Task. Read and translate the text

I have studied in the 12th grade of an American school after graduating from ours. Now I would like to tell you what things are good in American education. The American system of education differs from ours in its freedom and personal approach. The structure is more open than the post-Soviet one. There are electives - subjects one can choose freely for the semester. They make up only part of the total number; there are required courses also. This gives a student the necessary amount of freedom - to decide for himself the subjects he wants to take; the freedom our students lack so much and need so badly.

The personal approach to each student, to my mind, is another element we need. That is not to say that our teachers and professors do not spend time with students, also not that Americans are more altruistic teachers. Nevertheless, American professors take their job as a teacher more seriously; they are serious, honest teachers, taking their work as a duty. Unfortunately, our teacher usually takes their jobs as a means to subsistence in our tough life. There are "true" teachers left, but... There is this "but"....

American teachers value the student's viewpoint as his/her essential right - "an inalienable right". It is the right to express their thoughts, to fulfill their potential, to feel themselves equal to the teacher - not in age or experience, but in mental capabilities. There is a respect for the personality in their attitude to students. Our teachers value obligation, discipline, "the rule of law", if you like. True, American students are very free in the classroom, even during the class. The professors are open to the student's opinions and students are free to debate, to discuss, to criticize, not the teacher, but his ideas. Our teachers hold back all controversial, opinions, all discussion; there is no such thing as "critical thinking". They think that if a student criticizes -he dislikes his teachers. Our students are to take the teacher's word as "the truth, the only truth".

The kind of activities students do is, also, an interesting point of contrast. In the American system students learn to express their own opinions, to argue the points, to use their imagination and senses. Our system teaches us to learn by heart, to interpret, to explain, to know the dogmas, the rules, somebody else's words and opinions; but not to build up our own. This is unfortunate for us, for I am sure one can learn only when he or she develops his or her own vision of the world, and integrates his or her self into the world's structure with its natural laws. Of course, without knowing pure theory, one cannot know reality. But playing, debating, exchanging opinions, changing roles, etc. as a part of the American teaching process, helps students better understand the laws the world is running by. Our post-Soviet teachers produce an idealistic generation; or rather they did. Nowadays American teaching methods are breaking through this post-Soviet thinking and system of values.

As for "critical thinking", this "do not believe what is written unless it is proven" idea is extremely useful. It makes children think, makes them scrupulous and pragmatic. I myself remember how hard it was to grasp this idea – “do not believe it”; how opposed we all were when the American professor brought it to us. But now every time I read a newspaper and meet a sweeping generalization or mistaken fact taken for the truth, I wonder at how our post-Soviet mentality is still deep within us. Maybe it is fundamental in our education and all Soviet faults will remain forever? Probably since we are so intelligent, we will acquire this new approach from the US. For all new is not necessarily bad. It can be extremely good.

approach – подход

opposed - противиться

electives – факультативы

sweeping generalization - огульное утверждение

total – основной

lack – недостаток

duty – обязанность

subsistence – существование

viewpoint – точка зрения

inalienable – неотъемлемый

thoughts – мысли

fulfill – осуществлять