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Semester exams are taken twice a year and usually
consist of:
1. Written grammar test
2. Listening comprehension section (multiple choice or gap-filling)
3. Reading comprehension or text analysis (in writing)
4. Oral topic presentation and conversation with the examiner on one of the
course topics, or, at graduate level, commenting a
text on one of the course topics, discussing the issues of the text with the
examiner.
5. Oral translation of 5-7 sentences from the course vocabulary
Examination assessment includes credits on Individual Reading (from 250 to
400 pages), as well as credits in Phonetics or other aspects of EFL, taught
through the semester by an instructor different from the examiner.
Final state EFL exam is taken in April and consisits of:
::Lexico-grammatical test including translation, listening comprehension and reading comprehension portions.
::Oral exam including 1 question in Lexicology and Language History, rendering a 2000-letter text from Russian into English and conversation with the examiners on one of the ff topics:
1. Holistic vs.
Traditional Medicine, pros and contras. Have you ever tried non-traditional
treatment? If not what prevents you from doing that? Do you think holistic
medicine should be integrated with traditional medication-based methods?
2. What is healthy food? Have you tried dieting? What’s your attitude to it?
Recommend an obese person how to improve his/her lifestyle so as to
considerably lose weight and get rid of bad eating habits.
3. Negative Emotions: Anger and Fear. How can one cope with them? Have you
experienced negativities and what did you feel? Have you ever had a phobia?
How can one cope with a phobia? Social phobics: can they work as teachers?
4. Coping with Teens: why is it so difficult sometimes to deal with
teenagers? What are the problems they have to face? If you had to teach a
class of 14-16 year olds what would you recommend to yourself? What can you
recommend to their parents?
5. CALL issues: The Internet and teaching English, newly introduced methods,
using e-mail, virtual communication. Why is it popular nowadays? Does it
really improve the student’s skills or it’s just fashion? What are the
benefits and reefs of CALL?
6. Man and Machine: Artificial Intelligence vs. Human Mind. Can machine be a
close friend? What are the perspectives of robots in human lives?
7. Education Issues: compare UK/USA and Russian systems of School Education.
What could we borrow from them? What principles could they borrow from us?
What should a native speaking teacher of English expect when coming to
Russia to work at school?
8. Higher Education in UK, US and RF, Linguistics education throughout the
world. Coral Reefs of University education in Russia: what should a foreign
professor expect when going to teach English or other subjects at a Russian
University?
9. Teaching as a profession: what makes a good teacher? Dwell on your own
perspectives in the profession, what jobs you would like to try, what kind
of teacher you would like to be. Have you met a teacher that would play a
model for you? What makes him/her successful?
10. Teaching English Job placement opportunities: how to find a TEFL job?
What are the opportunities for a University graduate of a Language Teaching
Dept.? Where are you going to look for a job? What strategies are you going
to use? What kind of teaching job placement would satisfy you? Is it
possible for a Russian EFL teacher to find a job abroad?
11. Environmental Issues. What can you personally do to save our planet?
What do you think on the problem of global warming? What does it mean to be
“green”? Greenpeace as an international organization.
12. Law and Order: Corruption Issues in Russia. “Behind every great fortune
is a crime.” What do you think Balzac meant? Think of the anti-corruption
initiatives in your country (in the city) to change our lives for the
better. What can a teacher do with that?
13. Drugs, alcohol and smoking: antisocial behaviour or bad luck? Are
addicts sufferers or criminals? Should drug addicts be prosecuted? Shall we
prohibit smoking in public areas or is it interference with smokers’
freedom? Can a teacher of English do anything to prevent or stop any kind of
addiction? If not who shall be in charge?
14. National Identity: What is it to be a Russian? What are some cultural
differences between Russians, Americans, Britons? What should one keep in
mind when teaching international classes?
15. Books and Reading: What makes a bestseller? What makes a good book? Has
any book ever changed you? What makes a good style? How can a teacher make
children like reading?
16. Religion: What world religions do you know? Do you think religiousness
can help people to live? What do religions say about war? Can people live to
the rules without being religious? Should religion stay away from state and
education system?
17. Human Rights: name some of the basic human rights. Judging by the
Amnesty International case studies, what are the main issues for their work
in RF and former Soviet Republics? What can you say about human rights in
this society? In Volgograd? In this University?
18. International Organizations. UN role in contemporary world. Would you
like to join any International organization? Why? What would you do?
19. Women and Politics. The traditional role of a woman in the Russian
society. Why are there so few successful women getting to the top? Why do
women in Russia prefer not to go in for politics but lead a quiet family
life? Is it a rule? Would you like to be a politician? Why?
20. Family matters. Relationships inside a family. Children and parents in
America and Russia. What do you think of independence and freedom within a
family relationship? How can a divorce influence the children? Should
parents consider their kids as the major factor to prevent the break?
21. Traditionalism and novelty in family roles throughout the western world
and in Russia. Men and women: opposition or a unity? Your views upon the
problem of working mothers and low birth rates.
22. Family matters: Career vs. Family. What are the tendencies in the
contemporary world? What would you prefer yourself? What is a model of a
successful career for you?
23. Old age problems and their solving. What are your expectations of the
old age? Will you prefer the joys of retirement or work till death gets you?
How do your elderly relatives cope with the difficulties of their age? Homes
for elderly people or family circle. What is more human? Are elderly
relatives a burden or…?
24. Generation Gap: What is it? Is there such a notion at all? What do you
think might be the root of the phenomenon? What are the viewpoints upon this
problem? Have you ever experienced it? What can you recommend a teenager who
is experiencing the lack of understanding from his parents’ part?
25. Marriage: What is a “good match”? Your views upon the possibilities of
international marriages. Wedding Ceremonies in Europe and Russia, your idea
of a perfect wedding ceremony for you.