IV. School and Social Life

    A. French School System 
        1. Maternelle-nursery, 3 years 
        2. élementaire-elementary, CP, CE1, CE2, CM1, CM2 
        3. Collège-middle school 
            a. 6e, 5e - same group 
            b. 4e - choice 
                1) voc-tech track 
                2) general track 
            c. 3e - determined by choice in 4e 
        4. Lycée-high school 
            a. 2de 
            b. 1ere 
                1) choice of Bac 
                    a) general 
                        1. Scientific - concentration on math and science 
                        2. Literary - concentration on literature, history, languages and art 
                        3. Economic & Social Sciences - concentration on history, economics and math 
                    b) technical - Medicine, Tertiary, Agricultural, etc. 
                2) Bac de Français 
            c. Terminale 
                1) continuation of courses from 1ere, plus added course in Philosophy 
                2) Bac in June 
                    a) weeklong test in all subjects (except French, which was tested at the end of 1ere) 
                    b) NO graduation or ceremony of any kind 
 
    B. Social Life 
        1. essentially all outside of school - smoke breaks exists, but there is much less time for socializing than
in the States 
        2. No sports teams in schools, althought there were interscholastic track competitions; sports are played either
informally with friends or in city clubs (MYA) 
        3. Outings are most often to bars, clubs or cafés, which are all legal for any age, or discos, where you
must be 15. 
        4. Drinking is always legal in the home, and is legal in restaurants at 15. 
        5. Smoking is legal at any age. 
        6. Drinking is almost always done responsibly. 
        7. Driver's licenses aren't issued until 18, but driver's ed can be started at 16 and kids have 2 years of experience
with their parents before they drive by themselves. The test is extremely hard and it is common to not pass the
first time or two. 
 
 
C. My School Experience - Collège-Lycée St-Charles 
    1. Classes stay together in same room, except for labs and gym, etc.
    2. school day approximately 8am-5pm, electives are after hours
    3. Contrary to popular American belief, my teachers were, for the most part, approachable. I could ask them something after class.
    4. Seconde generale - classes my class took (*-classes I took with them) 
            a. *French Literature 
            b. *History/Geography 
            c. Math 
            d. *Biology and Earth Science 
            e. *Physics and Chemistry 
            f. Economics and Social Sciences 
            g. *English 
            h. Spanish OR German
            i. *Gym
            j. electives
               1) art
               2) music
               3) MORE gym
    5. Read two articles I wrote for the yearbook. (In French)  

Return to Perspectives: my year in Brittany.
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