Home
13.01.2008
High School
Miles Macdonell CollegiateMiles Mac – the first two things you notice about it is that it is kind of big (1300 students) and that there is a huge parking place for students' cars. Needless to say, almost no canadians are taking bus or going to school by bus.
You'll get the best picture of how the school looks inside if you imagine an "American high school movie". There are long corridors with lockers on one side – usually two or three students share one. An important thing is that changing your shoes is optional which means no one does it. It might be suprising for the Czech teachers, but nor the hallways neither the classrooms are dirty. Moreover, there is no smell from socks :)
The system of the teaching is completely differnt. There are two semesters and a student can choose up to five subjects for each. There are final exams from each subject (including physical education) after each semester – they are worth 30% of your final mark. I guess I should say something about the marking. Basically everything is based on percantages. In order to pass a course a student has to get more than 50%. I was suprised how many people are actually quiting subjects or have problems to pass.
The school offers huge variety of subjects – there are three types of english and math, all the usual subjects and also subjects like cooking or hair-dressing. There are also IB courses (for a whole year) which are tougher and go more in depth. They are useful for the university. In all the subjects one is being taught almost the same as in CR, but since the course is only half year, they go through the stuff more quickly. I've never had so much homework.
Only two subjects differ a lot from the Czech ones – English and Physical Education. In physical education one does lots of differnt sports – we played golf, did fencing, archery, squash and we are going boxing next week. Every week is different and it's lots of fun.
In English we're doing lots of essays and projects. I'm in comprehensive English course which means there is no literature. I'm taking English transitional the next semester and this will be more focused on the practical stuff – writting letters, ... Basically here they are much more focused on writting and your opinions than on memorizing.
The school day starts at 8.25 and ends at 3:15. There are five classes per day – 3 in the morning, than lunch and 2 in the afternoon. All the classes have 67 minutes with 5 minutes in between. It's hardly enough for getting from one corner of the school to the other. 90% of the students have the same classes every day – memorizing your shedule is really simple :)
Miles Mac offers many afterschool activities – indoor track, volleyball, basketball, drama, choir, natural helpers, vietnam orphanage comittee and so on. There is lots of them. There is more to write about sports, drama and theater and I will return to it in a different article.
We will finish with some interesting facts. Firstly, the Canadian anthem is being played every moorning. Everyone has to stand up, remain silent and if you're walking somewhere, you have to stop. I guess I've heard the anthem more times than the Czech one. Secondly, we've already have three fire alarms. Than doesn't mean there was a fire – someone was probably trying to avoid a quiz or test.Thirdly, we were taught how to exit a bus in case of an emergency and what to do if the school was attacked. I think it was pretty useful. Finally, I still don't get the numbers of schools here – there are three of them within 15 minute walk from my house and the other two are even bigger than Miles Mac. There is also lots of Junior Highs near. I just don't understand where all the children come from.
I guess this is enough for today. I hope you've enjoyed reading!
P.S. Miles Mac webpage My picture is there several times :)
Comments
(Honza - Mail - WWW)
Wow, I'd love doing so many sports in PE. Lucky you :-)
(Silvie - Mail - WWW)
So you are having 5 times a week pe ??
And what subjects did you actualy take apart from English ?
But in Germany we also don't change our shoes at school. I think that all the people from other countries would be surprised when they came to CZ :)
Enjoy your time :)
Silvie
(Ted - Mail - WWW)
Silvie:
Well, I'm taking English, Math, Chemistry, Physics IB and Physical Education - every day the same shedule. Yep, perhaps it would be interesting to ask other international students whether they change their shoes in their home countries or not :)
You too!
Add a comment...