School and such things

I was so surprised when I found out... school is still boring in another school. What I have often found myself thinking when extremely bored in class is... I'm in Germany... Whoa. That's so cool. and then I'm not so bored. Because this is cool. And not to be taken for granted.

School system (just background info to help to understand the rest of this post. not important and probably boring.)

School in Germany starts at age 6 with first grade and they stay at this elementary school until the fifth grade. Germany has three different forms of high school. In fourth grade it is decided by recommendation of teachers which school the students should attend. The first is called Hauptschule. Any child has the opportunity to attend Hauptschule and they are done usually after the ninth grade (although some go to the tenth). This school provides kids with basic academic knowledge and prepares them for work in public service.

The next level of secondary schooling is the Realschule. Kids who attend Realschule finish after the tenth grade (unlike Gymnasium, Realschule does offer technical and home economic classes) and then may either go and complete their Abitur in the next highest level or they may complete an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships last for three years and are available for really every single type of work. Many people in Germany choose this route. I actually think that America could learn something from this way of doing things because I feel that American high schools really try to prepare every student for college while not every student should go to college. Working as an apprentice for three years is much more valuable for some because you are actually able to get the real-life job experience. During an apprenticeship you also attend basic classes to learn the theory behind the job you do.

The highest form of secondary education in Germany is called the Gymnasium. This type of school finishes after the twelfth year (that was recently changed from the thirteenth year) and you must be capable to attend this school. They do not offer any sewing, home economics, computer, or technical classes. Rather, kids take economics, social sciences, history, German, PE, biology, chemistry, physics, art, music, geography, math, English, Latin, and another language (French or Spanish). Once students are in the eleventh grade they choose two classes that they want to take as their most important classes. These two they will have class more often in a week compared to their other classes. These are called LK classes. Also, something I found interesting, kids in the ninth grade sometimes take physics. At the end of the last year of Gymnasium the kids have to take and pass a really big exam called the Abitur. After they have received passing marks on that, they will usually go on to college, though they may complete an apprenticeship also. Oh, yeah. College is free for any student who has passed their Abitur.

The German schools operate on a block schedule. So for the base classes (not the two classes the kids have selected to specialize in) they have that class one day in the week for a two hour block and on another day in the week for a one hour half-block. The LK classes have two blocks and one half-block per week. This was different to me when coming here as my school in American didn't have block schedules at all, and I don't think I like this way better. I will say that I always have enough time to get my homework done before the next class and I don't have to worry about getting homework in multiple classes all due the next day. But, I don't think kids can really concenrate and give their best for two hours long in one day for just one class. Also, I don't think they cover nearly as much material because it is just impossible to go quickly when you meet only twice a week. (But perhaps what they do cover the kids have a better understanding of and they learn more? I couldn't say for sure)

School starts at 7:45 AM. There is twenty minute breaks between each block. School usually lasts for three blocks for most kids (until 1 o'clock) but some days during the week it can be four blocks, in which case it would end at 3 o'clock.  Most students only have eight periods once or twice per week.
There is no school lunch. The schools usually have like a little cafe somewhere that is run by the parents and has food that you can buy. But most kids just eat lunch at home after the sixth period. Also, kids bring food to school and eat it in the breaks. Almost always bread rolls with meat or cheese inside (but never both).

My school here still uses overhead projectors and often the kids will take transparencies and write stuff on them and do presentations that way. They don't really do any self-research, instead just using texts and information that the teachers give them. There is basically no use of computers. Also, the kids have homework but they never turn it in and do not receive grades for it. The grades are based half on the tests (which are only like four per year) and their participation in class discussion (this can include reading their homework for the class). It's their responsibility to do their homework so they are more prepared when it comes time for the test. Kids are heavily graded on their participation in class, which means how much you say and the quality of what you say.

The schools operate for ten weeks, with two week breaks (for fall, Christmas, and Easter) in the year. They only have six weeks off for summer, so school ends usually in July and begins again right away in September.

Grading system

The Germans don't use letter grades and rather number grades. 1-6 is possible, also with a +/- when appropriate. The numbers would usually be interpreted as follows:

1 = A

2 = B

3 = C

4 = D

5/6 = F

Here is how the percentages match the grades, which is very different than my high school in America. Where I attend, anything below a 70% is failing; here, that is an average grade. It is very impressive when a German student receives a 1 for a grade. 

Which is better-American or German school?

I honestly can't say whether one country has a better school system than the other. It is simply impossible to compare because they are too different. The main reason for this is that in America, we have all students mixed together in one High School. In Germany, they separate the kids who do really well in school and the kids who do really poorly in school. So obviously if a student from a German Gymnasium came to American High School they would laugh at how easy some of the materials are here. But if a student from a German Hauptschule came to America, they would probably find some of the materials really difficult. That is just the way it is. 

I really do appreciate the Gymnasium system though. There is a lot more thinking being taught to the students. They don't learn information but rather they learn how to think and analyze and interpret information. I appreciate that. They put more emphasis on discussion and critical thinking and they would never have multiple choice or fill in the blank questions on a test. Their tests are usually one page text with information on it and then there are only three assignments. Writing assignments. For example, in a German or English test the first assignment would usually be about comprehension of the test, the second assignment about analyzing (so this would include characters and stylistic devices) and the third is usually a reply to the author or a what do you think the authors intention was. The students often write eight pages for these three assignments. 

Another thing is that the text books have so many original source information. For example, actual speeches from historical figures or diary entries or so on instead of just a summary from the textbook company. I also think that is important and useful for learning. Also, some kids from my grade started learning Spanish this year and from day one the teacher only spoke in Spanish. And it's now close to the end of the year and they can actually like speak and converse in Spanish already. They really do learn the language when they take the classes in school. And they begin with English in the first grade now (if I'm not mistaken) and then Latin or ancient Greek, and Spanish and French are optional. 

School for me

Since I'm not required to bring any grades or proof of completion back to America, most teachers do not give me grades. I only receive grades for my English, English history (which is a ninth grade history class taught in English), and math. So far I have received all 1s and 2s on those classes. I do have to do the tests for the other classes as well, but only get graded on my attempt. 

I understand most of what happens in school but of course there are always words which I just don't know the translation for, so the teachers understand that very well. I do my homework most of the time and of course participate in all of the tests. For classes I have: English, English History, German, PE, Social Studies, Pädagogik (not sure how to translate this... I could maybe call it parenting or like the method of teaching), math, geography, and music. 

My school is called the Ursulinen Gymnasium and is a private (previously Catholic, all-girls) school. Thankfully we don't wear uniforms. There are two Gymnasiums in my town, and this one was previously the girls school and the other was previously the boys school. Now they both accept both girls and boys (thankfully). My school only, however, accepts 30% boys and 70% girls, as well as 75% catholics and 25% non-catholics. So every morning in school the kids say a prayer, which of course we are not required to participate in. There are still nuns that walk around my school-grounds but they no longer teach the classes. 

The only picture I can find of my school campus.. Not sure where they all went. This is a door to one of the buildings that the nuns do their work.

My school is actually built right on the corner of the old wall that used to surround the old city. One of the four original towers still stands right on our school grounds, which is extremely cool. :) I can't remember exactly how old it is and can't seem to find any information on the internet but it was really old. 

Partial view of the tower on my school grounds. Taken from the school website. 

New building of my school. Taken from the school website.

Street I walk down to school. Taken from the school website. 

There is also the Church of St. Walburga in my town that I pass everyday on my way to school. It was first built in the 11th century and the hall that stands today was completed in 1370 AD... Literally before America is said to have been discovered by Christopher Columbus. That's what I love about living here--there is so much history all around me. It is absolutely unbelievable how old some of these things are. Within the church is a thing called the Judgement Seat. It functioned as a court of sorts and just between the years of 1628-1630 73 people were accused of witchcraft, and all accused were executed.

View of St. Walburga Church on my walk home everyday.

Inside of the church

Judgement Seat

The brightest part of my school day is always seeing the other exchange student, Oli. She is one of my very best friends and has had a big impact on my time here, just with her friendship. She is also from America (Maine) and is also with CBYX. We are great friends which is wonderful because I have heard many stories of exchange students who don't get along going to the same school. There is also a girl from Cape Town, South Africa at our school! She is great and it's really interesting to hear her English compared to ours and to hear about her culture from home and everything. We often all go out to ice cream together.  <3

Oli and I

Us again. We are literally so cute.