University Oxford Blog

This article is devoted to the story of Daniel Howe, a person who has graduated Oxford University 35 years ago. Today he tries to remember the list of courses he had in the university which were connected with Unites States and the history of this country. According to his words, there were no courses on American culture and literature and the only course he had remembered was devoted to small fragment of the American history – Secession and Slavery, 1862 and 1850. These courses were taught in the university since 1924.

But nowadays British students know more about American culture and history. It especially refers to pop culture through television, movies and music groups. Such situation became possible because of globalization and positioning of the USA as dominant superpower in the world. Besides, nowadays Oxford University attracts more and more students from US each year. To coordinate the demand and supply the Oxford University administration established Oxford Institute for American Studies. This educational institution studies, researches and teaches the American culture, history, politics and government. The director of this institute is Mr. Howe, professor of American history.

Today the main aim of the professor is to make American history and culture interesting for British students. According to his words, there are many students nowadays who study different stages of American history in the university and some students are especially interested in this subject and they study American history in the comparison and conjunction with history of Britain. The university is very profitable, as tuition fee is quite high and demand on such knowledge is high also.

The university is well equipped and it has huge library with collection of 150.000 volumes. All the books were delivered from America. The students are especially interested in the modern history of USA and history of slavery.

Oxford is one of the largest, oldest and the most famous universities in the Europe. It consists of 39 colleges. One of these colleges, Warnborough College in England has hundreds of high –school seniors from USA.

The Attorney General’s office of Washington State confirms that Warnborough College of Oxford University created a recruiting campaign, which has an aim to protect high reputation of their educational institution and ignore applications of the students from United States of America. To distribute such information among the people the administration of The Oxford university published special brochure which was called “The Oxford Programs at Warnborough College” and CD with description of the Oxford University college system.

Those students who come from USA have restriction of rights. Usually Oxford students study in huge stone buildings, have many ancient traditions in the clothes, educational methods, decoration of dorms and even in meal. But the building for American students was very small and comfortless; they had restricted primitive equipment, two building college and one room library. The teachers were not the best and administrative staff had poor experience. Those students who had contacts with other British students had penalties and very high level of tuition fee – up to $ 21 000.

There was a stereotype that USA is positioned as dominant power and because of it many countries had disrespectful attitude to US. But the story about American students in the Oxford College was connected also with those American yahoos who bought fake titles and castles in Britain. Joseph Houghton, president of American College in London was shocked about the politics of the Oxford administration concerning American students and he offered place for all American students which were misled. He gave an exclusive interview to The Times of London and confirmed that he will make all possible to change the situation in this educational institution.

Nowadays scholarship and grants programs are very popular. There are many reasons of it. Many people have a desire to obtain university degree, but tuition fee is very high in the educational institutions. In the same time colleges and universities try to attract many talented and smart students. Usually the providers of the grants and scholarships for student are government agencies or private funds and companies. The foundation of Bill Gates provides many grants and scholarships for the students from different countries. Today the foundation considers the request of Cambridge University. The administration of the university asks for grants and scholarships for sum of $200 million to provide education of 230 foreign students each year.

Bill Gates understands the aims of the Cambridge and he confirms the educational institution became British Silicon Valley. The Cambridge University is famous because of its researches and development of technologies. Mr. Gates invests into development of the University each year. For example, he gave about $ 19 million for establishment of the computer laboratory in the university.

But there are several other educational institutions which also claim to the investments of the Bill Gates Foundation. These universities are Oxford and Harvard.

But the discussion of his negotiations has become mired in a case that involves Cambridge’s rival, Oxford, and that forms a mirror-image of what Mr. Gates is being asked to pay for. Political and academic luminaries around Britain have been seething over the story of a young Briton who found the doors of Oxford closed to her and ended up instead with a $100,000 scholarship to Harvard. So these three universities always compete for the scholarships and grants. Besides, they compete for better students and educational programs. Because of it there are many scandals around the competition process. It makes the educational process more compacted and corrupt the reputation of the educational institutions in the academic world.

Oxford University holds each year a summer program for people. The participants live in the dorms of the university campus, eat traditional English meal, visit famous sights of seeing and take part in the traditional English activities. The University of Oxford consists of 39 colleges, but the summer program is holding each year in the Christ Church of the Oxford University. The program was establishes in 1990 and is very popular nowadays among the people. The age of the participants is from 22 to 95 and all people are different: they have different interests, native cities, professions, citizenships and nationalities. People from 25 countries can take part in this summer program. The program consists of 50 one – week seminars. The participation is quite expensive: one week fee is about $ 1000. The students study very interesting subjects, such as Tolkien, Cotswolds, British gardens, medieval monasteries, philosophy, film, etc. The teachers are usually from the Oxford University and have wide experience in the chosen field. The students live in the rooms which are decorated according to the British style. The students like the program very much and some of them participate several times.

There are many traditional which refer to the University of Oxford. Teachers tell the students many legends and interesting stories about the facts from the history and about famous students of the university. Besides, the students participate in different traditional events and activities. The meal and clothes are also traditional.

The last day of the summer program is full of farewell traditions. At the Cathedral Garden the students have farewell dinner with speeches, port, wines, iced Grand Marnier soufflé and roast guinea fowl. After dinner they have drinks at pub Head of the Water.

Those people who have a desire to participate in this summer program have to visit website of the University www.conted.ox.ac.uk/international-programmes/OxfordExperience.htm and receive their all essential information and application form.

Oxford University is famous for its legends and traditions. One of the most popular traditions is the summer programs for people from 25 countries. The Program is hold in the Christ Church of the Oxford University during 6 weeks. Tuition fee for one week is about $ 1000. All people in the age from 22 to 95 years can participate in the program. The students live in the university dorms which are decorated in the British style, eat traditional English food, visit interesting places and study the chosen courses.

There are many traditions which refer to the manners and language. The Christ Church is well known as House. Cambridge is called ”the other place.” The guests can give up their meal until the host gives a permission to do it. Besides, the students have to pay attention on their clothes. Men have to wear Christ Church golf shirt, tie and a cap.

The schedule consists of different activities during the day: three meals, several hours of classes and entertainment activities.

The rooms are usually contemporary and big and are decorated in interesting style with sofas, chairs, fireplace, colorful carpets and fabrics.

The meal during the day is a ritual and tradition. The room for meal is huge with high ceiling and paneled wood walls. Tables are decorated with fresh flowers and beautiful lamps. The food is traditional and tasty. All the students must observe etiquette.

Every day the students have different interesting excursions. They visit gardens, libraries, cathedrals, restaurants, etc. besides; the tutors always tell the students legends of the Oxford University and stories about famous students and teachers.

One of the most famous and interesting events for the summer students is the whiskey tasting in the Ante Hall. The students also have an instructor, which teach them to drink whiskey in the proper way.

Oxford University holds each year a summer program for people. The participants live in the dorms of the university campus, eat traditional English meal, visit famous sights of seeing and take part in the traditional English activities. The University of Oxford consists of 39 colleges, but the summer program is holding each year in the Christ Church of the Oxford University. The program was establishes in 1990 and is very popular nowadays among the people. The age of the participants is from 22 to 95 and all people are different: they have different interests, native cities, professions, citizenships and nationalities. People from 25 countries can take part in this summer program. The program consists of 50 one – week seminars. The participation is quite expensive: one week fee is about $ 1000. The students study very interesting subjects, such as Tolkien, Cotswolds, British gardens, medieval monasteries, philosophy, film, etc. The teachers are usually from the Oxford University and have wide experience in the chosen field. The students live in the rooms which are decorated according to the British style. The students like the program very much and some of them participate several times.

Christ church, where the summer program is held, is itself the living museum of the university and its landmark. It was built in 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey and renewed in 1546 by King Henry VIII. At these times the Church was a combination of cathedral and college. Besides, the Christ Church is famous for its students, such as British Prime Minister, Charles Dodgson, which is well known as Lewis Carroll, an author of ”Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”. He was a student of the Oxford University and lecturer in mathematics. Alice is the daughter of the author and she was born there.

There are many interesting facts about the Church and walk around the cathedral is an impressive cultural experience. Some parts of the film about Harry Potter were filmed there. Besides, the Church is famous for its huge bell in the tower and a statue of Mercury, which is the largest in the Oxford.

Oxford University holds each year a summer program for people. The participants live in the dorms of the university campus, eat traditional English meal, visit famous sights of seeing and take part in the traditional English activities. The University of Oxford consists of 39 colleges, but the summer program is holding each year in the Christ Church of the Oxford University. The program was establishes in 1990 and is very popular nowadays among the people. The age of the participants is from 22 to 95 and all people are different: they have different interests, native cities, professions, citizenships and nationalities. People from 25 countries can take part in this summer program. The program consists of 50 one – week seminars. The participation is quite expensive: one week fee is about $ 1000. The students study very interesting subjects, such as Tolkien, Cotswolds, British gardens, medieval monasteries, philosophy, film, etc. The teachers are usually from the Oxford University and have wide experience in the chosen field. The students live in the rooms which are decorated according to the British style. The students like the program very much and some of them participate several times.

Those people who have a desire to participate in the program have to fill in and to send an application from by the mid-May. In the application form the students have to determinate the dates of the desirable participation and the chosen seminars. Majority of people are interested in the courses connected with arts and painting. The students have much practice and receive all essential tools in the university: scissors, glue stick, knives, thread, needles, etc. Every day the students have interesting excursions and those people who have chosen art course visit Oxford gallery and discuss paintings of the famous authors. The tutors usually are very creative and talented and they try to teach their students as much as possible.

There is a famous tradition in Oxford University. According to this tradition each year more thousands of young women and men from 25 countries come to Christ Church which is situated in the campus of the Oxford University. These people study in the Church. They live in special rooms. They have their meal twice a day in the Great Hall. Their breakfast usually consist of black pudding and baked beans. For the dinner they have vegetables and meat. Besides, the visitors have many opportunities to entertain. Usually they receive many invitations to have a dinner at High Table and to have a drink in the Master`s Garden. The most popular drink there is the Pimms. Besides, people can go to the Bodleian library and to visit that garden where Alice from the fairytale about Wonderland met Cheshire cat. Moreover, the visitors drink whiskey and play croquet with the students and walk in the country. Some of the visitors also go to Christ Church Cathedral and attend evensong there. In real life all these people have different lives, interests, social statuses and professions. They are managers, businessmen, gynecologists, homemakers, alumni, engineers, teachers, etc. They are different age: from 22 to 95 and usually have nothing in common. But they all have one thing which unites them – they are all the participants of the Oxford Experience program. Many people have a desire to participate in this action. But there is a huge restriction – the price for the participation in the program is about $ 1000 per week.

Oxford University consists of 39 colleges, but department with the Christ Church is the biggest and the most famous among the participants of the summer program. This program was established in 1990 and consists of 50 one-week seminars which are held during six weeks. The people can participate in one –week programs or six – week programs and regulate themselves the duration of the studying. The subjects are very interesting, such as Tolkien, philosophy, Austen, film, British gardens, medieval monasteries, etc. The tutors are from the Oxford University and are professionals in the chosen field.

Oxford University holds each year a summer program for people. The participants live in the dorms of the university campus, eat traditional English meal, visit famous sights of seeing and take part in the traditional English activities. The University of Oxford consists of 39 colleges, but the summer program is holding each year in the Christ Church of the Oxford University. The program was establishes in 1990 and is very popular nowadays among the people. The age of the participants is from 22 to 95 and all people are different: they have different interests, native cities, professions, citizenships and nationalities. People from 25 countries can take part in this summer program. The program consists of 50 one – week seminars. The participation is quite expensive: one week fee is about $ 1000. The students study very interesting subjects, such as Tolkien, Cotswolds, British gardens, medieval monasteries, philosophy, film, etc. The teachers are usually from the Oxford University and have wide experience in the chosen field. The students live in the rooms which are decorated according to the British style. The students like the program very much and some of them participate several times.

In this article my experience at Oxford Christ Church is described. I and my husband are college professors. We took part in the summer program, in Oxford. There were many young people and we are in the age of retirement. According to the tradition of the Oxford University we lived in the dorms and had our meals in the dinner hall. We drank champagne and ate strawberries in the garden, where Lewis Carroll wrote the story about Alice in Wonderland. The students in our group were different people. We had British tutor. I had a course in arts and my husband was interested in cosmos science. It was wonderful experience in our lives.

Nowadays different types of researches become more and more popular, as people are interested in the development of the science in different spheres. The median keep an eye on the researches and inform the people about it. In the previous year in The Sunday Herald was published an article which was named “Eugenics may not be bad”. The article was devoted to the researches of the advantages of “eugenics” or selective human breeding, which was popular in the Nazi Germany in the 1930 thanks to Hitler. The author of the article is Dr. Richard Dawkins, professor of Oxford University, a leading adherent of Darwinian evolution and author of The God Delusion.

Some of the people call the eugenics conception the “racial hygiene”, which means the cleaning process of the race to promote good and strong features and to eliminate bad and weak. It is not good conception, as it has usually horrible results. The Nazi system and its racist politic is an example of terrible consequences of the eugenics approach.

The Sunday Herald magazine presented the thoughts of the Dawkins from new book concerning the subject of eugenics conception which is called ‘What is
Your Dangerous Idea?’

Eugenics conception is usually defined as the study which confirms that improvement of the qualities and features of human population and species is possible. For it the scientists have to extirpate the reproduction of those people who have some genetic defects. This approach has the name of negative eugenics. There is also a direction of positive eugenics, which means the support of reproduction of those people who have desirable and good genetic features and traits.

Hitler developed in Germany in 1930th the regime which was called “Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring”. The Third Reich sterilized selected segments of the society. As a result millions of people were murdered, mostly Jews.