[originaltext]I: Good morning everyone. Today we are very glad to have Professo

I: Good morning everyone. Today we are very glad to have Professor Michael Stevenson, an official from the British Council. He is going to talk with us about educational system at the tertiary level in UK. Well, Professor.
S: Hello. Nice to meet you all.
I: Professor Stevenson, we all know that British universities accept students from all over the world. What precautions should overseas students take while studying there?
S: Well, they should first adapt themselves to the educational environment in Britain. Students from Asian countries, especially, are used to passive learning in their own countries. But here, we want active learning.
I: What is the main difference between them?
S: By active learning, I mean students should take an active role in professors’ lectures by imposing and answering questions. They need also be talkative in discussion sessions and seminars. Of course, their homework should be based a lot on their research into reference material. By comparison, students from Asian countries are not indulgent enough during class time. They are good listeners, though. Professors do not only want them to listen and remember, but participate and contribute, too.
I: I see. This may be due to their study habit in their own countries. Besides, Asian people are usually very reserved.
S: So this may be a big obstacle to their study in British universities. It is often difficult for them to get good marks in courses, let alone achieve awards smoothly.
I: Awards? What awards?
S: British universities offer their students awards at various degrees and diplomas for their satisfactory completion of course work and examination.
I: That means they have successfully completed their university education?
S: Yes. The two best known examples are the BA (or Bachelor of Arts) and BSc (or Bachelor of Science) at undergraduate level. These are sometimes also called "first degree".
I: Why are they called "first degree"?
S: Because they are the first award that a student is likely to be given by the university. There are over 5,000 degree subjects and combinations of subjects offered at universities throughout Britain. Bachelor level degrees are normally given at the end of three or four years’ course work. Some universities offer four-year courses especially for students from overseas. The four years are made up of one preparatory year plus three years of degree courses.
I: So overseas students needn’t worry about their low English proficiency. They can always make up for it during the preparatory year.
S: Exactly. Besides English, they are also given other academic courses to help them lay a solid foundation for further study.
I: Is it the same for all kinds of degrees?
S: No. Courses leading to degrees in medicine, dentistry and architecture can take from 3 to 7 years. Diplomas are included in this category because they too meet the criteria I have laid down before. That is to say, they are also awarded on the satisfactory completion of course work and examination. Diploma courses normally only last for one year.
1. Which one is NOT the suggestion for Asian students according to the professor?
2. What is the main topic of this interview?
3. Why are BA (or Bachelor of Arts) and BSc (or Bachelor of Science) called "first degree"?
4. Which can help overseas students improve their English proficiency?
5. How many years do diploma courses normally last for?