How is the French school system different from the US?

In France, the student-teacher relationship is much more formal than in the United States. While many American teachers are involved with students through coaching a sport or leading an extracurricular activity, students only have contact with teachers during class in France.

What is the difference between American school and French school?

American students enjoy various subject choices during secondary education, promoting diversity and personal interests. In contrast, French students follow a more standardized curriculum with less flexibility, focusing primarily on academic rigor and depth.

How does the French system differ from the American system?

Although both France and the United States are representative democratic republics, there are important differences between their political systems. In the U.S., the executive power is held by a president, while in France it is shared between a directly elected president and a prime minister elected by the legislature.

How are grades in France different from us?

Grades in the French and U.S. systems differ both in philosophy and in form. French educators favor the 20-point grading scale, in which 20 is the highest grade and 0 the lowest, while Americans grade on a percentage of 100 or give letter grades such as A, B, C, D and F.

How is French schools different to English schools?

Differences in teaching styles

They learn poems and texts by heart. There is not much group work. On the other hand, British teachers encourage pupils to talk and work together. France's stricter, centralised and bureaucratic approach means that pupils must make the effort to adapt themselves to the teaching strategy.

French school System - (in French with subtitles)

Why is there no school on Wednesday in France?

The idea of a weekday off dates to 1882, when secular primary education became compulsory in France: a day without classes, then Thursday, was to allow for religious education outside school. In 1972 a government decree fixed Wednesday instead as the mandatory day off.

What is a typical school day in France?

School routine

Generally speaking, the school day in France is from 8:30 until 4:30, but it varies depending on which area you live in. This is longer than the typical school day in the UK or America, but there is a longer lunch break and two other breaks during the day. There are 24 hours of lessons a week.

Do French schools have prom?

It is also possible to choose a speciality much earlier than it is in the USA. The American school and college system also has specific traditions that don't exist in France, such as a high school prom, the graduation ceremony, or the experience of campus life.

Is the French grading system harsh?

Although the traditional scale stops at 20/20, French baccalauréat results can be higher than 20/20 due to supplementary "options". French universities traditionally grade in a stricter way than secondary schools, which means that students are unlikely to receive marks as high as they did in secondary school.

Do French kids get homework?

Homework is officially banned in French primary schools, and has been since 1956. But many teachers ignore this and send children home with exercises to do. Older children often spend up to an hour each evening doing homework, and longer at the weekend or on Wednesdays when most schools close.

Do French students do homework?

The French school day (and week) can be long. However, French students may have more frequent and longer breaks during the school day (there's no school on a Wednesday in Primary or a Wednesday afternoon in Collège and Lycée), leaving ample time to catch up on homework or study for exams.

How many breaks do French students get?

This usually means one thing, it's time to start planning the next holiday or holidays, particularly if you had a miserable British summer. French schools have five holidays during the year: All Saints 'autumn' break, Christmas, winter break, spring holiday (Easter), and the summer holiday.

What are the 3 types of schools in France?

Why is the French school system good?

The French educational system fosters imagination and creativity and, at the same time, is known to be structured and have a highly rigorous curriculum. Students are taught to question, investigate, and make connections to real-world contexts.

Is French taught in US schools?

French is the second-most commonly taught language in U.S. high schools and universities.

Is a 14 good in France?

About the grading systems

In practice, grades higher than 15 are very seldom awarded and 14 is considered very good.

Is 12 a good grade in France?

A grade of 20 signifies a perfect score and is virtually never granted. Scores of 19 and 18 are also rarely attributed. Depending on the subject, a score of 16 would be an excellent grade. However, in some circumstances a 12 could also be considered as an excellent result.

Are French schools strict?

The French system is centralised and highly structured, with a strict curriculum and standardised tests. In comparison, other countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have more decentralised systems, emphasising individualised learning and personalised approaches.

Can you wear a hijab in French schools?

“Since 2004, in France, religious signs and symbols have been banned in schools, including headscarves, kippas and crosses,” she said. “Gabriel Attal, the education minister, says that no one should walk into a classroom wearing something which could suggest what their religion is.”

Do French schools have dress codes?

Uniforms have not been obligatory in French schools since 1968 but have regularly come back on the political agenda, often pushed by conservative and far-right politicians.

Do French schools wear uniforms?

Currently, the French national school system does not require pupils to wear uniforms, unlike many private establishments, such as military schools, and schools in overseas French departments.

Do French schools have lunch breaks?

At school, the lunch break lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours, during which a four-course meal is eaten while seated. French etiquette recommends that everyone starts eating at the same time and leaves the table only once everybody is finished.

Is Wednesday a day off school in France?

The school year in France is separated by five periods of schooling and four holiday periods, comprising at least 36 weeks of study. As a general rule, in maternity and primary schools, each week comprises 4.5 days of schooling, with the half-day each Wednesday (in a small number of cases, Saturday morning).