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buildings with outstretched arms on both sides. Or you may live in a Spanish village where the remains of an entire castle lie. Perhaps you’ll find yourself in Sweden living in a walled city dating back to medieval days, or that your homestay town in Germany includes a “living castle,” an actual private residence still being used today. These are the sorts of discoveries you will make as you learn firsthand about what you have only studied in the classroom until now.

You’ll also find that the school systems are among the best in the world, and that the teenagers are much the same as they are at home. They work hard at their studies, play sports, love parties and cinema, and pursue hobbies just like you. A few will become your friends for life.

The best way to truly become involved in the culture of a foreign

sider it a privilege to welcome students like you into their home. Host fam-

country is to live among its people as a member of a family. Every exchange student does just that. Host families areИcarefully screened and con-

ilies feel they benefit from the experienceДas much as you do! They want to

learn about your culture and introduce you to theirs. Many families have children your age, and you may find that a family member speaks English, even if it’s only a little.

While someone in your host family may speak your language, you’ll

you’ll express yourself; howбyou’ll communicate with store clerks, teach-

quickly realize that it’s not of much concern. In fact, you’ll probably find

ers, classmates and your host family. Even if you’ve studied a foreign language in school, you won’t feel ready to live in that language. But when you’re surrounded by that language from morning till night, you learn the fastest way possible. It’s like a month of classes in a single day!

http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/org82983.jsp

39. Is it true or false?

1.Universities, corporations and professionals, look unfavourably on students who have spent a school year abroad.

2.If you become an exchange student abroad, you will learn, learn and learn.

3.Tourists have much more opportunities than exchange students.

4.Teenagers all over the world are the same.

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5.Host families want to learn about your culture and introduce you to theirs.

6.The fastest way to learn a foreign language is to live abroad.

40.Be ready to tell about advantages of being an exchange student. You may use the plan from ex. 38 for your answer. All the other students have to prepare at least one question concerning this problem. Try to answer them.

41.Scan the text. Who is an au-pair? What is she responsible for? Would you like you/your sibling to be an exchange student, au-pair or just a tourist in Britain? Why?

The au-pair in Britain

knowledge is to come to Britain for a year as an au-pair girl. It certainly

girls entering English homes as au-pair girls.

One of the ways open to a girl studentИto improve her linguistic

seems to be a very popular method, forДevery year sees more and more

Fifty five years ago it was generally understood in Britain that the term “au pair” was only used to describe a girl who came here to perfect her linguistic or professional knowledge; lived as a member of an English family; and the family provided her with “pocket money”. She was not

more than would normally beбexpected of a teenage daughter of an average middle-class – particularly professional-class – English family.

Au-pair girls come mainly from Europe, although increasing numbers are arriving from Asia and South America.

42. Read the following article about GermanRussian relations and write out the events happened in the years pointed out:

1992

2003

October 2005

April 2005

2004/2005

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The cultural cooperation agreement between the governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Russian Federation, which was signed on 16 December 1992, forms a contractual basis for cultural relations between the two countries.

With their extensive two-year programme, the 2003/2004 GermanRussian cultural exchanges under the patronage of the two countries’ presidents made an important and innovative contribution to deepening the relations between German and Russian society and has resulted in many ongoing contacts.

In foreign language teaching, German, though losing ground, occupies second place behind English. An intergovernmental agreement on learning the partner country’s language was concluded in 2003. There are currently some 12,000 young Russians studying at German universities. The agreement on cooperation in youth policy, which entered into force in October 2005 and is implemented through national coordination offices in

Research and Innovation aimed atАstepping up bilateral cooperation in the education sector, particularly in training specialist and executive personnel.

The Goethe Institute is activeбin many parts of Russia, above all in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where it has its own offices. Numerous other Ger-

applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) is convincing more and more “highpotentials” from all over the world. Almost 250,000 foreign students are currently registered at German universities – nearly 100,000 students more than 10 years ago. In the 2004/2005 academic year alone, the number of US citizens studying in Germany rose by 10%. A German university place is especially popular with students from China, Bulgaria, Poland and Russia.

www.magazine-deutschland.de

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43. Read the text again to find out:

1. What is the main idea of the article?

2. How many Russian students are currently enrolled at German Universities?

3. What are the signed declarations aimed at?

4. Is there the Goethe Institute in your city? Have you or your friends been there?

5. Do you have friends studying in Germany?

44. Work in two teams. One team will represent a German university, the other one will stand for a Russian university. Try to attract foreign

bachelor’s and master’s degrees by 3) … . Almost half of all the study programmes at German institutions of higher education have already been restructured. As a result, students’ 4) … can be more easily compared with those from other countries. The universities themselves are also taking up the 5) … challenge. The Federal Government and the individual Länder are making available 1.9 billion euros for the current Initiative for Excellence. This money will be used to support 6) … for young researchers, excellence clusters for 7) … research and the research profiles of up to ten selected elite universities.

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46. What do you know about DAAD?

Look at the chart below and say what DAAD programmes are aimed at.

DAAD

(The German Academic Exchange Service)

The great number and variety of DAAD programmes can be arranged into five strategic goals:

Which programme would you choose? Why?

47. Look at the map below (pic.24) and say what countries and cities have regional offices and information centres of DAAD? What cities have you been to?

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