Czech Schools vs American schools

        As many of you know, I am actually taking classes here in Olomouc. Usually these blogs are about what we have experienced or places we have been, but I assure you that we are actually studying, sometimes. ;) With that said, there are quite a few differences between back home and here in the Czech in regards to the schooling system and classes. However, I want to preface this with the fact that we are UNK students just at the university here and not taking the same classes as those who are registered for a Palacky University degree.

First day of school picture!

         Going to university here, is a huge honor. If you take all your classes in Czech, tuition is free. With that said, you can tell that there is a high demand to get a spot at the university and so it is taken very seriously. On the other hand, back home, it seems backwards to me because everyone is paying for their degree but a lot of students don’t take it seriously. I don’t understand that when you pay for your degree it doesn’t matter, but when there is a limited amount of spots for free, it is not taken lightly. Granted, not everyone back home does not take their degree seriously, but it seems to me that getting a degree  back home is the norm  or almost required; while here, everyone wants to go to university but doesn’t get the opportunity. 

         The opportunity to go to University does not start until they are 19. Their school system consists of two basic schools and then grammar school. Basic school is from age 6 to 15 and then grammar school is from 15-19. Grammar school can be specialized such as one for nursing or teaching. That means that if you know what you want to do at age 15 (definitely wasn’t me), you can get a head start into that particular area. However, you are able to change even if you are at a specific school because core subjects are still taught. 

Trams used for transportation!

         Schools here also do not use school buses, instead they make use of public transportation (the tram). A few days ago we were “lucky” enough to encounter an entire class with one teacher getting on and off the tram. They were probably about 7 years old and made getting off the tram rather difficult. I do think though, that if you have public transportation already, why not make use of it and cut down on some of the traffic.

         Basic schools are also not as long in duration as they are back home. They start at 8 and end around 1:30 or 2. These hours are used for 45 min classes with 10-20 minute breaks between each class. After school gets out, there are starting to be more and more options for after school activities, especially in the grammar school (the equivalence of high school). 

        I’ve really enjoyed learning about the differences between our school system and the one in the Czech and I really wish we had a class about the culture of the Czech. Sometimes I think that I am going to get home and be asked all these questions about the differences, and have no idea how to answer even though I have lived here for three months. Fingers crossed that does not actually happen, so here is to continuing to learn about this culture and systems that are perpetually around me. 

         

         

Beautiful view from Znojmo (weekend day trip)