We planned a short hike since the weather forecast predicted good conditions. We started from TAMK’s main campus, crossed the Soukonvuori Nature Reserve and eventually reached Niihama and the edge of a lake. It felt more like a walk than a hike. The sky was clear, but it was a bit chilly.
During the walk, we discussed the education systems in our countries.
In Germany, school is mandatory starting at age 6, the same as in Korea. But I found it a bit confusing to understand due to our different age systems.
In Korea, we have a traditional age-counting system based on the year of birth. Although this system was officially abolished in June of last year, many people still use it in daily life. So in Korea, mandatory schooling starts at age 8(in Korean age). Emese and Melina were surprised and a little confused by this.
In contrast, in France, it’s common for children to start school at age 3, as they typically begin kindergarten at that age.
In Korea, middle school lasts for three years, and the grade system restarts from first grade when transitioning from elementary to middle school and agin in high school.
In France, middle school lasts one year longer (ages 11 to 15), followed by three years of high school.
Both Korean and French have two major school transitions: from elementary to middle school, and from middle to high school. However, in Germany, students generally change schools only once due to the early tracking system. At age 10, German students are placed into different academic tracks, which can influence their future educational and professional paths, and they remain in this track until they complete their high school diploma.
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