.
Parents can choose between sending their children to
state schools or to private schools.
State schools are funded by local and central
government.
Cultural Notes:
state schools 国立学校, 与之相对的是private/
independent schools 又称 public schools公学。私立
学校 除部分政府财政资助外，主要通过学生学费
筹集经费。因此，学费较高通常为富贵家庭的子弟
就学。
Text A: Compulsory education in the UK
About 93% of pupils receive free education
from the public schools.
Government also sometimes assists schools
established by religious groups.
Between the ages of 5 to 11, pupils mainly
attend state sector primary schools.
These schools are called mixed schools for
they admit both boys and girls.
Text A: Compulsory education in the UK
From the age of 11 up to around the age of 19,
students attend secondary schools.
About 90% of secondary schools are comprehensive
schools which admit children without reference to
their academic abilities. Such schools provide a
general education. Pupils can study everything from
academic subjects like literature and sciences, to
more practical subjects like cooking and carpentry.
Foreign languages are taught as a part of the National
Curriculum, reflecting the importance of Britain’ s
relationship with Europe.
Text A: Compulsory education in the UK
Those children who do not attend
comprehensive schools attend grammar
schools instead.
Grammar schools select children usually at the
age of 11, through an examination called “the
11-plus”.
Those who show academic potential are
admitted to the grammar schools where the
emphasis is on advanced academic work
rather than the more general curriculum of the
comprehensive schools.
Cultural Notes：
11 Plus：十一岁时学生一般参加11 Plus（11加）
考试，内容包括英语、数学和智力。通过者可以
进入文法学校（Grammar School），并能进入大
学深造；落榜者只能进入技工学校或一般中学学
习，不能进入大学深造。现在，越来越多的人呼
吁给学生提供平等的机会和更多的选择，因此，
90%的学生都能进入综合性中学，学习一段时间
之后再依具体情况决定自己的选择。
Text A: Compulsory education in the UK
At the age of 16, British children take General
Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
examinations.
Then they can quit school or prepare to sit university
entrance exams. Those who hope to attend university
carry on their academic study in the 6th form for
another two years and then sit A-levels exams or
concentrate on vocational training for GNVQ
(General National Vocational Qualifications), the
vocational equivalent of A-levels.
Cultural Notes ：
A-levels exams：高级水平测试结业证书，
即英国的“高考”，像剑桥、牛津这样一
流的大学，通常要求考生至少拥有3门A等
的A-LEVEL考试成绩，才有资格被录取；
有些系科和专业要求更高。
Text B: Higher education in UK
There are policies to encourage all 16- and 17year-olds to continue their education or
training at university or other higher education
institutions.
Text B: Higher education in UK
Approximately 1.8 million students currently
are in the higher education system;
about one third of young people go on to
higher education at age 18, and an increasing
number of "mature" students are studying
either full-time or part-time for university
degrees.
Text B: Higher education in UK
Most undergraduate degrees take three years to
complete.
At the graduate level, a taught master's degree
normally is earned in a single year, a research
master's takes two years, and a doctoral degree
is completed after three years.
Professional courses usually are undertaken as
five-year undergraduate degrees.
Text B: Higher education in UK
There are 110 universities in UK. 93 in
England, 13 in Scotland, 2 in Wales and 2 in
Northern Ireland.
Over 42% of pupils become university
students on leaving school at 18.
Two other main universities. University of
Buckingham (private); Open University.
Text B: Higher education in UK
There is only one privately funded university:
the University of Buckingham
Open University
Open University was founded in Britain in the
1960s for people who may not get the opportunity
for higher education for economic and social
reasons.
It's open to everybody and does not demand the
same formal educational qualifications as the other
universities. University courses are followed
through TV, radio, correspondence, videos and a
network of study centers.
At the end of their studies at the Open University,
successful students are awarded a university degree.
Text C: Types of degrees
Undergraduate
Types of undergraduate degree include:
BSc (Bachelor of Science) - a science degree
BA (Bachelor of Arts) - an arts degree
BEng (Bachelor of Engineering) - an
engineering degree
Undergraduate Masters degree - an enhanced
four year undergraduate degree including extra
subjects studied at a deeper level.
Text C: Types of degrees
Postgraduate
Students who receive good grades in their
undergraduate degrees may choose to take a Masters
degree, which takes a minimum of one year to
complete.
Types of Masters degree include:
MSc (Master of Science)
MA (Master of Arts)
MEd (Master of Education)
LLM (Master of Law)
MBA (Master of Business Administration)
Text C: Types of degrees
Taught Masters degrees
Taught Masters usually involve six months of
intensive tuition followed by six months of
project work which ends with a dissertation.
Text C: Types of degrees
Masters degrees by research
Research degrees involve at least one year,
sometimes more, of full-time research
resulting in an examined thesis.
Text C: Types of degrees
PhD
If you would like to continue to study for a
PhD, you will have to conduct a minimum of
two years' research after the award of your
MSc.
In some subject areas, a student may transfer
from BSc/BA/BEng to PhD so that they follow
a three year research program for PhD without
first obtaining a Masters degree.
4.2 Education System in US
Text A: The first 12-year education
Text B: Higher education in the US
Text C: Undergraduate and Graduate
Text A: The First 12 Years
Most Americans attend twelve years of
primary and secondary school.
Primary and Secondary School begins
around age six for U.S. children.
They attend five or six years of primary
school. Next they go to secondary school.
Text A: The First 12 Years
In primary school, Academic subjects include
language arts such as reading, writing, spelling
and penmanship，mathematics, science,
physical education and social studies (mostly
history and geography).
Social studies emphasize the multi-cultural
nature of the US.
Subjects are more specialized in high school
than in elementary school.
Text A: The First 12 Years
The typical school day is about 6 hours long
and ends about 3:00 P.M.
Classes are given Monday through Friday.
The school day is very busy and very long for
many high students.
Many take five or six major academic subjects
as well as physical education.
Text A: The First 12 Years
During other periods, students may be doing
homework in a study hall, researching in the
school library, or participating in activities
such as student government, school newspaper
or math club, helping students find friends
with similar interests, develop their talents,
gain self-confidence and sometimes even
discover their career goals.
Students’ Activities in schools
Text B: Higher Education in US
Higher education in the United States is quite
various from one state to another.
It is characterized by competition and
autonomous institutions of higher learning.
Colleges and universities
Two-year institutions
Four-year institutions
Community colleges
Text B: Higher Education in US
The first two years of college are called the
"freshman" and "sophomore" years.
Students in the first year are called "freshmen,"
and they are "sophomores" in the second year.
Some schools require freshmen and
sophomores to take courses in different areas
of learning: literature, science, the social
sciences, the arts, history, and so forth.
Text B: Higher Education in US
The "junior" and "senior," or third and fourth
years, are the "upper classes."
When they enter their junior year, they must
choose a "major" field of study. They must
take a certain number of courses in this
department, or field.
In some schools, students also choose a
"minor" field. There is usually time for
students to choose several other "elective"
courses in other subjects.
Text B: Higher Education in US
faculty advisor who teaches courses in the
student's major field. This advisor helps the
student select a program of study.
Transfers: If a student enrolls in a new
university before finishing a degree, they can
transfer to another university and still graduate
within a reasonable time.
Credits: Each course is considered to be
worth a number of "credits" or "credit hours."
Text B:Higher Education in US
Classroom learning: Classes range from large
lectures for several hundred students to smaller
classes and "seminars" with only a few students.
Marks are based upon Classroom participation.
Discussion, questions, conversation; Students are
expected to participate in class discussions,
especially in seminar classes. A midterm
examination is usually given during class time.
Final examinations are held some time after the
final class meeting.
Text C: Undergraduate and Graduate
The typical academic degree earned by American
students is the "Bachelor of Arts" (BA) or the
"Bachelor of Science" (BS). These degrees are
awarded following the completion of four years of
studies. In the first two years of their studies,
American students take a number of required
courses in general subject areas. After the second
year, American students take a major, and spend the
remaining two years taking courses in these
academic disciplines. After having earned the
"bachelors," most Americans end their "academic
careers" and look for jobs.
Text C: Undergraduate and Graduate
Those who decide to pursue their education further
can earn a Master of Arts or Master of Science,
respectively, in one to two years. These so-called
"Master's Degrees" are offered only at universities,
and not at colleges. Likewise, only universities
offer professional degrees, as for example the Juris
Doctor (for law), the Doctor of Medicine (for
medicine), and the well-known Master of Business
Administration, or MBA. It usually takes two to
four years to complete these professional degrees.
Text C: Undergraduate and Graduate
Earning a doctorate (Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D.)
in the United States takes between four and six years.
The first phase of one's doctoral studies usually lasts
two years and is concluded with an extensive
examination in all the subject areas studied until that
point. This examination is known as the
"preliminary examination" or alternatively as the
"qualifying examination."
Following the successful completion of this
examination, the student may begin his research for
his doctoral dissertation.
4.3 Education in Canada, Australia and New
Zealand
Text A: Canadian education
Text B: Australian education
Text C: Education in New Zealand
Text A: Canadian Education
The education system in Canada encompasses both
publicly funded and private schools, including
community colleges/ technical institutes, career colleges,
language schools, secondary schools, summer camps,
universities and colleges.
Children Attend Kindergarten for one or two years at the
age of 4 or 5 and begin Grade One at about six years of
age. Secondary schools go up to Grade 11 or 12.
The school year normally runs from September through
the following June but in some instances, January intake
dates are possible education between high school and
university.
Text B: Australian Education
Each state and territory in Australia independently runs
their own form of education from grades 1-12.
Primary Schools: kindergarten or grade 1 to grades 6 or
7.
Secondary High Schools: grades 7 or 8 to grade 12.
Three main types of schools in Australia, public schools,
non-religious private school and religious private
school. Most public schools have co-education.
The final result is taken from the student's overall
performance in all exams throughout grades 11 and 12.
Text C: Education in New Zealand
Courses are available for academic, professional and
vocational studies at universities, polytechnics,
colleges of education, secondary schools and private
training establishments.
New Zealand secondary schools provide a sound
education to students aged 13-18 years. Some schools
have classes for students aged 11 and 12 as well. Most
secondary schools are government-established.
Some international students select one of the
foundation programs that are offered around New
Zealand to directly prepare students for university
study.
Section B: Top Schools and Universities
4.4 The UK
4.5 The US
4.6 Canada，Australia and New
Zealand
4.4 The UK
Text A: The University of Oxford
Text B: The University of Cambridge
Text C: The University of London
Text A: The University of Oxford
Oxford is the oldest university in the Englishspeaking world, an internationally renowned
center for teaching and research.
It lies about 57 miles north-west of London.
Oxford attracts students and scholars from across
the globe, with almost a quarter of our students
from overseas.
Text A: The University of Oxford
Oxford is a collegiate university. It has 39 selfgoverning colleges related to the University.
There are also seven Permanent Private, founded by
different Christian denominations.
Thirty colleges and all halls admit students for both
undergraduate and graduate degrees. Seven other
colleges are for graduates only; one has Fellows ,
graduate students holding fellowships only, and one
specializes in part-time and continuing education.
Text A: The University of Oxford
Oxford offers undergraduates a unique learning
experience through the tutorial system, in which
students meet regularly with their college tutor, either
on a one-to-one basis or with one or two other
students, as an integral part of the pedagogic mix.
Graduate students make up more than a quarter of the
total student body.
The University offers a wide range of taught graduate
and research degrees, ranging from one to three or
more years in length.
Text B: The University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge, located in the United
Kingdom, is one of the top universities of the world.
It has given many great philosophers and Noble
Prize winners to the mankind.
The University of Cambridge is a confederation of
Colleges, Faculties and other institutions.
Text B: The University of Cambridge
The University provides a wonderful learning
experience and offers opportunities for
broadening the experience of students and staff
through participation in sport, music, drama,
the visual arts, and other cultural activities.
Text C: The University of London
The University of London is a federal
university and is one of the oldest, largest and
most diverse universities in the UK.
It consists of 19 self-governing Colleges of
outstanding reputation and a number of other
central academic activities.
4.5 the US
Text A: Harvard University
Text B: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Text A: Harvard University
Text A: Harvard University
Harvard University was founded in 1636.
It is the oldest university in the USA, and is
renowned all over the world for its academic
excellence.
Harvard University has produced about 40 Nobel
winners in different academic fields so far.
Harvard University comprises the undergraduate
college, the graduate schools, other academic
bodies, research centers and affiliated institutions.
Harvard University admits students in its extension
school also.
Text B: Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
ranks among the best universities in the
world.
MIT consists of five schools, namely,
School of Architecture and Planning, School
of Engineering, School of Humanities,
School of Management, School of Science
and the College of Health Sciences and
Technology.
Text B: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
As a top ranked educational institution, MIT is
independent, and privately endowed. Through its five
schools and one college that encompass 34 academic
departments, divisions and degree granting programs
as well as numerous interdisciplinary centers,
laboratories and programs.
MIT is committed to provide all its students a strong
scientific, technical, and humanistic foundation and
encouraging them to develop creativity in defining
problems and seeking solutions.
4.6 Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Text A: Concordia University
Text B: University of Canberra
Text C: University of Auckland
Text A:Concordia University
Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, is a large,
urban, English-language institution with academic
roots going back over 150 years.
Its wide range of programs, both full-time and parttime, provide a unique and challenging educational
experience.
It offers more than 250 undergraduate and graduate
programs through its Faculties: Arts and Science, the
John Molson School of Business, Engineering and
Computer Science, Fine Arts and the School of
Graduate Studies.
Text B: The University of Canberra
The mission of the University of Canberra is to provide
the highest level of professional undergraduate education
in Australia. It educates students for approximately 30
different professions, among them information
technology, management, law, design, architecture,
biomedical science, psychology, accounting, engineering,
teaching, modern languages, marketing, journalism,
nursing, environmental science and sports studies.
UC has one of the highest employment rates for
graduates in Australia.
Text C: Auckland University
The University is centrally located in the cosmopolitan
city of Auckland, providing an exciting, stimulating
environment for over 40,000 students.
The University enjoys international status as the only
New Zealand university invited to join Universitas21 and
the Association of Pacific Rim Universities.
Section C: Overseas Students
4.7 Study in the UK
4.8 Study in the US
Text A: Application and Qualification
International students are welcome in all four
parts of the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland.
Each of the four countries has broadly the
same structure of education, and broadly the
same sort of educational institutions.
Text A: Application and Qualification
A-levels and AS-levels are still the most common
entrance qualifications for students
in the UK though the most universities and university
sector colleges now accept the IB and GNVQs as the
equivalent of A-level.
If you have not been educated in Britain, you will
need to check the level you have reached corresponds
to the British system.
GNVQ（General National Vocational Qualification）
全国通用职业资格.
Text A: Application and Qualification
Another factor that will influence your application
will be your level of English.
All colleges will require a certain level of English
competence, depending on the type of course applied
for, and will test for English ability either in your own
country or on arrival.
Most institutions offer language support to
international students alongside their educational
course, as well as professional English programs.
4.7 Study in the US
Text A: When to Apply
Text B: Choosing a School
Text C: Financial Issues
Text D: Study as Americans Students Do
Text A: When to Apply
Successful applications for international
students to a top school in these two countries
require preparation.
The admission process is a long one, and
should ideally begin at least 18 months before
your expected arrival in the US.
Organization and planning are very important
because timely completion of all the necessary
steps is key.
Text A: When to Apply
18 months before: Begin your search of possible US
colleges or universities that you would like to attend.
Register and start preparing for the TOEFL and other
entrance tests such as the SAT or GRE.
15 months before: Take the TOEFL and other
entrance tests.
12 months before: Send letters to colleges you have
selected requesting applications and information, or
obtain this information and necessary forms from
their websites.
11 months before: If you have not yet received the
application forms you requested from the schools you
wrote to, send another letter repeating your request.
Cultural Notes:
TOEFL（Test of English as a Foreign Language) 是
由美国教育考试服务处ETS (Educational Testing
Service) 举办的，为申请去美国或加拿大等国家上
大学或入研究生院学习的非英语国家的学生提供
的英语水平考试。
GRE是Graduate Record Examination的缩写，美国
研究生入学考试资格考试。美国大学研究生院规
定：申请攻读硕士和博士等高级学位的人员必须
参加这项考试。 GRE由美国教育考试服务处ETS
主办。
Text A: When to Apply
10 months before: Complete your essays and
application forms, including the financial aid
application forms, using the originals.
9 months before: Respond to any requests you receive
schools to request more information or resubmission of
something you have already sent.
4-5 months before: Hear decisions from the schools
and contact the admissions office at any school that you
do not hear from and let the other schools know of your
decision.
3 months before: Get a visa application form from the
US embassy or consulate nearest you. Make travel
arrangements. Schedule your trip so you arrive at least
15 days prior to your school.
Text B: Choosing a School
American education offers a rich field of
choices for the international student. From
abroad, and even from within the U.S.A., there
is such an array of institutions, programs and
locations that the choices may overwhelm the
student.
To simplify the choices, a student must
carefully study how each program and location
can fulfill the student's goals.
Text B: Choosing a School
In order to make informed decisions, a student will
need to know how the U.S. education system is
organized.
State College or University
Private College or University
Two-Year College
Community College
Professional School
Institute of Technology
Technical Institute
Church-related School
Text C: Financial Issues
The immediate problem that a Chinese student would
encounter upon arriving in the U.S. is how to pay for
the tuition and living expenses. By your intelligence
and diligence you get financial support and make
money to live on.
In the U.S. foreign students without “green card ” are
not allowed to find jobs outside the campus, but they
can find their way doing some campus-jobs as
librarian, office worker, building cleaner, etc, which
usually require a lot of tome with low pay, and they
do not relate in any sense to your studies.
Text C: Financial Issues
The ideal way is to get a position of Teaching
Assistantship (T.A.) or Research Assistantship (R.A.)
offered by the university.
By your teaching work or research work you can
have a monthly pay.
If you are outstanding in your studies, you can get
scholarship granted by the university or association.
The applicants for T.A. or R.A. are limited to
graduate students. Once you get such a position, there
is no guarantee that you will keep it forever. If you do
not have a good work performance, you will be
discharged from the position.
Text D: Study as American Students Do
It is important for the Chinese students
studying in the United States to foster their
own ability to think independently and make
a decision independently.
In American universities, classroom work
usually contains a lot of questions and answers,
academic seminars, topic discussions and
reports.
Text D: Study as American Students Do
Practical orientation to master a useful
practical skill.
The courses are with heavy assignments, and
some of them require a lot of time in the
computer lab.
Some other courses, especially in the graduate
programs, are designed to train students to
think creatively, to analyze independently, and
to provide their own solutions to problems.
Text D: Study as American Students Do
These courses emphasize your approach, or the
research methodology, not the correctness of your
solution. A single correct answer might not even exist.
The professor only presents you with the problems,
and recommends a few reference materials. In the
classroom students may be required to present their
views in turn, or voluntarily in the form of a free
discussion.
Most of students’ time is spent in the library, in the
lab, or in the computer room.
The Reflection to Unit 4