G azərbaycan respublikasi təHSİl naziRLİYİ azərbaycan texniKİ universiteti M. M. QƏNDİLova e. Q. İsmayilova

TEXT
Schools in the United States
“Mr. Parks, the other day you promised to tell us something about the educational system of the United States.”

“That is right, I did. It is interesting, that each state has its own laws governing education."

“What about the schools themselves? Are there elementary schools, secondary schools, and colleges-just as in other countries?"

"Yes. Students in the United States begin their education when they're five or six. In some states, they go to elementary school for eight years and to high school for four. In other states, they go to elementary school for six years, to junior high school for three years, and to high school for three."

"So that's twelve years of elementary and high school education?"

"That's right. The average student graduates at about age eighteen. There are, of course, different types of high schools. Some are technical, and some are academic. Very often, in the large public high schools, it is possible to select one of several curricula. If students plan to go to college, then they take the college preparatory program, which emphasizes literature, mathematics, etc. If they don't plan to go to college, they may take special courses in commercial subjects, home economics, etc. They may also go to a special technical high school and study such things as carpentry or printing."

"How long is the usual college curriculum?"

"The usual college curriculum is four years. To prepare for certain professions, however, more study is necessary. For law, one must now study three more years after college, for medicine, four years after college. Many students, upon finishing the normal four-year course, also take special graduate programs of two or three years' duration, in order to specialize in their particular fields."

"Are the colleges, like the elementary and high schools, free to anyone who wishes to attend, or is it necessary to pay in order to attend college?"

"To attend a college or a university, it is usually necessary to pay tuition fees. Many states have their own universities, and these are cheaper for residents of the state. But in most cases, tuition fees are several thousand dollars a year; then there are other expenses, so that it's fairly expensive to go to a college or a university."

"What is the difference between a college and a university?'

"There is really little difference in meaning today. A university is larger than a college and includes several colleges within itself. For example, Columbia University today includes ten or twelve schools or colleges, such as Columbia College, the School of Architecture, the School of the Arts etc. A smaller school might contain only one or two such divisions in this case it is usually referred to as a college.”