Education and future profession
    - What are you going to do after finishing secondary school?
    - After finishing secondary school I shall go on to further education. I shall become an applicant for entry. And as all applicants for entry I shall take competitive examinations. The entrance examinations I am reading for are held in July. I hope to pass them successfully.
    - What are your friends going to do after finishing secondary school?
    - Alice wants to become a professional pianist. But first, she is going to spend a year learning French. Peter's dream is to train as a pilot.
    - What are your career prospects?
    - Today a school-leaver can choose any career he or she likes. A school-leaver can become a journalist, a dentist, a surgeon, a designer, an economist, a manager and the like. I feel that things that will happen in my life will be wonderful. I think my classmates have the same feeling too. I hope that I'll be what I want to be.
    - Where do you want to study?
    - I want to study at Moscow State University named after Michael Lomonosov.
    - What do you know about this University?
    - Moscow State University is the largest university of Russia. It was founded in 1755. At that time there were only three faculties there.
    - Who initiated the foundation of the University?
    - The foundation of Moscow University was inspired by the radical philosophical and political views of Michael Lomonosov. The University was established by the order of Elizabeth, the Russian Empress. In the late 18th century Moscow University became the centre of advanced Russian science and social thought.
    - What makes Moscow State University known world-wide?
    - Moscow State University is known world-wide for its academic excellence. Today it is one of the best universities in the world. Here students can learn skills which fit them for a better career. Moscow State University reputation stays with its graduates - and their achievements in turn glorify it.
    - What faculty are you going to study at?
    - At first I wanted to become a biologist and study at the Biology Faculty. Until recently I had an idea that my interests lie in biology. I am fond of the recent discoveries in biology, especially in the field of cloning. The achievements of the past decades are startling. They have surpassed the most challenging dreams of the fantastic writers. But recently I have changed my mind. I want to be a historian.
    - Is it your own choice?
    - Of course, this is my own choice. But I want to say that it is not easy or simple to decide what career to choose. As is known the success or failure of adult life depends upon the choice made early in life. It should be said that I've discussed this problem with my parents and teachers. We also have spoken a lot with my friends about our career prospects.
    - Why have you chosen history as your future speciality?
    - I have chosen History as my future profession because I like it. Historians have tried to understand past human lives and societies. All serious historians have been engaged in collecting and recording historical facts. History gives not only an immense base of historical facts but it helps to understand the global historical processes. It gives historians an opportunity to interpret the processes of the past, explain the processes of the present and foresee the processes of the future. Historians respect facts, they try to avoid errors, and create their convincing interpretation.
    - What do you know about the system of higher education in Russia?
    - The Russian educational policy is a combination of economic and social objectives. In the terms of the ration of students to the total population Russia ranks among the top ten countries in the world. There are a lot universities and colleges in Russia. They teach almost in all subject areas: Arts, Sciences, Law, Engineering, etc. The staff are knowledgeable in their subjects. Higher educational institutions are headed by Rectors. Vice-rectors are in charge of the academic and scientific work. The Departments are headed by the Deans. There are subdivisions within Departments. Higher educational institutions train undergraduates and postgraduate students in one specialization. Usually after completing five years of study students receive a university degree. For five years at the end of each year students have oral examinations. Moreover, they write a graduate paper for a university degree. They write dissertations for advanced degrees. After three years of post-graduate work and the writing of the dissertation it is possible to obtain a candidate degree.
    - Is higher education compulsory in Russia?
    - Higher education is not compulsory in Russia. School is compulsory and free for all. If applicants for entry pass their entrance exams successfully they are admitted to the University free of charge, otherwise they must pay a tuition fee. Institutions of higher education include: technical training colleges, teachers training colleges, universities which offer bachelor's and master's degrees programmes.
    - What can you say about school education in Russia?
    - Russian children start school at the age of six. But most of them have learnt letters in kindergarten which is now part of primary school. Primary and secondary schools consist of eleven years of classes which meet for about nine months a year, five days a week and five hours a day. ............