The education system of the USA

The American system of school education differs from the systems in other countries. There are state public schools, private elementary schools and private secondary schools. Public schools are free and private schools are fee-paying. Each state has its own system of public schools. Americans place a high value on education. That's why Kennedy said, "Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education".

General information on the US schools:

• US school system consists of four levels:
• Kindergarten (as a part of a school system)
• Elementary school (grades 1-4)
• Middle school (grades 6-8)
• High school (grades 9-12)

Pre-School Education

Pre-school education is the provision of education for children before the commencement of statutory education, usually between the ages of two and five, dependent on the jurisdiction. Preschool is also known as nursery school, day care or kindergarten.

Pre-school is a part of elementary school. Children first go to nursery 
at the age of 3(study 2 years) and at the age of 5 to 6 they attend kindergarten where they begin reading and  
writing.

The pre-schools tend to be small.

Elementary School

At age six the American child begins elementary school by enrolling in First Grade--the first of twelve possible grades. The American school year runs from September to June, with a full summer vacation.

There are differing categorizations in some school systems, but “elementary school” usually goes from First Grade to Sixth Grade. Seventh, Eight and perhaps Ninth Grade is considered “junior high school” or “middle school,” while Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Grades are “high school.” The term “secondary school” usually refers to Seventh through Twelfth Grades.

Marks

A – excellent – отлично

B – very well – очень хорошо

C – satisfactory - удовлетворительно

D – poor - плохо

F – unsatisfactory - неудовлетворительно

Day at elementary school:

At 9.00 a.m. children go to school; classes start at 9.20 a.m.; at 12.00 am. They have lunch; at 3. 15 p.m. go home.

At elementary school lessons last  30 minutes.

Middle school

The middle school concept often involves a group of two to eight teachers from different disciplines working as a team with the same group of students of the same grade level, with each teacher teaching a different subject. This format facilitates interdisciplinary units, where part or all of the entire team teaches on the same general topic from the perspective of different disciplines.

Features of high school education (grades 10-12):

• High school is the most important time for American students.
• It is high school, where the personality of the student is completely formed.
• Each teenager has a right to chose those subjects, that will be necessary for entering the college or any other institution of higher education.
• High school gives a certain minimum level of knowledge on basic subjects, such as mathematics, literature, science, foreign language and history. This minimum is required for each student. 
• There is also a number of subjects, that  students may chose according to their needs and preferences.
• School day consists of certain classes, which are the same all year long, as well as the after school activities.

Day at high school:

At 7.30 a.m. they go to school; at 8.00 a.m. lessons start; at 12.00 a.m. they have lunch; at 2.35. p.m. they have lunch; at 2.35 pm. School day finished.

Features of national structure of the school (multiculturalism)

American school is multinational. Here you can find students of various national backgrounds: native Americans, African-Americans, Spanish, Indians, Koreans and Gypsies, people who come from Ireland and Scotland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KYIV NATIONAL LINGUISTIC UNIVERSITY

 

 

 

Self-Study

in

culture-oriented linguistics

“The education system of the USA”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by

the student of

Germanic Philology Department

Group MЛа 08-10

Marina Diadko

 

 

 

 

KYIV – 2013