1. Das Deutsche Schulsystem
Deutsch III
Notizen

2. Ausbildung in Deutschland
Education = state-based  so some differences may exist between the 16 Länder
Very high academic standards throughout Deutschland

3. Kindergarten Not free OR required Available to children ages 3-6
Very difficult to get into Kindergarten
Limited space
Parents usually start asking about Kindergarten as soon as children are born
Tuition = typically depends on income

4. Grundschule (Elementary School)
Students enter when they’re 6 years old
Consists of 4 years (grades 1-4)
Students have one main teacher who teaches several subjects
“Specialty” teachers = music, art, and physical education

5. Grundschule (Elementary School)
Students learn:
Reading and writing
Basic math
Religion
Social standards & values
Music
Art
P.E.
HSU (Heimat und Sachunterricht)  combines biology, history, and geography

6. Time to Choose
After the Grundschule, parents and teachers choose between 3 different types of high schools:
Hauptschule
Realschule
Gymnasium
School chosen = based on student’s academic performance

7. Hauptschule Grades 5 through 9 or 10 Attended by about 50% of students
Lowest-achieving students
Slower paced
Basic instruction of primary subjects, including English
Students prepared for an apprenticeship or skilled/semi-skilled job
After graduation, students can attend a 2-year vocational school

8. Realschule Grades 5 through 10 Attended by about 25% of students
Unterstufe = “lower levels” = grades 5-7
Emphasis = basic academic subjects
Oberstufe = “upper levels” = grades 8-10
Emphasis = specific disciplines

9. Realschule
Students prepared for mid-level jobs in business and industry
If student’s grades are high enough = possible to transfer to a Gymnasium
Realschule diploma = Mittlere Reife
Typical next step = vocational school
Typical Realschule “jobs” = salesmen, nurses, mid-level civil servants, secretaries, etc.

10. Gymnasium Grades 5 through 12/13 Attended by about 25% of students
Highest achieving students
Prepares students for the university
Students can enroll at the lower secondary level (5th grade) OR transfer to the Gymnasium after completion of Realschule (11th grade)

11. Gymnasium
At least 2 foreign languages required  one is English, the other is usually Latin, French, or Spanish
7th grade = students choose a Zweig (literally means branch) = track
Common tracks include:
Classical languages
Modern languages
Humanities
Math/Science

12. Gymnasium
Oberstufe = upper levels = last 3 years of Gymnasium (grades 11-13)
13th grade = students prepare for the Abitur = exam that students need to pass in order to study at a university

15. Verschiedene Gymnasien (Different Gymnasiums)
In or near large cities  different Gymnasien with various “specialties”
Examples:
Gymnasium
Speciality
Agrarwissenschaftliches Gymnasium
Agriculture
Sportgymnasium
Athletics
Technisches Gymnasium
Technology
Musikgymnasium
Music
Ernährungswissenschaftliches Gymnasium
Nutrition
Sozialwissenschaftliches Gymnasium
Social Sciences
Wirtschaftsgymnasium
Economics
Europäisches Gymnasium
Languages
Biotechnologisches Gymnasium
Biotechnology

16. Gesamtschule “Comprehensive” schools Arose during the 1960s
Only available in certain Länder
Combine different types of high schools under one roof
Enroll students of all ability levels
Completion through 9th grade = earns Hauptschule certificate
Completion through 10th grade = earns Realschule certificate

19. Grading System
Grading scale used throughout Germany ranges from 1 – 6.
1 = very good
2 = good
3 = satisfactory
4 = adequate
5 = poor
6 = very poor
6 = Failing grade
Teachers can add + or – to numbers to specify

23. Private Schools About 3000 private schools throughout Deutschland
Most of them = boarding schools
Separate from public school system & create their own setups and rules

24. Berufsschule (Vocational School)
Typically for students ages (but can go as high as 23)
Students undertake a range of work-directed studies such as economics and specific business studies
Studies usually directly related to an apprenticeship

25. Die Abitur!!! Degree received by Gymnasium students
Allows entrance to a university
Equivalent of an associate’s degree from a community college in U.S.
Final examinations = Abiturprüfungen
Students tested in 4-5 subjects
3 = required areas; 2 = chosen by student
At least one exam must be done verbally

26. Abiturprüfungen Exam length:
Advanced courses (2) = minutes
Basic courses (2) = minutes
Verbal exam = no more than 20 minutes
All written exams = ESSAY! No multiple-choice!
Taken during the spring (March – June)
Students allowed to retake it only once
Receiving the actual Abitur = based on these final exam scores AND your grades in final two years at Gymnasium

27. Abi Fun! Activity Description Abi-Bild
A mural created by the students as a lasting memory of their class
Abimotto
A slogan that represents the class
Abi-Homepage
A virtual yearbook
Abizeitung
A paper yearbook of sorts with pictures and articles
Abibaum
A tree planted by the class on school grounds
Abifahrt
A special trip just for the graduating class
Abiball
Graduation celebration for students, staff, and families
Abistreich
A day of disrupted classes where there is often a program for the entire school
Abigottesdienst
A church service for the graduates and their families
Abi-Video
A movie made about the students and their teachers; often funny