Lekcja 13: The choice is Yours!

According to the World Catalogue of Universities in Europe there are 3.988 universities

- the number one university is: University of Cambridge ( which is 21st in the World)

- in second place: University of Oxford (which is 40th in the world)

- in third place: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (which is 41st in the World)

- in 186th place: Warsaw University of Technology (which is 439th in the World)

If you had the choice of where to study, would you choose a Polish university or maybe Cambridge? What motivating factors would influence your choice?

European universities differ from each other on many levels. In Poland we have a traditional model of large public universities that offer classic degrees. Students don’t need to pay tuition as they are directly funded by the government. But as a result, the government can wield influence over the school. Needless to say, tuition has stopped being the main criteria for choosing a university. Polish students being given the opportunity to study anywhere in Europe look at other factors, such as prestige.

In 2006 Tony Blair arrived in Poland encouraging young Poles to study in the UK. Recent statistics showed a 1000 percent increase, in the last three years, in the number of Polish students applying to British universities. In 2005/6 there were 1483 applications, 78 percent higher than in the years 2004/5. That is why the British government’s plan is to attract 100 000 foreign students in the next five years, its goal, to become the world leader in education.

From comments on websites and private conversations Polish students are of two minds about staying or studying abroad. Polish universities are under-funded and students receive little help as grants and scholarships are low. What may seem attractive in foreign universities is being given the choice of how and when to study. We give you the tools and hands-on experience you make use of it as you see fit. The choice is yours.

Vocabulary

Word-of-the-week

Application – an official request for something (podanie, próba)Derivatives and expression:

To apply – to request something, usually officially (zgłaszać się)

Apply yourself – to work hard at something (przykładać się do czegoś)

Applicant – the person applying for the job (osoba zgłaszająca się)

Examples:

1. If you apply yourself, you will pass the test with flying colours.

2. I applied for the job, but was refused.

3. The company was surprised it received so many applications.

4. There were 6 applicants applying for the same position.

Glossary:

differ – to be not like someone or something else (różnić się)

tuition – the money you pay for college or university (opłata za naukę)

funded – to provide the money for something (finansować)

wield influence – to use influence or power over other people (mieć wpływ, kontrolę)

prestige – respect (prestiż)

are of two minds – not being able to decide which option is the best (mieć wątpliwości)

scholarships – an amount of money given by the school to pay for studies to a person of great abilities (stypendium)

Practice makes perfect

Complete the gaps with words from the text

1. He was awarded a …………………… for his excellent grades.

2. The company decided to ……………….. the hospital for the next few years.

3. I’m …………………. about flying to Paris or New York for the New Year celebrations.

4. Our English courses don’t ………………… that much. Except I pay a lot less than you do.

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