13 TRAVELLING

Travelling is very popular in the 20th century and that is why it is so common. People all around the world travel for various reasons: One of them is tourism - especially during holidays. Others travel for scientific purpose. Even smuggling is not unusual. Many people like traveling because it is exciting.

On the other hand travelling has some disadvantages - it may be dangerous: we can meet bad people, we can get lost, be murdured or our money may be stolen.

There are many means of transport to choose from. Young people like hitchhiking (stopem) or just hiking (jít pěšky na tůru). Some people prefer going by car, by air, by train, by bus on a motorcycle or riding a motorbike. In London we can travel by a double-decker.

When going abroad we must get necessary documents: first of all a valid passport and a visa. We must change money to hard currency in a bank or at an exchange office. When we fly, we must get air tickets. Most people all around the world speak English and in some countries in Europe German. Travelling does not mean only going abroad but also seeing interesting places in our country or commuting (dojíždění) to work or to school.

We can get our trips reserved through travel agencies, they usually help with accomodation (ubytování) as well. We can arrange varous kinds of trips e.g.: cultural trips, recreation stays. 

For travelling we can use many kinds of luggage (druhy zavazadel) according to the kind of trip. We use backpack (krosna) for a longer journeys. We use a rucksack when going for a walk or to school. We use a suitcase when we go by a coach or plane.

I prefer riding my bicycle because it is the cheapest and it does not spoil nature.

1. Which types of travelling do you know?- I know travelling especially during holiday (recreation) and travel for scientific purposes (bussiness).
2. Give various reasons for traveling, why people travel so much?- People travel so much because it is exciting, they can see new place and meet new people and friends.
3. What are the advatages and disadvantages of travelling?- The travelling may be dangerous: we can meet bad people, we can get lost, be murdured or our money may be stolen.
4. Which means of transport do you know?
- Young people like hitchhiking, some prefer going by car, by train, by bus and on a motorcycle. They can fly by air or they can use a ship.
5. What must you arrange when going aboard?- I must arrange a valid passport and a visa. When going by train I must buy tickets and when I fly I must get air tickets. I must change money to hard currency in a bank.
6. Why is it so important to know foreign language when going abroad?- Because I want to understand what the other say me.
7. Why are the travel agencies and what can they arrange for us?- They can reserved us trips, tickets and accommodation.
8. Why do so many foreign come to our country?- Because they want to see beautiful natur, chultural and historic monumetns and first of all see to Prague.
9. Which types of luggage do you know?- We use a knapsack for a longer sports journey, we use a rucksack when going for a walk or to school and we use a suitcase when we by a coach.

7 THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION (THE UK and THE CR)

School attendance in the Czech republic is compulsory from the age from six to fifteen.Most children attend state school, but there are also newly established private and church schools.Education at state schools up to twenty-six is free of charge, but students at secondary schools must pay for their textbooks.Private and church schools charge school fees. Students do not wear uniforms. The school year starts on 1st September and ends on 30th June of the following year.

The school year is divided into two terms (dvě období/pololetí). The average number of lessons at a secondary school is around thirty a week, primary schools have fewer lessons of course.Classes usualy begin between eight and eight-fifteen.There are usually six lessons in a row (za sebou, v řadě) followed by a lunch break and then afternoon lessons.Breaks between lessons last from five to twenty minutes.

Pupils and students are evaluated (jsou hodnocení) by marks from 1 to 5, 1 is the best, 5 is the worst.Each term they get school report (vysvědčení) with marks of each subject.

Some of us went to creches (jesle) (for children up to 3 years) and some went to nursery school (mateřská škola) (for children aged 3 to 6).At 6 they start to go to primary schools and they stay there until 15.At the age of 15 pupils transfer from primary to secondary school.There is another way.Pupil can transfer to grammar school at the age of 11 after they have passed an entrance exam.

At the age of 15 pupils can choose among variety of secondary schools :a) grammar schools (gymnázia) with general and rather academic education with prepare students for university study
b) special schools (odborné školy) which include technical colleges, specialized in building, chemistry, engeneering etc., bussines academies, agricultural schools, nursering schools, music and art schools which offer professional education
c) vocational schools training would-be workers for practical jobs (učňovské obory)

 

Secondary educationSecondary education usually lasts 4 years and at grammar and specialized schools it is finished with a school-leaving exam(maturita), which is required by all universites and colleges.This exam is taken in four subjects.It's different on each school.The exam is held in May and is mostly verbal except Czech and English in which an essays/letters are writen about a month before.The verbal part of the exam takes about two hours, half an hour for each subject.A student chooses one of 25 to 30 topics by drawing a number and after 15 minutes preparation he (or she) speaks on the topic and solves given tasks.If they are succesfull they get School-Leaving Certificate.Now they can apply for study at universities and colleges.

UniversitiesUniversities and colleges provide THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF education which lasts from 4 to 6 years. STUDENTS USUALLY HAVE TO PASS AN ENTRANCE EXAM. Our oldest university is the Charles University in Prague and it's also most famous university in our country, but it's renowned also around Europe. Other notable universities are the MASARYK University in Brno, PALACKY University in Olomouc and PURKYNĚ University in Ústí nad Labem. Prague has also one of two technical universities (ČVUT)in our country, the other one is in Brno.

Ungraduates can study a variety of subjects such as economics, foreign trade, architecture, law, jurnalism, medicine, engeneering etc.

The university college students can enroll at three-year courses for a Bachelor's Degree or four and five-year courses for Master's Degree. You finish the school with DIPLOMA THESIS(diplomka). Medicine usually takes 6 years. Doctoral Degrees are awarded after another few years of study, which may be also individual, and completion of another thesis.

Full time university students are expected to bear the expence of their tuition and they must also pay for their accomodation and board.The students from distant places usually lodge at a hall of residence (dormitory / dorm).Only a limited number of students get a grant or a scholarship.



UK Education System

The education system in the UK is divided into four main parts, primary education, secondary education, further education and higher education. Children in the UK have to legally attend primary and secondary education which runs from about 5 years old until the student is 16 years old.

The education system in the UK is also split into "key stages" which breaks down as follows:
1. Key Stage 1 - 5 to 7 years old
2. Key Stage 2 - 7 to 11 years old
3. Key Stage 3 - 11 to 14 years old
4. Key Stage 4 - 14 to 16 years old

Generally key stages 1 and 2 will be undertaken at primary school and at 11 years old a student will move onto secondary school and finish key stages 3 and 4.
Students are TESTED at the end of each stage. The most important assessment occurs at age 16 when students pursue their GCSE's or General Certificate of Secondary Education.Once students complete their GCSE's they have the choice to go onto further education and then potential higher education, or finish school and go into the working world. AFTER 2 more years of study THEY HAVE possibility to get in the University (OXFORD, CAMBRIDGE) THIS IS FINISHED BY THE ´A LEVELS ´

UNIVERSITIES:
3 YEARS TO BE A BACHELOR
5 YEARS TO BE A MASTER