Текст на английском языке "Fascinating Differences Between British Schools and Schools Abroad"
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Fascinating Differences Between British Schools and Schools Abroad

British school students usually wear uniforms

This is probably the most noticeable difference between British schools and the majority of schools abroad. While students in most other countries can wear more-or-less what they want, students in Britain are usually required to wear something that looks a little like cabin crew uniform.

Almost everything you need for school is provided for you

In Germany, a crucial part of the back-to-school routine is the great stationery shop, where students buy stacks of brightly-coloured exercise books to call their own. In the UK, it’s somewhat different. Students are expected to buy their own bags, uniform (as well as sports kit) and pens and pencils, but that’s all. Textbooks and exercise books are provided by the school, for free. For the first three years of primary school, all students get free school lunches as well.

You start school at 5, or younger

Schools in the UK differ from many countries in Europe in that students start semi-formal education at the age of 5 or younger. This isn’t structured learning with memorisation and whiteboards – there’s a lot of colouring-in and storytime – but students are expected to manage a school day from 9am until 3.30pm or thereabouts.

Teachers are treated respectfully

Compared to some parts of the world, the teacher/student relationship in the UK is quite informal. While it’s still the norm in the vast majority of British schools that teachers are addressed by title and surname – and in most they will also be called “Sir” and “Miss” as convenient shorthand. For instance, only the most old-fashioned teacher will expect the class to stand up when they enter a room. The class will be expected to be quiet and pay attention when the teacher is speaking, but if the teacher makes a factual mistake of some kind, someone in the class will point it out.

Students are encouraged to speak up and share their opinions

The traditional Victorian image of students sitting in rows in front of a blackboard, patiently writing down everything that their stern teacher says, doesn’t much resemble a modern British school. For one thing, teachers aim to keep their lessons lively and varied, but more importantly, students speaking up and having their opinions is considered a major part of the educational process. So you might just as often see students sitting around working in groups and discussing a task with one another, or with their desks in rows facing one another for a debate. If everyone is facing the board, they’re as likely to be listening to a presentation given by one of their classmates as they are to be listening to a teacher.

There’s usually something to do after school

British schools have increasingly been required to do more than simply teach their students the national curriculum and then throw them out into the world. The school day proper may run from 9am to 3.30pm or thereabouts, but many schools have breakfast clubs from 8am or earlier (to accommodate students with parents who work full-time) and after-school clubs that might run until 4.30 or 5pm. Choirs will practise during lunchtimes and after school; there is after-school sports practice; and there may even be the option of picking up an extra qualification with after-school lessons.

Questions:

1. What was the most interesting thing for you?
2. Is there anything like that in your country? What?
3. Did you wear uniform at your school?
4. Did you pay for anything at school?
5. When did you begin to study at school?
6. How did you treat your teachers? Were the relationships between you formal or informal?
7. What type of lessons do you like? Traditional or modern like in Britain?
8. Did you do anything after classes at school?