school system

Content The Slovak system of Education Going to school in Britain Slovak vs British school A school and a classroom Typical lesson Ways of learning foreign languages Simulation Classroom rules Useful vocabulary 1, 2, 3 Worksheet Essay - Ideal school

School system in Slovakia What is it like?

The Slovak school system School attendace is compulsory from the age of 6 to 16 Most children attend state schools, which are free of charge. But there were founded some private and church schools in last two years. All schools are co-educational. The school year starts in September and ends in June. There are two terms with a couple of weeks holidays at Christmas and Easter. Education in our country includes these stages: Pre – school education Primary education Secondary education Tertiary education For those who do not want to enter the university there are various types of two-year training courses such as for managers, businessmen, social workers, specialized nurses or language experts.

Pre – school education is provided by crechés (up to 3) and nursery schools (3 – 6) Primary education Primary schools are for children from 6 to 16 years. There are some primary schools which are connected with secondary grammar schools. Secondary education grammar schools – with general & rather academic education which prepare students for university study. special schools which include technical colleges, specialized in building, chemistry, engineering etc., business academics, agricultural schools, nursing schools, music and art schools which offer professional education vocational schools training would-be workers for practical jobs.

Secondary education is finished with a school-leaving examination which is required by all universities and colleges. It is taken in four subjects at grammar schools, and in five or more subjects at specialized schools. Written and oral form. After the graduates have passed their school leaving exam they receive the School-Leaving Certificate. Tertiary education It lasts from 4 to 6 years. In last form of secondary schools students choose a university to continue studying on. They must pass an entrance examination in the subjects in which the university specializes. The university students can enrol at three-year courses for a Bachelor’s Degree or four and five-year courses for a Master’s Degree. Medicine usually takes 6 years. Doctoral degrees are awarded after another few years of study, which may be also individual, and completion of another thesis.

Compare the Slovak school system with the British school system What is different? Focus on types of schools, subjects, school days, classes.

Slovak vs British schools School day: 9 a.m. – 3.30, 4 p.m.; 3 double periods; 1 period = 35 minutes, 5 breaks: 1 break = 25 min., lunch break = 1 hour, Class: usually 35 students; streaming – a group of 8 – 12 students according abilities The system of grading is based on letters: A, B, C, D, F. Students do not get daily grades, they get a report card four times a year. School day: 8 a.m. – 2, 2.30 p.m.; 6 – 7 lessons, 1 lesson = 45 minutes, 5-6 breaks from 10 to 20 minutes between the classes. Class: usually 34 students No uniforms Grading is based on numbers: 1 – 5 Students get daily grades based on a student’s day’s performance Students get a school report twice a year.

Describe your school and your classroom in details.

A school School buildings are usually large buildings with a few floors. In the basement/ or on the ground floor there are: cloakrooms, a boiler room, a work shop, a school canteen, a fitness centre, a snack-bar, a caretaker’s flat, and a gymnasium. On the other floors there are long hallways, classrooms, teachers’ offices, laboratories, a common room, the head’s and deputy head’s offices, the administrative office, a school library, computer rooms, toilets. The hallways are decorated with pictures, flowers, there are notice-boards, some cabinets and glass-cases.

A classroom Large windows, rows of school desks and chairs with two aisles in between, a blackboard, a shelf with coloured and white chalk, a sponge, a cloth, a teacher’s desk, a bookcase, a notice board, a few pictures, a wash basin, a waste-paper basket Special equipment or aids in special classrooms such as chemistry, biology, physics laboratory, a music and an art room. For teaching foreign languages a language lab with is especially equipped with various audio-visual aids, such as maps, a CD player, a screen and a video, DVD player. Some schools also have an assembly hall.

What´s a typical lesson like?

A lesson After the bell, when the teacher enters the room, the pupils or students stand up to greet him/her. He makes an entry in the class register, marks absent students and then starts the lesson with revision of the previous lesson. The teacher might examine the pupils individually, they are asked to do an exercise, explain a problem, respond to teacher’s questions or sometimes the whole class takes a written test. The performance of the students who excel is usually perfect, they are fluent and creative. Sometime the performance is rather disappointing. The reasons differ from not paying attention in class, not doing homework regularly, copying it, cutting classes, not working systematically. After the teacher explains a new subject matter and practices it with exercises. Before the end of the lesson he sums up the topic and sets the assignments for the next lesson. Some students stay at school after school hours and take part in after-school activities such as singing, drama club, games, etc.

Think of different ways of learning foreign languages. Say which of them you prefer and why.

Ways of learning foreign languages Take different language courses at the language school Exchange courses Au-pair, work abroad Different methods/approaches – somebody has to read a lot, watching films in English with subtitles, listening to English songs

Simulation A friend of yours has problems with learning. Talk about your study habits and how you prepare for tests or exams. Say when you prefer studying, how (lying down, sitting at the desk) and with whom, whether you listen to music, speak aloud while learning, etc. Which ones would you recommend him/her most? Explain.

Classroom rules Give some examples of classroom rules. Do you think any school rules are unfair?

Look at the following lists of useful vocabulary. Use dictionary to translate those you do not understand.

Useful vocabulary Study Students, teachers Apply for a place to study Sit for an entrance examination Enroll at university A history major student Give a lecture on st Read a paper Take a crash course Do one’s assignment Pick up st Cram Sit up late Degree/Graduation ceremony Students, teachers Undergraduate, post-graduate student Full/part time student Fresher, freshman – sophomore – junior – final-year student Student teaching Drop out after one’s first year Repeat one’s year Lecturer, tutor Head of the department Dean, sub-dean Rector

Useful vocabulary Class Talk in class Cut classes Arrive late for classes Form/grade Explain new subject matter Sum up the topic Take part in extracurricular activities Make an entry in the class register Mark the pupils present, absent or late Set a paper/test Hand in one’s essay Deadline Examination, performance Call on sb Question sb about st Correct response Be accurate in st Take an exam in st Fail/flunk the subject Make a great effort Cram for the exam Have straight A’s Make slow progress Get a bad school report/report card (Am) Copy, crib Spoil sb’s chances of entering university

Useful vocabulary Reward, punishment, discipline Praise Scold for doing st bad Punish severely Summon a parent to school Keep in detention for talking in class Keep in school after hours Corporal punishment Expel from school Drop out – he’s a dropout Talk back – cheeky Tease schoolmates Bully smaller boys Play pranks on sb Good & bad qualities of Ss & Ts Hardworking, gifted, talented Exceptional, he’s got the brains Patient, enthusiastic Inattentive, average, slow worker, careless Stimulate sb into an interest in st Develop the power of logical reasoning Train sb to be a good citizen A model for young people Ideal teacher with a sense of humour Experienced teacher

worksheet

Essay Describe your ideal school in a perfect world – what you would learn, where the classes will be... Write approximately 180 / 200 words.

Thank you for your attention. Mgr. Ľ. Vašková