Научная электронная библиотека

Монографии, изданные в издательстве Российской Академии Естествознания

АДАПТИРОВАННЫЙ ПРАКТИКО-ОРИЕНТИРОВАННЫЙ КУРС АНГЛИЙСКОГО ЯЗЫКА ДЛЯ СТУДЕНТОВ 1 КУРСА ВЫСШИХ УЧЕБНЫХ ЗАВЕДЕНИЙ ИНФОРМАЦИОННО-ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО ПРОФИЛЯ, ОБУЧАЮЩИХСЯ ПО ЗАОЧНОЙ ФОРМЕ

Жаравина И А,

Unit 3. Internet in academic study. Does it have any drawbacks?

The Internet is a network of millions of computers around the world, connected by phone lines, satellite, cable or Wi-Fi20 technologies, so that all the computers on the net can exchange information with each other.

The Internet is without doubt one of the most important inventions in history. It was started in 1968 by the US government, but at first it was used mainly by scientists. It took many years for the Internet to become popular around the world. Since 1990, when the World Wide Web was created, the Internet has changed the world, and its uses are growing every day. Actually, there is difference between the Web and the Internet. While the Web is a huge collection of pages stored on computers all over the world, the Internet is the network that connects all the computers.

The main use of the Internet is to find information – for your schoolwork or job, or just to find out more about hobbies, sports or current events. All of the latest information is available to you, in your home, in many public places, at any hour of the day or night. Also on-line shopping makes it possible to search through catalogues to find exactly what you want at the best price, saving both time and money. By joining a newsgroup21 or chat group, you can share your hobbies and special interests, and perhaps make friends all over the world. E-mail makes it possible to send electronic messages anywhere in the world in seconds. Moreover, using the Internet you can play games; download photographs, music and video.

The Internet has also revolutionized the way of teaching and learning. University lecturers are now able to put their lectures on the Internet for students to read and so the importance of attending face to face lectures has been reduced. Moreover, the use of the Internet for posting lectures can also minimize the use of paper and photocopy machines, thus preserving energy and wood.

But is everything so good?

First, the level of lecturer/student contact may be decreased simply because students do not need to spend so much time at the university. This can lead to the negative impact on student/lecturer relationships.

Second, we have to consider the disadvantages of learning through the net to students health. Studying is by nature a very sedentary activity22 involving long hours reading books and writing assignments23. Learning on-line can enlarge existing skeletal and vision problems.

In addition, these above mentioned activities are usually done alone. Going to the university24 offers students a change of scenery25, a bit of exercise26, and an opportunity to meet and socialize with other students.

Furthermore, when you are self-educating, when the Internet is used as a source of information, it can create additional problems. Some data can be unverifiable27. For example, every time you search for data, there would be lots of choices28 that appear on the screen. You would not be sure29 if the data you are reading has accurate information30. A few sources have even outdated information.

And finally, not everything is available through the net, for example some special information. If you try to search for this kind of information, you can’t find any results. It would only be available in the library.

It is necessary to note that the Internet provides an array of opportunities for students to cheat31, whether intentionally or not. They say cheating and Internet plagiarism are on the rise. Many students believe that they do not need to cite information found on the internet as it is public knowledge. Students tend to overlook the boundaries between what they actually produce and what they cut and paste because copying text from the Internet is so easy.

Notes to the text:

20. Wi-Fi –Wireless Fidelity – дословно переводится как «беспроводное качество» или «беспроводная точность»;

21. by joining a newsgroup – присоединяясь к группе новостей;

22. sedentary activity – пассивное занятие;

23. writing assignments – выполнение заданий в письменной форме;

24. going to the university – посещение университета;

25. a change of scenery – смена обстановки;

26. a bit of exercise – незначительная физическая нагрузка;

27. unverifiable data – неподдающиеся проверке данные;

28. there would be lots of choices – наверняка, есть много выбора (В данном контексте would выражает предположение (уверенность) в чём-либо);

29. you would not be sure – вы, скорее всего, не уверены… (Аналогичный предыдущему случай употребления глагола would);

30. accurate information – точная информация;

31. cheat – мошенничать.

Tasks for the text:

1. Put the necessary word into the sentence:

1) Computers on the net can … information with each other.

2) University lecturers … put their lectures on the Internet for students to read.

3) Some data on the Internet can be ...

4) The Internet is one of the most important … in history.

5) Using the Internet you can … your hobbies and special interests.

6) Not everything is … through the net.

7) The importance of attending face to face lectures has been … because of the Internet.

8) Every time you search for data, there would be lots of … that appear on the screen.

2. Complete the sentences using words from the text or words with the appropriate meaning:

1) The main use of the Internet is …

2) Going to the university offers students …

3) When you are self-educating computer can create …

4) On-line shopping makes it possible …

5) The level of lecturer/student contact may be decreased because …

6) Using the Internet you can …

7) The Internet has also revolutionized …

8) The Internet was started in 1968 by the US government, but at first …

3. Match the questions with their replies:

4. Match the words from the text with their definitions:

5. Summarize the information about the use of the Internet. Represent it in the form of a diagram (scheme).

6. Listen to the song by John the Whistler “ Wild Wild Web” on the net or from the attachment to this folder called “Audio practice” and complete this table using words from the song:

7. Write a short report about prospects of improving work at your company using the Internet. Express the possibility with the help of modal verbs or adverbs of probability (perhaps, maybe, possible, doubtless, certainly, probably, likely etc.).

Ex: It will help us doing work more accurate. = It will certainly help us doing work more accurate.

Start with:

Ladies and gentlemen!

The Internet has changed the way we are living. There are lots of prospects to use it at our work…