Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend school in a foreign country? Possibly learn a new language or experience a different style of teaching? School systems vary greatly between countries, and one example of a country with a different educational system than that in the United State is France.
Last year, I went to a Catholic school in Toulouse, France called Le Caousou. Like most other French middle schools, or collèges, it includes grades six through nine. In French, these levels are sixième, cinqième, quatrième, and troisième. Each grade is divided into classes that are then assigned a certain number. Mine was quatrième une, or the first eighth grade class.
Unlike American middle schools, the teachers rotate from room to room while the students stay in a single classroom throughout the day. Subjects like Math, Science, Social Studies, and French are taught, except that they are referred to by different names: Maths, SVT, Histoire-Géographie, and Français. When the teacher enters the room, students are expected to stand up. They remain standing until the teacher tells them Asseyez- vous, giving them permission to sit. This is a sign of respect, but on the first day I was quite confused because this doesn’t usually happen in American schools.
Throughout the French school day, there are many breaks. During the mid-morning and mid-afternoon, there are twenty-minute récréations where you go outside, talk with your friends, and maybe have a snack. During recess, each grade is restricted to a different area, called a court. These blacktop areas are surrounded by low stone walls and have soccer nets and basketball hoops.
At lunchtime, there is a two-hour pause to eat. Students wait outside until their grade is called in to go to the cafeteria. There, food is served buffet-style. Unlike in the United States, no one brings their own lunch except kids with allergies. I expected the food in the cantine to be good because France is known for its food, but in reality, I was disappointed. One good aspect was that I never had to rush to eat my whole lunch before the bell rang.
Of course, this is only one point of view of attending school in another country. If you ever have the chance, I encourage you to consider taking a year abroad in college or even becoming an exchange student.